Those in Peril on the Sea

 

1 Eternal Father, strong to save,whose arm has bound the restless wave,

who bade the mighty ocean deep its own appointed limits keep:

O hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.

2 O Christ, whose voice the waters heard, and hushed their raging at thy word,

who walked upon the foaming deep, and calm amid the storm did sleep:

O hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.

3 O Holy Spirit, who didst brood upon the chaos dark and rude,

and bade its angry tumult cease, and gave for wild confusion, peace:

O hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.

4 O Trinity of love and power, all travellers guard in danger's hour.

From rock and tempest, fire and foe, protect them wheresoe'er they go:

thus evermore shall rise to thee glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

When a fishing vessel named the Elite Navigator with a crew of seven disappeared off the northeast coast of Newfoundland last summer just about everyone in the community of New-Wes-Valley hoped for the best and anticipated the worst. You would be hard pressed to find a Newfoundlander whose family hadn't lost someone to the sea over the years. I did pay attention to the news reports because this community, actually three amalgamated into one, were along the shore from the outports I served as a newly ordained United Church minister in the early 1980s. 

When the winds and waves come from the Northeast they are enough to knock even a strong person down (been there, done that) and even the most experienced fisherfolk are at the mercy of the elements. It was wonderful when the "Lucky Seven" as they came to be known were found two days later in a life-raft about 250 kilometres offshore. I'm sure many people felt that prayers were answered. 

Today I'm thinking about those who perished during the night of February 14/15 1982 when the Ocean Ranger oil rig went down in a ferocious storm. We were holed up in the manse (clergy housing) that night and in the morning the outside world wasn't visible because every window was covered in snow. Our car had all but disappeared. Even though the "Ocean Danger" as it was dubbed by crew was the largest semi-submersible rig of the day it was toppled and 84 crew members perished. 

I have written before about the request that on the following Sunday we sing the hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save, a meaningful prayer in song. I suppose that, God willing, I'll remember that fateful night for the rest of my life and every time I hear of those who have braved the elements my prayer will be:"O hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea."