Prayers based on Daily Office readings: Sunday, January 13 Psalm 36:5-10

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1 40 Days of Prayer for General Conference Inspired by the conference dates of February 23-26, 2019, Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton has asked that members of the NY Annual Conference pause to pray for three minutes from 2:23 to 2:26 each day that can be afternoon or early morning depending on your schedule. He has also asked for continued prayers for the NYAC delegation: Delegates Laity: Frederick Brewington, Gail Douglas-Boykin, Jorge Lockward, and Dorothee Benz Clergy: Timothy J. Riss, Noel N. Chin, Kristina D. Hansen, and Alexandre da Silva Souto Alternates Laity: Tiffany French Goffe, Ann Craig, Roena A. Littlejohn, and Karen Prudente Clergy: Vicki I. Flippin, Sheila M. Beckford, Martha E. Vink, and Prayers based on Daily Office readings: Sunday, January 13 Psalm 36: Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the strong mountains, your justice like the great deep; you save both human and beast, O LORD. 7 How priceless is your love, O God! your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast upon the abundance of your house; you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the well of life, and in your light we see light. 10 Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, and your favor to those who are true of heart. Faithful God of justice and righteousness, Thank you for loving me so unconditionally. Everything that I need is found in the priceless care you show for each of your children. As we begin the final 40 days towards the United Methodist General Conference Keep us all centered in your love. Guide our words and actions to reflect your refuge, abundance, and loving kindness that you show to each one of us. I lift up to you the names of the NY Annual Conference delegates to General Conference: Frederick May they each experience the well of life and in your brightness, may their path be illuminated. Amen

2 Monday, January 14 Ephesians 4:1-16 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people." (When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love. Divine Parent, Thank you for Christ s gracious gift of love. Every one of your children is of sacred worth, joined and knit together to build up love as part of the Body of Christ. Give me the wisdom to fully live into the gifts you have given to me. Be with your Church and your people called United Methodist. Moving towards General Conference, strengthen our spirit of unity. Ground us in humility, gentleness, and patience. I lift up to you the names of the NY Annual Conference delegates to General Conference: Frederick Protect them from trickery, craftiness, and deceitful scheming. May they each experience the courage to speak the truth in love, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. Amen Tuesday, January 15 Mark 3:19-35 Then he went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. "Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"-- for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, 2 P a g e

3 "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." Holy One, Thank you for our kindred connection in Jesus. Promote among your children a sense of unity and peace in your house called The United Methodist Church. Forgive us our sins of racism, misogyny, homophobia, and xenophobia. Clear our hearts of all that blasphemes your Holy Spirit. Show us how to remove the unclean spirits that divide us from each other. With the approach of General Conference, I lift up to you the names of the NY Annual Conference delegates: Frederick Brewington, Gail Douglas-Boykin, Jorge Lockward, Dorothee Benz, Timothy J. Riss, Noel N. Chin, Kristina D. Hansen, Alexandre da Silva Souto, Tiffany French Goffe, Ann Craig, Roena A. Littlejohn, and Karen Prudente, Vicki I. Flippin, Sheila M. Beckford, Martha E. Vink, Keep them focused on your will as siblings in Christ so that all may find a welcoming home in the United Methodist Church. Amen Wednesday, January 16 Mark 4:1-20 Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold." And he said, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!" When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order that 'they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.'" And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold." Holy Seed Sower, Thank you for your Word that guides our lives. Help me to hear you and receive your word with joy. Keep me rooted in your will so that when difficulty comes, I have the strength to stay true to you. With General Conference just a few weeks away, keep your church immersed in good soil, protect your most vulnerable children from harmful thorns. Especially, I pray for those representing the New York Annual Conference: 3 P a g e

4 Frederick Brewington, Gail Douglas-Boykin, Jorge Lockward, Dorothee Benz, Timothy J. Riss, Noel N. Chin, Kristina D. Hansen, Alexandre da Silva Souto, Tiffany French Goffe, Ann Craig, Roena A. Littlejohn, and Karen Prudente, Vicki I. Flippin, Sheila M. Beckford, Martha E. Vink, Nourish them with your love, infuse them with your Word, and guide them on your path, to bear fruit for your United Methodist Church. Amen. Thursday, January 17 Mark 4:21-34 He said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!" And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away." He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. Gracious God, Thank you for this incredible message you have entrusted us to boldly share. Remind me that your realm is full of possibility and so much greater than any decisions that your children can make. Help us to faithfully be part of growing your church so that in its grandness there will be plenty of room for your most vulnerable people to find rest. As your servants from the New York Annual Conference prepare for General Conference keep the vision of your realm always in front of them. I lift up: Frederick Brewington, Gail Douglas-Boykin, Jorge Lockward, Dorothee Benz, Timothy J. Riss, Noel N. Chin, Kristina D. Hansen, Alexandre da Silva Souto, Tiffany French Goffe, Ann Craig, Roena A. Littlejohn, and Karen Prudente, Vicki I. Flippin, Sheila M. Beckford, Martha E. Vink, May they boldly shine with your brightness as a symbol of hope for your Kin-dom. Amen Friday, January 18 Psalm 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. 3 He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake. 4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over. 6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 4 P a g e

5 Shepherding God, Thank you for these comforting words from the Psalmist. You are always with me: reviving, comforting, providing, anointing. As we face an unknown future of your beloved church, I am thankful that I can always count on your goodness and mercy. Pour out you guiding presence especially on: Frederick Brewington, Gail Douglas-Boykin, Jorge Lockward, Dorothee Benz, Timothy J. Riss, Noel N. Chin, Kristina D. Hansen, Alexandre da Silva Souto, Tiffany French Goffe, Ann Craig, Roena A. Littlejohn, and Karen Prudente, Vicki I. Flippin, Sheila M. Beckford, Martha E. Vink, May they fear no evil, knowing that you are with them every step of the way. Amen Saturday, January 19 Ephesians 6:10-24 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are, and to encourage your hearts. Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ. Holy and loving God of strength and power, Thank you for showing us the way of Jesus that is greater than powers and principalities. May your armor of truth, righteousness, faith, and salvation protect and equip your servants from the New York Annual Conference who are preparing for General Conference: Frederick As they lean into your strength, give them words to proclaim the Gospel of peace. Amen. I lift up to you the names of the NY Annual Conference delegates: Frederick Brewington, Gail Douglas-Boykin, Jorge Lockward, Dorothee Benz, Timothy J. Riss, Noel N. Chin, Kristina D. Hansen, Alexandre da Silva Souto, Tiffany French Goffe, Ann Craig, Roena A. Littlejohn, and Karen Prudente, Vicki I. Flippin, Sheila M. Beckford, Martha E. Vink, Thank you for allowing their ears to hear your whispers and their voices to translate your loving words. Amen. 5 P a g e