Richard Russeth came to the Christian faith at House For All Sinners and Saints. He really never saw himself ever becoming a Jesus follower, but you know...it happens. Day before yesterday Richard's son in NYC became gravely ill.
24 hours, 14 minutes in the life of a praying church
6:41a Richard Russeth posts on FB
My son, Andrew, is in the hospital in NYC with severe abdominal pain. Since he had his appendix out years ago they are trying to figure this mystery out and we are a little worried. Prayers appreciated!
6:49 (Facebook) Nadia Bolz-Weber done.
6:48a Charlotte, Richard’s wife posts on the HFASS prayer list-serve:
Hello Hfass,
Richard's son, Andrew, is in the hospital in NYC with severe abdominal pain.
Since he had his appendix out years ago they are trying to figure this
mystery out and we are a little worried. Prayers appreciated!
-- Peace,
Charlotte
6:51a (facebook) Victoria Shotwell praying.
6:54 (facebook) Maria Gort Ashley prayers
7:17a Praying! megham
7:56a (Facebook) John-Elliott Kirk holding you all in the Light
8:20a Prayers for health. Andie
8:24a Praying for health. Catherine
8:31a Peace to you all. Stuart
8:54aPrayers for health and comfort! Mark
9:06a (Facebook) Russell Chemerisov Prayers with extra blessings to Andrew
9:17a (Facebook) Ana Erdaide ya got it
9:20a Prayers. mary
9:50a (facebook) Kathleen Russeth Coming Andrew's way. Keep us posted
Update:
10:23a Andrew Russeth is heading into emergency intestinal surgery now. Richard is
heading to the airport to NYC. Please pray for all that all goes well.
Charlotte
10:32a Richard posts on his FB wall: Andrew is preppring for emergancy surgery as I type - I am headed out there. Pls. pray for him.
10:36 (facebook) Peggy Stempson prayers
10:39am (facebook) Kathleen Russeth That will be a long flight. Sending energy.
10:41am (facebook) Aaron Hart Praying!
10:42a Prayers on the ground with Andrew, Richard, doctors and all. Jenny
10:53a Nadia posts on her Twitter and FBOne of my parishioners, Richard, has a son in NYC, Andrew, who is being prepped this minute for emergency intestinal surgery. pls pray
11:01 (Twitter) evordinand prayers.
11:09 (facebook) Maria Gort Ashley praying
11:09am (facebook) Maria Gort Ashley praying
11:11am(facebook) Khad Young Just saw Nadia's toot about it. I am praying, Richard (along with all of us at Metamorphosis).
11:14a (Twitter) @Khad Thank you for letting me know. Praying for Andrew and all who love him.
11:18a (Twitter) MhMorgan praying for Richard & Andrew as I type.
11:34 (facebook) Martin W. Eldred praying
11:51 (facebook) Joseph Winston Praying.
12:05 (Facebook) Terri Lynn Simon You got it!
12:06 (Twitter) Johnhedge1 sorry to hear that. Will be praying for the family.
12:14p Prayers for Andrew, the doctors, and all of you. Amy
12:23 (facebook) Carol Steele-Seip Grace and Peace for Richard's heart and soul...
12:24pm(facebook) Andie Lyons Lots of prayers for you, your son, and your entire family.
12:26p Richard calls Nadia before he boards plane to NYC
12:29pm(facebook) Mark Kille Praying, praying, praying.
12:34 Andrew Nakatani yes
12:37 Praying. Peace to all. Jim
12:55p (Twitter) @Ordindandy retrospective and present prayers from East London for NYC
1:08p (facebook) Patrice Helland Von Stroh Ditto.
1:51p (facebook) Erin Bents Martinson Lord, have mercy
2:14pm (facebook) Amanda Baker praying
2:28 (facebook) Scott Jenkins will do & tonight too!
2:33 (Twitter) @reverendvince praying. If he needs visitors, let me know....
2:39 Text from Nadia to Richard: I have Rev Vince – Jak Bakker’s co-pastor at Revolution NY offering a pastoral visit. Just let me know, he’s amazing. Also, just got a tweet from people praying in London.
2:44p For sure! Peace. JP
2:50pm (facebook) Cindy Krause Kennedy will do...hope all goes well. Keep us posted, Richard.
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4:55pm (facebook) Mary Robinson Hope everything goes well Richard...thinking of you and your family..
5:08 (facebook) Marsha Hodge Lord, please touch & heal Andrew!
5:11pm(facebook) Marsha Hodge Lord, please keep Andrew safe!
Update: 5:25p Hi, from richard:
Just managed to see Andrew before they threw us out of the recovery room for
the night. He had a million tubes in him but is on the road to recovery
after some pretty hard surgery. He was in a lot of pain until they got his
meds figured out. He says he now knows what a "10" is on the pain scale.
Poor kid. But he's on the mend thanks to all your prayers - keep them
coming! Thanks and blessings from NYC!!
6:47pm(facebook) Dana Black Please keep us updated!
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7:21pm (facebook) Jim Wigand Prayers from here, too...hope everything goes well!
8:09p update: Richard posts on his Facebook Richard Russeth First, thanks to everyone for all the prayers. It means a lot to everyone!
8:13 Richard Russeth Just managed to see Andrew before they threw us out of the recovery room for the night. He had a million tubes in him but is on the road to recovery after some pretty hard surgery. He was in a lot of pain until they got his meds figured out. He says he now knows what a "10" is on the pain scale. Poor kid. But he's ...on the mend thanks to all your prayers - keep them coming! Thanks and blessings from NYC!!
8:17p Praying - any news? Ellen
8:18p text from Nadia to Richard: Dear God please hold Andrew in your powerful and merciful hands and bring peace to Richard. In the name of Christ, Amen.
8:19 (facebook) Steve-Mary Millard Glad to hear Andrew is doing better. Glad you are there, Richard. Love and prayers.
8:30 (facebook) Nadia Bolz-Weber Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your loves sake. Amen. (BCP)
8:38 (facebook) Cindi Christie I am glad that things are looking better and wish Andrew a swift recovery.
8:40p Thank God! Have been keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers and
will continue to. Brandi
9:21p (Facebook) Richard Russeth Thanks to one and all for the prayers. Andrew made it safely through surgery. could be in the hospital for up to a week though. We shall see... keep'em coming!
11:09 (facebook) Minna Vu Happy to hear that Andrew will be fine.
11:27 (facebook) Marsha Hodge Praise the Lord!
11:28p (facebook) Khad Young Still praying, Richard. Much love and prayers.
6:55a email from Richard to Nadia
Thanks for all your prayers and support - its my first experience with the support of a Christian community (well, any community for that matter) and its pretty f*cking amazing.
Richard
Wow, just wow. Thank you so much for sharing this experience of community that reaches out in time of crisis via any medium possible.
Posted by: Kimberly | October 09, 2010 at 07:17 AM
It really is f*cking amazing, isn't it? I was in on the praying too, even though I didn't tweet back, and even though I don't even actually know Nadia, or Richard or Andrew.
Another miracle of community is the tools of social media, IMHO.
(And praise be to God!)
Posted by: Sr. Becky | October 09, 2010 at 04:32 PM
What a beautiful fucking story! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Posted by: Existential Punk | October 09, 2010 at 07:24 PM
Nadia, I read this and I am reminded again you pastor a church. No, not one of "those" institutions we usually think of but a community of people who love Jesus and care for each other. What a wonderful thing.
Posted by: Donald Dunn | October 12, 2010 at 04:51 AM