Power outages, downed fences, and some tree debris...Nicholas' visit could have been so much worse. Thanks be to God for his merciful hand of protection upon us.

"Almighty God, heavenly Father, who said to us, 'Call on Me in the time of need, and I will deliver you; then you shall glorify Me': we give You praise and thanks from our inmost hearts that You have graciously heard our prayer and caused the furious tempest to pass by without any harm to our bodies or property, by which You have manifested once again Your faithful fatherly heart, not desiring to deal with us according to our sins, and not repaying us according to our iniquities. Grant us, merciful Father, for the sake of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that our lives may be constantly amended by Yoru earnest warnings, and that we may live in Your fear and prepare for the coming of Your beloved Son, that we may go out with gladness to meet Him, enter with shouts of joy into the new heaven, in which righteousness dwells, and forver possess it with You in Your blessed sight, through the same Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen."

-- Pastor Christoph Facilides (1625-1684) in Lutheran Prayer Companion (CPH, 2018)