St Martin’s Church Ceiling, Birmingham, UK. Photo by Tony Hisgett via Wikimedia Commons

This prayer is especially appropriate to accompany scriptures with boats and storms, including the story of Noah and the Ark (Genesis 6-9) and the story of Jesus calming the storm (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:36-41; Luke 8:22-25)

If you worship in a space where the roof is designed to look like the underside of a boat, consider adding the following introduction before the prayer. You could also show a picture of such a worship space.

Optional Introduction: Invite congregation to look at the ceiling or picture of ceiling.
In many churches, the ceiling of the sanctuary is designed to resemble the underside of a boat or ship. In the Old Testament, that ship of safety and salvation would be Noah’s Ark. In the early days of Christianity, believers often had to hide when meeting together for worship, fellowship or study due to persecution. Some believe they may have taken refuge inside over-turned fishing boats on the shore line. Later, as church buildings were built, the ceilings continued to resemble the bottom of a ship. Over time, this took on deeper meanings reminding us that God’s house is to be a place of safety and shelter, that Jesus is always near in the storms of life, and that Jesus is strong to save.

ONE:
Lord God Almighty, who is like You?
You who rule over the surging sea
When its waves mount up, You still them (Psalm 89:8-9)

ALL:
We worship You
We adore You
We rest in You
We call on Your Holy Name

ONE:
Meet us again with Your saving power
Have mercy on us

The congregation is invited to offer prayers of confession or intercession,
silently or aloud

ONE:
Open Your Word to us today,
That we may love You and trust You more and more
Fill us with Your Holy Spirit,
Fill us with Your strength and encouragement

ALL:
Let Your church be a vessel of healing and wholeness for all
Let Your people be a vessel of compassion and comfort for all
That we with one voice may share Your story of forgiveness and new life
That we with once voice may share Your story with power and faith and grace
That we with one voice may give glory and praise to You alone

ONE:
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
Who makes all things possible by His death and resurrection,
And who taught us to pray…

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer

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Prayer: Boats and Storms © 2014 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia. You are welcome to use this work in a worship or other devotional setting with proper attribution. Contact the Lisa for posting and publication considerations.