PRAYER MEETING - A 30-minute meeting is held on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Prayer Room (E200) 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.

PRAYER ROOM (E200) - As a special gift to your church family, you may sign up, on a rotation basis, to be present in the Prayer Room during one of the services of Worship at 8:30 or 11 a.m. asking specifically for the Spirit's presence and work throughout the service and among the people as they worship. The Prayer Room is available Monday through Friday and has numerous resources for meditation, reflection, and prayer.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES - Include prayer vigils, breakfasts, seminars, and services (Taizé), for example the National Day of Prayer, Praise the Lord and Pass the Pasta, 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.

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.