Daily Digest - November 19, 2020

“His theological genius and incisive truth-telling led many to understand the harm done by injustice, oppression and hatred.” — Baltimore-Washington Conference Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling in a tribute to the Rev. William Bobby McClain.


NEWS AND FEATURES

McClain, theologian and civil rights leader, dies at 82

WASHINGTON (UM News) — The Rev. William Bobby McClain, theologian, civil rights leader and champion for the United Methodist worship book “Songs of Zion,” died on Nov. 18 after a short illness. He was 82. Kathy L. Gilbert reports. 
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The making of Thanksgiving in the US
PLYMOUTH, Mass. (UM News) — The origin story of the U.S. Thanksgiving is more myth than reality. With this year marking the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in North America, historians see an opportunity to revisit the good — and the bad — of how the holiday developed. Heather Hahn has the story.
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Church celebrates end of measles, Ebola outbreaks 
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — As Congo continues to battle COVID-19, The United Methodist Church is celebrating two wins: the end of both a second Ebola outbreak this year and a measles epidemic that killed more than 7,000 children. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.
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Virginia Conference
Conference plans memorial for unmarked graves

PURCELLVILLE, Va. — Virginia Conference leaders announced that construction will begin on a memorial to 73 people in unmarked graves in a cemetery established in 1847 that is now part of Hillsboro United Methodist Church. The remains of African Americans, mulattos, Native Americans and Europeans are buried in this cemetery. The conference made the announcement in an open letter to the Hillsboro community. 
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New 2020 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2020 annual conference reports. New this week are South Carolina and Virginia.
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Utica Observer-Dispatch
Worship today takes creative flexibility

UTICA, N.Y. — In upper New York State, churches of all denominations have been making ongoing adjustments to deal with the months-long coronavirus pandemic. About 75% of United Methodist churches in the Utica area are back to at least some form of in-person worship while continuing to post or stream services online. Amy Neff Roth reports. 
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RECENT HEADLINES 

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EVENTS 

Monday, Nov. 30-Thursday, Dec. 24 

Online class: Advent Study Through the Book of Luke

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