“Of all the artifacts we discovered, the most meaningful for me was a typed letter from the church’s pastor at the time, S. L. Jewell.” — Jennifer Wildes, senior director of collections and exhibits for Discovery Park of America, on the contents of a cornerstone box discovered at Dresden (Tenn.) First United Methodist Church.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Discovery Park of America
Time capsule found in destroyed church opened
DRESDEN, Tenn. — On Feb. 2, artifact experts from Discovery Park of America opened the cornerstone box discovered during the demolition of Dresden First United Methodist Church. The building was damaged beyond repair by a tornado in December. Discovery Park staff reports on the contents of the box.
Read story
North Texas Conference
Churches provide food, shelter after winter storm
PLANO, Texas — United Methodists in Texas are doing their part to respond to the impact of this week’s winter storm. The North Texas Conference has committed $25,000 to the cause, and churches in Dallas, Plano, Paris and elsewhere are providing food and shelter for those who need it most. Pam Hughes has the story.
Read story
New Jersey Herald
Police investigate burning of church’s Pride flag
SPARTA, N.J. — Sparta police are investigating a bias incident after a rainbow Pride flag flown at Sparta United Methodist Church was set on fire. The flag was discovered burned the morning of Jan. 2, and church pastor the Rev. Steven Bechtold said it has been stolen and found in a dumpster on previous occasions. Lori Comstock reports.
Read story
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 UM News staff.
UM & Global
Visa access a challenge for General Conference
ATLANTA — U.S. State Department information shows that it may be visas, rather than vaccinations, that are the insurmountable obstacle to holding General Conference this year. David W. Scott, mission theologian for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, writes that wait times mean up to a third of delegates might not be able to get visas in time.
Read commentary
How visas work in the church
RESOURCES
Michigan Conference
Activity book for Black History Month
LANSING, Mich. — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Venus and Serena Williams and Sojourner Truth are some of the heroes included in an activity journal and resource book released by the Michigan Conference to accompany Black History Month. Twenty-eight profiles are in the book, one for every day in February. Kay DeMoss reports.
Read story
Read book (PDF)
Higher Education Foundation
Scholarship application deadline approaches
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation will accept scholarship applications for the 2022-23 academic year through March 1, 2022. Students who are members of The United Methodist Church and planning to attend a United Methodist-related college, university or seminary full time are eligible to apply.
To apply
EVENTS
Wednesday, March 2-Monday, April 18
Online course: The “I Am” Statements of Jesus
Friday, March 18-Saturday, April 2
Global Ministries EarthKeepers training
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Churches begin long process of recovery from tornadoes
DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. (UM News) — Relief work is just beginning following December tornadoes that left a path of destruction across several states and led to dozens of deaths. The United Methodist Committee on Relief recently visited the area to assure church and community leaders that the church will be with them for the long haul. Joey Butler and Mike DuBose have the story and photos.
Read story
Watch video
Changes, expansion for United Methodist Men
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The new leader of United Methodist Men is planning to build a larger community and he’s in a hurry about it. Greg Arnold, in an interview with United Methodist News, says his priorities include Scouting, new apps and resources, and getting more local churches involved. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
UM News: Hanke looks back at UM Men tenure
Church parking lots double as safe spaces
DENVER (UMC.org) — From June to December, Park Hill United Methodist Church members pitched 40 fishing huts on the church’s parking lot as part of the city’s “Safe Outdoors Spaces” program for people experiencing homelessness. Park Hill is among several United Methodist congregations that have discovered that inviting people who lack housing to rest and recharge on church property is a way to put their faith into action. Annette Spence reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC: Help for those facing homelessness
Remembering Bishop Francis Burns
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Ask The UMC) — The Rev. Francis Burns was the first Black bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Elected in 1858, he served as a missionary bishop in Liberia. His rise to ministry and the episcopate happened against a background of American racism, colonialism and imperialism, writes Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications. In honor of Black History Month, the team has more on this pioneer in Methodism.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Commentary: ‘We’ve come this far by faith’
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (UM News) — Reflecting on the growing divisions within the United States, retired Bishop Forrest C. Stith thinks that an underlying problem is a refusal to address issues related to equity and the racial divide. He compares national divisions to those within United Methodism, noting that the denomination’s “rich diversity is our strength and can be our liability.”
Read commentary
Commentary: A call to constant communion
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Rev. Chase Crickenberger said that for early Methodists, receiving communion as often as one possibly could was not an option; it was a duty to God. Though many churches serve communion only once a month, “in this time of church division, constant communion can bring healing and a deeper encounter with God’s grace,” he writes.
