Pastors, lay leaders join bishop in prayer, fasting during Epiphany

Twenty-nine pastors and five lay leaders had pledged to join Bishop Joel N. Martinez in prayer and fasting as Epiphany began last week.
Twenty-seven pastors and four lay leaders said they would invite members of their congregations to be prayer partners in the effort as well.
Martinez called Southwest Texas United Methodists Dec. 22 to a time of prayer and fasting during Epiphany, the liturgical season running from Jan. 6 to Feb. 20.
The prayer effort is to help church leaders and members discern how God is calling the Southwest Texas Conference to start new congregations and transform existing ones.
Martinez asked each pastor and lay leader to return a covenant card to him by Jan. 10. The card had places for church leaders to indicate how they would join in prayer and fasting.
“We have a prayer hour here on Thursday and will pray together,” said Linda Marceau of Alamo Heights UMC, San Antonio.
The Rev. Tina Carter of The Rock UMC, Cedar Park, said she would preach during Epiphany on new church start themes and include a written prayer in each week’s bulletin.
Beverly Silas of First UMC, Austin, said she and her Walk to Emmaus reunion group would pray about new church development.
The Rev. Steven Sweet of Manchaca UMC said he would use a prayer guide from Martinez with members
and have a prayer commitment Sunday.
The Rev. Warren G. Hornung, senior pastor of First UMC, Kerrville, said he planned to use newsletter items, worship bulletin inserts, posters and announcements from the pulpit to invite children, youths and adults to be prayer partners.
Epiphany Prayer guides - cards.