"Our church needs to continue (to provide) ways we are the home for strangers and we are the friend for the migrant, and we need to open up the landscape so that the church can be outfacing, engaging with those in such a critical situation today." — Wisconsin Area Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, president of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Churches unite in support of migrants
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — As United Methodist congregations prepared on the first Sunday of Advent for the coming of the Christ child, many also recognized the importance of welcoming the stranger. Churches around the world celebrated Global Migration Sunday with a day of prayer and a special offering to aid migrants and refugees. Julie Dwyer has the story.
Read story
Attack on Methodist church in Pakistan condemned
QUETTA, Pakistan — The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, World Methodist Council and World Council of Churches are among those condemning a Dec. 16 attack on Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in western Pakistan that killed at least nine people and injured more than 50 attending a worship service. Thomas Kemper of Global Ministries called upon authorities in Pakistan “to increase security for Christian churches and community in the face of threats from the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) and other terrorists.” Bethel Memorial Methodist Church is a congregation of the Church of Pakistan.
Read Global Ministries statement
World Methodist Council statement
Read WCC story
Filipino church offers sanctuary during typhoon
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines (UMNS) — A Philippines church resurrected after a major typhoon in 2013 provided sanctuary to others during floods brought by a recent storm. On Dec. 16, Light and Life United Methodist Church served as an evacuation place during flooding from Typhoon Urduja, also known as Kai-Tak. Gladys Mangiduyos reports.
Read story
South Carolina Advocate
Church spreads Christmas cheer to storm victims
MULLINS, S.C. — Imagine losing almost everything and having to start over with just the essentials. Now imagine it’s Christmas, and the cheerful tree and festive decorations are absent, lost to mold and muck and other flood-related devastation. Jessica Brodie tells how one United Methodist church in South Carolina responded.
Read story
And so this is Christmas …
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMC.org) — Learn about five “lesser known” facts on Christmas from the Rev. Joe Iovino. Then take a new Christmas quiz.
Five things about Christmas
Christmas Quiz 2017
PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Bishops offer Christmas message
WASHINGTON — In a Christmas message to the people of The United Methodist Church on behalf of the Council of Bishops, Council president Bishop Bruce Ough encourages us to re-ignite the longing for the birth of Christ in our lives.
Read message
COMMENTARIES
Jesus before Christmas
CASPER, Wyo. — Jesus likely wasn’t born in winter. But Dec. 25 happens to fall around a Jewish festival Jesus did celebrate. The Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter writes about what Christians owe to the Feast of Dedication, which we know today as Hanukkah.
Read commentary
ANNOUNCEMENT
No Daily Digest Dec. 19-Jan. 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — There will be no Daily Digest from Dec. 19-Jan. 2. The staff at
United Methodist News Service wishes everyone a blessed Advent and merry Christmas.
Photo by Steven Kyle Adair, United Methodist Communications
RECENT HEADLINES
Crossing borders without leaving a country
EVENTS
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.
Monday, Jan. 8-Friday, Feb. 2
Online workshop on surviving the caregiver marathon with grace: Training for serving in the long run
Wednesday, Jan. 10
Webinar for local church leaders and members: What’s my job?
Share your story or tips with us at [email protected].
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