“What I hope from the book is that if somebody — or another pastor, especially — who’s struggling with addiction reads it, they will realize that you can reach out for help and have it, that the hand will be there to help you.” — The Rev. C. Don Jones, a United Methodist pastor and author of “The Sun Still Shines: The Legend of a Drunken Pastor.”
NEWS AND FEATURES
The burdens of an alcoholic pastor
ANDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — After missteps and failures along the way, the Rev. C. Don Jones made it through treatment for alcoholism and is back in the pulpit. But the wounds from the experience are still there. In “The Sun Still Shines: The Legend of a Drunken Pastor,” Jones tracks his eight-month journey through rehab stints and regressions. Jim Patterson has his story.
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Michigan Conference
Sharing sacred stories in ink
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan Wesley Foundation, a United Methodist campus ministry, is preparing to unveil "Sacred Ink," a new traveling art exhibit featuring photographs and stories of people of faith and their tattoos. The interactive gallery hopes to engage the community, including churches in the Michigan Conference, in conversation about this artistic expression and how it is more than skin-deep. For many wearers, tattoos are ever-present reminders of deeply personal, sacred stories. James Deaton reports.
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The Provincetown Independent
Church soup kitchen is winter beacon
PROVINCETOWN, Mass. — The Soup Kitchen in Provincetown opened Nov. 6 for its 32nd season at Provincetown United Methodist Church. A winter beacon in the community, the ministry provides free hot meals every weekday from November through April. Elias Duncan reports on this year’s opening day.
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Pigeon 605
Christmas tree tradition to change
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — First United Methodist Church plans to keep its Christmas tree tradition alive after a dying, 50-foot Colorado spruce is removed. It will be replaced by a 40-foot artificial tree. “It will be erected each year near the spot of the original tree so that it will continue to be visible,” said the Rev. Sarah Nelson. “It’s bittersweet. The tree, it’s meant a lot to people within the church and to people within the community for a very long time.” Jill Callison has the story.
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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
A rural church in an urbanizing world
ATLANTA — Dr. David W. Scott, director of mission theology at Global Ministries, writes about how The United Methodist Church is still a largely rural denomination. This happens as much of the world’s population is moving into cities. Most of the U.S. population has lived in cities and suburbs since the 1920 Census.
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RESOURCES
Northern Illinois Conference
Film and discussion on Latinx culture
CHICAGO — An anti-racism film series wraps up Nov. 30 with a discussion of “The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of Latino Image.” The film is available free online so people can watch it to prepare for the 6:45 p.m. U.S. Central time live discussion, which also will be broadcast on Zoom. Rudolph Reyes II, instructor of Christian ethics and Latinx studies at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, will lead the presentation.
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Monday, Nov. 27-Thursday, Dec. 21
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Monday, Dec. 4-Wednesay, Dec. 6
Gammon Theological Seminary Founders Day
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