Prayer Changes Things
Do you pray?
I pray most mornings. Well, I describe it more as talking than praying. I talk to Jesus like I’m talking to my best friend (and I’m grateful he is!). I review my daily calendar with him and then he gets to hear all my thoughts, outrages, problems, and who’s getting on my nerves. I give the bigger stuff to God. The stuff that seems unmovable like war, global warming, fascism, genocide, trafficking, deportation, gun violence, and horrible people. I appeal to the Holy Spirit to connect me with God and Jesus, other people’s spirits, and ideas and solutions. To fill my hollow bones with God’s will, Jesus’ way, and her wisdom.
Do you pray alone?
I pray alone. I’m adamant about it and, admittedly, uncomfortable praying with others. I don’t like it. I avoid public prayer, which is a tall task considering I lead a Sunday School group and am on the church’s Leadership Board, which compels prayer.
When a member first joins the Leadership Board, they are assigned a prayer partner. Mine is Kara Wayne. In the time that Kara has been my partner, I’ve initiated prayer with her exactly zero times. But now, I vow to step out of my comfort zone because a friend of mine, who is also the Leadership Board president, asked me to.
At our Leadership Board meeting on March 18th, Jenine Furry presented the Board with prayer partner suggestions that will make it easier to engage with our partners. More importantly, it will make us better leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ. Check out the six prayer ideas below. I’m starting out with a hybrid of numbers 1 and 4. Maybe these tips will entice you to start a new prayer practice.
Check-in once a week with your partner and spend time focusing on one victory and one challenge to pray over.
Share a Bible passage in advance with your prayer partner and then read it together and pray.
Meet virtually or in-person once a week for a cup of coffee simply to pray what is on your heart.
Exchange written prayers by email, or a card, or text.
Take a walk together and pray for the people, businesses, and institutions you pass along the way.
Share what is on your heart with your prayer partner then silently ask God for help and listen for God’s response.
In the meantime, I ask you to partner with me and the Leadership Board to pray for a successful 2026, one that surpasses our wildest dreams and can only be accomplished with God’s power and for God’s glory.
Father God, Lord Jesus, Mother Holy Spirit…
People don’t just look different on the outside, and we thank you for that. We look different on the inside too. Our thoughts were formed and behaviors shaped by the ways we were raised. You gave us brains that work uniquely and for that we are grateful. Because if our brains all worked the same, we would miss out on the profound, the insightful, the surprises, the joy, the love. The love. We ask that all kinds of people flock to our church, tons of them, so we honor you by replicating the assortment that you put in heaven here on earth.
Last Sunday, two “middle aged” women (Kristine Swaney and me, LOL) participated in the church’s goal to increase intergenerational activities by joining the youth group for video games and Lenten Devotional discussions. Kristine and I learned that we are not adding video games to our repertoire of hobbies. But more meaningfully, we learned that there are champions among us, straight A students, amazing athletes, and just downright impressive kids. We pray that more of us are modernized and inspired by our youth. And we pray that more of our youth are enlightened by the histories and perspectives that the older and wiser can impart. We pray that you make us one big flourishing family that loves unconditionally and has each other’s backs.
We thank you for our church. This incredible collective community of believers whose headquarters is the most prominent structure in Sewickley. We understand the awesome responsibility you gave us to be good custodians of the building and what’s inside. We pray that we are up for the task of implementing important projects this year, particularly restoring the organ, purchasing and integrating a new sound system, improving the HVAC system, and installing new windows at the parsonage. We acknowledge that to accomplish such lofty goals, it takes all kinds of resources like money, experts, technicians, and laborers. It takes people like our members. And it takes faith in a mighty God of the universe who we ask to bring us these resources in abundance and multiply our giving with your magnitude.
And lastly, we are doing such great work at SUMC, we ask you to extend this work beyond the walls of our church. To emerge leaders who are ready to take on different ideas and opportunities. To boost awareness of SUMC throughout the community and region. To lead us to the people who need us right now.
We ask all these things in the powerful and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our savior. Amen
Next Leadership Board Meeting
April’s Leadership Board meeting will be held one week earlier than usual. We will meet on Wednesday, April 8th, at 6:30 p.m. in The Patton Library. Most of our time will be given to capital campaign and fundraising ideas. If this is one of your areas of expertise we just prayed for, you are invited to join us!
On behalf of the Leadership Board,
Lynn Colosi