A Lifetime of Learning: Developing Leaders
2018 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:  

For nearly 150 years, United Methodist Women, motivated by love and Christian caring, has been at the forefront of reaching isolated populations of women and girls with life-changing educational and leadership opportunities. The 2018 offering will provide educational opportunities for women and girls who are chronically underserved and marginalized: economically disadvantaged and displaced groups, such as female-headed households and low-income families. Education and leadership development programs may include child development and after-school programs, GED and ESL classes, job readiness, life skills and livelihood training, Scholarships,workshops and seminars.
One hundred percent of the offering will go directly to fund these projects.

2018 Call To Prayer and Self-Denial
    (English, Korean and Spanish in one PDF.)

 Call To Prayer and Self-Denial Brochure
    Intended for professional printing.

 Get Call to Prayer resources through the e-store or download:

 Prayer Card   Program   Order Form   Poster

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 dedication service based on the  order of worship reproduced from the Program Book.
• Download a poster to invite members and others to the dedication service.
• 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