PrayerWorks
PrayerWorks consists of teams of people who pray in a variety areas of our ministries. These include:
- Pastors' Prayer Team: Volunteers pray daily for our church leaders using the guide, Praying For Your Leaders, from Shoulder to Shoulder - Strengthening Your Church by Praying for Your Pastor by Dan Reiland.
Contact: Merle Epperson ~ 910.326.4822, ext. 232 - Worship Services Prayer Team: Volunteers "Pray the Service" in our Prayer Chapel during the worship services, one person for each service. If unable to be in the Prayer Chapel, this prayer time may take place at home. The service may be heard via a speaker in the Prayer Chapel and a guide for praying during the service is available.
Contact: Louise Wilkins ~ 910.326.7804 - Upper Room Prayer Line Team: Once a month volunteers meet at the church to answer phoned prayer requests from around the country and commit to praying for them for a month. We thank our UMM for paying the annual Upper Room fees and designated phone line for this mission. Contact L.H. Hutchins to volunteer on this team. The training is brief and the rewards are many.
Contact: L.H. Hutchens ~ 252.247.5708 - Congregation Prayer Concerns Team: Weekly, someone prays in our Prayer Chapel for the requests from each worship service and from connection cards. As requested, cards may be sent to recipients of these prayers.
Contact: Rosemary Whaley ~ 252.354.3991 - Church Directory Prayer Team: Volunteers pray in our Prayer Chapel for persons in our church directory. Over a period of time, prayers will be lifted for everyone in the directory.
Contact: Rosemary Whaley ~ 252.354.3991 - Labyrinth: Our labyrinth is painted on the parking lot by the bus port (behind Marine Federal Credit Union). This is available for anyone to walk in a conscious journey with God. Scroll down for more information about labyrinths.
Contact: Adele Hyla-Brewster ~ 910.478.9727
If you have questions about these opportunities or would like to join any of these volunteer teams
please get in touch with the listed contact person.
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Those who participated in our last Prayer Breakfast enjoyed a delicious meal and fellowship before the main program. Merle explained the many different facets of our SUMC PrayerWorks and related opportunities. Pastor John shared some insights on how to pray more effectively along with scriptures on prayer, some personal experiences, and challenges. The session closed with prayer.
Check our online calendar and weekly bulletins for the date and details of our next Prayer Breakfast.
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Labyrinth
What is a labyrinth? It is not a maze. The path to the center and out helps you focus on needs and God. It is a path for prayer that leads from yearning, stress and questions toward joy, meaning, hope and peace. It can be used for personal explorations or a walk with a friend. Whether perplexed, overjoyed, confused, hopeful, hurt, distraught, happy, or simply curious, as we pray, God meets us here. It is not unusual to emerge from the labyrinth inspired, encouraged, grateful, and clearer about your next steps.
~adapted by AHB from Christian Prayer and Labyrinths: p1, Jill K.H. Geoffrion, Cheryl Felicia Dudley
Labyrinth Prayer Walking Ideas:
Be open as you begin. notice what comes. Welcome God. Take your time. Use all that happens, including distractions, as mirrors of your life. Follow where you are let, even if you end up moving off "the path." Tread, leap, stop, sprint, dance, pause, continue on. Move with the rhythm that suits the moment; it may ebb and flow. Enjoy the center. Why hurry away? Let Christ know your heart and mind. Welcome Jesus' input. Let any insights or thankfulness that comes bubble over.
Some walk to the middle talking to God, asking questions, and then listening to/for God as they walk out. Christians often find the more they walk, the more they are in tune with God's direction for their lives. Take time to reflect after completing your walk. Journal or draw your thoughts.
Phrase and Meditation Ideas to use during your walk:
Caring ~ "God, (person's name) is in need..."
Chanting ~ Sing 'Alleluia' or another chant
Discerning ~ Ask God for input on something
Focusing ~ repeat a favorite name for God, such as "Jesus, Jesus" or use a short prayer such as
"Thy will be done" or "Be still and know that I am God" or "Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me."
Grieving ~ "Please help me stay present in this pain. Support me as I move with it."
Imagining ~ Hold someone or something in your mind's eye that represents your deepest desire
Interceding ~ Plead with God on behalf of others
Moving ~ Just let your body communicate to God. No words needed. Walk, skip, dance...
Opening ~ "I'm here. Help me stay open, God, to all you want to tell me."
Questioning ~ "What is the next step?" "What do I need?" "What's changing?"
Releasing ~ "Help me let go of... " "I forgive..."
Seeking ~ "God, reveal yourself to me."
Singing ~ Sing/him a favorite hymn and set your pace to the cadence of the tune
Visit LabyrinthOnline for additional labyrinth information.
Visit the Grace Cathedral Online Labyrinth; open the website and click on the picture to launce their Online Interactive Labyrinth. Then, click on the prompts to learn more about how to use this online labyrinth so it best suits you.
Here's a Finger Labyrinth that may work best for some of you. This site also has links that will take you to pages of additional information and pictures. Our UMC Upper Room Chapel in Nashville TN has a wooden Finger Labyrinth in its small "Alone with God" Prayer Chapel for anyone to use while there.
101 Ways to Use a Classical Labyrinth
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The above links offer many sites and pages filled with a variety of information. If you don't care for information on a particular page, please leave that page. However, you can see Christ in most of the information provided within these sites.
Note: Swansboro United Methodist Church takes not responsibility for the content of these sites and, although frequent validation of the links is made, we cannot ensure the integrity of the link.