The BLESS Riverside Prayer Service on Mt. Rubidoux

Saturday, September 18th is just a few days away!

Here are the final details you need to be ready for this year’s Prayer Service…

TIME:  Meet at 7am at the bottom entrance to Mt. Rubidoux on Saturday, September 18th.  To take the comfortable walk up Mt. Rubidoux at a leisurely pace, it takes approximately 40 minutes.  Once at the top, the prayer service will run from 8-10am.

LOCATION: Mt. Rubidoux in the City of Riverside

BRING: Comfortable shoes, water, layers for cool or warm weather

SPECIAL NEEDS: Those who would like assistance can bring a wheelchair and volunteers will help transport you up and down the hill.

PARKING: The City of Riverside has gone out of their way to provide special parking for our event this year!  PLEASE park in the designated parking spaces that will be found along Tequesquite Ave. (see the “A” highlighted on the map below). Once you have parked, please enter Mt. Rubidoux from the San Andreas entrance just one block from Tequestuite Ave.  The City has asked that we use this special parking area and that we are all careful not to disturb residents that live in the neighborhood surrounding Mt. Rubidoux.  Your compliance with these requests will ensure that the City approves our permit to gather on Mt. Rubidoux in future years.  Thank you so much.

** Event Info w/ Map and Parking (Printable Version) **

Downloadable Resources:

—> Bulletin Insert w/ Map and Parking Info

The BLESS Riverside Prayer Service – What this is:

The Bless Riverside Prayer Service is a special time set aside once a year to come together as a church of the city to pray for our city, its leaders, churches, families, and for the hurting and those in need.  We gather at 7am at the bottom of Mt Rubidoux to walk up the mountain together, worship side by side and then extend hands over our city and pray for God’s help and favor on our residents.  The two-hour prayer service begins at 8am and includes: praise and worship, several prayers led by local ministers, an extended time of focused prayer in small groups, declarations over our city, and a motivational message.

The BLESS Riverside Prayer Service – Why we do it:

Unity is one of our greatest spiritual weapons.  We often talk about God’s heart for unity in the church, but seldom do we have the opportunity to be a part of the unity that is happening in our own city.  When the church of the city comes together in love and unity, walls of division come down and God is able to do so much more through us.  If our heart is to care for the poor, our impact in the community will be significantly more powerful when we unite our efforts. The Bless Riverside Prayer Service helps us unite before our Maker, coming in humility as one Body, asking for His wisdom and direction during these challenging times.

Similar to a father who waits for all his children to be present at the dinner table before the family breaks bread, we are praying that all denominations, expressions, and traditions of Christ’s church will join in taking steps towards greater unity.  We desire the full strength and beauty of the Riverside church to be gathered together for the Father’s joy.  Join us on September 18th as the church of the city gathers in united prayer for Riverside.

This year’s theme for our

2010 BLESS Riverside Prayer Service on Mt. Rubidoux will be:

Riverside:  Arise, Shine!

At 8am on Saturday, September 19, 2009 believers from around Riverside came together to pray for their city.  Over 140 people participated in the two-hour service, representing 22 local churches.  Enjoy the photos from our 3rd annual Bless Riverside Prayer Service…

Photography by Jenn O’Farrell of WhiteWave Photography

BLESS Riverside Prayer Service

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Mt. Rubidoux 

A Whole City – a healthy and thriving community

A Whole Church – a unified and loving body of believers

And Whole Families – honor, hope & provision for all seasons of life

Opening Prayer -  Pr. Dan Bishop, Riverside Free Methodist Church

Shofar – Scott Smith, Isaiah’s Farm Ministries

Scripture Reading – Bob Davis, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church

Declaration – Pr. Brenda Wood, Word of Life Ministries International

Worship – Dave Robles, Lisa Robles, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church

                  Leslie Wood, Word of Life Ministries International

Focused Prayer

    A Whole City – Rev. Clarence R. Williams, Jr., Lifespring! Assembly of God

    A Whole Church – Pr. Charles Campbell, Koinonia Evangelistic Center

    Whole Families – Pr. Deborah Bush, Faith Community Church

Prayer Circles covering the three main prayer points – Libby Collier, TURN 

Worship – Matt Cash, Sandals Church

Prayer over the NSEW of Riverside

As the smoke rises to the heavens with the sweet smell of incense,

let it be a sign of our prayers as acceptable before the Lord.

    North – Min. Kriste Hurd, Cross Word Christian Church
    East – Min. Dan Crowley, Sandals Church
    South – Pr. Jeff Wright, Madison Street Church
    West – Pr. Jonas Luke, Wind of the Spirit Worship Center

Message – Pr. Raul Diaz, Path of Life Ministries

Announcements – Anna Reyes, TURN

Closing Prayer – Rev. Lynn Heatley, Prayer Command Post

“And seek the peace of the city where you have been exiled,

and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will find your own.”  Jeremiah 29:7