news article
From the Desk of Bishop Burgos: Rebuilding a Vibrant Life of Prayer – Together!
February 10, 2026 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor’s Note: The following message was sent to United Methodists of Upper New York on Tuesday, February 10 on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez, inviting the Susquehanna–Upper New York Area into a renewed focus on prayer during Lent and in the months ahead.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:12
Dear family of God,
Grace and peace from Jesus Christ be with you.
Prayer is not just a spiritual practice—it is the heartbeat of the Christian life. Scripture reminds us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), grounding our lives in continual communion with God. Through prayer, we stay rooted in God’s presence, participate in God’s life, allow God to participate in ours, and take part in God’s transforming work in the world.
This year’s Church Profiles, updated annually by congregational leadership, revealed a concerning reality: only 45% of SUS–UNY congregations that completed their profile reported having an intentional prayer ministry. Faith communities that do not cultivate prayer miss a key aspect of discipleship, leading to a lack of spiritual strength and missional impact.
In response, (re)building a vibrant life of prayer will be a key priority for the next three years in SUS-UNY. Our goal is for every United Methodist congregation in the Susquehanna and Upper New York Area to foster a consistent devotional life and develop an intentional prayer ministry. We will offer learning opportunities and practical resources to support this work.
Prayer opens our hearts to God’s sustaining love and deepens our relationship with Christ. Jesus himself modeled this rhythm, often withdrawing to pray (Luke 5:16). In prayer, we cultivate humility, repentance, compassion, gratitude, and love. As a chief means of grace, prayer becomes a channel through which God’s healing and liberating power flows, reshaping and renewing us—echoing the psalmist’s cry, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
Communal prayer strengthens trust, invites honesty, and creates space for the Holy Spirit to move among us. Jesus promised, “Where two or three gather in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). Communal prayer shapes our identity as God’s people and unites us in shared mission and in our dependence on God’s grace.
This Lent, I invite us to renew our shared commitment to prayer. Additional resources will be offered beginning this spring and continuing in the months/years ahead. For now, I commend the following tools for nurturing daily devotion and sustaining a life of prayer. Every SUS‑UNY disciple and servant leader is strongly encouraged to embrace intentional and consistent devotional practices:
- The Upper Room Devotional Guide serves as a tool for short daily spiritual nourishment, focusing on connecting personal faith stories with biblical themes and prayer.
- Disciplines Devotional Guide - Based on the Revised Common Lectionary, it offers in-depth daily scripture, reflection, and prayer to deepen spiritual life.
- The Methodist Book of Prayer provides complete texts for Morning Prayers and Evening Prayers to nurture a vibrant prayer life in keeping with the rhythms of the Christian calendar.
I am praying for a season of revival! A renewed life of prayer will be the foundation as we form disciples who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously so that lives and communities are transformed through Christ’s healing and liberating love.
Together in the journey,
Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez
The United Methodist Church
Serving the Susquehanna and Upper New York Episcopal Area