Growing In Faith

What We Believe

The United Methodist Church is an 11-million-strong global church that opens hearts, opens doors and opens minds through active engagement with our world.

John Wesley and the early Methodists placed primary emphasis on Christian living, on putting faith and love into action. This emphasis on what Wesley referred to as “practical divinity” has continued to be a hallmark of United Methodism today.

We invite you to learn more about our rich theological heritage.

How to Spend an Hour in Prayer

We all pray when we have something on our minds. But regular, meaningful prayer is a habit anyone can develop. Here is a suggestion for spending an hour in prayer based on advice from Dick Eastman of the World Literature Crusade. If you spend just an average of 5 minutes at each of these, the hour may not seem long enough!

 

  1. Praise — Begin with a recognition of God’s nature.
  2. Wait — Give time to being quiet in God’s presence; take time to let God Love you.
  3. Confess — Ask for forgiveness to clear the way for powerful prayer.
  4. Read the Word — Thoughtfully reading the Bible is a form of prayer.
  5. Intercession — Pray for others who have desperate needs.
  6. Petition — Pray for our personal needs and the needs of our loved ones.
  7. Pray the Word — Many Bible passages talk to God, not about him. Try one of the psalms.
  8. Thanksgiving — Thank God for the specific things he has done for you.
  9. Sing — Sing a familiar hymn, or create a new one in your heart.
  10. Meditate — Medidation is active pondering on spiritual themes.
  11. Listen — We cannot hear what God has to say to us if we do not take the time to listen.
  12. Praise — End as you began, with praising God for who he is.