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Pastor, Creator, Workshop Leader

Nine Prayers for the 2024 United Methodist Church General Conference

Posted on April 10, 2024 by revlisad

The General Conference of the United Methodist Church will be meeting April 23 – May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The group has been unable to gather since 2019 due to the COVID pandemic.

What is the UMC General Conference? The General Conference of the UMC is the decision-making body of the United Methodist Church. It is made up of equal parts lay and clergy representatives from the worldwide UMC connection of congregations. They meet every four years for worship, conversation, discernment, and legislative work.

My friend, Rev. Magrey DeVega, lead pastor of Hyde Park UMC in Tampa, Florida, will be a delegate to this year’s conference. He explains the work of the conference this way.

“The delegates will engage in worship and holy conferencing, for the purpose of interpreting the work of the United Methodist Church for the present age. Delegates will consider hundreds of petitions and make a wide array of decisions, guiding the denomination in its allocation of resources, its position on major issues, and its priorities for ministry.

Among the many matters of discernment and consideration will be these four major issues:

Revision of our Social Principles: to speak into contemporary issues in ways that are globally relevant and biblically based.
Reduction of the Denomination’s Overall Budget: to maximize resources for local churches to do the work of making disciples.
Regionalization of the Denomination’s Global Structure: to allow the United Methodist Church to minister in the most effective ways in different global contexts.
Removal of Discriminatory Language and Policies: to reduce the harm done to LGBTQIA+ persons.

CLICK HERE for the General Conference website with more information, their schedule, and live stream.

Scroll through the following infographics for more information on the structure of the United Methodist Church, the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, and the General Conference.

How can I get the prayer guide? Thank you for praying for the upcoming General Conference gathering. It’s a significant time of change and hope in our denomination and your prayers matter. These prayers were born out of my concerns and hopes.

You’re welcome to share my prayer guide with others as a free prayer resource, in print or digital form. I pray they are helpful to you, your congregation, our denomination, and all who follow Christ around the world. CLICK HERE to download the prayer guide.

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Nine Prayers for the 2024 UMC General Conference © 2024 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia. You’re welcome to share this prayer guide with others as a free prayer resource, in print or digital form. Please do not modify it, claim it, or publish it as your own.

Three Prayers for Holy Saturday

Posted on March 30, 2024 by revlisad

Prayer for Holy Saturday by Lisa Degrenia
Lord of the Sabbath, Lord of Hosts,
There are so many things we do not understand

Help us to trust you
even when the situation is desperate and out of control

Help us to follow you
even when the way unclear

Help us to wait and rest
even when every bit of us screams to act

Build in us a faith that perseveres
Even when we can’t see you
Or feel you near
Or understand

Your power and goodness are never diminished
Morning is coming

Holy Saturday by Steve Garnaas Holmes
A day without purpose or liturgy,
vast in its cruel, silent emptiness.
Bereft, gutted, regrettable.

A day to sit with myself,
my failures, my sorrows,
wrap them around me like a shawl.

A day to sit with death,
amid life’s flock of losses,
feeding the pigeons of grief at my feet.

A day to sit with the world
and its shambles,
its unfailing choice to ruin itself.

Let the depth of the day deepen,
the sea of sorrow swell downward,
the dark deeps complete and useless.

Everything empties out.
Even grief and guilt are hollow.
Even the beating heart has nothing to say.

In the insistent blank
let there be no possibility, none:
an empty canvas for God.

Linger by Lisa Degrenia
Before we get to Easter, we need to linger:
in the vulnerability of the basin and the towel
at the remembrance and promise of the table
in the struggle and betrayal of the garden
in the shadows and shouts of injustice
at the bloody brutal beautiful cross
in the silence of linen and spices and death

For without these, the empty tomb is empty

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Prayer for Holy Saturday © 2021 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Linger © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

You are welcome to use my works in a worship setting without asking permission. It’s always a treat to hear from you if you’re using it. Leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in a book, blog, etc.

Steve Garnaas Holmes retains the copyright for his work. I’m grateful for his permission to use his work on my blog. Contact him directly for permission to use his work.

Easter Prayers and Scripture Reading Plan Inspired by The Third Day by Tom Berlin

Posted on March 30, 2024 by revlisad

I was thrilled when Bishop Tom Berlin gave me permission to create a prayer resource to accompany his new book, The Third Day. I originally created the prayer resource for the season of Lent, since that was how the book was intended to be used. I heard from some of my pastor friends that they were using the book for the season of Easter, so I modified the resource for the season of Easter.

Both resources include a prayer and Scripture reading plan for each chapter of the book, a Scripture journaling plan, and weekly reflection questions based on the Examen.

EASTER RESOURCE: Click Here for the Prayer Resource I created for The Third Day for the Season of Easter. It is an eight-week resource, starting Easter Sunday and concluding the week after Pentecost.

If you’re using The Third Day for a sermon series, as a small group study, or for personal devotion, you’re welcome to download this prayer resource for free. You can use and distribute it digitally or print it for yourself, your small group, or your congregation. You may not claim the work as your own or sell it for profit.

If you need this resource modified for your circumstance, please contact me. I’m glad to help. For example, you’re starting the resource the Sunday after Easter rather than Easter Sunday.

LENTEN RESOURCE: Click Here for the Prayer Resource I created for The Third Day for the season of Lent. It is a seven-week resource, starting Ash Wednesday and concluding the week after Easter.

I used Bishop Berlin’s book to inspire my Lenten sermons this year. (2024) You can find those worship services, including the sermons, on the Coronado Community UMC YouTube Page. If you’re ever in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, please feel free to join us for in-person worship on Sundays at 9:30 am. (201 South Peninsula Ave. 32169)

About Bishop Tom Berlin

Bishop Berlin is currently the faithful, energetic Bishop of my annual conference, the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Prior to being elected Bishop, he served as lead pastor of Floris United Methodist Church in suburban Washington, D.C. He holds degrees from Virginia Tech and Emory University, and is the author of numerous books.

