Prayer
The Prayer Ministry is a vital and growing ministry here at John Wesley United Methodist Church . Here are some of the ways we live our faith and devotion:
PRAYER CHAPEL - The Prayer Chapel which is located off the narthex of the sanctuary is available for meditation, reflection, and prayer. Numerous resources are available to help focus your thoughts and prayers.
PRAYER REQUESTS - Shared from the congregation, requests for prayer are distributed to prayer team members via email. During the week, team members, in the places where they are, include these concerns in their prayers holding them in trust and maintaining confidentiality.
PRAYER MEETING - A 30-minute meeting is held on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Prayer Chapel of John Wesley United Methodist Church. This is a blessed time, as concerns of the church family, our community, nation, and world are lifted both silently and verbally. Everyone is welcome!
ALTAR PRAYER TEAM - Members of our church family receive training in order to pray with others. Team members are present, on a rotation basis, following each worship service to offer prayer and praise.
PRAYER BLANKET MINISTRY - This ministry involves a prayer blanket/lap cover gifted to individuals experiencing serious health concerns. The prayer cover extends a tangible blessing, a sacramental gift of the healing prayers offered by the church family. Each blanket will be dedicated in prayer and anointed with oil, lifting the recipient, by name, in prayer.
PRAYER RESOURCES - Periodically we provide resources to unite the church family with daily Bible readings and prayer reflections in order to focus our thoughts and prayers.
GRIP (Generations Reaching in Prayer) - Are you a grandparent who prays for your grandchildren? Are you a person who prays for nieces, nephews, or other young people you love? Have you ever wondered about the world these children will inherit? Then join Generations Reaching In Prayer (GRIP). This group meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Prayer Chapel for guided and silent prayer. Open to anyone desiring to pray. See God work in mighty ways! Bring your neighbors and friends.
PRAYERWALKING - Prayerwalking is simply praying with purpose as you walk. The biblical roots behind prayerwalking are found in Luke 10 when Jesus appointed 72 of His followers to go out in pairs to prepare the way for Him to come. Our walking track, located on the third floor of the Activity Center, is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
VIRTUAL PRAYER ROOM - The online Prayer Connection is a way you can pray and even receive prayer at home. You can connect with our church family by logging on and praying through the stations. We encourage you to include your own requests on the "Personal Prayer Requests" page. Prayer requests posted to the Prayer Connection room will be able to be viewed by anyone logging on to the site. Use first name only, please. Concerning specific need for prayer, please be responsible to know that person(s) for whom you request prayer, wish to have the concern shared. Prayers will be posted within 24 hours. If you wish to share a confidential prayer request, please contact Reverend Pam Jackson, Pastor to Ministries of Prayer.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES - Include prayer vigils, breakfasts, seminars, and services (Taizé), for example the National Day of Prayer, and Thanksgiving Celebration.
Prayer and Fasting - What is the connection between prayer and fasting? Fasting is not a diet; it is a discipline that enables us to focus our attention toward prayer. Fasting can give us a great sensitivity to hear God. When you are hungry …pray…or you may say, “feast on God.” This turns our thoughts from ourselves to focus toward the heart of God.
What is the pattern for the Wesley fast? Each Thursday evening, after the evening meal, until mid-afternoon on each Friday, John Wesley would not take solid food but fasted and focused much of his time in prayer.
Who is invited to participate in the “Wesley fast?" John Wesley expected the “preachers” to participate, and he wanted all of the Methodist leaders and people to follow this discipline.
Why follow this pattern? Methodist people are invited to discover the power in this regular discipline that John Wesley followed for a half a century. For Wesley, the more important reason for fasting was that fasting is a help to prayer. John Wesley wrote, "When you seek God with fasting added to prayer, you cannot seek His face in vain," and "I advise you to keep...a day of fasting and prayer."
How should I pray? Be led by the Holy Spirit. Fasting, a personal, voluntary humbling of the heart before God, is a worship activity that increases spiritual receptivity by creating a climate for the Holy Spirit to speak.
God bless your prayers and fasting. God bless your faithfulness to Jesus.
For more information concerning John Wesley's Prayer Ministry, contact Reverend Pamela Jackson in the church office at 281-444-2112 .