“Nobody ever expects to be running a livestream on Easter Sunday from their bathtub, but that’s what we ended up doing.” — The Rev. Chad Brooks, pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church in Louisiana, one of several Southern states hit by strong storms and tornadoes.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Easter celebrated amid storms, pandemic
STERLINGTON, La. (UM News) — Deadly storms, tornadoes and the coronavirus failed to overcome the spirit of Easter as United Methodists responded to multiple dangers as “resurrection people.” Storms killed more than 30 people in the South. Kathy L. Gilbert, Linda Bloom and Sam Hodges report.
Read story
Church agencies get go-ahead to seek US loans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The General Council on Finance and Administration board gave approval for the finance agency and other general agencies to apply for small-business loans under the U.S. CARES Act. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
How a new law helps churches
United Methodist Communications, Discipleship Ministries
Virtual choir sings 'Christ the Lord Is Risen Today'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than 300 Christians from around the globe submitted videos of themselves singing Charles Wesley’s beloved Easter hymn “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.” One sang in American Sign Language. Churches can use the video throughout the Easter season.
Watch video
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
MacMurray College to close
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Citing declining enrollment and a small endowment, the board of trustees of MacMurray College announced it will close at the end of the spring semester. The college was founded in 1846 by Methodist clergy. The coronavirus did hurt the United Methodist-related college financially, but it is not a principal reason for the closure, school officials said. Paul Black reports.
Read story
World Council of Churches
Stay home and pray, Brazilian Methodists say
SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Brazilian Methodists are among the church groups strongly engaged in reinforcing the coronavirus guidelines from global and national health authorities and recently launched a request for prayers for all health workers in Brazil. “Our role and mission is to take care of people,” said Bishop Marisa de Freitas Ferreira of the Methodist Church of Brazil. “My recommendation as a doctor and as a bishop is that we don't hold services in our churches now. Let's pray at our homes.”
Read story
Today Show
Emory leans on lessons learned from Ebola
NEW YORK — As part of the NBC News series “On the Front Lines,” senior investigative and legal correspondent Cynthia McFadden reports on United Methodist-affiliated Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where staff are leaning heavily on lessons learned during the Ebola outbreak to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
Watch video
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Publishing House
Far-reaching permission for online worship
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Publishing House says each church is free to reproduce liturgical text as needed. During the COVID-19 crisis, the publishing house also has waived the need for churches to ask permission to use liturgical texts in livestreamed or recorded worship.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
United Methodists fight COVID-19 around the globe
EVENTS
Monday, April 20-Friday, May 8
Online spiritual growth class: Soul Reset
NEWS AND FEATURES
Easter celebrated amid storms, pandemic
STERLINGTON, La. (UM News) — Deadly storms, tornadoes and the coronavirus failed to overcome the spirit of Easter as United Methodists responded to multiple dangers as “resurrection people.” Storms killed more than 30 people in the South. Kathy L. Gilbert, Linda Bloom and Sam Hodges report.
Read story
Church agencies get go-ahead to seek US loans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The General Council on Finance and Administration board gave approval for the finance agency and other general agencies to apply for small-business loans under the U.S. CARES Act. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
How a new law helps churches
United Methodist Communications, Discipleship Ministries
Virtual choir sings 'Christ the Lord Is Risen Today'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than 300 Christians from around the globe submitted videos of themselves singing Charles Wesley’s beloved Easter hymn “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.” One sang in American Sign Language. Churches can use the video throughout the Easter season.
Watch video
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
MacMurray College to close
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Citing declining enrollment and a small endowment, the board of trustees of MacMurray College announced it will close at the end of the spring semester. The college was founded in 1846 by Methodist clergy. The coronavirus did hurt the United Methodist-related college financially, but it is not a principal reason for the closure, school officials said. Paul Black reports.
Read story
World Council of Churches
Stay home and pray, Brazilian Methodists say
SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Brazilian Methodists are among the church groups strongly engaged in reinforcing the coronavirus guidelines from global and national health authorities and recently launched a request for prayers for all health workers in Brazil. “Our role and mission is to take care of people,” said Bishop Marisa de Freitas Ferreira of the Methodist Church of Brazil. “My recommendation as a doctor and as a bishop is that we don't hold services in our churches now. Let's pray at our homes.”
Read story
Today Show
Emory leans on lessons learned from Ebola
NEW YORK — As part of the NBC News series “On the Front Lines,” senior investigative and legal correspondent Cynthia McFadden reports on United Methodist-affiliated Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where staff are leaning heavily on lessons learned during the Ebola outbreak to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
Watch video
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Publishing House
Far-reaching permission for online worship
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Publishing House says each church is free to reproduce liturgical text as needed. During the COVID-19 crisis, the publishing house also has waived the need for churches to ask permission to use liturgical texts in livestreamed or recorded worship.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
United Methodists fight COVID-19 around the globe
EVENTS
Monday, April 20-Friday, May 8
Online spiritual growth class: Soul Reset
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