40 Days of Prayer for the UMC

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Andrew Conard

I am excited about the upcoming 40 Days of Prayer for the United Methodist Church. This idea was first mentioned by Ben Simpson in An Open Letter to Young United Methodist Leaders. I am excited about this movement because I believe that it will:

Bring clarity of God’s vision for individuals and communities
Be a common effort that will lead to different types of renewal in different places across the denomination.
Become a catalyst for a movement of young leaders in the UMC across the nation
Help me to be more intentional about prayer for leaders in the denomination.

Check out www.umcyoungclergy.com today and Click on ‘Prayer’ to find more information.

I am looking forward to this time of prayer to shaping my vision for the United Methodist Church.

Will you join me in prayer?

Tangible Next Steps for the UMC in Kansas

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Andrew Conard

I am confident and hopeful for the future of the United Methodist Church in Kansas. I have a lot of dreams and visions for what might be possible in the future. I have work to do on bringing them into reality. Here are some tangible next steps that I believe could be a part of spiritual revival in the state of Kansas and renewal within the United Methodist Church.

What are other tangible steps that you would suggest?

Participate in 40 days of Prayer for the Denomination – Continue to check www.umcyoungclergy.com for a relaunched site soon and details on the prayer campaign.
Meet at least two leaders at Annual Conference who are younger than you:
1. Ask, “How have you seen God at work in your ministry?”
2. Share and listen to a dream for the future of the United Methodist Church in Kansas
3. Ask, “In what way might I be helpful for you?”
4. Follow through on their response
5. Throughout the year ahead, pray for them and let them know that you are praying for them.
Meet at least two leaders at Annual Conference who are older than you:
1. Ask, “How have you seen God at work in your ministry?”
2. Share and listen to a dream for the future of the United Methodist Church in Kansas
3. Ask, “In what way might I be helpful for you?”
4. Follow through on their response
5. Throughout the year ahead, pray for them and let them know that you are praying for them.
Spend time at the Young Clergy booth at Annual Conference (especially if you are a clergy person, seminary student or considering becoming clergy and are age 35 or under) to:
1. Meet young leaders in the conference.
2. Find information about Exploration 2009
3. Collaborate to organize monthly young clergy meals for 2009
4. Provide input for young clergy retreats in the 2009-2010 appointive year
5. Pick up information about connecting via social media
Identify one young person whom you believe God may be calling into ministry and invite her or him to attend Exploration 2009.

Speedlinking – March 23, 2009

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Andrew Conard

Power Down For the Planet – Good plan.
Simple Guidelines for Workplace Quality over Quantity – This is a dream list for me.
A perspective that makes me stop and think at Video Venue Churches: Pay your taxes.
The most powerful word is no - Amen.
I love it – Boom Done
An Open Letter to Young United Methodist Clergy is worth posting again.
Great questions and a powerful prayer at Shaped by the Gospel
Never Finished is a reminder that I need quite often.
Open source the web church now contains a potential invitation to collaboration
Overcomplicating Simplicity
God is like physical therapy – true

Adventures in Ministry – March 17, 2009

Posted on March 17, 2009 by Andrew Conard

One of the best adventures in ministry as a young clergy person is to just be young sometimes. My wife, Nicole, and I camped out along with Dave, Dagney, Jeff and Heather for the chance to get free wings for a year at the Buffalo Wild Wings which opened yesterday at 10:00 AM. Some great links:

A still photo from our group on KCTV 5 at the 10:00 PM news – by Dan, fellow Rez staff member
Suburban Camping Experience – by Jeff, fellow adventurer
Resurrection pastors on a wing and a prayer – by Clif, photographer and IT magician.

We missed the 100 person cutoff by about a dozen, but had an amazing time hanging out and building relationships.

Speedlinking – March 6, 2009

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Andrew Conard

Google Wants Your Sermons – Will you share?
I agree with the assessment at Why I love John Wesley
It is a good reminder, Don’t Blame the Technology
Excellent thoughts about Reaching the Next Generation
If there are any left by now, Free Copies of Blueprint for Discipleship.
I signed up for these – State of the Church Online – Webinar Signups
The Instant Message Challenge is a great idea.
I am not writing a book, but when I do I will look for guides like those found at Writing Rules.
Although not a direct link, the church could learn from The panhandler’s secret.
No church at that address… – a potent reminder
7 Reasons Why Churches Struggle with Social Media - Nice perspective
Why Start an Internet Campus? Great question and am looking for great comments.

Speedlinking – February 4, 2009

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Andrew Conard

Big news and an opportunity to get a daily dose of Calvin at Reading the Institutes.
A great reminder – The only thing I can control
Summary of our Congregational Care retreat at Congregational Care at Resurrection in ’09.
A Re-Visioning Prayer that I found to be an inspiration.
I found this post to be a concise summary of some concepts that I have been pondering in recent months – Five ‘Ah-Ha’ Moments When it Comes to Online Community
My dad, Mark Conard, has begun blogging at WordPress and I commend his blog to you - http://fumhutchpastor.wordpress.com/
While I enjoy using Twitter I appreciate the perspective at The Reason Your Church Must Not Twitter.

Maywe Lettuce

Posted on December 4, 2008 by Andrew Conard

May we…

Let us…

I find these to be among the most annoying phrases that I hear in church. They are both asking permission, which is almost never appropriate when they are used. For example…

Let us pray. O God may we live as your people. etc…

Let us. Seriously? How about “I invite you to pray” or “I invite you to join with me in prayer”. I think that these are far more accurate than asking that some one “let” us pray together. I find that “may we” used in prayer is completely passive and isn’t really asking God for anything. I believe that when we pray it should be active. How about “help us live as your people, empower us to live as your people, strengthen us. I do not believe that we need to ask God’s permission to live as God’s people or most of the other things that we ask when we use the words “may we” in prayer.

What do you think? I would enjoy hearing why you agree or disagree.

Speedlinking – October 16, 2008

Posted on October 16, 2008 by Andrew Conard

Dear God, thanks for nothing offers a great perspective on prayer.
iPhone, TMobile’s G1 and the church at The Problem With An Industry of Cool…
A great comparison at Washington Redskins and Church.
Three Translations gives great insight to interacting with scripture.
A brilliant idea at Simple Way to Invite

Speedlinking – September 18, 2008

Posted on September 18, 2008 by Andrew Conard

Questions that Guys Should Ask Guys – great tips for discipleship from Tony Steward
Do you want to be able to do one hundred push ups? I might give this a try…
An Open Source Manifesto from Mark Batterson.
Quality thoughts on Phone Etiquette from Nikki Alexander.
Jeff Clinger shares of Celebrating Life in two very different experiences
Calm Me Down… was a great post that I needed to read
A project of which I will be a part is making progress – Open Source Liturgy Project: 4 Cores “Frozen” for Open Release.

June 22 Pastoral Prayer

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Andrew Conard

I helped lead worship at Resurrection on June 22 and wrote a prayer for the experience. I have shared all of the prayers that I have written for worship via Google Docs under Resources here at this site. Please feel free to use and adapt to your own context.

Enjoy!

http://thoughtsofresurrection.wordpress.com/resources/

Thoughts of Resurrection

Thoughts on faith, life and ministry…

Tag Archives: prayer