JT saw one of his friends and pulled on Gloriana’s shawl. “Can I go sit with Jimmy and his mother?”

She nodded. “We’ll all go sit with Jimmy and his mother.” She smiled at the pastor’s wife. “It won’t prevent JT’s thoughts of playing instead of praying, but hopefully it will give us all a little comfort, knowing we’re in this together.”

Mrs. Sedgwick smiled. “I’m sure it will.”

More people were arriving, so Gloriana moved Sally toward the pew where JT had already made his presence known. Most people’s heads were already bowed in prayer. The pastor had lit candles all over the church, and it gave a welcoming glow, plus added warmth.

Gloriana sat down beside her brother in hopes of keeping him in hand, and Sally sat on her other side. It was hard to see her so upset and fretful. Gloriana had gone through a lot of these worrisome times, but this was new to Sally. She’d experienced the men being away for several days because of their jobs, but this felt different.

Pastor Sedgwick took the pulpit. “I want to welcome you to God’s house. Jesus made it clear to us in the Bible that His Father’s house was to be a house of prayer, and so we gather here this evening to pray for our loved ones who are on the lake.”

Gloriana could remember so many prayer meetings like this. Some ended with joyous returns and others with loss and great sorrow. Just a few years back, they’d had a terrible November storm that destroyed ships and made many a widow. It was an awful thing to face, but it was the way life was on the lake. They lived and died by it.

Pastor Sedgwick urged them to open their Bibles if they’d brought them. “We’ll stand and read Psalm 107, starting with verse twenty-one.” He waited for the congregation to rise and began.

“‘Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

“‘And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

“‘They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

“‘These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

“‘For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

“‘They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

“‘They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.

“‘Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

“‘He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

“‘Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.