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Young clergy pray for UMC's future
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Got a vision for the future of the United Methodist Church other than decline and death, as current statistics seem to be indicating? Me neither. Moi non plus. Nope (although I have a long list of things I wish would change!).
Not knowing may be a good thing, because in scriptural language, "eye has not seen nor ear heard" the kind of future that God has in mind for us wayward humans. The problem is, we humans so often forget to turn to God when it comes time to set out on the journey toward that fabled "undiscovered country" called the future.
That's why a group of young United Methodist clergy -- yes, there are some -- have come up with an idea: a 40-day period of prayer focused on renewal, hope and clarity for the UMC.
According to the UMC Young Clergy website, "In the spring of 2009, an idea was proposed to a group of young United Methodist leaders who hope to aid in the renewal of The United Methodist Church. Quite simply, the idea was to turn to God in prayer."
The project, "40 Days of Prayer for The United Methodist Church," began and has been developed through blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other social media forums, says the site's introduction. And now the prayer effort seems to be spreading like a viral video.
The prayer campaign began Monday. Each day, one of 40 young United Methodist leaders will publish a prayer on the UMC Young Clergy website. The leaders represent 22 different annual (regional) conferences. The group is both geographically and theologically diverse, but united in its commitment to prayerful discernment of God's future for the UMC.
One of the leaders, the Rev. Benjamin A. Simpson, has edited the prayers into a paperback book that's also available as a PDF download. Profits from book sales will go toward the UMC's partner, NothingButNets.net, which helps raise money for the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets in malaria-prone countries.
All United Methodists everywhere, and those who support them, are invited to join in the prayer effort. As the clergy say on their web site, they're "praying for softened hearts, sensitivity to God's leading, and discernment for how The United Methodist Church can best be in ministry with and for all people."
For additional information: To purchase "40 Days of Prayer for The United Methodist Church." http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/40-days-of-prayer-for-the-united-methodist-church/7158447 RSS: http://umcyoungclergy.com/prayer/rss Twitter: use the hashtag #pray40 when talking about the prayer campaign on twitter |
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