Where do I find the book?

As of the day of this post, the ebook version of The Third Day is least expensive on Amazon. The paperback version is least expensive on Cokesbury.com. A video and leader’s guide is also available for those using the book in a small group setting.

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Five Prayers Inspired by The Road to Emmaus – Luke 24

Posted on March 12, 2024 by revlisad

Open My Eyes by Lisa Degrenia
Open my eyes to your presence
Break the bread
Tear the veil in two

Open my eyes to your presence
Your Word and Your Way
To see and seek

Open my eyes to your presence
A dawn of recognition
The fullness of your grace
Now mine to reveal

You Are Near by Lisa Degrenia
You are near when the dream dies.
When the unexpected comes.
When the unthinkable overwhelms.

You are near when my spirit wails
From dragging the weight of grief
and anxious questions.

You are near when hope hides.
When I cannot see the way forward.
When I cannot sense your presence.

You are near- patient and open.
Holding space for my longings and suffering.

You are near- steadfast and passionate.
Wrapping me in your truth.
Setting my broken heart aflame.

You are near.
A light in the wilderness.
A future abounding in hope.

Where Do I Meet You? by Lisa Degrenia
Jesus, where do I meet you?
everywhere

In every situation.
In every need.
In every one.

Help me recognize
Your presence,
Your providing,
Your voice.

You are near.
You are at work.
You are speaking truth
and life.

Jesus,
Help me recognize you.
Help me trust you.
Help me follow you,
Everywhere

Eyes to See by Lisa Degrenia
Jesus, give us eyes to see
Your presence, Your hope,
Your grace made real right now.

Help us live expectantly.
Expecting to see people come to faith,
Growing in faith.

Expecting to see people freed from poverty,
Delivered of disease,
Making sacrifices for the greater good.

Expecting to see prayers answered.
Jobs found, bills paid,
Schools thriving, everyone in housing.

Expecting to see wars end, corruption abandoned,
justice and opportunity abounding.

Expecting to see lives unshackled from addiction.
People and families made whole.
Neighborhoods and Nations open and welcoming.
Division and hate a long-distant memory.

Jesus, free us from sin and shame,
From blame and blindness.
Fill us with grace upon grace upon grace.
Give us eyes to see and
Give us lips quick to testify in thanksgiving and praise.

Offer your own prayers.

Glory, Glory Hallelujah to our Risen Savior
Glory, Glory Hallelujah to Jesus, God with us,
who empowers us to live the prayer he taught us…

Close with the Lord’s Prayer.

Morning by Morning by Lisa Degrenia
Morning by morning,
Like manna,
Like sunrise.

Morning by morning you awaken and provide,
You open my eyes to your presence,
You open my ears to your encouragement and truth.

You know my disillusionment, my questions,
my weariness, my hopelessness, my despair.

You open me to your sustaining–
Feasting on your words.
Feasting at your table.
Feasting on your grace.

Now open my mouth to share what first found me
In every season and circumstance
With every soul along the way.

Morning by morning you awaken me,
Like manna,
Like the sunrise.
Great is your faithfulness!

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Open My Eyes © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are Near © 2024 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Where Do I Meet You © 2019, updated 2024 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Eyes to See © 2020, updated 2024 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Morning by Morning © 2027, updated 2024 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Three Prayers based on Jesus Cleansing the Temple (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 2)

Posted on February 29, 2024 by revlisad

Reveal Yourself by Lisa Degrenia
Reveal yourself, Jesus,
In signs,
In words,
In healing and provision.

Reveal yourself
In power,
In waymaking,
In overturning all that distorts and obstructs.

Reveal yourself, Jesus.
May trust and faith increase.
May truth and hope abound.

Not This by Steve Garnaas-Holmes
This is no mere angry outburst. It’s way bigger:
prophetic, pointed street theater.
Theology thrown on you like ice water.

You start with shock,
and not just consternation, but outrage.
Blasphemy. Assault. Murder!

So it is when God upends your tables,
shouting, “Not this! Not this!”
—when it’s God you’re talking about.

You thought you understood God.
Had the right theology, right sacrifices.
But it’s overturned.

Let that feeling sit with you,
of having been robbed,
having been wronged.

This is how hard it is
to let go of graven images
and let God be God.

Come and Cleanse Your House Again by Lisa Degrenia
This prayer could be voiced by one voice, all voices, or as a call and response as indicated.

Merciful Savior,
You offer your house to the nations
for worship and prayer,
forgiveness and healing,
community with you and with others.

Come and cleanse your house again.

Forgive us for losing sight of your agenda.
Forgive us for all the obstacles
we put in the way of people connecting with you.

Come and cleanse your house again

Drive out the mistrust, false teaching, and prejudice.
Turn over the tables of gossip, hypocrisy, and apathy.
Empty us of addiction to money, things, and power.

Come and cleanse your house again

Return us to humility, charity, and sacrifice.
Fill your house with welcome, growth, and redeeming love.
Bathe us in your grace and holiness
so everything we do draws people to you
and brings honor to your name. Amen.

Jesus cleansing the temple is found in all four gospels – Matthew 21:12–17, Mark 11:15–19, Luke 19:45–48, John 2:13–22.

John 2:13-22 is read on Year B — Lent — Third Sunday in Lent

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Reveal Yourself © 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Not This © 2024 Steve Garnaas-Holmes from his blog, unfoldinglight.net. Used with permission.
Come and Cleanse Your House Again © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Please contact Steve Garnaas-Holmes directly for permission to use his works.

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