In her Welcome of The Upper Room’s Guide to Prayer for General Conference, Kim Simpson, Chair of the Commission on the General Conference, writes, “We hope that this devotional guide will lead you into a calm, open mindset as we gather to do the work of the church. Let us remember it is not about our agendas but about what God and the Holy Spirit can do in and through us for the betterment of the whole church at this General Conference.” This is the spirit in which The Upper Room has offered long-standing support of The United Methodist Church General Conference.
Leading up to and at the Conference in Charlotte, NC, April 23 through May 3, The Upper Room’s prayer ministry will include not only a digital prayer guide to help delegates prepare for the event but also a personal prayer altar gift and an interactive Prayer Room to help them stay grounded in prayer during the event. This ministry will be staffed and supported by prayer volunteers and spiritual directors throughout the event.
The Guide to Prayer is available as a PDF download on the General Conference website here. It contains daily meditations for the two weeks leading up to the General Conference, along with unique reflection questions to help delegates prepare spiritually for this important event. The prayer guide features an introduction from Kim Simpson and a closing letter from Kimberly Orr, Publisher of The Upper Room.
The Prayer Room at the convention center will feature 9 interactive prayer stations around the theme “Cultivating the Garden of the Heart” and three special prayer altars. The Upper Room is recruiting and training volunteers and spiritual directors to support this ministry. Volunteers will help with room setup and teardown, restocking supplies, greeting guests, and praying with individuals or small groups who visit the space. Spiritual directors will be available for appointments as well as walk-ins. Learn more and apply to be a volunteer here.
When this 10-day General Conference begins, The Upper Room will have the opportunity to share from the stage about prayer support for the event and to gift each delegate, bishop, and General Conference staff member with a mini prayer altar. The prayer gift will include a card featuring Psalm 46:10 and the phrase “A Prayer Altar for the World” in the four official languages of the General Conference, plus Spanish and Korean; it will also include a battery tealight candle, mini altar cloth, smooth flat rock, and a small wooden cross. The prayer altar serves as a visible reminder to pray while going about the business of General Conference.
Publisher Kimberly Orr invites your prayers as The Upper Room supports United Methodists gathering in Charlotte to “form sacred space through the power of the Holy Spirit who bears witness among us. Let us continue to seek understanding and healing where there is division, to offer grace where there is hurt, and to embody the love of Christ in all our interactions.”
The Upper Room thanks the following sponsors for supporting the prayer ministry at General Conference.
The Upper Room is a global ministry dedicated to supporting the spiritual formation of Christians seeking to know and experience God more fully. From its beginnings as a daily devotional guide, The Upper Room has grown to include publications, programs, prayer support, and other resources to help believers of all ages and denominations move to a deeper level of faith and service. The Upper Room is a part of Discipleship Ministries. Visit UpperRoom.org to learn more.
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