<p> PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR DELEGATION Clergy: Tim Riss, William Shillady, Noel Chin, Denise Smartt Sears; and alternates, Vicki Flippin, Kun Sam Cho, Sara Thompson Tweedy, Constance Pak Laypersons: Fred Brewington, Dorothee Benz, Dorlimar Lebròn Malavé, Carolyn Hardin Engelhardt, and alternates, Roena Littlejohn, Ximena Varas, Ross Williams, and Rashid Warner</p><p>SAMPLE PRAYERS FOR USE PERSONALLY OR WITH A GROUP Psalm 127:1 ~ for God to build the Church Most High God, builder of the Church of Jesus Christ, we place our 2016 General Conference in your capable hands, humbly acknowledging that unless you do the building, our human efforts are in vain. By your Holy Spirit, position yourself within every communication, deliberation, and decision of this holy conferencing, that you remain the sole builder of your United Methodist Church, working by your grace through each Dear Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ, member. We pray in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Grace and peace to you in this Epiphany season! In May, some 864 delegates and thousands of others will gather in Portland, Ore., for Ezekiel 34:23 ~ for God’s guidance the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, which is held every four years. Great Shepherd of this vast flock, hear our prayer. Assemble your sheep safely together Many proposals will be offered, many decisions made, many inspirational moments will for this holy conferencing in body, mind, and spirit! We count on you to guide every facet be streamed across the world and we will be reminded once again that our mission is to – from arrangement of the facility to the details of holy worship, from preparations of the make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The theme is plenary speakers to all who lead formal discussion, from small group gatherings to the “Therefore Go!” prayer closet of each attendee. Saturate every conversation with your holy presence that The Council of Bishops has proposed that we circle the General Conference – and the focus remains on setting the best path for this our United Methodist Church to make indeed the whole church – with a mantle of prayer. We are being invited as the New York strong, loving, and devoted disciples of your Son Jesus Christ for the transformation of the Annual Conference to engage with millions of United Methodists in 131 days of prayer to world! We pray in his holy name, Amen. seek God’s yearning for us as a denomination. Each conference is asked to spend one 24- hour period in prayer. Our assigned date is January 30, a day on which our own delegation Ephesians 3:10 ~ for God’s wisdom to prevail will be meeting as a part of their preparation. Holy God, we dedicate this 2016 General Conference to you, asking that your manifold I enthusiastically invite you to commit a time to pray, asking for God’s guidance for wisdom be made known and manifest throughout the Church of Jesus Christ. Enlighten all who will be at General Conference 2016. Please make a commitment now to sign up our delegates’ hearts and minds to the very foundation of all that you want carried out at during a specific hour as an individual. You may also feel called to hold a special prayer this time. And as our knowledge and trust in your wisdom grows, we will be careful to time or vigil as a congregation or Disciple Bible Study or Sunday School class or church give all glory and honor to our Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen. board or committee or prayer group or with a gathering of family and friends. The back of this bulletin insert includes suggested prayers and a list of the names of 1 Corinthians 13 ~ that love will prevail the NYAC delegates. Additional resources for the prayer vigil including signup details and God of love, we pray that your Holy Spirit will so penetrate our General Conference that information about General Conference can be found at the top of the conference home every attendee will marvel at the peace of your presence, and demonstrate the magnitude page, www.nyac.com. I am grateful to the team of Lisa Bosworth, Joanne Utley and of Christ’s patience, kindness, and humility. Abate any tendency toward insisting upon Barbara Eastman who have worked to develop this web page that will help us to come one’s own way, toward jealousy, manipulation, or provocation. By your Holy Spirit grant together as one to lift our voices to God. to the whole heart of this Conference the love that bears all things, believes all things, We especially invite you to pray for those delegates from our conference and indeed hopes all things, and endures all things. We ask you in Christ’s name to mobilize for all of us who love God and love the church and whose lives will be impacted by everything about this gathering that comes from your heart and paralyze all that does not. decisions made in May. May we all be re-committed to serving Jesus Christ and all of With deep gratitude for the example of your Son Jesus and in his name, we pray. Amen. God’s people! Proverbs 3:5 ~ for the stamina of servants, delegates and attendees In Christ's love, God of purpose, thank you for all who are offering their time in service to you and to your holy church. We lift up every attendee at this year’s General Conference for all the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual stamina this demanding time requires. Let the Bishop Jane Allen Middleton mind of Christ so prevail that all who are in Portland marvel at the faith and fortitude you supply. As our joy in you gives us strength, make your holy joy evident throughout! We pray in the name of Christ the Lord our