TODAY’S HEADLINES
2021: Notable church members remembered
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — This year, United Methodists mourned the passing of noted evangelists, civil rights activists, the inventor of a beloved children’s toy and the woman believed to be the last U.S. Civil War widow. Heather Hahn has 39 remembrances of notable church members memorialized in 2021.
Read story
Church orphanages receive ‘gifts of love’
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The United Kingdom Mission Area of The United Methodist Church commemorated Orphan Sunday by donating almost $18,000 U.S. toward caring for 74 orphans and vulnerable children at two of the church’s orphanages. The children received school supplies, clothing and food to last for six or seven months. Kudzai Chingwe reports.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Hymn history: 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When United Methodists sing "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” few likely know this popular Advent hymn's origins span across 1,200 years. Crystal Caviness has the story of how Latin vespers chanted by monks in the 800s ended up being recorded in the 21st century by the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Wynonna Judd.
Read story
North Georgia Conference
Hero tree honors fallen law enforcement
MADISON, Ga. — Ellen Welch is a crime scene investigator and volunteer at Madison First United Methodist Church. Each holiday season, she takes on another role — lifting up the memory of law enforcement officers and K9s who died in the line of duty. Sybil Davidson writes about a “hero tree” that Welch and her family erect and decorate each year.
Read story
Greater New Jersey Conference
Breaking addiction stigma
SEA BRIGHT, N.J. — Every Friday for almost two decades, Michael Turner, pastor of Sea Bright United Methodist Church has been visiting East Jersey Prison in Rahway to lead a 12-week step program with inmates. Because he was unable to visit for the past two years due to COVID-19 restrictions, his church has partnered with community groups to host Fall Freedom Festival, an event to celebrate recovery and reduce the stigma of substance abuse disorder. Heather Mistretta reports.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Reconstructing burned-out faith
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — We all have questions about faith. Sometimes those questions are so burning that they start a proverbial fire that threatens to burn down our whole system of belief. Brian Zahnd, an author and founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri, joins the Compass Podcast to share ways God is revealed through both the fire and the daily workings of life.
Listen to podcast
The Mountaineer
Church is a beacon after floods
CRUSO, N.C. — Cruso United Methodist Church was at the headwaters of flooding that left a wide path of destruction in western North Carolina. The Rev. Peter Constantian, the church’s pastor, was one of the first at the scene of the crisis and is in it for the long haul. Vicki Hyatt reports.
Read story
Holston Conference
Pastor heads home with new Arabic worship book
ALCOA, Tenn. — On Christmas Eve, the Rev. Botrous Tutu will not be preaching at his own pulpit in East Tennessee. Instead, he plans to depart Dec. 23 in time to preach for hundreds of worshipers in Khartoum, Sudan. Tutu’s return to his homeland is the culmination of years of effort to produce a worship book with United Methodist liturgy for Arabic-language churches. Annette Spence reports.
Read story
No Daily Digest Dec. 20-Jan. 3
This is the last UM News Daily Digest before Christmas. The digest will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 4. Please enjoy these Christmas-themed memes to download and share. The staff at UM News wishes everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Download Luke 2:12
Download Silent Night
EVENTS
Monday, Jan. 17-Friday, Feb. 25
Online course: Disability, the Bible and the Church
Monday, Jan. 24-Monday, Feb. 7
LSM basic course: Connecting and Serving During COVID-19
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
2021: The year in photos
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Amid challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainties about the future of the denomination, United Methodists continued to live out their faith and serve their communities in 2021. Photographers from UM News, the denomination's official news service, documented a year in the life of United Methodism worldwide.
View photos
United Methodists respond after deadly twisters
MAYFIELD, Ky. (UM News) — United Methodists in Kentucky, Tennessee and neighboring states are coming to terms with the death and property devastation caused by an outburst of tornadoes, while also mobilizing quickly to provide food, emergency shelter and other relief. The United Methodist News team reports.
Read story
Read Kentucky Conference story
Reviving Christmas cheer in dark times
LAKELAND, Tenn. (UM News) — In this second year of the pandemic and amid violence and natural disasters, United Methodist churches are getting creative in helping people experience Christ’s birth and love’s pure light. Heather Hahn reports on how churches are sharing Christmas joy.
Read story
Churches see lots of need this Advent
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (UM News) — In this second Advent of the pandemic, many United Methodist churches and affiliated nonprofits in the U.S. are seeing increased appeals for help with food, shelter and other necessities. Sam Hodges talks to pastors and others about the extent of the need, and the reasons for it.
Read story
Ask The UMC: Help for those facing homelessness
Filipino leaders push to elect new bishops
CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (UM News) — A year after extending its bishops’ terms, the Philippines Central Conference Coordinating Council is pushing for a special session to elect new bishops — with or without the General Conference in 2022. However, United Methodist leaders in the Philippines acknowledge that such a plan potentially faces hurdles under the Book of Discipline. Gladys P. Mangiduyos reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC
How do United Methodists celebrate Jan. 1?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For many around the world, Jan. 1 is the day to celebrate the beginning of a new calendar year. But for United Methodists, there are at least three different reasons to celebrate on that day, writes Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
2021: Notable church members remembered
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — This year, United Methodists mourned the passing of noted evangelists, civil rights activists, the inventor of a beloved children’s toy and the woman believed to be the last U.S. Civil War widow. Heather Hahn has 39 remembrances of notable church members memorialized in 2021.
