Bethany UMC

05/18/2026

05/11/2026

30 Days of Prayer for Annual Conference

As we prepare for Annual Conference this year, every congregation – laity and clergy are invited to fast and to be in prayer together. As we begin this time of preparation let me remind you of the Breakthrough Prayer that has been our collective prayer for all our WPA Congregations this past year. Let us pray:

God of healing and hope,
Break through the messiness of our lives with the power of your Holy Spirit. Re-connect us with you, so that we can hear your voice more clearly and allow your love to be reborn in our hearts. Break through with your resurrection power to re-connect us with one another and lead us to new partnerships in our communities. Reveal to us your new and next steps for reaching, welcoming, and developing your people. Empower us to share the good news of your transforming love and new life. Amen.

Once again you and your congregation are invited to pray this prayer weekly, if not daily. Prayer makes a difference in how we focus and live our lives. This year our Annual Conference theme is: Re-Engage. This theme is part of our calling as followers of Christ as we gather around Christ’s table. At the Conference session, we gather, meet, and do our Holy Conferencing around Christ’s table seeking to remember and be re-membered with God and with one another so that we can re-connect and engage with God, God’s world, and God’s people in healing, reconciling, and life-giving ways.

As you pray the Breakthrough Prayer and as we seek to re-engage the world and God’s people, I invite you to add these focus points to your prayer practice.

Monday, May 11, 2026
PRAYER FOCUS: Children who find themselves in desperate situations
One of our Conference goals is to re-engage with ministries with the children of our communities.

Matthew 19:13-15

Jesus blessed the children of his day, and blesses the children of this day, too. Yet often, children around the world and right in our neighborhoods are hurt, abandoned, in trouble, mistreated, marginalized, or ignored. Are you a blessing to children in your midst? Are you opening up the way for your children to get a blessing from Christ? Where can you work for good in a child’s life? How can you improve the situation, the life, for the children of God who live around you? What’s stopping you from doing so?

05/02/2026

We are thrilled to announce that our latest resource is now live! "From Crown to Conferencing," is a FREE seven-part video series designed to be used by individuals, small groups, Sunday School classes, youth groups and more.

On July 4, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Indepedence. The new videos reflect on the roles Methodists have played leading up to and after the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Check out the videos at YouTube, UM History Hub and at https://tinyurl.com/CrowntoConferencing.

Many thanks to our production partner, the New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.

04/24/2026

Early bird discount ends TODAY! Register now for WPAUMC's newest discipleship learning event at www.wpaumc.org/calling-on-fire

04/18/2026

Don't miss the latest Annual Conference news and updates, including new Mission Impact opportunities! Visit www.wpaumc.org/AC for all the details.

04/10/2026

Registration is open for Calling on Fire: A Dynamic, Interconnected Approach to Methodist Renewal and Growth! WPAUMC is excited to welcome Rev. Dr. Chris Heckert back to Western PA to lead our newest Discipleship learning opportunity on Saturday, June 13. Together, we'll imagine how implementing the methods of early methodism might foster a renewed Modern Methodist Movement both in and beyond the church building. Early bird discount available through April 24! Space is limited, so don't wait -- register today at www.wpaumc.org/calling-on-fire.