Dear BCOC Family and Friends:
I am asking you if you will pray. If there was ever a time to lift our voices to heaven, it is now. Lift up your eyes, your heart and your voice to heaven. He will hear us and answer our prayers. I can hear the call. Can you? Let’s yield ourselves to the spirit of prayer and let God pour out His Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2 and Acts 2).
Our hearts mourn over the recent horrific, senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others whose deaths are less well publicized. The Bible tells us in Romans 12:15, “… Weep with those who weep.” Would you take a moment and pray with me?
“Father, your people are hurting. This nation is in turmoil. Many are angry, lost, heartbroken, despondent, and hopeless. We lift our voices to you and ask you to come to us, heal our hearts and heal our land. Help us to truly listen: to listen to You and to one another. Direct our thoughts and our steps. Help us not react but to respond instead. Show us the light. Show us the way out. Show us where we are wrong and need to change. Come to us like You always do. You are the wind, the fire and the rain. Fall upon our broken land. Let your grace and mercy overshadow the darkness. Help us forgive those who have harmed us and thought evil toward us. You told us that it was love that would conquer all and never fail. Help us to choose love when it seems much easier to choose hate. We call on your holy name. We pray the blessing over every man, woman and child in this nation. May you bless them, keep them and make your face shine upon them. Grant them peace. You are the only one who can calm the storm that is raging in the heart of your people. We believe that you love us and gave your life so we could live in peace with you and with one another. In Jesus Name, Amen. “
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace Numbers 6:24-26. “
(Worship the Lord and pray with this song)
Please pray over these cities where curfews are now in place due to rioting and looting:
California: Los Angeles County, San Francisco, Beverly Hills
Colorado: Denver
Florida: Miami, Orange County
Georgia: Atlanta
Illinois: Chicago
Indiana: Indianapolis
Kentucky: Louisville
Michigan: Detroit
Minnesota: Minneapolis, St. Paul
Ohio: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton
Oregon: Portland
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
South Carolina: Charleston
Tennessee: Nashville
Texas: Dallas, San Antonio
Utah: Salt Lake City
Washington: Seattle
Wisconsin: Milwaukee
Believing God for change,
All my love,
Pastor Maureen Stanek