Read story
Church orphanages receive ‘gifts of love’
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The United Kingdom Mission Area of The United Methodist Church commemorated Orphan Sunday by donating almost $18,000 U.S. toward caring for 74 orphans and vulnerable children at two of the church’s orphanages. The children received school supplies, clothing and food to last for six or seven months. Kudzai Chingwe reports.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Hymn history: 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When United Methodists sing "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” few likely know this popular Advent hymn's origins span across 1,200 years. Crystal Caviness has the story of how Latin vespers chanted by monks in the 800s ended up being recorded in the 21st century by the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Wynonna Judd.
Read story
North Georgia Conference
Hero tree honors fallen law enforcement
MADISON, Ga. — Ellen Welch is a crime scene investigator and volunteer at Madison First United Methodist Church. Each holiday season, she takes on another role — lifting up the memory of law enforcement officers and K9s who died in the line of duty. Sybil Davidson writes about a “hero tree” that Welch and her family erect and decorate each year.
Read story
Greater New Jersey Conference
Breaking addiction stigma
SEA BRIGHT, N.J. — Every Friday for almost two decades, Michael Turner, pastor of Sea Bright United Methodist Church has been visiting East Jersey Prison in Rahway to lead a 12-week step program with inmates. Because he was unable to visit for the past two years due to COVID-19 restrictions, his church has partnered with community groups to host Fall Freedom Festival, an event to celebrate recovery and reduce the stigma of substance abuse disorder. Heather Mistretta reports.
Read story
United Methodist Communications
Reconstructing burned-out faith
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — We all have questions about faith. Sometimes those questions are so burning that they start a proverbial fire that threatens to burn down our whole system of belief. Brian Zahnd, an author and founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri, joins the Compass Podcast to share ways God is revealed through both the fire and the daily workings of life.
Listen to podcast
The Mountaineer
Church is a beacon after floods
CRUSO, N.C. — Cruso United Methodist Church was at the headwaters of flooding that left a wide path of destruction in western North Carolina. The Rev. Peter Constantian, the church’s pastor, was one of the first at the scene of the crisis and is in it for the long haul. Vicki Hyatt reports.
Read story
Holston Conference
Pastor heads home with new Arabic worship book
ALCOA, Tenn. — On Christmas Eve, the Rev. Botrous Tutu will not be preaching at his own pulpit in East Tennessee. Instead, he plans to depart Dec. 23 in time to preach for hundreds of worshipers in Khartoum, Sudan. Tutu’s return to his homeland is the culmination of years of effort to produce a worship book with United Methodist liturgy for Arabic-language churches. Annette Spence reports.
Read story
No Daily Digest Dec. 20-Jan. 3
This is the last UM News Daily Digest before Christmas. The digest will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 4. Please enjoy these Christmas-themed memes to download and share. The staff at UM News wishes everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Download Luke 2:12
Download Silent Night
EVENTS
Monday, Jan. 17-Friday, Feb. 25
Online course: Disability, the Bible and the Church
Monday, Jan. 24-Monday, Feb. 7
LSM basic course: Connecting and Serving During COVID-19
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
2021: The year in photos
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Amid challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainties about the future of the denomination, United Methodists continued to live out their faith and serve their communities in 2021. Photographers from UM News, the denomination's official news service, documented a year in the life of United Methodism worldwide.
View photos
United Methodists respond after deadly twisters
MAYFIELD, Ky. (UM News) — United Methodists in Kentucky, Tennessee and neighboring states are coming to terms with the death and property devastation caused by an outburst of tornadoes, while also mobilizing quickly to provide food, emergency shelter and other relief. The United Methodist News team reports.
Read story
Read Kentucky Conference story
Reviving Christmas cheer in dark times
LAKELAND, Tenn. (UM News) — In this second year of the pandemic and amid violence and natural disasters, United Methodist churches are getting creative in helping people experience Christ’s birth and love’s pure light. Heather Hahn reports on how churches are sharing Christmas joy.
Read story
Churches see lots of need this Advent
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (UM News) — In this second Advent of the pandemic, many United Methodist churches and affiliated nonprofits in the U.S. are seeing increased appeals for help with food, shelter and other necessities. Sam Hodges talks to pastors and others about the extent of the need, and the reasons for it.
Read story
Ask The UMC: Help for those facing homelessness
Filipino leaders push to elect new bishops
CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (UM News) — A year after extending its bishops’ terms, the Philippines Central Conference Coordinating Council is pushing for a special session to elect new bishops — with or without the General Conference in 2022. However, United Methodist leaders in the Philippines acknowledge that such a plan potentially faces hurdles under the Book of Discipline. Gladys P. Mangiduyos reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC
How do United Methodists celebrate Jan. 1?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For many around the world, Jan. 1 is the day to celebrate the beginning of a new calendar year. But for United Methodists, there are at least three different reasons to celebrate on that day, writes Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
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