pbb.7 LINE (ELMHURST/FLUSHING) November 16th, 2019 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

GATHER The 7 Subway Line or The International Express, as Elmhurst (formerly Newtown) is a neighborhood in it is dubbed by the Department of City Planning, “is Queens bounded by Roosevelt Avenue to the simultaneously a trip around the world and a voyage to north, and the Long Island Expressway to the south quintessential Queens”. As a result The International with Junction Boulevard to the east, and the New Express is in many ways “representative of the York Connecting Railroad on the west. Originally American Immigrant experience. Indeed the established in 1652 by the Dutch as Middenburgh, relationship between transportation, immigrant the village was renamed Newtown in 1664 by the settlement patterns, and commerce, evident along The British. It was the center of a population of free International Express is a present-day echo of similar, blacks and slaves in the early 19th century, with a albeit grander-scale schemes which build this nation burial ground associated with the St. Mark's AME such as the Trans-Continental Railroad. And the Church (Corona Ave, 90th St). In 1897, the town immigrants who opened the first Mexican bakery or was renamed "Elmhurst" (grove of elms) in 1897. Indian sari shop, for example, were certainly pioneers of sorts. The international Express is Prior to World War II, Elmhurst had become almost a living heritage trail. Its route may be set in steel but exclusively a Jewish and Italian neighborhood. its destinations are ever-changing. New sites of interest Following the war, it evolved into one of the most are constantly emerging as new New Yorkers settle ethnically diverse neighborhoods in . alongside it”.1 While it now starts at Hudson Yards on By the 1980s ,there were persons from 112 nations 34th Street and 11th Avenue, only a few years ago it in residence, and diversity continues to increase stretched from Times Square (42nd Street) to Flushing with Latinos and Chinese Americans as relatively . This is where we will begin. most numerous. Natural gas storage structures built in the early 1900s were removed in 2001 and Times Square is a major commercial intersection, redeveloped as the Elmhurst Park in 2011. entertainment center, and tourist destination in Roosevelt Ave which runs north along the Elmhurst Manhattan. Located from West 42nd Street to West border has become notorious for human 47th Streets, between Broadway and 7th Avenue, trafficking. Times Square is sometimes referred to as “The Crossroads of the World,” or “The Center of the READ Universe.” It is one of the world’s most visited tourist Psalm 24:1-2 (NIV) attractions, drawing approximately 50 million visitors annually. Approximately 330,000 people pass through 1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, Times Square daily. the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it on the seas We will take the 7 train at West 42nd and 7th Ave to and established it on the waters. Jackson Heights - Roosevelt Ave. We will prayer walk and meet back at the 90th St - Elmhurst Ave. RESPOND Re-read and meditate on the verse in light of what STOP 1. Elmhurst, Queens has been shared about Elmhurst. What stands out for you?

What are some ways you can experience the beauty of God’s world in your daily life? Where can you go for recreation and rest?

What have you heard about the Queens Museum and the surrounding community that calls you to prayer?

PRAY 1. Pray for the beauty of the gospel to be preached UNDERSTAND faithfully to the many nations that reside in Elmhurst. • Elmhurst has the second largest Chinatown in Queens (first in Flushing) 2. Pray that there would be more communities of • Population: approximately 88,000 faith: the multiplication of churches + churches would work together! • Median age: 34.8 • 33% Asian, 54% Hispanic, 6% White, 4% Black, 3. Pray for those who are trafficked, those 1% Native American, 3% Other experiencing homelessness, undocumented, and spiritually poor. • 35.8 % native born • 24.4% have BA degree or higher 4. Pray for affordable housing. • 84% speak language other than English at home 5. Pray for Elmhurst hospital and the need for • 12.9% below poverty level translation services, and care for the mentally ill.

6. Anything else that was shared.

1 from the booklet The International Express (Woodhaven: Queens Council on the Arts, 2000) pbb.7 LINE Queens cont’d November 16, 2019 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

STOP 2. Flushing, Queens READ Exodus 33:13-14 (NIV) 13 “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

RESPOND Take a moment to re-read and meditate on this text in light of what has been shared about Flushing. What stands out for you?

How can you pray or advocate for the people in your community?

PRAY UNDERSTAND 1. We give thanks to God for the diversity that exists in this area. Pray for any tensions that may • Flushing-Main Street station is the busiest subway stop exist between different ethnic groups and that outside of Manhattan with approximately 19 million long-standing offenses may be healed. Pray for travelers annually second generation children and family dynamics. • Population: approximately 82,000 2. Pray for employers and employees in local • Median age: 43 restaurants and businesses—that practices are • 67% Asian origin, 70% of which are mutually beneficial and wages, just. Pray also for the of Chinese descent provision of multilingual personnel at area hospitals, • 29% native born precincts, and other civic buildings to serve the significant immigrant population. • 27% have BA degree or higher • 84% speak language other than English at home 3. Pray for affordable housing for community residents, especially for the elderly; seniors make up • 23% live below poverty level more than one-third of the population in Queens Originally inhabited by the Matinecock tribe, Flushing Community District 7. was first settled by the Dutch and has provided a safe 4. Pray for protection against an increase in gang harbor for many immigrant communities from around violence in the Bland Houses. the world. Historically, Flushing is known as the birthplace of religious freedom in the United 5. Pray against human trafficking, for proper legal States; when Governor Stuyvesant banned Quakers standards to protect victims. Pray for healing for from settling in the area, residents of Flushing wrote those who have escaped and workers ministering to the Flushing Remonstrance - a precursor to the Bill of them. Rights, advocating for freedom of religion and in essence welcoming the Quakers. Flushing eventually 6. Praise God for the Queens Public Library and for became a refuge for those escaping religious the key resources it provides for the community. persecution, and in the 1800s, for African Americans fleeing the South and drawn by the tolerance shown 7. Anything else that was shared. toward Quakers.

During the 20th century, the population of Flushing SHARE grew exponentially with the development of rail lines and the passage of the Hart-Cellar Immigration Act of As you pray today, connect with others on our 1965 that opened up immigration to the United Facebook page – share a photo of the States. Today Flushing is the commercial and neighborhoods we are praying from, or share a transportation hub of Queens, and a center for Asian prayer item! Remember to include #CSNYpbb. life and culture in New York with a larger population of Chinese than in Chinatown. There are also EAT significant communities of immigrants from Ecuador, Korea, India, Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Shanghai You Garden (135-33 40th Rd, NYC) Colombia. New Mulan Restaurant (136-17 39th Ave, NYC) Kimganae Restaurant (39-12 Union St, NYC) Pho Bang Restaurant (41-07 Kissena Blvd, NYC) Malay Restaurant (135-17 40th Rd, NYC) Ten Seconds (135-25 40th Rd, NYC)