Billings First United Methodist Church
Sunday, September 05, 2010
 PRAYER MINISTRIES

 
Prayer ministries are a vital part of the Christian walk with God.  Ephesians 6:18 tells us to "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere."  Not only should we pray for God to show us a clear path in times of trouble, we should also thank God for the good things in our life.
 
Billings First United Methodist Church maintains an active Prayer Ministry.   The Prayer Room in the Wesley building was developed for both group and private prayer. It is a lovely, warm room and features "prayer stations" on which are posted concerns of all natures.  A variety of prayer publications are available to help you better focus your talk with God.
 
Everyone is welcome to join the Prayer Ministry leaders and our pastor each Wednesday mornings at 9:00am in the church Prayer Room.  Prayers are offered for the concerns and thanksgivings expressed at Sunday worship.  These prayer requests are written down using the prayer cards found in the pew racks and turned in with the attendance booklets collected during the service.  Following the prayer meeting the requests are then posted in the Prayer Room, where people may come throughout the week to pray over them. 
 
People are urged to use the Prayer Room for personal prayer needs as well.  The room key is available in the church office during office hours (8:30-12am & 1-5pm).
 
Your prayer concerns can be confidentially communicated to the leader of the prayer ministry team by email contact, or calling the church office (406.245.3001).
 
  
THE PRAYER ROOM
 
Our blood courses through our arteries and veins, propelled forcefully by the muscle of our heart.  Blood carries warmth and oxygen and nutrition to our cells, bathing them with life itself.  Blood also returns from our cells with carbon dioxide and products of metabolism, cleansing and revitalizing the cells.
 
Prayer is very much like our circulation, our way of staying in intimate contact with our God.  We offer our prayers to God with praise, with joy, with concern, and with need.  God returns to us listening, understanding, caring, and healing.
 
Let this place of prayer be where our hearts freely flow to our God, and where our God finds us for healing.  It’s the “heart room” that sends life into our individual spiritual lives and into the entire corporate ministry of our church.
 
The Prayer Room was written by Dr. Alan Muskett, local doctor and member of First United Methodist Church.

 
 The Prayer Chain, involving about 30 persons, receives prayer requests 24 hours a day.  The chain can be reached by calling either Marty Carlson (671-7076 or 656-2505) or Margaret Hopper (259-1295).  The chain may also be contacted by calling the church office, 245-3001.  Once a request is received, it is passed throughout the chain immediately and the chain pray-ers start praying.
 
The Prayer Partners, over 50 volunteers, receive prayer requests (sent out each Monday), activating our prayer chain every week. Non-confidential prayers are posted in the Prayer Room.
 
Special prayer projects continue and vary throughout the year:
  • About 70 people from FUMC are praying daily, Sept.-June, for all the schools in the Billings area.
  • Each year, FUMC participates in the National Day of Prayer in May and the Day of Prayer For the Persecuted Church in November.
  • 24-hour Prayer Vigils, Prayer Walks and Special Prayer Services are scheduled periodically.
Contact the Prayer Ministry Leader for your personal requests or for additional information.

 
I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what you will. Rank me with whom you will. Put me to doing; put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full. Or let me be empty. Let me have all things. Or let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. Amen
-John Wesley