A devastating flood in Central Texas has left a profound impact on the community, prompting local religious leaders to guide their congregations through the emotional aftermath. On July 6, 2023, Rev. Jasiel Hernandez Garcia of the First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville faced a challenging task: how to comfort a congregation reeling from the loss of life and the chaos of the flooding.
The church, located just a few blocks from the Guadalupe River, had initially planned a service centered on independence and rest. However, after the flooding began on July 5, the church transformed into a reunification center and shelter, where staff worked tirelessly for 18 hours to assist those affected. Tragically, the community learned that one of their own had died in the flood.
In light of these events, Garcia and his team abandoned their original plans for the service. Instead, they incorporated music performed by congregation members to provide comfort and rewritten the sermon to focus on resilience and hope. “The amount of grief was something I had never experienced before,” said Garcia, the church’s senior pastor.
As of the latest reports, at least 120 people have died, including 27 children and counselors from a nearby summer camp, with many more still unaccounted for. The magnitude of loss has stirred feelings of sadness, anger, and grief not only within Kerr County but across the nation.
Religious leaders shared insights on navigating these complex emotions. Rev. Shannon Johnson Kershner, senior pastor at Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia, emphasized the importance of acknowledging the full spectrum of feelings that accompany tragedy. “God is not scared of all of those feelings,” she noted. “I think anger is faithful. Doubt is faithful. All of that is faithful because it means that you actually care.”
Many individuals, while not directly affected by the flood, are also grappling with their own experiences of loss. Very Rev. Sarah Hurlbert, dean of the Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville, North Carolina, pointed out that media coverage can reignite personal grief tied to past tragedies. “It’s part of how we get disabused as human beings of the notion of control,” Hurlbert said.
For Rev. Janet Maykus, transitional pastor of the United Christian Church in Austin, Texas, the toll of personal loss can be overwhelming. She explained that while daily tragedies occur worldwide, some events hit closer to home, stirring deep emotional responses.
The challenge of offering comfort in the wake of such loss is not lost on these leaders. Hurlbert recounted a moment from last year, when her congregation gathered for the first time after Hurricane Helene devastated their community. “I don’t even think I had a sermon that day,” she said. “We just hugged and held each other and cried. And really and truly, that was the sermon.”
Kershner acknowledged the difficulty of finding the right words in such situations. “There’s no right thing to say, but to move towards those places of hurt, rather than away from them, I think that’s what we’re called as people to do.”
The sentiment that presence can be more valuable than words resonates deeply with those in mourning. Don Burda, president of the Jewish Community of the Hill Country in Kerrville, expressed that while responses to tragedy vary, the importance of community remains constant. “The kind words do one important thing: They let those who are left behind know that they are not alone,” Burda stated.
As the community grapples with its collective grief, Garcia noted that many congregants are not seeking immediate answers or solutions. Instead, they desire connection and someone to listen. “They haven’t really sat with their emotions,” he explained, emphasizing the need for space to process their feelings.
Dr. Shelly Rambo, a professor of theology at Boston University, highlighted the necessity of creating an environment where emotions can be freely expressed. “What many people need in the aftermath is someone to sit beside them and hear their pain without being afraid of it,” she said.
The act of simply sitting with someone in grief can signal profound support. Rambo suggested that sometimes the most impactful gesture is to say, “I am so sorry,” and remain present without feeling compelled to fill the silence with words.
As religious leaders continue to provide comfort, the message of community solidarity becomes increasingly vital. “When we mourn and grieve together with other people that we can trust, it allows for a kind of transformation in the community,” Garcia noted.
Maykus, who has spent nearly two decades working as a hospital and hospice chaplain, emphasized the interconnectedness of grief and community. “Just knowing there’s someone there, it’s kind of a grounding thing,” she explained, suggesting that support during mourning helps stabilize the emotional landscape.
In the wake of this tragedy, leaders encourage individuals to offer support in various forms, whether through simple acts of kindness or shared moments of silence. “You are a person. You are alive. You are here. We care about you,” Maykus concluded, underscoring the importance of recognizing each other’s humanity amidst sorrow.
As the community of Kerrville and surrounding areas continues to navigate this challenging time, the shared commitment to support one another serves as a beacon of hope, fostering resilience and healing in the face of unimaginable loss.
