First United Methodist Church, Independence, Iowa -- Prayer

Matthew 21:13a: "It is written," Jesus said to them,"'My house shall be called a House of Prayer."

At First UMC we have an active prayer program to pray for the needs of all attenders and others from the community who have prayer requests. Prayer is the foundation of all our UMC ministry.

Mary Ellen Earles

If you would like to place a prayer request or receive them weekly, please send your email address to: Mary Ellen Earles, Prayer Coordinator, jmearles@indytel.com or contact by phone the church office, 319-334-3689.

Prayer Plan

Mission Statement:

To become a "House of Prayer" for our community and local church family and lift up the name of Jesus

Objectives:

To involve our attenders in prayer and to encourage them to make prayer requests during worship service and by phone or email contact

To remember to praise the Lord for answered prayers

To pray over all ministry services and planning related to First UMC and encourage attenders to pray

To pray for all who attend First UMC and who call it their home church

To be a "beacon of prayer" for our community by receiving prayer requests and intentionally praying over each one

To support and encourage community wide prayer efforts and ecumenical activities

Activities:

Send out weekly prayer requests to those on email list (please notify Mary Ellen Earles at jmearles@indytel.com to be added to our current list)

Church prayer chain (contact church office at 319-334-3689)

Weekly prayer in prayer room before worship services

Prayer partners for high school seniors (volunteers from UMC attenders)

Prayer Corner article for monthly newsletter

Prayer room open for drop-in when office open

Prayer weekly with staff

Pray before all ad board meetings, work groups and committee meetings

Prayer at music rehearsals

Prayer vigil for Consecration Sunday

Participate in National Day of Prayer first Thursday of May

Train youth to pray in Sunday School, youth groups, Bible School and Early Out sessions

Participate in "Teach Us to Pray" seminar 11/09 at Tipton UMC church

Faith Experience once per month (3rd Sunday at 5:30 p.m.) on Sunday nights to develop prayer/faith life and practical ideas for "how to" pray

Prayer Requests (3/7/10)

HEALTH CONCERNS:

Health Concerns:

Irene Slaughter - nursing home

Shirley Franck's granddaughter Allison surgery Monday

Jared Holt - medical

EMPLOYMENT ISSUES:

Winthrop Wilbert Plastics - closing in July, laying off 117 people who were notified 3/5/10 of this decision.

Prayers for Missionaries in Turkey - neice to Janelle Hines - office broken into by local police and computer taken; Justin was to see police Monday morning, but there has been some intervention and you can read the report below. Please continue to pray for this situation. God has provided an attorney and some team support, but our prayers are important, too. Pray for safety and wisdom for all involved.

MaryEllen, this is what we heard this morning on situation in Turkey. (from Janelle Scott)

Monday, March 8, 2010, 9:18 AM

Dear family and friends - thank you for your continued prayer for Justin and Laurel. While a few of us were up at 2AM praying for Justin - (as this was the time he was scheduled to go to the police )- He was in a meeting with his team leader and others who know and understand the culture and was strongly advised not to go to the police station. Instead they are hiring a lawyer and Justin will go to the police with him and some local friends some time in the next few days. His team leader and others strongly believe Justin could be walking into a trap. There is also a strong belief that the search of the studio was an illegal search. Please continue to pray for God's leading, timing and wisdom for the next step. Please pray for the police who will be questioning Justin. ( I am praying that their hearts will open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ) And of course, pray for their continued safety. Thank you for all of your prayers, and notes of encouragement. With love, Lois

Blessings,
Mary Ellen

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The Lord's Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses, As we also have forgiven those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13