Brookville Community Lighthouse

Members of the Brookville Community Lighthouse met on Monday, August 11, 2025, to pray for the families and school personnel of the Brookville Area School District as they prepared to go back to school. Following Matthew 18:19-20, we divided into groups of 2 or 3 and traveled to the local schools to anoint* the grounds and pray.

Our small, rural public school district encompasses approximately 262 square miles within Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, and serves a population of approximately 12,500. In all, we visited 8 schools that serve children ranging in age from preschool through high school. We also visited 5 nursery schools and daycare centers.

Our main theme/prayer was Psalm 91. We prayed for Holy Spirit’s Presence to come upon the schools, students, teachers, administrators, and staff. We prayed for wisdom and discernment, that the Fruit of the Spirit would grow and flourish, and that a hedge of protection would surround them.

One group shared that, “We felt a strong sense of the Lord’s anointing at one of the daycares we visited. We put down the bread and poured out the wine in the grass beside the parking lot. We prayed that the children would be able to learn about the Lord and for their protection.”

Next, we gathered at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds to pray over an upcoming community event where a drag show was scheduled. Finally, we returned to the Municipal Building for a time of fellowship and ministry.

Each group received a jar of oil and wine and a packet containing unleavened bread, mustard seeds, and salt. These elements all have spiritual significance. Oil represents Holy Spirit; unleavened bread and wine, Jesus’ body and blood; mustard seeds, faith; and salt, purification, preservation, and friendship/deep relationship. These things were used to anoint the school grounds.

Each participant received a document so they would understand their meaning and significance of the actions we took as we prayed at each site.

Symbolism in the Anointing Elements:

• Oil symbolizes the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It has a very specific purpose. Oil marks a personal place that’s a bridge between Heaven and Earth. Anointing oil was used for religious ceremonies, grooming, and medical treatments in the Bible. Today, oil can be used to anoint someone, but the power is in the One to whom you pray, not in the oil itself.
  
  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” – Luke 4:18

• Wine symbolizes the cleansing and the saving power of the blood of Christ to our souls.
  
  “In the same manner, He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’” – 1 Cor. 11:25

• Bread represents the body of Jesus that was broken for us. It is a symbol of the living Lord Jesus, the giver of life and the Word of God.
  
  Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35
  
  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1
  
• Salt was a precious commodity in biblical times. It symbolizes purity, preservation, and a sacrificial gift. “Every sacrifice offered to God should be pure, should be enduring, and should cost something.” (David Guzik)
  
  Salt also spoke of friendship or deep relationships. According to ancient customs, a bond of friendship was established through the eating of salt. It was said that once you had eaten a man’s salt, you were his friend for life. God wanted every sacrifice to be a reminder of this desired relationship with us.
  
  You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of your covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.” – Leviticus 2:13
  
• Mustard seed serves as a reminder of the transformative power of faith. It teaches us that with unwavering belief, we can conquer the seemingly impossible and inspire those around us.
  
  Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:20