Almighty and gracious God, we offer our prayers to you for the nation of Tonga, and others affected on Pacific Ocean islands, shaken by the violent volcano and earthquake forces, and the tsunami waves that followed.

Friends in Christ, in remarks at my installation of Dean, I mentioned Karyn and my own thankfulness to Sunday School teachers and youth leaders, who ministered to us and to our kids at various times and places. And I stated that "A church without children is a church whose future may be under threat!"