Methodist Prayer Handbook 2026/2027, The

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“Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.”

John 16:20

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.

Sorrow and joy

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.

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.

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, becauseJesus holds them both with us.