Tomorrow morning (Monday), I will leave for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for the 2008 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church. I ask for your prayers.
Pray that the members of Western Pennsylvania’s delegation will experience a strong sense of Christ-centered community with one another. Pray for their strength, their discernment, their eagerness to love and be loved, and their devotion to Jesus Christ.
Pray that all of the delegates to Jurisdictional Conference will be attentive to the things that matter most.
And, if I may be brutally personal for a moment, please pray for me. As Western Pennsylvania’s episcopal candidate, I will participate in a rather grueling and intensive interview process at the Jurisdictional Conference that will require an uncommon amount of vulnerability and focus on my part. I would be lying if I told you that I am not unsettled by the magnitude of it all.
Given the current needs of the Northeastern Jurisdiction, I do not anticipate being elected to the episcopacy this year. I harbor no agendas or fantasies in that regard. I simply want to be authentically who I am throughout the process, all the while remaining available to the things that God wants me to see, hear, and experience. In short, I want to represent the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference as best I can, thereby honoring the people who have nurtured my discipleship and thereby bringing glory to the One who has saved and called me.
Pray for my soul. Pray for its protection and sanctification. Pray for my wife, Tara, who will be walking with me through the process. Pray for Joel Garrett, my friend and pastoral colleague, who will also be walking with me through the process. Pray for my Mom and Dad, who are proud of their son but who are facing a bevy of health-related struggles right now. Pray for my congregation, the love and support of which have been a constant source of personal blessing in recent days.
And pray for the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, that some portion of the Kingdom of God will be incarnated in Harrisburg this week.
I hope to blog soon—perhaps even throughout Jurisdictional Conference (schedule permitting). Until then, be assured of my gratitude for your willingness to undergird me with the ministry of prayer.
Our prayers are with you. If not this year maybe in 4! You can get yourself know this year. What every happens,Know that Our conference needs you and your talents. Blessings from you former Elizabeth twp. neighbor down the road,JOY
You have my prayers brother. As much as I don’t want you to go, god has great plans for you and Tara! PLEASE, do not get discouraged if you this is not your time to make Bishop, all it means is that your church is not ready for you to go and it will happen when the time is right. If now is the time, thank you for all you have done for my family and especialy for me, We love you and Tara very much.
As one who has been the recipient of your prayers many times over, I’m honored to pray for you, Tara, your parents, and everyone involved in this process. God has gifted you in unbelievably amazing and unique ways, friend, and I’ll pray that the perfect plan He has in store for you will reveal itself. Above all, may you have peace, strength, wisdom, courage, and joy for the journey.
Brother,
You are certainly in the prayers I lift daily. I want to thank you for the support and encouragement you have shared with me over my time going through probationary membership and into elder’s orders. You are a true blessing to me and I know to our other peers in ministry. I will continue to pray for your mom and dad throughout their journeys. If you need anything, I’m a call away and just a few miles down the road. Be yourself and you’ll do awesome! God’s Love,
Jeff
Dear ones, Eric and Tara,
You are greatly loved by God and us. In especial ways, at this time, you and Tara - and your Mum and Dad and family - are in our daily prayers and thoughts.
Comfort and joy.
Tracey
Eric, I don’t know what’s happening today at jurisdictional conference but I do know that something odd happened in my dream life last night. Dreams are for the community’s edification so I’ll share it. This one HAS to be for you.
Opening scene: UMW women are having a big meeting at the Wayne Mansion. They go off to do a field trip and the Mansion is littered with their “stuff” (I remember that I didn’t use that word in my dream) Alfred came up from the basement with a load of clean tablecloths taking it in stride that this is the way is always is when the UMW has their meeting at the Mansion. I am Irate “Isn’t there a CLEAN-UP committee with this group”, I say, “They’ve got a committee for everything else.” I run into someone who needs to give Bruce Wayne an important message. The Maffia Boss has a “hit” list and if you decode it just right you can see who’s going to be bumped off that day. We put the computer program in and Bruce Wayne is at the top of the list. I go looking all over the mansion for you and find you in the dining room/conference room. You are whooped and depressed about being on the list. I keep saying to you that you can beat this! You can take charge. “How are you going to save people if the Mafia Kills you” After a while you simply snap into Agressive/I can do this mode.” You confront the Maffia Boss about trying to kill you and I return to Alfred to keep cleaning up the mess.
I will give NO interpretation to this one! But I will pose some questions–Who is the Maffia? Who is the Maffia Boss? Is Wayne Mansion the local Church? Will Batman rule the day and go on to save people without being killed?
Stay tuned…… Can’t wait to read you blogging about the Conference? Love Debra
Pewboy — HJ and I have been praying since this AM and will continue to do so throughout the day (and the rest of the week). Did not have any dreams as interesting and exciting as Debra’s … but, I do know this — you and Tara can handle WHATEVER is sent your way! Be the pewboy that all of us love! And, turn off the anxiety button and push “play” to let the BIG MAN take over — He will never let you down!
We love you!
S&H
Eric, I have been praying for you since I heard of your nomination. I now pray with more urgency. You have been my faithful pray warrior for a long time and it’s an honor to return the favor.
Grace and peace, my friend…
Charlotte