Dear Friends,

Prayer makes a difference in situations and people. Many of us have experienced this truth firsthand.

Even so, it is amazing to hear, "Today you will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the Triune God." Yet, that is what happens whenever we pray.

Often, we pray in the quiet of our individual devotional times. On other occasions, we pray together in community, such as on March 25-26 when, as a Holston Conference, we will participate in a Weekend of Prayer.

About 150 United Methodists have registered to pray together at one of four designated sites in the Holston Conference: Christ Church UMC in Chattanooga, Cokesbury UMC in Knoxville, Dublin UMC in Dublin, and State Street UMC in Bristol. Simultaneously, Director of Connectional Ministries, Rev. Mike Sluder, will be joining us in prayer along with some of our brother and sister Christians at a location in Arua, Uganda. If you have not yet registered for Holston’s Weekend of Prayer, please take time to do so now to assist us in our planning at each site.

The one and only purpose for this event is to strengthen our spiritual discipline of prayer.  

In addition to spending time in guided and personal prayer led by Holston’s own clergy and laity, we will learn from Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey about breakthrough prayer as she leads us in praying for more God-sized dreams to become realities within Holston. What personal dreams are on your heart? What are your dreams for the community, your local church, the Holston Annual Conference, the Christian movement, the world?

I invite you to join me in praying together this Saturday from 10 am – 1 pm. Note that local churches are invited to continue the Pray Together emphasis on Sunday by utilizing some of the prayer resources provided by the planning team. Many thanks to Tim Jones, Susan Groseclose, Susan Arnold, Mike Sluder, Ben Smith, Belinda Kenny, and Renni Morris for their creativity and work in making the Holston Weekend of Prayer a reality. 

I look forward to praying together with many Holston United Methodists on Saturday, March 25 and 26. As always, it is a joy to serve as your bishop. 

Blessings,