Pray for Chatham today - #PrayChicago

This is a follow-up to a previous post about an effort to pray for all 77 of Chicago's community areas. Today is Chatham's turn.

We posted  Chatham's prayer requests, and had some interesting feedback on our Facebook page.

What are your thoughts? Are the requests accurate? What would you ask Chicago to pray for in Chatham?

Here's what PrayChicago posted:

Pray for the ‪#‎Chatham‬ community on ‪#‎Chicago‬'s South side. ‪#‎WestChesterfield‬

Here are some ways you can pray:

- New residents are moving into the area due to the closings of housing projects in other parts of the city. Pray that these new residents and for great respect and care for neighbors and the neighborhood.

- Pray for the elderly residents of Chatham, many of whom are widows and widowers. Pray that they may find community and would not feel overlooked in their later years.

- As the community is beginning to experience socioeconomic transition, pray that class struggles would not cause division among the residents.

- Pray for the followers of Jesus and the churches in this region, that the would be a light to this community!

www.praychicago.us ‪#‎Pray77‬ ‪#‎PrayChicago

And what JP Paulus posted:

PrayChicago is focusing on ‪#‎Chatham‬ Today (including ‪#‎WestChesterfield‬, ‪#‎Chesterfield‬, ‪#‎WestChatham‬ ‪#‎EastChaham‬ ) . I ( JP Paulus) also asked them to include this:
Would you mind re-issuing this later in the day, but also add these requests (feel free to tag/mention me as a Chatham resident if you'd like.):

Pray for unity among the churches. & community groups There are over 100 churches within 1 mile of 79th Street & King Drive. Pray that not just pastors, but members work with each other to complement, rather than compete, in their efforts. Secular community groups (as well as several churches) have undergone dramatic leadership transition in the past few years.

Pray for economic development. Several longtime, as well as new businesses have failed over the past few years, leaving very few businesses for residents to frequent.

Pray for youth: there are few opportunities for youth to grow, be mentored and to make a positive impact in their immediate community.

Pray for young leaders who grew up in the community to come back and take their place in leadership & community development.

#WestChatham (part of the community area, but separated by the Dan Ryan, so a little distinct)

What are YOUR thoughts?

PrayChicago prays for a Neighborhood a day

OK, some of the major controversy (at least with a member of Greater Chatham Alliance) is that the term "neighborhood" gets confused with the term "Community Area".

There are 77 official community areas. There are dozens more neighborhoods. The problem I mentioned is that some neighborhoods also have the name of the community , such as Chatham. The community area covers more than those who consider the Chatham neighborhood only between State and Cottage Grove, 79th to 87th.

The media labels a community area a "neighborhood", even if the neighborhood has a different name, and perpetuates the confusion.

All this to say, PrayChicago is a movement to have Christians pray for the city of Chicago. They have had rallies in different areas of the city, such as at Salem Baptist's House of Hope on the South Side in January (they return to House of Hope, January 20, 2016). There are a variety of leaders, including Dr. John Fuder, formerly of Moody Bible Institute and now with Park Community Church.

They are spearheading an effort to pray for all 77 community areas (though they are calling them neighborhoods) of Chicago, 1 day until their big even on January 20.

Here are some of the community areas we cover at The Sixth Ward blog:

Auburn Gresham = Sunday, November 8

Avalon Park = Tuesday, November 10

Burnside = Monday, November 16 

Chatham = Wednesday, November 18

Englewood = Friday, November 27

Let us know what you are praying for in your community area, and let us know if we are missing any community areas.

Prayer today & tomorrow

Temple of Glory International church is hosting all day prayer at their church. It is going on RIGHT now.  The address is 311 E 95th St Chicago, IL 60619

The 2ns event is tomorrow at Carter Temple at Wabash & 79th.  This one has a taint of politics, as 6th Ward Aldermanic Candidate is hosting this event (prior to aldermanic elections as well as general  election day.). JP is planning  on attending the 1st 1/2 of the event.

Local events on Saturday, May 17

There are 2 events happening tomorrow, Saturday May 17.

Chatham Fields Lutheran Church, in cooperation with Ephphatha Lutheran Church of the Deaf, will hold a yard sale, starting at 9am.  The event will be held at Ephphatha at 7956 S. King Drive (80th & King Drive).

The second event will start at approximately noon, literally down the street. It is New Life Covenant SouthEast's annual "Prayer on the 9", going all along 79th from near their property on Dobson to the El.

There has been criticism of the prayer, but this can be a good start, and an opportunity to meet with people who might be willing to create a continued presence on the streets, and help its healing.

