Pentecost Prayer Walk/Drive - May 31, 2020
/Prior to the stay-at-home order, my lovely wife was regularly practicing walking our neighborhood in prayer and worship. Shortly after the order was put in place, she was out again walking the neighborhood in worship and prayer and the Lord impressed upon her heart that this was a way for Christ’s body - the church - to be the church during social-distancing practices. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be people of prayer - praying that people’s lives would be transformed through faith in Jesus, praying blessing and well-being over our neighbors, our communities, and the world, praying that God’s kingdom comes and God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. We may not be able to gather collectively in-person, but we can gather collectively in the Spirit, in unity as one body, sent out into our communities to be the church.
Jesus gives us, his church, the Holy Spirit - living water - to be sent out for the sake of the world.
This Pentecost Sunday (May 31st), we are practicing our sentness by taking to the streets for prayer and worship. We’ll gather at 10:00am via zoom for a brief time (20 minutes) of worship, prayer, and commissioning together. Then we’ll be sent out to our neighborhoods to continue worshiping and praying. You can participate in this by walking or driving. If you aren’t able to get out, you can pray and worship at home. You can practice this in your neighborhood, or drive to a place that is more walker friendly. We’ll be praying and worshiping together in unity in different places.
Here is the heart of our prayer walk/drive practice:
Pray bold prayers of transformation, healing, and freedom through faith in Jesus. Pray God’s kingdom, Christ’ redemption, Holy Spirit’s revival over our communities.
Pray for attentiveness - may God give us eyes to see and ears to hear, hearts and minds to discover where and how God is calling us to be sent proclaiming the gospel, loving, serving, encouraging, healing, freeing, delivering in the name of Jesus.
Here are some suggestions for how to engage this active sent prayer time:
Read & Pray Scripture out loud as you walk. (Psalm 145, Isaiah 61, Numbers 6:24-26, Ephesians 3:14-21, Matthew 6:9-13)
Turn our streets into a place of worship. Bring your phone and/or your portable speaker and play one or all of the following songs while you walk or drive or pray from home. Lift your hands to heaven and worship. Sing the songs over the houses and the spaces that you pass. You can use other worship songs as well!
“Tremble” (Mosaic) - Speak and sing the name of Jesus over our neighborhoods. Declare that He has overcome darkness and ask that He overcomes the darkness in the homes that we pass. That He would silence fear in the places that we pass. Use the lyrics as a prayer for our neighbors and ourselves.
Other songs to pray in this way - “Way Maker” (Leeland), “Mention of Your Name” (Jenn & Brian Johnson)
“Come Holy Spirit” (Vertical Worship) Ask and long for the Holy Spirit to come in our neighborhoods. Pray that God would take a hold of communities during this time. Ask for the Spirit to empower you as you walk. Sing and dance on the sidewalk and use the lyrics as a prayer for ourselves and our neighbors.
“The Blessing” (Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Elevation Worship) - Sing this blessing (from Numbers 6:22-27) over neighbors and homes
If you pass someone while you are walking, tell them you are on a prayer walk. Ask them if they need prayer for anything and take the time to pray for them while practicing social distancing.
Bring sidewalk chalk with you on your walk. As you feel led, write a prayer or a message of love and hope on the sidewalk (this might be in front of someone’s house who you feel God prompting you to encourage). If you’re driving, create a sign to display as you drive.
Make cards or write notes to drop off at neighbors homes.
We are also going to continue active/sent prayer walking/driving during the week with specific places of prayer in our communities:
6/1 - Monday - Prayer @ Long Term Care Facilities - go to a nearby place of long term care, walk or drive around covering the residents, care-providers, and staff in prayer (consider bringing notes/cards of encouragement for residents and staff, it may be wise to call ahead to see if they are receiving these things and the best way to deliver them).
6/2 - Tuesday - Prayer @ Schools - go to a nearby school - pray blessing over students, teachers, parents; pray for wisdom and unity for school boards, superintendents, principals, and other leaders.
6/3 - Wednesday - Prayer @ Grocery Stores - pray blessing and protection over employees and customers, pray for those experiencing food insecurity, pray for producers and suppliers.
6/4 - Thursday - Prayer @ Hospitals / Doctor’s Offices - go to a nearby hospital or doctor’s office, pray blessing, protection, and healing; pray for Jesus - the Healer - to be known.
6/5 - Friday - Prayer @ Government Buildings / Borough Offices - pray for local, state, national, and international government leaders; pray blessing, wisdom and compassion, righteousness and justice.
6/6 - Saturday - Prayer @ Main Street / Business Hubs - pray for businesses and business owners, employees, and local economies; pray for the peace and prosperity of our communities.
6/7 Sunday - Prayer @ Churches - before or after House Church walk or drive to a few local churches - pray for supernatural unity and love to be demonstrated among the Body of Christ; pray that the Church would bear faithful, Spirit-filled witness to Jesus; pray blessing over congregations, pastors, and leaders; pray for revival within and through the Church.