Day 20 of "27-Day Prayer & Fasting Journey" with Rev. Thadius Sales

Greetings in the name of Christ. 

My name is Thadius Sales and I am the Presiding Elder of the Pennsylvania West York/Adams district in the Northeast Conference of the Global Methodist Church.  Welcome to Day 20 of the 27 Days of Prayer as we prepare for our Annual Conference gathering on May 8-10 in Cortland, NY.

The eight churches of the Pennsylvania West York/Adams district are located in the south-central part of the state of Pennsylvania. As the churches, laity, and clergy in our district continue to draw closer to one another, I find that there is an increasing hunger to grow in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ, with churches around our district hosting many opportunities to grow and learn together. People in our district not only serve in their local church contexts but also in a variety of ways around the Annual Conference. There is a desire for service, for being the hands and feet of Jesus, and a desire to see this movement of the Global Methodist Church grow in strength, effectiveness, and most importantly faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

The churches that currently make up this district are Calvary Methodist Church of Dillsburg, Centenary Global Methodist Church, Chestnut Grove Church, First Church Hanover, Grace Church of Hanover, Idaville Global Methodist Church, Mt. Victory United Christian Church, and York Springs Global Methodist Church. We are asking that you pray for us today that we will faithfully live into our shared mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ and to spread scriptural holiness across the globe.

We in the Pennsylvania West York/Adams district are eager to see many of you at Annual Conference in May.  We encourage you to use these days of preparation to hear God’s Word and pray with us as we prepare to fan the flame that the Holy Spirit has kindled in us all.  

Here is today’s focus Scripture passage from Acts 2:37-42

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

This is the Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

Today’s Prayer Focus

A new thing was happening in those heady early days of the Church, and those touched by the Gospel message did not know what to do next. “Repent and be baptized,” Peter said. Words as true today as they were then. But, then what? The Book of Acts says that those thousands gathered together. Center your prayers this day on the communal aspect of life together. Among the many who will gather at the Northeast Annual Conference, most will be new to each other. As the participants learn together, eat together, and pray together for three days in May, pray that such fellowship results in new connections, new friends, and renewed spiritual encouragement for the journey ahead. 

Today’s Suggested Prayer (based on “And Are We Yet Alive,” by Charles Wesley, and “Blest Be the Tie That Binds,” by John Fawcett)

And are we yet alive, O Lord?
Out of all the troubles we have seen,
the mighty conflicts past,
fightings without and fears within,
are we yet alive?
We are alive, for you, Lord,
have brought us through by your love.
As those who gather at Annual Conference
learn, pray, and share meals together,
forge among them the blest tie that binds
so that hearts united in Christian love,
and the fellowship of kindred minds,
is like to that above.
We ask this in the name of Christ. Amen.

You can find this prayer, and all the other prayers of these 27 Days, on the
Conference website, northeastgmc.org.

May the Lord richly bless your faithful prayers. Amen.