Prayer
Prayer holds up and wraps around every aspect of our church community.  Prayer begins and ends our time together regardless of the situation or occasion. 

WHAT IS PRAYER?
Prayer is our direct line with heaven.  Prayer is a communication process that allows us to talk to God!  He wants us to communicate with Him, like a person-to-person phone call.  Cell phones and other devices have become a necessity to some people in today's society.  We have Bluetooths, Blackberries, and talking computers!  These are means of communication that allow two or more people to interact, discuss, and respond to one another. 

To many, prayer seems complicated,  but it is simply talking to God.  God looks for time with each one of us.  God wants us to draw close, to communicate, to speak to us, to seek our response, to hear our prayers.  Prayer is about relationship.  Spending time in prayer will draw you near to the heart of God.

HOW DO I PRAY?
  1. Make time to pray - Make prayer part of your daily routine.  You can pray at any time or any place.  Put first things first and make prayer a regular part of your daily life.
  2. Find a good location to pray - Discover the place that best works for your personal life and daily schedule.  Find your quiet place.  Pray in your car to or from work, pray in the morning as you begin your day, pray at bedtime, remember..."Prayer is a gentle whisper" and can be done anyplace!
  3. Prepare your heart and mind - The PRAYER CALENDAR has verses to help guide your time of prayer.  Allow the verse to speak to your heart and to help focus you in prayer.  You many choose to light a candle, have music on - whatever you need to help you focus on this time apart with God.
  4. Begin to pray - You can pray by speaking out loud, singing, whispering, or silence.  Your eyes can be open or closed.  You can ask questions, seek strength, pray for others, give thanks, ask for forgiveness, ask for help.  This is your time with God - abide with Him.
  5. End the prayer - Close your time of prayer as you are led.  Some close with "Amen" or "Lord, hear our prayers".
In addition to these times of conversation with God, the following intentional opportunities exist:

  • Pray for our church:  Pray for our church, our pastors and leaders, the ministries and the members of this church.  Opportunities to pray include using the Prayer Request list, found in the bulletin insert, and the Deployed Military List and Assisted Living List, found in the Pinnacle.
  • Pray with the pastors: Join with the pastors to lift them in prayer before the Sunday worship services at 7:45 AM, 9:15 AM, or 10:45 AM.   Click here to volunteer for this ministry (please include your full name, phone number, Email address, and the time of the Sunday worship service you attend).
  • Visit our Prayer Chapel: The chapel is always open for prayer when the church is open.  Prayer request cards are available near the altar for your special requests.
  • Tuesday morning prayer group: Gather to pray for requests received from Sunday worship services, our Internet prayer room, prayer@vbumc.org, and a variety of other sources.  This group meets each week at 7:30am.  Confidentiality is observed.
  • Prayer Shawl Ministry:  Volunteers (Knit Wits) prayerfully knit/crochet prayer shawls, prayer pockets, and lap robes for persons experiencing both the joys and challenges of life.  They meet every Wednesday in the Parlor from 6:30-8:00 PM, offering encouragement in crafting to experienced and beginners alike, as they pray for persons who will receive their gifts.  To request one a prayer shawl, prayer pocket or lap robe, contact Barb Beverly, craftynurse@aol.com, 757-499-1776.
To Make a Prayer Request, please click here.

Are you scared, feeling alone, faced with a difficult decision?  Experiencing illness, anticipating surgery?  Allow us to join with you in prayer by emailing prayer@vbumc.org. 

Want to talk with a pastor?
Rev. Ted E. David, 757-428-7727
Rev. Edward Johnson, Jr., 757-428-7727
 
Interested in a Stephen Minister?
Zane Hoy, 757-301-9926