IN OUR PRAYERS

A district prayer calendar has been created for your use in praying for our district and related programs through the year. We invite you to include the following in your prayers in coming weeks:

Week of April 13: As we journey through Holy Week and on to the new life of Easter, spend time in quiet reflection, then rejoice in hope of Christ’s resurrection and all the new things that God is doing among us.

Week of April 20: Pray for the Milledgeville (Dutchtown) congregation, and for Heifer International, SERRV, and other organizations birthed by the Church of the Brethren.

Week of April 27: Pray for the district’s Ministry Leadership Development Team, for the clergy gathering taking place near Rockford this week, and for all the clergy of our district.

Week of May 4: Pray for the York Center congregation, and for the work of our denomination’s Youth/Young Adult Ministries office and all the ways it equips the younger members of our church.

Week of May 11: Pray for the Oakley Brick congregation this week, and for the “New and Renew” church planting and renewal conference occurring in Elgin, Ill., May 14-16.

Jocelyn Watkins (Peoria First), our district moderator-elect, in late March asked for prayers for her parents, Dennis and Van Metzger, who were long-time members of the Springfield First congregation and were involved in church leadership in a variety of ways. They now live at the Timbercrest retirement community in Indiana. Jocelyn shared the following via Peoria's prayer chain: “My dad (Dennis) was recently admitted to the Health Care wing due to a decline in his Parkinson’s-related symptoms, possibly compounded by a recent illness. They are working to readjust his medications and provide physical and occupational therapy with the hope that he can regain strength and return to their apartment. My mom (Van) can visit him daily since they both live at Timbercrest, but she’s understandably anxious about his condition and their future. They’ve been married for almost 52 years and being apart like this is challenging for both of them. I'd like to ask for prayers for their health, peace of mind, and comfort during this uncertain time. Thank you for lifting them up in prayer."

Since then, Peoria First provided an update from Jocelyn, who said her parents were doing much better and showing good improvement. “It’s looking very likely he’ll be able to return to the apartment with my mom after this stretch of therapy wraps up,” she said. “Their spirits are much brighter now with things headed in the right direction.” And as of this week, he was indeed preparing to move back into the apartment and doing quite well.

Thank you for your prayers! For anyone wanting to send a card, they are at: Dennis and Van Metzger, P.O. Box 501, North Manchester, IN 46962.