A few months ago I had the privilege of being part of a team from Union church that designed a space where people could come engage in prayer for the church and the neighborhood in a variety of ways.Here's the text for the "Pray With Your Feet In South Lake Union" guide, which included a map color coded with dots that corresponded to places you see here in bold print. Also available at the starting point was this video, to introduce the concept of praying with your feet.
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The most obvious part of Amazon’s new headquarters in South Lake Union is along Terry Avenue North--four phases stretching from Thomas Street all the way to Mercer. Some of the buildings are still being constructed, and some are already in use. Especially around lunchtime, you’ll probably notice a lot of people with blue badges!
As you walk around part of Amazon’s new headquarters, look and listen. Pray
- that life giving amenities will move into the ground level spots in these buildings, bringing more pedestrians coming and going and filling the streets with life.
- that the multitude of Amazon (and other companies’) employees will be aware of their presence in and impact on the neighborhood and bless it with their respect and engagement.
- that the diversity of people who live in or are connected to South Lake Union will feel welcome in Amazon’s plaza, which is designed for public benefit.
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Cascade is one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Seattle, and now finds itself as part of the larger and newer South Lake Union neighborhood. A wide variety of people, from elderly to homeless to condo owners to refugees to artists to low-middle-high income families call Cascade home. The Cascade People’s Center, which is located in the middle of the area along with the park and P-Patch, is in the process of becoming a place that offers “dynamic programming to strengthen connections between all residents, businesses, and workers of the South Lake Union neighborhood.”
As you walk around Cascade, look and listen. Pray
- that the continued development of South Lake Union as a place where many people live will stand on the shoulders of Cascade, which is more rooted in a history of residents.
- that the leadership of Cascade People’s Center will work effectively, helping it be a place that helps people experience and appreciate one another in their differences.
- that long time residents of Cascade will experience belonging as well as new life and energy even in the midst of dramatic and confusing change.
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South Lake Union’s western boundary is
Aurora Avenue--a corridor long plagued by the sad reality of prostitution. Federal experts believe Seattle's many points of entry make the city one of the nation's top human-trafficking hot spots. A trafficked young girl or woman forced into a life of prostitution and under the control of a powerful male pimp may be unrecognizable to the untrained eye.
As you walk part of the Aurora corridor and it’s side streets, look and listen. Pray
- that the exploitation of people on these sidewalks will not simply be moved to another location, but that real healing and transformation will take place.
- that as neighbors intersect with victims, they will experience love, compassion, and safety
- that everyone involved will be disrupted by the reality that they were created for better things and are absolutely worthy of love and respect.
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From an expense standpoint, South Lake Union housing falls into three main categories: market rate new buildings (mostly apartments to rent but also condos to purchase), low income subsidized and supported buildings, and places that are inexpensive to live because of their age or collective nature.
As you walk past different housing in South Lake Union, look and listen. Pray
- that all residents--with or without homes--will find community, meaningful work, and authentic relationship with neighbors.
- that residents who have been invisible because of fear, loneliness, or resources will become visible.
- that 415 Westlake will be a place where this great diversity of neighbors can intersect and rely on one another’s strengths.
Keep looking and listening. What stirs your heart? How is God at work here? How might we be a part of it?
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South Lake Union is home to five faith communities: Cascade Neighborhood Church, Denny Park Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seattle Unity Church, St. Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral and Union Church.
As you walk past different church buildings in South Lake Union, look and listen. Pray
- that people connected to South Lake Union will experience the Church as one church working together instead of many churches working in isolation.
- that we will see ways that God is at work to make the churches in South Lake Union eternally connected, internally alive, and externally focused.
- that God’s people who do church in South Lake Union will be aware of their impact on the neighborhood and listen for ways God is calling them to bless it.
Keep looking and listening. What stirs your heart? How is God at work here? How might we be a part of it?
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Seattle has the 5th largest biotechnology industry concentration in the nation and South Lake Union has been identified as Seattle's biotechnology center. Our neighborhood includes both profit and non-profit medical organizations for research as well as treatment such as Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Group Health corporate headquarters, UW Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, ZymoGenetics and Novo Nordisk.
As you walk by some of these key medical/biotechnology organizations, look and listen. Pray
- that their researchers will better understand the causes of the world’s most serious diseases (including cancer, malaria, arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS) and work in true collaboration to find effective new treatments and cures.
- that patients, families, and caregivers (especially those far from home) will experience relief from disease, deep love and care from the people around them, and magnified awareness of God’s hope and peace.
- that we as a congregation of Union Church will discover new connections and ways to serve the medical staff and patients in South Lake Union.
Keep looking and listening. What stirs your heart? How is God at work here? How might we be a part of it?
This idea really resonates with me and I hope we can do some version of this as a community soon. Also a great introduction to this neighborhood! Thanks for posting this!
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