引往本地小区中心的路旁，摆满了八呎长的台架。它们被分为几类，分别摆放了衣服、罐头食品、水和其他生活基本必需品。一个年轻家庭为他们的小孩选了一些婴儿奶粉，和一些捣碎了的食物。同时，小区中心内亦设了一个临时庇护站，里面摆放了一些便携式的婴儿床和椅子供人休息。义工迅速行动，把有医疗需要的人，带往医生和护士正在作健康评估的地方。
这些义工来自各行各业，是各有不同信仰的群体。本地一间浸信会的牧师与附近犹太会堂的拉比合作，为一对老年夫妇找到座位。在外面，一群属哥伦布骑士团的成员与一群改革宗背景教会会友，一起去寻找和救助宠物，牠们是因飓风带来的洪水而被迫疏散的居民所遗留下来的。
虽然风暴带来大程度的灾难，但神在动工去恢复被摧毁的小区。这是一群来自很多不同背景的人携手合作的事工，他们所展现的敬虔之爱，是因为他们明白神先爱他们。
祷告
救援的神，求祢保护和帮助一切受到天灾破坏所影响的人。愿祢对我们的爱倾流到我们外围人的生命，好让人们都晓得我们是以行动来彰显祢的爱的。阿们。
约翰一书 4:7-21
7 亲爱的弟兄啊，我们应当彼此相爱，因为爱是从神来的。凡有爱心的，都是由神而生，并且认识神。 8 没有爱心的，就不认识神，因为神就是爱。 9 神差他独生子到世间来，使我们借着他得生，神爱我们的心在此就显明了。 10 不是我们爱神，乃是神爱我们，差他的儿子为我们的罪做了挽回祭，这就是爱了。 11 亲爱的弟兄啊，神既是这样爱我们，我们也当彼此相爱。 12 从来没有人见过神，我们若彼此相爱，神就住在我们里面，爱他的心在我们里面得以完全了。 13 神将他的灵赐给我们，从此就知道我们是住在他里面，他也住在我们里面。 14 父差子做世人的救主，这是我们所看见且作见证的。 15 凡认耶稣为神儿子的，神就住在他里面，他也住在神里面。 16 神爱我们的心，我们也知道也信。神就是爱，住在爱里面的，就是住在神里面，神也住在他里面。 17 这样，爱在我们里面得以完全，我们就可以在审判的日子坦然无惧；因为他如何，我们在这世上也如何。 18 爱里没有惧怕，爱既完全，就把惧怕除去，因为惧怕里含着刑罚；惧怕的人在爱里未得完全。
19 我们爱，因为神先爱我们。 20 人若说「我爱神」，却恨他的弟兄，就是说谎话的；不爱他所看见的弟兄，就不能爱没有看见的神。 21 爱神的，也当爱弟兄，这是我们从神所受的命令。
“We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19
Eight-foot tables lined the sidewalk leading up to the local community center. They were divided into sections for clothes, canned goods, water, and other basic necessities. A young family gleaned some baby formula and pureed foods for their little child. Meanwhile, in the community center, a makeshift shelter was being built, with portable cots and chairs for people to rest on. Volunteers moved quickly, walking people who needed medical attention to the area where doctors and nurses were making health assessments.
The volunteers came from all walks of life and faith. The pastor of the local Baptist church and the rabbi from the synagogue nearby worked together to help an elderly couple find a seat. Outside, a group from the Knights of Columbus had partnered with a group of Reformed church members to search for and rescue people’s pets that were left behind as flood waters had forced residents to evacuate during a hurricane.
Though the storm had left a wide swath of disaster, God was at work restoring the devastated community. And this was the collective work of a group of people from many backgrounds who showed godly love because they knew God had first loved them.
God of rescue, protect and help all who are affected by disasters and devastation. And may your love for us overflow into the lives of people around us, that we may be known for showing your love in action. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
