Daily Digest - January 12, 2021


NEWS AND FEATURES

2020: The year in UM News photos
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The year 2020 was an eventful and difficult one for The United Methodist Church. Photographers from UM News, the denomination's official news service, documented a year in the life of United Methodism worldwide.
View photo presentation

The Signal of Santa Clarita Valley
Church helps girl 'fight like a unicorn'

VALENCIA, Calif. — Addison Rivera wanted to celebrate her last session of treatments for leukemia with a procession of unicorns. The 10-year-old's congregation, Valencia United Methodist Church, obliged with a parade of cars and T-shirts emblazoned with Rivera's motto, "Fight Like a Unicorn." Caleb Lunetta has the story.
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Perkins School of Theology
Seminary a partner in play 'Do No Harm'

DALLAS — United Methodist Perkins School of Theology and Soul Rep Theatre Company are partners in putting on the new play "Do No Harm." It's about three enslaved Alabama women operated on without anesthesia by Dr. J. Marion Sims, credited as the father of modern gynecology. The play is available via video on demand through Jan. 31.
Read story

PRESS RELEASES

Religion and Race
Black leaders discuss ministry and racism

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race and Abingdon Press will host an online panel discussion at 2 p.m. U.S. Central time Jan. 19 with the 10 Black United Methodist leaders who contributed to the new book "I'm Black. I'm Christian. I'm Methodist." Garlinda Burton, Religion and Race's interim top executive, will moderate.
Read press release
Black United Methodists want changes

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.

Iowa Conference
What can we yet become?

DES MOINES, Iowa — Bishop Laurie Haller, who leads the Iowa Conference, said the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was sobering, especially on a day that Christians celebrate the story of the wise men. "The season of Epiphany reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world who commanded his disciples to preach the gospel of faith, hope and love to all the nations," she writes. "I believe God is calling you and me to speak out, as our membership vows affirm, 'against evil, injustice and oppression in whatever form they present themselves.'"
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RESOURCES

United Methodist Communications
Safe ways to celebrate the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While COVID-19 continues to keep people at a distance, churches still have ways to mark the U.S. observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday on Jan. 18. Philip J. Brooks writes about four ideas.
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RECENT HEADLINES

Publishing House among pandemic victims

Keeping water flowing at church missions

EVENTS

Monday, Jan. 25-Friday, Feb. 12

Online book study: "Grace Sufficient — A History of Women in American Methodism"


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