"It's the sunshine of my day — I get up every morning on fire knowing I'm coming to a place where we spread love, offer hope and help." — Steve Fleming, CEO, Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, Tennessee.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Helping people 'from womb to tomb'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A ministry of United Methodist Women with roots in social justice movements of the early 1900s, Bethlehem Centers offer programs to people of all ages, from child care to senior clubs. Joey Butler reports, with photos by Mike DuBose.
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Video of church incident goes viral, causes fallout
OKLAHOMA CITY (UM News) — A video shows an Hispanic woman being told to leave Penn Avenue Redemption United Methodist Church amid volunteers' accusations that she had brought in drugs — something she tearfully denied. The church is focused on prison and addiction recovery ministry, and has strict rules required by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. But the video, which didn't include that context, went viral and has resulted in a deluge of negative responses, including death threats. Sam Hodges reports.
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Greater New Jersey Conference
Finding God in a thrift shop
THIELLS, N.Y. — For a decade now, the Thrift Shoppe at Thiells Garnerville United Methodist Church has been serving a community in need. The shop, which was closed for almost 18 months due to COVID-19, recently hosted three outdoor $1 sales that raised more than $1,000 for missions in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Philippines. Heather Mistretta reports.
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Dakotas Conference
Rural churches lifted up in the Dakotas
IROQUOIS, S.D. — Representatives from rural churches in North and South Dakota gathered four times recently to talk about what needs to be done to secure their future. Some of the challenges are recruiting young people, lack of volunteers, fear of change and issues with buildings and other facilities. Doreen Gosmire has the story.
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Global Ministries
Supporting COVID-19 fight in South Asia
ATLANTA — Grants from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief helped fight the coronavirus in South Asia after cases spiked there earlier this year. The money supported partner organizations in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. Dan Curran reports.
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New England Conference
Church dedicates new historic roadside marker
WATERBURY CENTER, Vt. — On Oct. 24, the congregation of Waterbury Center Community Church celebrated the church's historic building, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The highlight of the service was the dedication of a newly installed roadside marker acknowledging this listing. The Rev. Pat Thompson has the story.
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No Daily Digest Nov. 18
There will be no Daily Digest on Nov. 18 because UM News will be at a staff event. The digest will resume on Friday, Nov. 19.
PRESS RELEASES
Educational Opportunities
Travel ministry restarts Holy Land tours
LAKELAND, Fla. — Educational Opportunities has restarted its tours of the Holy Land, Jordan and Egypt. The Christian travel organization is a United Methodist ministry partner vetted by the General Council on Finance and Administration.
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RESOURCES
UMC.org
Advent books to brighten the season
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Looking for a quiet way to spend the four weeks before Christmas? Crystal Caviness has an overview of four Advent books from Abingdon Press to help prepare families and individuals to celebrate Christ's birth.
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RECENT HEADLINES
German pastor sentenced for providing asylum
Bishops offer framework for inclusive church
EVENTS
Monday, Nov. 29-Friday, Dec. 10
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