Daily Digest - May 15, 2023

“One of my dreams is that it will become a practice here where we can share and sing each other’s songs and celebrate them regularly. I love when worship is more than just coming to worship God; it’s a celebration of culture and language.” — The Rev. Murray Crookes, pastor of Every Nation United Methodist Church in Anchorage, Alaska.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Alaskan church reaches out to Native community
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (UM News) — Every Nation United Methodist Church was designed to support and minister to Alaska Natives. The Rev. Murray Crookes, one of few Alaska Native clergy in the state, hosts a weekly community dinner and Bible study as well as Sunday worship that incorporates Native traditions. Joey Butler reports, with photos from Mike DuBose.
Read story
Church food pantry helps Alaskans ‘on the edge'
Samoan congregation in Alaska celebrates new charter

California-Pacific Conference
Conference seeks help in sheltering migrants
PASADENA, Calif. — With the end of Title 42, United Methodist ministries are preparing for new realities across the Mexico-U.S. border, including a possible surge of migrants over already high numbers.The California-Pacific Conference is making plans to provide people with shelter and has put out an urgent call for assistance. Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank, who leads the conference, also issued a response, sharing her prayers and hopes for the work ahead.
Read conference statement
Read bishop’s letter

Holston Conference
Celebrating mothers' ministries
ALCOA, Tenn. — Holston Conference’s The Call asked church members to share stories of their mothers’ ministries that had an impact on them. Annette Spence shares four stories about moms from their proud children.
Read story

USA Today
Pastor: Mass shooting response must go beyond prayers
AUSTIN, Texas — The Rev. Stephen Sanders, pastor of Oak Hill United Methodist Church, is among those clergy saying legislative action must follow prayers as a response to mass shootings, including the recent one in Allen, Texas. Marc Ramirez reports.
Read story


PRESS RELEASES

Institute for Discipleship, United Methodist Publishing House  
Disciple Bible Study goes digital
WINFIELD, Kan. — The Disciple Bible Study series is going digital with the introduction of an app that will be available Aug. 1, the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship and the United Methodist Publishing House have announced. Two 24-week studies in the Disciple series will be the first offerings on the new BeADisciple Study App, which will give groups access to the curriculum and the complete Common English Bible in text and audio form. Zoom is built into the app for group meetings. Beta groups are being invited to be first adopters and participate in final testing.
Read press release


RESOURCES

Archives and History
New resources for Heritage Sunday
MADISON, N.J. — Heritage Sunday 2023 is May 21, and new resources are available from the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History to make it easier for local churches to participate. The theme this year is Local Church Histories: The Cornerstone of Our Faith. Videos, podcasts, worship resources and more are ready for use.
Read press release
View resources

Religion and Race
Celebrating Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders 
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has created two free, downloadable resources for churches to use during Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. Both infographics are available at the agency’s R-Squared resource hub.
View 10 Things to Know About Asian Americans
View 10 Honorable Traits of Pacific Islander Culture 


RECENT HEADLINES

Church gives hope to people living with HIV in Congo

Bishops call for General Conference in 2026


EVENTS

Tuesday, May 16
Voices From the Field: Regional Missionaries — Living the Dream

Tuesday, May 23
Clergy Discretionary Funds webinar