strength, Amen. PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR DELEGATION Clergy: Tim Riss, William Shillady, Noel Chin, Denise Smartt Sears; and alternates, Vicki Flippin, Kun Sam Cho, Sara Thompson Tweedy, Constance Pak Laypersons: Fred Brewington, Dorothee Benz, Dorlimar Lebròn Malavé, Carolyn Hardin Engelhardt, and alternates, Roena Littlejohn, Ximena Varas, Ross Williams, and Rashid Warner</p><p>SUGGESTED PRAYERS FOR USE PERSONALLY OR WITH A GROUP Psalm 127:1 ~ for God to build the Church Most High God, builder of the Church of Jesus Christ, we place our 2016 General Conference in your capable hands, humbly acknowledging that unless you do the building, our human efforts are in vain. By your Holy Spirit, position yourself within every communication, deliberation, and decision of this holy conferencing, that you remain the sole builder of your United Methodist Church, working by your grace through each Dear Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ, member. We pray in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Grace and peace to you in this Epiphany season! In May, some 864 delegates and thousands of others will gather in Portland, Ore., for Ezekiel 34:23 ~ for God’s guidance the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, which is held every four years. Great Shepherd of this vast flock, hear our prayer. Assemble your sheep safely together Many proposals will be offered, many decisions made, many inspirational moments will for this holy conferencing in body, mind, and spirit! We count on you to guide every facet be streamed across the world and we will be reminded once again that our mission is to – from arrangement of the facility to the details of holy worship, from preparations of the make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The theme is plenary speakers to all who lead formal discussion, from small group gatherings to the “Therefore Go!” prayer closet of each attendee. Saturate every conversation with your holy presence that The Council of Bishops has proposed that we circle the General Conference – and the focus remains on setting the best path for this our United Methodist Church to make indeed the whole church – with a mantle of prayer. We are being invited as the New York strong, loving, and devoted disciples of your Son Jesus Christ for the transformation of the Annual Conference to engage with millions of United Methodists in 131 days of prayer to world! We pray in his holy name, Amen. seek God’s yearning for us as a denomination. Each conference is asked to spend one 24- hour period in prayer. Our assigned date is January 30, a day on which our own delegation Ephesians 3:10 ~ for God’s wisdom to prevail will be meeting as a part of their preparation. Holy God, we dedicate this 2016 General Conference to you, asking that your manifold I enthusiastically invite you to commit a time to pray, asking for God’s guidance for wisdom be made known and manifest throughout the Church of Jesus Christ. Enlighten all who will be at General Conference 2016. Please make a commitment now to sign up our delegates’ hearts and minds to the very foundation of all that you want carried out at during a specific hour as an individual. You may also feel called to hold a special prayer this time. And as our knowledge and trust in your wisdom grows, we will be careful to time or vigil as a congregation or Disciple Bible Study or Sunday School class or church give all glory and honor to our Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen. board or committee or prayer group or with a gathering of family and friends. The back of this bulletin insert includes suggested prayers and a list of the names of 1 Corinthians 13 ~ that love will prevail the NYAC delegates. Additional resources for the prayer vigil including signup details and God of love, we pray that your Holy Spirit will so penetrate our General Conference that information about General Conference can be found at the top of the conference home every attendee will marvel at the peace of your presence, and demonstrate the magnitude page, www.nyac.com. I am grateful to the team of Lisa Bosworth, Joanne Utley and of Christ’s patience, kindness, and humility. Abate any tendency toward insisting upon Barbara Eastman who have worked to develop this web page that will help us to come one’s own way, toward jealousy, manipulation, or provocation. By your Holy Spirit grant together as one to lift our voices to God. to the whole heart of this Conference the love that bears all things, believes all things, We especially invite you to pray for those delegates from our conference and indeed hopes all things, and endures all things. We ask you in Christ’s name to mobilize for all of us who love God and love the church and whose lives will be impacted by everything about this gathering that comes from your heart and paralyze all that does not. decisions made in May. May we all be re-committed to serving Jesus Christ and all of With deep gratitude for the example of your Son Jesus and in his name, we pray. Amen. God’s people! Proverbs 3:5 ~ for the stamina of servants, delegates and attendees In Christ's love, God of purpose, thank you for all who are offering their time in service to you and to your holy church. We lift up every attendee at this year’s General Conference for all the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual stamina this demanding time requires. Let the Bishop Jane Allen Middleton mind of Christ so prevail that all who are in Portland marvel at the faith and fortitude you supply. As our joy in you gives us strength, make your holy joy evident throughout! We pray in the name of Christ the Lord our strength, Amen.</p>