"I use a scotch cart (because of the distance) to fetch water to drink and irrigate the few beds of vegetables in my garden to avert hunger. We do not have enough food. The drying up of water bodies is worsening the situation." — Reevson Muchemwa, on accessing the water supply at United Methodist Hanwa Mission in Zimbabwe.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Keeping water flowing at church missions
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — At a time when clean water is scarce in many parts of the world, The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe is keeping the precious liquid flowing at its three missions, with help from Zimbabwe Volunteers in Mission and the Nyadire Connection. Kudzai Chingwe reports.
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Explore UM News' 'Water is Life' photo essay
West Virginia Conference
Wrapping up West Virginia disaster work
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In the years since the June 23, 2016, storms and flood disaster that impacted 44 of West Virginia's 55 counties, the West Virginia Conference Disaster Recovery Team oversaw repairs or rebuilds to hundreds of homes and churches. The team, which handled more than 160 personal claims and even replaced six bridges, is preparing to complete its mission on Dec. 31.
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East Ohio Conference
Christmas trees signal hope
LAKEWOOD, Ohio — Lakewood United Methodist Church is spreading joy during the Christmas season with its Trees of Hope display. People in the congregation were invited to adopt a tree and come up with a theme for how to decorate it. There are about 30 decorated Christmas Trees of Hope on the front lawn of the church. Brett Hetherington reports.
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United Methodist Communications
Kids making music amid COVID-19
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The global pandemic of 2020 has been especially hard on children. Youngsters from preschool through college have missed the normal interactions of school and church life. A children's music director has found a way to keep her ministry going strong through COVID-19 by loading up the instruments and taking the show on the road.
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PRESS RELEASES
Religion and Race
Agency leader decries racist attacks on DC churches
WASHINGTON — M. Garlinda Burton, interim top executive of the Commission on Religion and Race, has called out acts of vandalism against two Black churches, one United Methodist and one African Methodist Episcopal, in Washington. Demonstrators ripped down and burned church signs supporting Black Lives Matter. "Far too many white Christians — including United Methodists — continue to view the battle against racism and racial violence as a non-issue for them," she said in a statement. Burton also conducted a video interview with the Rev. Ianther Mills, senior pastor of Asbury United Methodist, one of the vandalized churches. The video can be viewed on the agency Facebook page.
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Watch video
COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.
My pursuit and dreams of Korean peace
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. (UM News) — More than 70 years since Korea split into North and South, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung still dreams of reunification for his homeland. "Just as Jacob and Esau reunited, because blood is thicker than any separation, I know that Korea can heal," he writes.
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RESOURCES
Churches Uniting in Christ
Resources for Watchnight 2020
WASHINGTON — Churches Uniting in Christ is offering ecumenical resources to teach congregations about "Watchnight," a traditional service in historically Black churches that gathers members in unity to welcome in the new year. One of the resources is a preaching video featuring United Methodist Bishop LaTrelle Easterling of the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
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See resources
RECENT HEADLINES
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