Send us your photos from these events, or also other events that are happening this summer. you can e-mail them to blog+web@thesixthward.us

God's on the Block Party TODAY -- and much more!

From a press release via Chinta Strausburg

"GOD'S ON BLOCK" BLOCK PARTY TODAY AND IT's FREE


The Greater Institutional AME Church, headed by Rev. Dr. Walter B. Johnson, Jr.,7800 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago, IL, is hosting a free "God's on the Block" Block Party today, Saturday, August 3, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 78th Street between Michigan and Indiana Streets and Indiana between 78th and 79th Streets.

There will be food, entertainment, raffle, giveaways, clowns, CFD, CPD, basketball, dancing, health screening, documents shredding, Illinois Chip Program and a lot more.

For further information, call: C. Johnson at: 773.874.7100, Ext. 7808 or 312.307.3364



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Also happening is a Peace March from Salvation Church of God and Rev. Marc Robertson.

They leave at Forman Mills on 79th Street, march to King Drive, then down 83rd, to end at Salvation Church of God.

20 Block Prayer on 79th street THIS Saturday!

From John Hannah's New Life Covenant Oakwood church -

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: NEW LIFE COVENANT ANNOUNCES 2ND

PRAYER ON "THE 9" EVENT

CHICAGO (May 16, 2012)- As an urban church, Senior Pastor John F. Hannah and New Life Covenant Church don't routinely target and fish for souls in a traditional way. In fact, when violence and crime continue to be a way of life in the Grand Crossing community, New Life goes beyond the four walls of their sanctuary to break the code of silence through prayer. Back by popular demand, New Life is having its 2nd "Prayer on 'The 9" event Saturday, May 26th at 11:30am CST.

If you missed the last Prayer on 'The 9 event, more than 1,000 residents and church goers stretched from 79th Street and Dobson Avenue to the Dan Ryan Expressway to pray for the Grand Crossing community and its surrounding areas. "We do this event because we want to gather in one location and ask God to send us peace in our community," said Pastor Hannah. In the past, this event has caught the attention and participation of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, former 6th District Police Commander Eddie T. Johnson, and 8th Ward Alderman Michelle Harris. "I was tremendously overwhelmed by the outpouring of the church [New Life] in terms of their commitment to the community they are serving, and the community's response to them," said Alderman Harris. "I would like to commend Pastor Hannah because he's connecting the community through prayer. We need more of these events."

This event starts prompt. Early arrival is suggested.

Meeting Location and Time

*New Life Covenant Church
1021 E. 78th Street
Chicago, IL 60619

Prayer Time: 11:30am CST

*Other churches and organizations may have different meeting location for this event.

###

If you would like more information about this event and others, please call the main office at 773.285.1731, or e-mail info@newlifeoakwood.org

Prayer vigil at 74th & Evans

Park Manor Neighborhors prayer vigil

Got this in an email from the Greater Chatham Alliance. This vigil is in honor of Chicago Police Officer Michael Bailey who was murdered outside of his home one early morning after work. He worked on the security detail for Mayor Daley.

If you are able to make this vigil please let us know what happened there. Post a comment in this post or send an e-mail @ thesixthward [at] 1chicago [dot] net. Please replace the [at] and the [dot] with the appropriate symbols, FYI. ;)

Prayer on 79th Street -- THIS Saturday at Noon!

From JP Paulus...

I apologize for this last minute post. But i wanted to make sure people who were interested at least had an opportunity to make plans to be there, or have someone there. I am going to try to connect with New Life Covenant Oakwood (who is organizing this event), to create a better network so interested people can organize and/or attend.. (New Life Covenant Oakwood is led by Pastor John Hannah, who is also the morning DJ at Inspiration 1390 AM).

Basically, New Life is having people line up on 79th, starting at Greenwood, and making their way West to State street (or beyond, if we need to). I was a part of the prayer circle at Ruggles on May 28 (THANKS to those who came!!!), but this will be much bigger..not sure how it will work...but let's get out there  & see how God uses us!

I should be there at 79th & Calumet, in front of Creative Floral and Gifts. Please feel free to e-mail me here at jp (at) 1chicago.net to connect!

Review of The Prayer Vigil at Ruggles School

On Friday, May 28, several community residents gathered to pray..for our community for ourselves and for each other. We had "celebrities" such as Ald. Lyle and Philip Jackson of the Black Star Project.  However, they weren't there to promote themselves but simply to pray and be prayed for. Everyone had a chance to pray, and the mood of the playground shifted to one of community and hope.


About 25 people attended, plus a few others (including 2 police officers) at the end.  In the background, kids safely played in the playground.

