26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
-Romans 8:26-27, NRSV
As I sat down to write this devotional, I was once again confronted by the all-too-familiar headlines of a policing encounter that tragically turned deadly — this time, in nearby Philadelphia. It seemed appropriate, then, to share the words of our bishop as she calls the people of the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference (a conference that includes the city of Philadelphia within its borders) to prayer.
I don’t have all the answers, friends… or all the wisdom to meet this moment… but I can pray. I can pray for the family, for the officers, for the city, for our leaders, for God’s world.
I invite you to hear our bishop’s call and to join in prayer as well.
Blessings,
Pastor Candy
A Call to Prayer for Philadelphia
From Bishop Peggy Johnson
I awoke this morning to news reports of yet another fatal shooting of an African American young man in an incident with law enforcement. The streets of West Philadelphia have been filled with unrest and grief. Videos of this young man’s mother are heart-wrenching, and we are numb with sadness for this continual bloodshed. There are no words that adequately describe this pain but, “the Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)
I call us, people of God, to pray for justice. Pray for peace. Pray that the investigation of this incident will shed light and truth. Pray that God will comfort the family of Walter Wallace and the many who have been injured and experienced loss during this tragedy.
-Bishop Peggy Johnson
Remember:
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
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