Praying our way to San Jose
Update from the road

Lee's Summit

Stephany Jackson points out the St. Louis arch. Photo by Tammy Wiens-Sorge

We woke to a glorious morning in downtown St. Louis, excited about our Amtrak leg of the journey. We’d purposely chosen the Sheraton for our overnight accommodation because of its proximity to the train station. It was only a three-block walk, but since we were carrying luggage we allowed ourselves 30 minutes to get there. As it turned out, we needed every minute!

We followed the simple directions but got sidetracked by our enjoyment of the city’s skyline. As we looked back toward the hotel we realized, for the first time, that we were immediately adjacent to the famous Arch! We stopped to dig our cameras out of our bags so we could capture the scene. If you go to my album on Facebook you will see several photos of our trip, including a picture of Stephany enthusiastically pointing toward the St. Louis arch. Ironically, at the precise place of the photo opp we failed to notice the Amtrak station immediately across the street from where we were standing. (In our defense, there were several buses parked in front of the “Amtrak” sign blocking our view.) Satisfied with our pictures we turned our gaze forward to the large “Union Station” sign a couple of blocks away. We did actually have a moment where we discussed the station being further away than the hotel concierge seemed to indicate, but our concern was not deep enough to consider that our eyes were on the wrong prize.

We got to the Union Station with time to spare and so we stood outside taking more pictures of the lovely entrance. When we finally got inside the station we instantly perceived something missing. There were lots of shops and restaurants but no signs to point us to the tracks. We perceptively concluded that there was something definitely wrong! We saw a couple of young men pulling suitcases and it inspired hope but they had no idea where the Amtrak station was. Back out in the parking lot we saw a shuttle driver for the Metro Link who gave us perfect directions but by now we were a little panicked as we were nearing departure time. Armed with new and improved directions we re-traced our steps in search of a blue tin roof and a much more modest station than that of the historic Union Station — the original train station built in 1930 but no longer in service.

Tammy Wiens-Sorge and Stephany Jackson pose at the Lee's Summit train station.

The train ride was a really pleasurable experience. People on the train are friendlier than people traveling by plane. People talk to each other about their travel plans and there is camaraderie among the passengers. Train passengers can get up to walk around and go to the snack bar. No one minds paying for a Coke or a bag of chips because the ticket only cost $22 instead of the $220 the airlines charge and then grudgingly hand out peanuts. The train is so much less stressful than airport travel (once we found the station that is). We did not have to arrive 60-90 minutes prior to departure. We did not have to fit our liquids and gels into a one Ziploc bag. We did not have to take our shoes off or send our luggage through state-of-the-art metal detection scanners. Why is that? Think about it. Who rides the train? Who rides the plane? Who is living day to day? Who has a hefty life insurance policy?

Arrive by train, 1:19 p.m.
Lees Summit, Missouri

My brother-in-law, Bob Sorge, and his wife Marci, provided accommodation for us as they live in Lee's Summit. Bob and Marci are very involved in a prayer ministry in the Kansas City area: the International House of Prayer (IHOP) … No, they do not have pancakes

It is a mega-ministry in which people are gathered to prayer 24 hours a day seven days a week. They are praying for the world, for the nation, for the church … they are praying without ceasing until Jesus comes. The theological basis for the ministry is different from Presbyterian understanding of Scripture but that is not a barrier for Christians who are praying together. We found ourselves completely at home in the one body of Christ. As we joined our prayers to the prayers of the gathered community of IHOP we sensed that we were tasting a little bit of the heavenly banquet. It was a fitting stop for the mission of Praying Our Way to San Jose that we be surrounded by a community; so focused on prayer.

Monday evening, 6 p.m.
Host church: First Presbyterian of Lee’s Summit, The Rev. Ron Galvin
Also thanks to the Rev. Brian Ellison, Parkville Presbyterian Church and to the Rev. Allison Seed, chair of the General Assembly Council and pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Independence, Missouri.

The evening service at First Presbyterian in Lee's Summit was awesome. Who would ever have imagined such a great turnout for a worship service on a Monday night?

Allison delivered a sermon that only a daughter of the Presbyterian Church could preach. Believe it or not this will be Allison's 17th General Assembly. She was a YAD when she attended her first GA. She is a living history of our denomination and her love for the church was palpable. But she did not sugar coat her description of General Assembly. She spoke with the honesty and respect of a daughter who loves unwaveringly in spite of the parent’s flaws. Allison told believers that being Presbyterian is about more than our differences and debates. We are more than our overtures and judicial actions. We are the body of Christ and we are members of one another. I went to bed that night feeling really grateful to be Presbyterian and incredibly hopeful about the power and possibilities of the future that God has prepared for our denomination. I really believe our prayers are making a difference. I really believe the Holy Spirit will meet us all in San Jose in surprising ways. I am fully persuaded that God is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we can ask or imagine!

Update two

You can see a streaming video of Monday's prayer service by visiting the Lee's Summit Presbyterian Web site video archives. Click on the June 16 "Prayer Service" under the title "On Demand Video."

I'd especially recommend tuning in for Allison Seed's sermon which begins about 26 minutes into the video. This was day two of the trip. I've only sent out updates for day one and day two, because I haven't had Web access, but I will catch you all up on the rest of the trip as I am able. Tonight we are in Reno!

— Tammy Wiens-Sorge