Daily Digest - September 13, 2021

“I try my best to live my life. I mean, what choice do I have? Here I am. I'm still having conversations with God about this whole thing.”Frank Luchsinger, who is grieving the death of his wife. 


NEWS AND FEATURES

UMC.org
The hard journey through grief

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Two members of Brentwood United Methodist Church are helping each other through the grieving process after each lost his wife of more than 50 years. One way they cope is to visit members on the church prayer list, many of them women whose husbands have died. During his Sept. 5 sermon, the Rev. Davis Chappell of Brentwood United Methodist Church talked about how the men are adapting to grief. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Watch service (grief story at 54-minute mark)

Greater New Jersey Conference
Native Americans respond to vandalism

BRIDGETON, N.J. — The caucus that advocates for Native Americans in The United Methodist Church said its members would pray for the vandals who tore down flag poles and toppled a memorial stone honoring veterans at a Native American church. The vandals caused thousands of dollars of damage at St. John United Methodist Church. Heather Mistretta reports.
Read story

Virginia Conference
Doctors answer questions about vaccines

GLEN ALLEN, Va. — The Virginia Conference’s Bishop Sharma Lewis joins with the Virginia Department of Health and HCA Virginia to answer frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines. “I wish I could offer superpowers other than being a hero to your friends and family for keeping them safe,” says Dr. Jake O’Shea, in response to one frequent question.
Watch video
UM News: COVID-19 vaccination named missional priority

South Georgia, Holston conferences
Q&As with Bishops Graves and Wallace-Padgett

MACON, Ga. — Bishops David Graves and Debra Wallace-Padgett are among the U.S. bishops who are taking on additional areas as some colleagues retire. Graves now leads both the Alabama-West Florida and South Georgia conferences, while Wallace-Padgett oversees the North Alabama and Holston conferences. The bishops took part in question-and-answer sessions about their new roles and hopes for the future. 
Read Graves Q&A
Read Wallace-Padgett Q&A

Morning Journal
Former pastor, NAACP leader dies

CLEVELAND — The Rev. Stanley R. Miller, former executive director of the Cleveland branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and retired United Methodist pastor, died Sept. 9 of cancer. Friends say he continually worked to make his community a better place to live. Aliah Kimbro has the story. 
Read story 

WJHG-7
Florida church holds Comeback Sunday services

LYNN HAVEN, Fla. — Lynn Haven United Methodist Church had one campus wiped out and another badly damaged by 2018’s Hurricane Michael. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. The church held Comeback Sunday services on Sept. 12 to celebrate having survived so much trauma. “We kind of likened it to an athlete that recovers from a career-threatening injury,” said the Rev. Craig Carter, lead pastor. Katie Bente reports. 
Read story and watch video


PRESS RELEASES

Wesley Theological Seminary
Church donation enhances online learning

WASHINGTON — While Wesley Theological has reopened its physical campus, the United Methodist seminary continues to offer online courses. A generous donation and technical assistance from Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Virginia, has made classroom upgrades possible.
Read press release


RESOURCES

Discipleship Ministries
Being ‘More Than Allies’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Tex Sample will join Bob Zellner, a white civil rights leader, for a live webinar at 7 p.m. U.S. Central time Sept. 16. During Discipleship Ministries’ “More Than Allies” webinar, Zellner will share stories from his work during the U.S. civil rights movement and discuss how discipleship and social action align for a faithful commitment to the common good. 
To register


RECENT HEADLINES

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EVENTS

Monday, Sept. 20-Friday, Oct. 1

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