Day 21 of "27-Day Prayer & Fasting Journey" with Rev. David Layser

Greetings in the name of Christ.

My name is David Layser and I am the Presiding Elder of the Pennsylvania Northeast (Wilkes-Barre) District in the Northeast Conference of the Global Methodist Church. Welcome to Day 21 of 27 Days of Prayer as we prepare for our Annual Conference gathering on May 8-10 in Cortland, NY.

The 4 churches of the Pennsylvania Northeast (Wilkes-Barre) District are located in the northeast part of the state of Pennsylvania. What I love about our district is the way our pastors and congregations have a hunger to learn and grow in disciple-making. When we connect together as local church pastors, I see a shared passion to be servant leaders who are seeking to really live out the mission of every-day disciples who make disciples, who make disciples, in our churches and communities.  We long to see a movement of God in our region. We learn from one another, we sharpen one another, we talk about what we’re discovering about making disciples and what it means to spread scriptural holiness. When I interact with our congregations, I see willingness and eagerness to live into this shared mission whatever our context looks like - to find new ways, for a new day. This is so exciting, and such a blessing.  

Our churches are, from north to south, North Jackson Community Church, Meshoppen Community Church, Bethany Church of Berwick, and Trinity Church Danville.  (There are also 1 or 2 more congregations in this region in the process of joining the Global Methodist Church, so we’re very excited to be able to welcome them in the future!) Pray for us today, that we would faithfully live into our shared mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ and to spread scriptural holiness across the globe.

We in the PA Northeast 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 Hebrews 10:19-25: 

"19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

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

Today’s Prayer Focus

The author of Hebrews encourages his audience to have confidence to enter into God’s presence. With the assurance that comes through faith in Christ, ordinary places and events can become places of holiness when God is invited into them. Center your prayers this day on the necessary business of life together as an Annual Conference. Pray that the ordinary business of the Annual Conference gathering next week becomes extraordinary when placed in God’s hands. When we meet together, as Hebrews urges, let us spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Today’s Suggested Prayer (This Day: A Wesleyan Way of Prayer, by Laurence Hull Stookey. Copyright © 2004 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission. p. 143, alt.)

O God, to the delegates of the Annual Conference
you have entrusted the task of governing.
Make them faithful in their service.
Keep their hearts centered on your Good News,
lest they wander off into pursuits of their own.
In their discussions, grant them clarity
and understanding of different views.
In their voting, give them wisdom and integrity.
For the sake of fulfilling your mission
cause them to be good stewards of all of the resources
of talent, time and money
at their disposal.
Your will be done, through Christ our Leader. 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.