Stop by prayer booth at Aurora farmers market
Submitted by Fourth Street UMC
The second of two prayer booths at the summer Aurora farmers market will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Metra station, 233 N. Broadway in Aurora.
The public is invited. Prayers will be free.
Area residents can be prayed for or leave a request with volunteers from Fourth Street United Methodist Church in Aurora. Prayers will be available in English or Spanish.
Volunteers, called pray-ers or prayer partners, answered about 20 requests at the initial booth held July 20 said Rev. Deborah Tinsley Taylor, church pastor.
The pastor conducted several hours of training to prepare volunteers, she said.
Depending on a visitor’s need, they will meet with one to three church volunteers.
In addition to Rev. Taylor, other pray-ers are Laurel Gilbert, lay leader; Bonnie McGraw, Donna Mora and Jill Orr, all Aurora residents and Fourth Street UMC church members.
Rev. Taylor conducted a three-hour training session for the partners in July. Mora, a Spanish speaker, will assist non-English speaking visitors. Orr said she thought of the prayer booth while serving on the church’s worship committee.
“We will sit down with visitors, hear their requests and pray with them,” Orr said. “Physical touch will depend on the openness of the recipient.
“Some people may want to join hands. In some instances we may lay hands on them, depending on the leading of the Holy Spirit. I’m sure hugs will be exchanged during the morning as the Spirit leads.
“We will have water, pens, prayer cards, prayer tips and a brochure listing upcoming church events,” Orr said.
The prayer booth is believed to be the market’s first such offering in its 100-year history.
Rev. Taylor added, “This prayer ministry involves praying out loud for people who probably don’t attend our church. They may have experience with prayer for or with another, or no experience with prayer. Their concerns may be small or great. For pray-ers, this can be a very positive and uplifting experience.”
Call (630) 897-5257 for more information.