Thanks so much to Mr. Jackson of the Black Star Project for providing these wonderful photos, helping those who couldn't make to get a picture (literally) of what happened.

After the prayer, we did share some events going in our respective lives and invited others to events people are sponsoring. We will post on them as we receive information. One example is the Deborah Movement. Dorthy Davis, also of Black Star, shared this information at the prayer.

Something i noticed...at the end of the prayer, when i looked around the park all i saw were families...mothers & fathers and their children. Despite evidence of previous beer drinking, on a Friday night at 8pm, no one sitting around Ruggles Park drinking alcohol or  smoking pot or otherwise loitering.

It was a beautiful sight that can - and must - keep happening..

Reminder: tomorrow's pre-emptive prayer strike at Ruggles School

Just a reminder about tomorrow's pre-emptive prayer strike....

Now, i know there are many who are sick of "rallies" and want "action." To be honest, this event may disappoint. For this event, we would focus more on the ACTS prayer (adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication) rather than planning to do this or that .

The hope is that people will build prayer (especially for our community) into their lives, and  their daily physical walk becomes a walk with God, where we not only talk but also listen for Him in our day to day lives.  From that, He will guide us to appropriate action.

The other hope is that you will see neighbors who have a similar spiritual perspective, and you can connect with them for future action (in addition to prayer).

JP Paulus and his family will be there. How about you?

A pre-emptive prayer strike against the violence before it happens in our community!

“Back to the Basics”
A Praying City - Chicago

What: Neighbors simply gathering to pray for our neighborhood before summer begins.

When: Friday, May 28, 2010, 6:30pm – 7:30 pm
(but many will gather by 6pm, and continue later in the evening)

Where: Ruggles Elementary School Park, 7831 S. Prairie, Chicago IL 60619
(on 79th, 2 blocks west of King Drive, 4 blocks east of the Dan Ryan)

Bring family and a friend – or 5!

For more information, contact Ms. Brown at 773-712-4203

At the prayer vigil

To be honest, it didn't seem like too much like a prayer vigil (only about 10 minutes of prayer).

This was more of a show of support for the family and neighbors who knew Officer Worthem and his family. That's OK, because this was less than 24 hours after this happened, and healing and a sense of community are definite needs at this time.

Many people lingered after the prayer, and it seemed like neighbors were re-connecting with each other.

There will be a greater focus on the prayer aspect on Friday 28 at Ruggles school. Click the link for info. We encourage you to come out to that and to know your neighbors and listen to how the Lord wants to lead you in our community.

Pre-Emptive prayer strike at Ruggles School = May 28

JP Paulus and his family will be there. How about you?

A pre-emptive prayer strike against the violence before it happens in our community!

“Back to the Basics”
A Praying City - Chicago

What: Neighbors simply gathering to pray for our neighborhood before summer begins.
When: Friday, May 28, 2010, 6:30pm – 7:30 pm
(but many will gather by 6pm, and continue later in the evening)

Where: Ruggles Elementary School Park, 7831 S. Prairie, Chicago IL 60619
(on 79th, 2 blocks west of King Drive, 4 blocks east of the Dan Ryan)

Bring family and a friend – or 5!

For more information, contact Ms. Brown at 773-712-4203

Today is the National Day of Prayer...

Are there any activities happening in The Sixth Ward in regards to the National Day of Prayer?







Also, a reminder about the "pre-emptive Prayer Strike" at Ruggles School on Friday, May 28 at 6:3 pm.

Pre-emptive prayer strike and addressing crime

Two things...first a reminder about tomorrow's meeting with Alderman Lyle and the community, addressing the issue of crime. It will be held at St. Mark United Methodist Church (8441 S. St. Lawrence) at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, May 5.

Later on this month, I (JP Paulus) along with some others in the community, are holding a "pre-emptive prayer strike", to pray for peace, as well as listening to God for our role as peacemakers in our community.

A flyer is being produced for distribution, which should be ready on Friday.

Here's the text:

A pre-emptive prayer strike against the violence
before it happens in
our community!

“Back to the Basics”
A Praying City
Chicago

What: Neighbors simply gathering to pray for our neighborhood before summer
begins.
When: Friday, May 28, 2010
6:30pm – 7:30 pm
(but many will gather by 6pm, and continue later in the evening)

Where: Ruggles Elementary School Park
7831 S. Prairie, Chicago IL 60619
(on 79th, 2 blocks west of King Drive, 4 blocks east of the Dan Ryan)

Bring family and a friend – or 5!

For more information, contact Ms. Brown at 773-712-4203

We hope you can make it!