Guadalupe River Flooding
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
—Matthew 11:28–30
Dear ECCC Family,
In the wake of the devastating floods in Texas’ Hill Country, our hearts are breaking.
Among the hardest-hit is Camp Mystic, where several campers remain missing. The grief is deep. The fear is real. And the heartbreak reaches far beyond any one camp’s borders.
Though Camp Capers, our Episcopal camp nearby, was not impacted—and no campers were present at the time—we are profoundly aware that in our community, all camp is family. When one camp suffers, we all do. When one camp cries out, we all bend to listen. The connections formed in this network of camps are sacred, enduring, and now, grieving.
Many of you have asked: What can we do?
We must pray. And we must act.
We are calling the ECCC community to join in 30 days of prayer—a spiritual act of solidarity, love, and hope. These prayers are not small gestures. They are how we bear witness to pain and call on God’s healing presence in the face of despair. We invite your prayers for:
• The campers who are still missing, that they may be found and brought home safely
• The families who wait in fear, searching for strength they do not feel
• The staff and counselors holding space for one another’s grief
• The community of Camp Mystic, and the towns of Kerrville, Hunt, Ingram, and Comfort
• All who are searching, rescuing, comforting, and mourning
Prayer is the first action of love. But it is not the last.
If you feel moved to help, please consider giving directly to:
The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas (memo: July 4 Flood)
Your gift will support those closest to the impact and the ongoing work of care and recovery.
In camp, we know how to show up. We know how to sing through tears, how to hold vigil in silence, and how to believe in the power of community. This is one of those times. And we trust that the same Spirit that moves through our campfires and chapels is present even now—especially now.
With love, faith, and fierce hope
Jess Elfring-Roberts
Executive Director
Episcopal Camps & Conference Centers
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A Prayer for the Missing, the Fearful, and the Camp Community
O Christ who calls the weary,
Hold close the campers who are still missing.
Be their shelter, their guide, their hope.
Be with those who search and those who wait.
Be with every parent gripped by fear,
Every sibling asking questions,
Every friend praying for a miracle.
Be with the counselors whose hearts are breaking,
The staff who gave their summer to joy,
And the communities now walking through grief.
Strengthen those who cannot find the words.
Comfort those who cannot sleep.
Heal what feels beyond repair.
In your mercy, O God,
Gather us close.
Bind us together.
And do what only you can do.
Amen.
