A Time for Change: 2012 Call to Prayer and Self-Denial

This annual observance gives local and district units a chance to study and reflect on a particular theme each year and to designate funds for ministries related to the theme for the year.

This Year’s Theme

The Call to Prayer and Self-Denial offering in 2012 will enable national mission institutions and international institutions to help the marginalized and the poor, the physically challenged and others, especially women children and youth, who don’t have access to information technology that will improve their quality of life. Projects such as computer literacy, information technology training, English as a second language classes, and career enhancement and job-seeking skills will be supported.

Read the letter from the 2012 Call To Prayer and Self-Denial

Get Call to Prayer resources through the e-store

Planning an Observance

We encourage you to commemorate A Call to Prayer and Self-Denial on one day during the first few months of the year.

Be creative. The following ideas offer some possibilities:

Plan a quiet day or retreat for all members of your unit and anyone interested. Use the appropriate year’s Quiet Day Service in the United Methodist Women Program Book, available through the e-store.
Plan a prayer vigil for your church or unit using the Prayer Calendar along with the Quiet Day Service.
Explore with your pastor the possibility of having your United Methodist Women unit lead a Quiet Day Service for a Sunday-morning worship service.
Prepare a meal as part of a year’s observance.
Distribute the Prayer Card to members who are absent. Order additional cards to give to friends.

Giving Makes a Difference

By your sacrificial giving to A Call to Prayer and Self-Denial, you, United Methodist Women members and predecessor organizations over the years have:

Built and equipped schools, libraries and clinics
Trained rural and urban women for specialized ministries
Provided nutrition and medical assistance for thousands of women, children and youth
Offered relief to those uprooted by wars and other disasters
Advocated for public policy changes to benefit women and children
Produced long-term economic benefits through income-generation and other self-help projects