Bishop Ward encourages us to begin the new year in prayer for the North Carolina Conference and The United Methodist Church.
Grace, peace, courage, and strength to you in this season of Christmas.
The story of Jesus continues. Herod, angered at the thought of a child king, seeks to kill every baby boy born in the land. An angel appears to Joseph in a dream and the angel says, “Take Mary and the child and flee to Egypt where you will all be safe.” Joseph does as the angel has instructed and Jesus escapes the sword of Herod. They flee by night to Egypt.
This story, hard to hear after the birth of Jesus, is a reminder of all the dangers that remain in this world. Christ, the Light of the world, shines in darkness. The darkness does not overcome it.
Together, we will begin 2017 in appropriate prayer, kneeling before God, welcoming a new year and asking that God will give us the courage and strength, the wisdom and love that are all necessary to follow God faithfully in the new year.
January 1-8, the North Carolina Annual Conference will begin a year of rolling prayer across the conferences of The United Methodist Church. Each district has taken responsibility for one day in this eight-day span. You are invited to pray privately in your home with your family and also with your church family.
As we welcome the new year, let us pray for The United Methodist Church; for our family within the family of faith that we may be faithful, that we may be courageous, that we may be strong; that we may shine like light in the world piercing every darkness that remains.