“Social media (sites) have spoiled a lot of people in villages in terms of misinformation about vaccines. We will all be in security when we are vaccinated.” — Dr. Michael Mwema Kyungu, speaking during COVID-19 training in Congo’s North Katanga Conference.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Addressing COVID-19 misinformation in rural Congo
HAUT-LOMAMI PROVINCE, Congo (UM News) — Nearly 500 North Katanga Conference clergy and lay members met to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ministry and to address misinformation in rural areas. The participants were encouraged to follow safety protocols and share information in their communities. The Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau reports.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
Church offers hope to people with mental illness
SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. — Advent United Methodist Church is opening its arms — and its doors — to people with mental illness through a new support group, Fresh Hope. Its organizers, Kelly Black and Sydney Marguet, are passionate about the intersection of faith and mental health. Jessica Brodie has the story.
Read story
North Georgia Conference
Food pantry grows to meet growing need
ACWORTH, Ga. — Acworth United Methodist Church has operated a food pantry every Tuesday for many years, serving about 30 families per week. But since the pandemic upended lives, the pantry has grown to help as many as 400 families weekly. Sybil Davidson has the story.
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 the UM News staff.
Wespath
A personal view on love and investing
GLENVIEW, Ill. — The drug-related death of his cousin brought home to Jake Barnett the importance of the role compassion and love play in making ethical investments. Barnett, director of sustainable investment stewardship at Wespath, posted about the experience on the Investment Insights Blog of Wespath Institutional Investments.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Celebrating Ash Wednesday
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Ash Wednesday, March 2 this year, begins the season of Lent, a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The United Methodist Board of Church and Society is offering an online Ash Wednesday service at noon U.S. Eastern time. Learn more about the origins of Ash Wednesday and download memes to share on social media.
Ask The UMC: When did Ash Wednesday begin?
Learn about Church and Society service
Download imposition of ashes meme
Download cross meme
United Methodist Communications
Course explores communicating amid change
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — March 2 is the deadline to register for United Methodist Communications’ “Communicating During Seasons of Change” four-week online course. The training will take place 1-2 p.m. U.S. Central time Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 7 to April 1. Supplemental resources and discussions will be provided each week.
Read press release
To register
United Methodist Higher Education Foundation
Deadline extended for scholarship applications
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation has extended the deadline for scholarship applications to March 15. Applicants must be United Methodist members and planning to attend a United Methodist-related school full time for the 2022-23 academic year.
To apply
To learn more
RECENT HEADLINES
What preachers can learn from Lean Cuisine
Groups offer conflicting calls on General Conference
EVENTS
Sunday, March 27
UMCOR Sunday
NEWS AND FEATURES
Addressing COVID-19 misinformation in rural Congo
HAUT-LOMAMI PROVINCE, Congo (UM News) — Nearly 500 North Katanga Conference clergy and lay members met to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ministry and to address misinformation in rural areas. The participants were encouraged to follow safety protocols and share information in their communities. The Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau reports.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
Church offers hope to people with mental illness
SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. — Advent United Methodist Church is opening its arms — and its doors — to people with mental illness through a new support group, Fresh Hope. Its organizers, Kelly Black and Sydney Marguet, are passionate about the intersection of faith and mental health. Jessica Brodie has the story.
Read story
North Georgia Conference
Food pantry grows to meet growing need
ACWORTH, Ga. — Acworth United Methodist Church has operated a food pantry every Tuesday for many years, serving about 30 families per week. But since the pandemic upended lives, the pantry has grown to help as many as 400 families weekly. Sybil Davidson has the story.
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 the UM News staff.
Wespath
A personal view on love and investing
GLENVIEW, Ill. — The drug-related death of his cousin brought home to Jake Barnett the importance of the role compassion and love play in making ethical investments. Barnett, director of sustainable investment stewardship at Wespath, posted about the experience on the Investment Insights Blog of Wespath Institutional Investments.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Celebrating Ash Wednesday
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Ash Wednesday, March 2 this year, begins the season of Lent, a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The United Methodist Board of Church and Society is offering an online Ash Wednesday service at noon U.S. Eastern time. Learn more about the origins of Ash Wednesday and download memes to share on social media.
Ask The UMC: When did Ash Wednesday begin?
Learn about Church and Society service
Download imposition of ashes meme
Download cross meme
United Methodist Communications
Course explores communicating amid change
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — March 2 is the deadline to register for United Methodist Communications’ “Communicating During Seasons of Change” four-week online course. The training will take place 1-2 p.m. U.S. Central time Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 7 to April 1. Supplemental resources and discussions will be provided each week.
Read press release
To register
United Methodist Higher Education Foundation
Deadline extended for scholarship applications
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation has extended the deadline for scholarship applications to March 15. Applicants must be United Methodist members and planning to attend a United Methodist-related school full time for the 2022-23 academic year.
To apply
To learn more
RECENT HEADLINES
What preachers can learn from Lean Cuisine
Groups offer conflicting calls on General Conference
EVENTS
Sunday, March 27
UMCOR Sunday
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