Prayers in Marker: Resurrection OB at the Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off

Ocean Beach is known for its big heart and unique spirit, and that was on full display at this summer’s OB Street Fair and Chili Cook Off when tens of thousands of people descended on our beachside neighborhood for music, chili, and the unmistakable local vibe. In the midst of it all, Resurrection OB set up a booth with a simple mission: to offer something real, something refreshing—for the body and for the soul.

We didn’t have chili or stuff to sell or prizes to win–what we offered was free water for the thirsty and space for the hopeful. Under our pop-up, next to the coolers filled with chilled water, we set up a large board with a simple yet profound question at the top: “What is your dream for your neighborhood?”

We weren’t sure what to expect. It was a street fair, after all. People were here for the Hodad’s burger eating contest, the beer garden, the artists alley, the kids’ fun zone, or to catch some live music and soak up the sun. Who is going to stop and reflect–to write, to share something heartfelt? And, at first, many hesitated–a few said they didn’t have a “dream.” That word felt a little too big, too loaded, too abstract. 

That’s when Michael Dotson, a member of Resurrection, reframed the question, asking, “What are your hopes for your neighborhood?” Suddenly, the word dream felt less abstract, and the markers started moving.

Again and again, people paused at our booth. Some stopped for a drink of water, but many were drawn by the board, curious about what others had written. …then they picked up a marker.

“We all get along! And affordable rent! PLS”

“For all to be loved & accepted”

“Heal Cindy”

“Kindness”

“Know your neighbors.”

“Empathy for the brokenhearted.”

“To just walk again.”

That’s when another Resurrection member, John McAteer, realized what was happening. These weren’t just dreams or hopes. They were prayers. Prayers from and for the world outside our booth. Prayers for neighbors, for family, for community. And many of the people who wrote them likely didn’t realize they were praying. Isn’t it great how that’s just part of the mystery and grace of it all?

The board filled throughout the day, but we were surprised by the volume. It wasn’t just a few reflective individuals; it was dozens and dozens. People who didn’t think they had anything to say suddenly found they did, and what they shared was honest, heartfelt, and often remarkably vulnerable.

We believe the church’s job isn’t just to say prayers—it’s to collect them. To listen. To make space for the longings of people who don’t know where to put their longings. To treat a street fair booth on Newport Avenue as sacred ground

By the end of the day, our board was packed, covered in the handwriting of our neighbors.

The next morning, when we gathered for worship at Resurrection OB, we brought the board inside, filled with the prayers of our community. One by one, church members walked up to it, quietly reading what had been shared. And then something beautiful happened, we all kind of started nodding in agreement. Recognizing each truth, each prayer that had been written. Realizing that nearly every prayer on that board was one we shared, too.

There’s something powerful about seeing our individual hopes reflected back to us through the voices of others. That’s what the Church can be—a place where we discover we are not alone in our longing for something better.

In the Episcopal tradition, we pray the Collect early in the service. A Collect is more than just a formulaic prayer—it is meant to gather (hence the name “collect”) the prayers of the people and focus them into a single, unified voice. John McAteer reflected during church that, “These posts became a kind of Collect; the collected hopes–or prayers–of our neighbors.”

That Sunday, our prayers weren’t just printed in the bulletin or read aloud; they were handwritten in marker. Posted on paper. Visible in color. From the people of Ocean Beach and beyond. And we joined them in prayer. 

If you would like to learn more about Resurrection Ocean Beach, please visit ResurrectionOB.org or join us on any Sunday at 10:00 am for worship.