Daily Digest - January 6, 2021

"Grieving being in a prison of our homes, grieving isolation, grieving that COVID has taken away from us the basics of community and fellowship and being in church together." — The Rev. Sheron C. Patterson, senior pastor of Hamilton Park United Methodist Church in Dallas.

NEWS AND FEATURES

COVID-19 is top church story of 2020
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The church's response to the COVID-19 pandemic was voted the top United Methodist news story of 2020 by conference communicators in the U.S., Africa, Europe and the Philippines and UM News staff. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story

Florida Conference
Florida churchgoers answer Epiphany's call

LAKELAND, Fla. — In The United Methodist Church, Epiphany marks the Magi's arrival to visit and honor the Christ child. And just as that visit helped make Christ's light manifest in the world, Florida United Methodists are answering the call to share that light by going out into the world to serve. Joe Henderson has the story.
Read story
Read Ask The UMC: How do United Methodists celebrate Epiphany?

Missouri Conference
Mobility cart production ready to ramp up

COLUMBIA, Mo. — With a new, larger building, Mobility Worldwide plans to ramp up production of hand-cranked mobility carts to 50 a week. The carts aid victims of polio or land mines. Gary Moreau, executive director of the effort supported by many United Methodists, said the previous high was 35 carts each week. More than 200 volunteers work on the carts weekly.
Read story

PRESS RELEASES

World Council of Churches
Examining moral questions on COVID-19 vaccines

GENEVA — The World Council of Churches and the World Jewish Congress have released a joint paper laying out moral questions for religious leaders and organizations to raise in policy discussions around the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Read press release
Read paper

RESOURCES

United Methodist Publishing House
Webinar series helps prepare for Lent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Revs. Magrey deVega, Adam Hamilton and Susan Robb will lead a webinar series to help church leaders prepare Bible studies for Lent, which starts Feb. 17 this year. "A Season of Reflection: Lenten Studies to Prepare for Easter's Celebrations" will be at 2 p.m. U.S. Central time Jan. 12-14.
To learn more and register

RECENT HEADLINES

Missionaries cope with coronavirus challenges

2020: Remembering notable United Methodists

EVENTS

Monday, Jan. 11-Monday, Jan. 18

Online retreat: The Many Ways We Pray


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