"It is our hope that as we give, someone will be inspired and reciprocate. Love is not love until you give it away." — Charity Mukandi, whose family provided gifts for 250 United Methodist women in Zimbabwe.
TODAY'S HEADLINES
Family throws surprise party for 250 women
MUTOKO, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Members of a United Methodist women's organization received an early Christmas surprise from a local church family. As thanks to God for protection and healing from COVID-19, the Mukandi family hosted a holiday party and provided clothing, lunch and food baskets to 250 women from six churches. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
UMC.org
Life is a marathon for pastor
ATHENS, N.Y. — The Rev. John Capen is not your typical minister. At 84 years old, he is still competing in 26.2-mile marathons, despite having 20 centimeters cut out of his small intestine and a defibrillator installed in his heart a few years ago. He completed the New York City Marathon this year, although by the time he made it to the finish line, most folks had already packed up and gone home. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC
How long is the Christmas season?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Christmas is not just one day, but a season of 13 days from sunset Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) through Epiphany (Jan. 6). Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on this season of celebration.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Idaho Statesman
Bishop Kelly replaces Robert E. Lee in church window
BOISE, Idaho — Cathedral of the Rockies (First United Methodist Church, Boise) has substituted a stained-glass image of Bishop Leontine T.C. Kelly for one of Robert E. Lee. Kelly was the first Black woman bishop of The United Methodist Church. The Rev. Duane Anders, senior pastor of Cathedral of the Rockies, spoke about the church's move in an interview with the Idaho Statesman.
Watch interview
UM News: Robert E. Lee image out at Boise church
Western Pennsylvania Conference
Appreciating the Grinch
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — In the latest episode of the "Meet in the Middle" podcast, the Rev. Renee Mikell talks with the Rev. Alyce Weaver Dunn about her favorite Christmas character: the Grinch. They discuss the differences in the Grinch before and after understanding the meaning of Christmas, and how to apply that to our lives.
Listen to podcast
Church and Society
Harrison leaves legacy of work in peace and justice
WASHINGTON — When Mark Harrison retired from the United Methodist Board of Church and Society at the end of November, he left behind a 30-year legacy of work for peace and justice in almost every corner of the world. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Discipleship Ministries
Walk with the Wesleys in England
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Register now for an 11-day spiritual pilgrimage that will allow participants to go "walking in the footsteps of John and Charles Wesley." The July trip to England is open to lay and clergy church leaders. The cost is $2,195, or $1,095 for those who qualify for a scholarship. The deadline to apply for scholarships is Jan. 30.
Read press release
Register
Apply for scholarship
EVENTS
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, you can add it to the calendar by clicking here.
Tuesday, Dec. 14
Tuesdays at the Table: Ask Us Anything
Monday, Jan. 10-Monday, March 7
Online course: Methodist Identity — Our Story
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Making sure all are mourned
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A United Methodist pastor is recruiting clergy to conduct graveside funeral services for homeless people and others who might not otherwise be mourned. The Rev. Jay Voorhees, lead pastor at City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, has fashioned a funeral service that briefly pays tribute to the deceased, saying repeatedly that, "we remember them." Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Tornado destroys church, but not its ministry
HERMITAGE, Tenn. (UM News) — The tornado that destroyed Dodson Chapel United Methodist Church and its child care center would be described by insurance companies as an "act of God." But the child care center's resurrection 18 months after the storm is considered God's will by those who united to save the ministry. Tim Ghianni has the story.
Read story
Church promotes COVID-19 vaccines in Africa
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The United Methodist Church continues to collaborate with governments in Africa to promote COVID-19 vaccinations. Zimbabwe congregations and church-related clinics offer COVID-19 vaccines and testing. Similar efforts are underway in Malawi, Mozambique and Congo. Eveline Chikwanah and Chadrack Tambwe Londe report.
Read story
Commentary: Trees symbolize reformed denomination
COLUMBIA, Mo. (UM News) — Setting a new tree for every member of The United Methodist Church is a positive way to announce the church's reformation to the world, suggests the Rev. Mel West, a retired pastor. "Whatever form the denomination takes going forward, we are still of one root, one trunk, several branches and many leaves," he writes.
