Pastor Chris' Letter May 2016

Dear Trinity Family,
             I wanted to take a moment to encourage everyone to pray for the United Methodist Church. In just a few days, delegates from around the world will meet in Portland, Oregon from May 10th through May 20th of 2016 to decide the direction of The United Methodist Church. This gathering is called General Conference. General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church meeting once every four years. The conference can revise church law, as well as, adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy, and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs. The General Conference has many important issues to consider, and we as United Methodists need to pray for all involved from our delegates from Indiana to each and every member of the United Methodist Church around the world. Regardless of our personal opinions on the issues that this General Conference will face, we can all pray that by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, General Conference will seek after God’s work in this world as represented by the love we have witnessed through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Please join with me in praying for our local church and for General Conference praying this prayer which was prepared by our Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church:

Almighty God, we, the people of The United Methodist Church, are Yours. We worship You as the one, true God, who is, who was, and who is to come. Holy is Your name. However, we confess that sometimes our hearts are divided by the forces of this world. We also confess that we are not always faithful to uphold our church with our prayers. In Your mercy, forgive us for the ways we gloss over praying for the church. Thank you that we have forgiveness of sin, even this one, because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. His death and resurrection give us victory over sin in our lives. We focus our prayers on the upcoming General Conference today as a way of turning away from prayerlessness to praying for our future with hope. We stand in unity with other United Methodist believers and congregations as we pray for:

 • The leadership of the General Conference as they finish organizing the work that is to take place May 10-20.
• The delegates coming from the far corners of the earth to worship, pray, consider legislation, fellowship, and praise You, God, for all that is accomplished while they gather.
• The bishops who faithfully preside and attend the gatherings.
• The boards, agencies, translators, volunteers, and guests who work tirelessly attending to details.
• The city of Portland, Oregon, which hosts General Conference 2016, and provides a welcoming and safe environment for thousands who attend.

Hear our prayers, Holy God, today, and teach us to be faithful in praying for our church, that Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.



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