news article
Participate in Day of Prayer on April 23
February 23, 2016 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On April 23, members of the Upper New York Conference will observe a 24-hour day of prayer for the 2016 General Conference session, which meets May 10-20 in Portland, Ore. In a statement late last year, the Council of Bishops “invited each of the annual conferences to host a 24-hour prayer effort on a specific date, with the intent of creating a groundswell of prayer in the days leading up to the General Conference.” Click here to read the full statement.
The event serves as “a meaningful way to focus spiritually on the experience, as well as to surround the delegates and church leaders with prayer for a General Conference that inspires us in our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” according to the statement.
“The desire to lift up the delegates, the visitors, the conversations, the decisions that will be central to the Church’s General Conference was an act of faithfulness that resonated with me,” said Nancy Dibelius, who is coordinating the UNY Conference’s day of prayer. “And I, too, will pray that ‘God would give them an understanding and loving heart; that all will have a spirit of humility and a desire to do God’s will.’ Whatever my personal beliefs may be, I hope to be humble enough to set those aside and to pray for God’s deep desire, God’s dream for the Church and this particular stream of God’s Church. I am hopeful that we, as a Conference, can embrace and live into the intent for this day.”
Dibelius said each district has the freedom to structure the day in “whatever way seems appropriate.”
She wants to insure that at least one member of the Conference is praying each hour throughout the day. For the period from midnight to 8 a.m. and the period from 8 p.m. to midnight, the intent would be to have a traditional prayer vigil, where individuals sign up for one-hour windows and can pray at a location of their choosing. For the period from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., it is hoped that at least one church in each district will serve as a host church where individuals can come together in prayer for a period of time of their choosing.
Each district has been asked to invite someone from their district to serve as the district coordinator. This individual will work with the District Leadership Team to select a host church or churches, consider which ideas to implement, work with the host church, provide any supplies, and disseminate information and guidelines about the event. A list of district coordinators will be released at a later date.
Protestant prayer bead strands – which will be created, prayed over on April 23, and presented to each delegate and visitor to the 2016 General Conference session – will also be a part of the day. Click here to see a full list of Upper New York delegates.
For resources for the day of prayer – including videos, information about the prayer beads, and “60 Days of Prayer” – click here.
If you have any questions about the UNY Conference’s Day of Prayer, contact Dibelius at (518) 369-9147 or nancy.dibelius@gmail.com.