God, as this new year dawns,
May we take time to see the newness
you are giving birth to.
May we not be blinded by the darkness
that consumes our world.
Or consumed by the fear that paralyzes
our actions.
May we remember,
That out of winter’s darkness you
bring forth light,
That out of winter’s death you give
birth to new life. — Godspace
Jan. 1-15 let us pray for:
1) Ministry
Development Team (MDT) meets Jan. 9
u Pray that MDT will be aware of God leading them throughout their
time together.
2) Stoner Heights Mennonite, Pastor John (Karen) McGuckin,
Louisville
3) Summit Mennonite, Pastor Norma (Phil) Duerksen,
Barberton
- Pray for us as we set a direction for the new year and as new committees meet. May we be blessed with new ideas, renewed energy, and willing volunteers.
4) Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS), opportunities in Ohio Conference
- Pray as leaders of Mennonite Mission Network (MMN) and Ohio Conference staff meet Jan. 14 in order to continue to dialog with several locations in Ohio interested in young adult service and discipleship houses. Pray as they discuss new directions and how the Ohio interests intersect with MMN.
5) Pray for pastors as they attend the seminary-hosted
pastors’ weeks. May it be an enriching, bonding, and refreshing time.
6) Pray for congregations as they have their
annual congregational meetings to review their work, set new goals, and decide
on spending plans for their church.
Jan. 16-31 pray for:
1) Junior High
Retreat, Camp Luz, Kidron, Jan. 18-20
2)
Mother-Daughter Retreat, Camp Luz, Kidron, Jan. 25-26
3) Open
Arms, Pastor
Haroldo (Esmirna) Nunes, Kidron
- Pray for the Arellano family: Son Andres suffers from asthma, and Amy has complications in her pregnancy.
- Pray for the Open Arms annual banquet to be held at the end of February. Pray that our supporters will be able to attend. May they continue to partner in this exciting ministry of preaching God’s Word and assisting with material needs of our Hispanic brothers and sisters.
- Thank God for a meaningful trip to Guatemala. Pray as we discern the ways is God calling us to continue to minister there.
4) Tom Kauffman, Ohio Conference Minister has these
prayer offerings:
- Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) sponsor events for their alumni during the latter days of January. Pray that these might be times of gaining new spiritual insights and times of renewal for pastoral leaders.
- Pray also for the gathering of Mid-States conference ministers and conference moderators as they gather and share the work of their respective conferences at the Mennonite Church USA offices on Jan. 28.
5) Chet Miller-Eshleman, Ohio Conference Church Planter
Resource Person, will be one of the presenters on Jan. 28 at AMBS for a day-long
leadership clinic titled Planting Peace
Churches: The Heart of God’s Shalom Strategy. Chet shares these requests:
- Pray that God would use this seminar to grow and deepen our passion and understanding for planting Jesus-centered, Anabaptist churches in North American soil.
- Pray that God’s Spirit might even nudge the hearts of some participants to get involved in some key way to support and encourage our Mennonite church plants. Perhaps a new planter will even come out of this seminar!
Feb. 1-15 pray for:
1) Youth Worker
Retreat, Feb. 1-2
- Pray that this may be a time of Sabbath and inspiration for youth sponsors and youth pastors of Ohio Conference.
2) Sunnyside
Mennonite, Pastor Russ (Rebecca) Richardson, Conneaut Lake, Pa.
3) Tedrow
Mennonite, Pastor Doug (Paula) King, Wauseon
- Pray for the Leadership Team as we continue to discern the Spirit’s direction for the New Year.
- Pray for the several individuals (young and old) in our congregation who have health issues.
- Praise God for the recent commitments several individuals have made to say YES to Jesus!
- God is good — thank you, Ohio Conference, for your prayer ministry!
4) Chaplain Gail
Blum, Hospice of Lenawee, Hillsdale, Mich.
5) Chaplain
Keith Matthews, Dorothy Love Retirement Community, Sidney, Bellefontaine
6) Pray for the cluster
meetings that will be scheduled and held across Ohio Conference during this
month of February and as we prepare delegates for our March Annual Conference
Assembly (ACA).
7) Dave Eshleman, resource person for congregational
renewal, revitalization, and rebirth
- Pray for me as I serve as a church consultant for several churches. I am scheduled to lead the pastor-spouse retreat in Kansas and lead several congregations one weekend at Laurelville Camp. Pray for healing for some of my health challenges.
8) ACA, March 8-9 at Central Christian, Kidron, with the
theme “Signs of the Kingdom,” John 20:30-31
- Pray for the presenters, worship leaders, and artists as they prepare for ACA. May the Spirit lead and inspire them.
Feb. 16-28 pray for:
1) Toledo
Mennonite, Pastor Joel (Emiley) Shenk, Toledo
2) University
Euclid Christ New Testament, Pastor Warner (Thelma) Jackson, Cleveland
3) Chaplain Tom Michaels, Hospice Chaplain, Millersburg
4) Chaplain Deb Horst, Hospice and Palliative Care of Greater Wayne
County
- Pray that I will be able to offer the comfort, assurance, and hope of God to all those to whom I minister during one of the most intimate times of a person’s life.
5) Brazo en
Brazo, Paul and Ann Conrad
- After worship, Alex inquired about the song that included the words “and I will raise you up.” He had heard it at a Hymn Sing at Pike Mennonite. Alex described it as a hymn “that sets you on fire!” It is #472 in Hymnal a Worship Book. Read the words, close your eyes, and allow God to draw you into these words. Do you agree with Alex? May your New Year be full of God’s well-being.
6) Christian Service Volunteers, with MMN from Ohio Conference
Jonathan
Hershberger, serving as a youth counselor intern, San Francisco, Calif.
Bethany
Yoder, serving as a classroom aide in San Antonio, Texas
Lane
Thomas
Josiah
Dahl, serving in Philippi, W.Va.
- Pray for my boss’s father-in-law, who is dying of cancer and is not a Christian. It is hard for him and his wife. Pray for Ines, the other participant, who has a friend who has some health issues. It is heart-breaking for Ines because they are close friends.
7) Northwest Ohio Partners in Mission group has advocated support for local
people serving in long-term cross-cultural mission with Mennonite mission
organizations. They are in consultation
with MMN. Prayers are welcome for their
leadership team chaired by Roger Rupp (Tedrow) and Wendell Nofziger (North
Clinton), liaison between Northwest Ohio Mennonite Ministers Fellowship and
Northwest Ohio Partners in Mission.
Compiled
by Mattie Marie Mast, mmmast@zoominternet.net
Prayer Prompter can be found on the Ohio
Conference website: www.ohiomennoniteconference.org.
Go
to “Resource Teams” and select “Prayer Ministry.”
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