Read commentary
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Discovery Park of America
Time capsule found in destroyed church opened
DRESDEN, Tenn. — On Feb. 2, artifact experts from Discovery Park of America opened the cornerstone box discovered during the demolition of Dresden First United Methodist Church. The building was damaged beyond repair by a tornado in December. Discovery Park staff reports on the contents of the box.
Read story
North Texas Conference
Churches provide food, shelter after winter storm
PLANO, Texas — United Methodists in Texas are doing their part to respond to the impact of this week’s winter storm. The North Texas Conference has committed $25,000 to the cause, and churches in Dallas, Plano, Paris and elsewhere are providing food and shelter for those who need it most. Pam Hughes has the story.
Read story
New Jersey Herald
Police investigate burning of church’s Pride flag
SPARTA, N.J. — Sparta police are investigating a bias incident after a rainbow Pride flag flown at Sparta United Methodist Church was set on fire. The flag was discovered burned the morning of Jan. 2, and church pastor the Rev. Steven Bechtold said it has been stolen and found in a dumpster on previous occasions. Lori Comstock reports.
Read story
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 UM News staff.
UM & Global
Visa access a challenge for General Conference
ATLANTA — U.S. State Department information shows that it may be visas, rather than vaccinations, that are the insurmountable obstacle to holding General Conference this year. David W. Scott, mission theologian for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, writes that wait times mean up to a third of delegates might not be able to get visas in time.
Read commentary
How visas work in the church
RESOURCES
Michigan Conference
Activity book for Black History Month
LANSING, Mich. — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Venus and Serena Williams and Sojourner Truth are some of the heroes included in an activity journal and resource book released by the Michigan Conference to accompany Black History Month. Twenty-eight profiles are in the book, one for every day in February. Kay DeMoss reports.
Read story
Read book (PDF)
Higher Education Foundation
Scholarship application deadline approaches
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation will accept scholarship applications for the 2022-23 academic year through March 1, 2022. Students who are members of The United Methodist Church and planning to attend a United Methodist-related college, university or seminary full time are eligible to apply.
To apply
EVENTS
Wednesday, March 2-Monday, April 18
Online course: The “I Am” Statements of Jesus
Friday, March 18-Saturday, April 2
Global Ministries EarthKeepers training
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Churches begin long process of recovery from tornadoes
DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. (UM News) — Relief work is just beginning following December tornadoes that left a path of destruction across several states and led to dozens of deaths. The United Methodist Committee on Relief recently visited the area to assure church and community leaders that the church will be with them for the long haul. Joey Butler and Mike DuBose have the story and photos.
Read story
Watch video
Changes, expansion for United Methodist Men
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The new leader of United Methodist Men is planning to build a larger community and he’s in a hurry about it. Greg Arnold, in an interview with United Methodist News, says his priorities include Scouting, new apps and resources, and getting more local churches involved. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
UM News: Hanke looks back at UM Men tenure
Church parking lots double as safe spaces
DENVER (UMC.org) — From June to December, Park Hill United Methodist Church members pitched 40 fishing huts on the church’s parking lot as part of the city’s “Safe Outdoors Spaces” program for people experiencing homelessness. Park Hill is among several United Methodist congregations that have discovered that inviting people who lack housing to rest and recharge on church property is a way to put their faith into action. Annette Spence reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC: Help for those facing homelessness
Remembering Bishop Francis Burns
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Ask The UMC) — The Rev. Francis Burns was the first Black bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Elected in 1858, he served as a missionary bishop in Liberia. His rise to ministry and the episcopate happened against a background of American racism, colonialism and imperialism, writes Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications. In honor of Black History Month, the team has more on this pioneer in Methodism.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Commentary: ‘We’ve come this far by faith’
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (UM News) — Reflecting on the growing divisions within the United States, retired Bishop Forrest C. Stith thinks that an underlying problem is a refusal to address issues related to equity and the racial divide. He compares national divisions to those within United Methodism, noting that the denomination’s “rich diversity is our strength and can be our liability.”
Read commentary
Commentary: A call to constant communion
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Rev. Chase Crickenberger said that for early Methodists, receiving communion as often as one possibly could was not an option; it was a duty to God. Though many churches serve communion only once a month, “in this time of church division, constant communion can bring healing and a deeper encounter with God’s grace,” he writes.
Read commentary
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