Methodist Prayer Handbook

Our prayers share in the sorrows and joys of our lives, churches and communities across this world.

For 2026/2027, the words Sorrow and Joy are chosen like grid references on a map, compass bearings. As with many paradoxical word phrases – faith and doubt, life and death, light and darkness, noise and silence – ‘sorrow’ and ‘joy’ are like ingredients mixed and baked in a batch of bread, blended and distilled, creating the unique flavours of our lives.

As a Church, we offer mission, ministry and worship in a world increasingly in conflict and divisions, bringing much sorrow. How we deal with conflict and divisions personally and together within the life of the Church matters.

We invite you to respond in prayer faithfully and fruitfully as peace-makers and reconcilers to each other and the world.

In our collective life of faith, we want to recognise and support Methodist people who may need a boost of joy in the Lord to keep being and doing what we are called to be and do.

We invite prayers for people who give freely of their time to serve the Church in a voluntary capacity and for people who minister in diverse and often challenging circumstances.

May our prayers recognise that sorrow and joy run and flow through each other and through each one of us, because maybe one is the way to the other, because Jesus holds them both with us.

Our Story, Our Song

From ancient times, communities have defined themselves by the stories they tell and the songs they sing about themselves. In 2025/2026 we call upon the Methodist people to join us in a soul expedition deep into the heart of our calling, journeying afresh into the story of grace and the vocation that God has placed upon us.

We invite you to immerse yourself in the story of grace – learning to live, work, pray and play in ways both true to our roots and open to the presence of God in the songs and stories of others.

As we explore this theme, we pray that as a people we will grow in hope and confidence learning to sing afresh, or perhaps for the first time, songs new and old, discovering:

• A Shared Story – exploring the richness of God’s love and grace to, with and for us in Christ, learning to live by hope for the future, and rediscovering our story by celebrating our roots.
• A Shared Harmony – responding by living in a way that draws others to bring their praise to Jesus and by longing and working for a world transformed.
• A New Song – sharing in a soul expedition as we journey with God’s Spirit to discover the new songs that God is inspiring within, among and around us.
• A New Chapter – rediscovering the gifts of testimony and storytelling as we commit ourselves to hear not only our own voices, but the voice of Christ amongst those who are marginalised, sharing stories of lament, hope, surprise, expectation and festal joy for opening a new chapter in our mission.