O come, thou Dayspring
Come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine Advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows
Put to flight
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Advent meditation: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Advent, which means "coming" or "arrival," is a time of preparation for the birth of Christ, and a celebration of God's unconditional love. This meditation features the photographs of Mike DuBose, Kathleen Barry, Ronny Perryand others over the hymn, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," dating from the 12th century.
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Share a photo a day for Advent
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Rethink Church is inviting you once again to enter this season of Advent with intention and awareness. Will you join the photo-a-day practice and share with the community how you perceive each word or phrase for the day?
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7 United Methodist theology schools share in Lilly funds
INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS) - Seven United Methodist schools of theology are among 51 U.S. theological schools that will share in a $12.3 million award from the Lilly Endowment Inc. The money is part of the second round of Lilly's Theological School Initiative to Address Economic Issues Facing Future Ministers.
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West Texas church destroyed in Sunday fire
MORTON, Texas (UMNS) - After battling the blaze for 14 hours beginning at 3 a.m. Dec. 1, the fire finally was out but the First United Methodist Church building was destroyed. KCBD television in Lubbock reports that an investigation is under way to find the cause. "You have insurance on a building like this. I'm sure that it can replace some things but you can't replicate what they had here," church member James St. Clair told KCBD.
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Church fires: Damage, recovery, prevention
United Methodists open doors to Catholics after fire
MOUNT GILEAD, Ohio (UMNS) - Trinity United Methodist Church has opened its doors to welcome the congregation of Sacred Hearts Parish after a Thanksgiving Day fire destroyed the only Catholic church in the county. "Extreme sadness for the congregation of Sacred Hearts - but also what if it had been us - and how would we have wanted someone to respond?" the Rev. Lori Burdette-Steele, Trinity United Methodist Church head pastor, told ABC6.
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History of Hymns: 'People, Look East'
DALLAS (UMNS) - "People, Look East," a joyful Advent hymn, has the spirit of a Christmas carol, but with an imaginative Advent text. Eleanor Farjeon is also the author of the favorite hymn "Morning Has Broken." History of Hymns, a weekly feature made available by the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, is written by C. Michael Hawn of Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology.
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Typhoon Haiyan and the need for climate justice
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (UMNS) - In the wake of the disaster in the Philippines caused by Typhoon Haiyan, it is important for us to go beyond simple relief efforts, writes the Rev. Sharon Delgado, a United Methodist clergywoman and executive director of Earth Justice Ministries. "We must heed the warnings of climate scientists who point to present disasters and future dangers, including sea level rise and increasingly deadly storms linked to climate change."
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