Read commentary
TODAY'S HEADLINES
Family throws surprise party for 250 women
MUTOKO, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Members of a United Methodist women's organization received an early Christmas surprise from a local church family. As thanks to God for protection and healing from COVID-19, the Mukandi family hosted a holiday party and provided clothing, lunch and food baskets to 250 women from six churches. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
UMC.org
Life is a marathon for pastor
ATHENS, N.Y. — The Rev. John Capen is not your typical minister. At 84 years old, he is still competing in 26.2-mile marathons, despite having 20 centimeters cut out of his small intestine and a defibrillator installed in his heart a few years ago. He completed the New York City Marathon this year, although by the time he made it to the finish line, most folks had already packed up and gone home. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC
How long is the Christmas season?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Christmas is not just one day, but a season of 13 days from sunset Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) through Epiphany (Jan. 6). Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on this season of celebration.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Idaho Statesman
Bishop Kelly replaces Robert E. Lee in church window
BOISE, Idaho — Cathedral of the Rockies (First United Methodist Church, Boise) has substituted a stained-glass image of Bishop Leontine T.C. Kelly for one of Robert E. Lee. Kelly was the first Black woman bishop of The United Methodist Church. The Rev. Duane Anders, senior pastor of Cathedral of the Rockies, spoke about the church's move in an interview with the Idaho Statesman.
Watch interview
UM News: Robert E. Lee image out at Boise church
Western Pennsylvania Conference
Appreciating the Grinch
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — In the latest episode of the "Meet in the Middle" podcast, the Rev. Renee Mikell talks with the Rev. Alyce Weaver Dunn about her favorite Christmas character: the Grinch. They discuss the differences in the Grinch before and after understanding the meaning of Christmas, and how to apply that to our lives.
Listen to podcast
Church and Society
Harrison leaves legacy of work in peace and justice
WASHINGTON — When Mark Harrison retired from the United Methodist Board of Church and Society at the end of November, he left behind a 30-year legacy of work for peace and justice in almost every corner of the world. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Discipleship Ministries
Walk with the Wesleys in England
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Register now for an 11-day spiritual pilgrimage that will allow participants to go "walking in the footsteps of John and Charles Wesley." The July trip to England is open to lay and clergy church leaders. The cost is $2,195, or $1,095 for those who qualify for a scholarship. The deadline to apply for scholarships is Jan. 30.
Read press release
Register
Apply for scholarship
EVENTS
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, you can add it to the calendar by clicking here.
Tuesday, Dec. 14
Tuesdays at the Table: Ask Us Anything
Monday, Jan. 10-Monday, March 7
Online course: Methodist Identity — Our Story
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Making sure all are mourned
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A United Methodist pastor is recruiting clergy to conduct graveside funeral services for homeless people and others who might not otherwise be mourned. The Rev. Jay Voorhees, lead pastor at City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, has fashioned a funeral service that briefly pays tribute to the deceased, saying repeatedly that, "we remember them." Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Tornado destroys church, but not its ministry
HERMITAGE, Tenn. (UM News) — The tornado that destroyed Dodson Chapel United Methodist Church and its child care center would be described by insurance companies as an "act of God." But the child care center's resurrection 18 months after the storm is considered God's will by those who united to save the ministry. Tim Ghianni has the story.
Read story
Church promotes COVID-19 vaccines in Africa
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The United Methodist Church continues to collaborate with governments in Africa to promote COVID-19 vaccinations. Zimbabwe congregations and church-related clinics offer COVID-19 vaccines and testing. Similar efforts are underway in Malawi, Mozambique and Congo. Eveline Chikwanah and Chadrack Tambwe Londe report.
Read story
Commentary: Trees symbolize reformed denomination
COLUMBIA, Mo. (UM News) — Setting a new tree for every member of The United Methodist Church is a positive way to announce the church's reformation to the world, suggests the Rev. Mel West, a retired pastor. "Whatever form the denomination takes going forward, we are still of one root, one trunk, several branches and many leaves," he writes.
Read commentary
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