Last Night at BSM

April 17, 2016

Last night our Seminary Field Education Intern, John Francis Maher brought us a word from Acts 9:36-42, entitled, “Tabitha, Get Up!” In this story from Acts, the community in Joppa looses its role model Tabitha. This is a story of grief and loss, not only for the loss of someone’s life, but also a loss for the way things were. This community is so distraught they go find Peter and ask him to do something about it. Peter comes and kneels down beside the dead body of Tabitha, and he does the miraculous and raises Tabitha from the dead. This community is so moved by this action that they go out and begin to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. We too are called in the power of the resurrection to go and proclaim the Good News of Jesus. Listen to it here.

Tony and the Motley Order Choir led us in: Oh Happy Day, Woke Up This Morning with My Mind Stayed on Freedom, Inner City Blues, Come Thou Fount, and Stayin’ Alive.

Our community also offered the following prayers:

Gratitude for sun and rest! Prayers for discernment, creativity and boundless love for myself and our community.

 

Dear Lord help us to grow and heal thru this difficult time. Help me surround myself with Godly people who support and remind me of your word and love.

 

Please pray for my father-in-law, ******* and my parents, ***** and *******. All three are over the age of 81 and suffer various health ailments. Pray for healing and peace for them all.

 

Please pray for ***** as she fires up her job season again…that she may have the power to be al God has called her to be in her life’s vocation. Please pray for ****** and ****** as they prepare for marriage. Please pray for ****** and ******’s healing as they mourn the loss of their son.

 

Gratitude: I am grateful for BSM and it’s diverse congregation. I am grateful for the care my mom is receiving. I am grateful for the warm sun and a nice breeze. A good meal. A loving wife. Employment; healthy kids that are good people—for yesterday, today and tomorrow.

 

Pray 4 our broken city and resurrection so sad our children are suffering.

 

For my friends who are suicidal, that I may have the energy to walk with them, the strength to carry them, the words to keep them here, and the wisdom not to lose myself in all this.

 

For the peace of Christ and the compassion of our Lord to precede me this week.

 

Prayers for discernment.

 

For *****, *****, and all those incarcerated.

 

Dear Lord, Help me to make it through this week. Grant me the strength to take each task in its own time and to not let the stress consume me. Remind me to lean on you and my loved ones. Thank you for all the many blessings you have given me, this day and all the days of my life. Amen.

 

Dear God—I pray for ****** who took his own life Mon. Apr. 11. Ahat moved him? From what was he suffering? I pray that you be with his wife *****; his daughters *****, ****** and *****. And God please be with my son ******, ******’s good friend, and be with all *******’s high school friends. the seniors and freshman at Upper Dublin HS are all blown away and struggling to find make sense of this—as is the faculty and community. Please help us all, and remember me and my husband *****. Amen.

 

Please pray for my relationships as I work to build-on, rebuild, and begin new ones. Thank you.

 

Giving thanks for increasing health. Prayer for growth and thanks for BSM.

 

Thank you for stillness. Continue to embrace ***** and lead him. Thank you for *****. For his leadership and for his friendship. Thank you for the opportunity to proclaim your resurrection. Help me do it more. Amen.

 

God of strength, help me to get up again and again and again. Amen.

 

God, I need you to help me she my selfishness and use your discernment…***** has asked for a change in his living arrangements. It breaks me that he even as to think about these things. Please help me to make decisions based on what is best for *****, and to put myself aside for what he needs. Keep him safe, help him feel love and peace and security everywhere he goes and in all he does.

 

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. God, thank you for *****’s courage, for the ways you’ve blessed him to see and proclaim. Keep teaching me that balance between selflessness and rightful action. Help me to forgive with compassion and to challenge with honesty. Be with us in community. Thanks for the ways this place wakes me up and call me out of laziness. I need it. I need you. Amen.

 

For ***** as he discerns his next steps and for my hear as it waits to see all that is to come.

Broad Street Ministry is a broad-minded faith community committed to extending radical hospitality and creating a spiritual home for all, especially those who feel like they don’t belong anywhere else. For more information click here.