“For several years, the orphans had been sheltered by the faithful of The United Methodist Church. It was, therefore, normal that we could build them a home within the mission so that they could grow up in the Christian missionary warmth.” — East Congo Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda, on building a new orphanage in Congo.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Church builds shelter for orphans in Congo
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — The United Methodist Church recently built an orphanage in the East Congo Conference to provide shelter for orphans formerly housed in foster homes. The orphanage will house 20 of the 89 children and young adults cared for by the church. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.
Read story
Minnesota Conference
Kayaking ministry builds and transforms community
VERGAS, Minn. — This spring, when COVID restrictions were lifted and her two rural churches returned to in-person worship, the Rev. Amy Strom noticed that people were exhausted and had lost their ability to talk with and relate to one another. Strom, an avid kayaker, invited others to join her for a weekly paddle. At first, it was exclusively members of one church, but they began to invite relatives, friends and neighbors, and a vibrant community formed. Christa Meland reports.
Read story
News4Jax
United Methodists die in train derailment
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Don and Margie Varnadoe, longtime St. Simons United Methodist Church members, were on a trip to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary when they were killed in a train derailment. They were among three people who died when an Amtrak train derailed Sept. 26 in rural Montana. Joe McLean reports on the couple’s contributions to the church.
Read story and watch video
Santa Maria Times
Marine killed in World War II laid to rest
HANFORD, Calif. — The remains of U.S. Pfc. Royal L. Waltz have been laid to rest eight years after being found on the Pacific island where he lost his life during World War II. First United Methodist Church in Hanford, where Waltz had been president of his youth group, gave him a hero’s funeral. Donald A. Promnitz has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Native American International Caucus
Native caucus calls for action on boarding schools
SELBYVILLE, Del. — The Native American International Caucus of The United Methodist Church issued a statement in support of the federal legislation establishing a “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies.” The caucus urges United Methodists, ecumenical partners and the church’s boards and agencies to take action, including “engaging in an accountable process of fact-finding and truth-telling.”
Read statement
Read press release on legislation
Church leaders demand justice for Native Americans
RESOURCES
Religion and Race
Book reimagines Advent story
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has created an Advent 2021 resource for congregations, with the theme of “decolonizing” the Advent journey. “Reimagine Advent. Discover The Liberating Christ.” looks at the Advent story through the eyes of Jesus as a Hebrew child born and living under Roman colonialism. It offers sermon starters based on the lectionary, plus suggested songs and hymns, original litanies and children’s activities that local congregations may use this season.
View resource
EVENTS
Friday, Oct. 1-Friday, Nov. 12
Emmaus Ministries Virtual Walk and Challenge
Monday, Oct. 18-Friday, Oct. 29
Bridging the Gap: Wounded Spirits — Understanding PTSD
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Native American museum makes belated debut
OKLAHOMA CITY (UM News) — The First Americans Museum is open to the public after a protracted birthing process. United Methodist Native Americans involved with the new museum say it’s worth the wait. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Handbook aims to reach unvaccinated with compassion
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (UM News) — The push to get people vaccinated against COVID-19 has opened wide divisions that can't be healed without compassion, said the Rev. Dana Horrell, who has written a handbook to help congregations reach out to the unvaccinated. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
Read story
Download handbook
Adam Hamilton: Leading in polarized times
LEAWOOD, Kan. (UM News) — Ahead of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection’s 2021 Leadership Institute, UM News spoke to the Rev. Adam Hamilton about the pandemic, the proposed denominational split and how the congregation navigates its disagreements. Heather Hahn and Joey Butler have the story and videos.
Read story and watch videos
Partners help pastor revitalize struggling church
EŁK, Poland (UM News) — When the Rev. Dariusz Zuber and his wife, Monika, came to God’s Love United Methodist Church in northeastern Poland in July 2012, they found a congregation yearning for new life. To implement their vision for the church, the couple invited not only parishioners but also nonprofit organizations and municipal institutions. Urs Schweizer reports.
Read story
Commentary: Virtual church is new ministry paradigm
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The shift from physical gatherings to a “church without walls” was deemed unthinkable just a few years ago, but COVID-19 lockdowns fast-tracked the practice of online ministry. “For me, a time of crisis became a time of opportunity for a greater ministry,” writes the Rev. Taurai Emmanuel Maforo.
Read commentary
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Church builds shelter for orphans in Congo
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — The United Methodist Church recently built an orphanage in the East Congo Conference to provide shelter for orphans formerly housed in foster homes. The orphanage will house 20 of the 89 children and young adults cared for by the church. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.
Read story
Minnesota Conference
Kayaking ministry builds and transforms community
VERGAS, Minn. — This spring, when COVID restrictions were lifted and her two rural churches returned to in-person worship, the Rev. Amy Strom noticed that people were exhausted and had lost their ability to talk with and relate to one another. Strom, an avid kayaker, invited others to join her for a weekly paddle. At first, it was exclusively members of one church, but they began to invite relatives, friends and neighbors, and a vibrant community formed. Christa Meland reports.
Read story
News4Jax
United Methodists die in train derailment
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Don and Margie Varnadoe, longtime St. Simons United Methodist Church members, were on a trip to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary when they were killed in a train derailment. They were among three people who died when an Amtrak train derailed Sept. 26 in rural Montana. Joe McLean reports on the couple’s contributions to the church.
Read story and watch video
Santa Maria Times
Marine killed in World War II laid to rest
HANFORD, Calif. — The remains of U.S. Pfc. Royal L. Waltz have been laid to rest eight years after being found on the Pacific island where he lost his life during World War II. First United Methodist Church in Hanford, where Waltz had been president of his youth group, gave him a hero’s funeral. Donald A. Promnitz has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Native American International Caucus
Native caucus calls for action on boarding schools
SELBYVILLE, Del. — The Native American International Caucus of The United Methodist Church issued a statement in support of the federal legislation establishing a “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies.” The caucus urges United Methodists, ecumenical partners and the church’s boards and agencies to take action, including “engaging in an accountable process of fact-finding and truth-telling.”
Read statement
Read press release on legislation
Church leaders demand justice for Native Americans
RESOURCES
Religion and Race
Book reimagines Advent story
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has created an Advent 2021 resource for congregations, with the theme of “decolonizing” the Advent journey. “Reimagine Advent. Discover The Liberating Christ.” looks at the Advent story through the eyes of Jesus as a Hebrew child born and living under Roman colonialism. It offers sermon starters based on the lectionary, plus suggested songs and hymns, original litanies and children’s activities that local congregations may use this season.
View resource
EVENTS
Friday, Oct. 1-Friday, Nov. 12
Emmaus Ministries Virtual Walk and Challenge
Monday, Oct. 18-Friday, Oct. 29
Bridging the Gap: Wounded Spirits — Understanding PTSD
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Native American museum makes belated debut
OKLAHOMA CITY (UM News) — The First Americans Museum is open to the public after a protracted birthing process. United Methodist Native Americans involved with the new museum say it’s worth the wait. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Handbook aims to reach unvaccinated with compassion
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (UM News) — The push to get people vaccinated against COVID-19 has opened wide divisions that can't be healed without compassion, said the Rev. Dana Horrell, who has written a handbook to help congregations reach out to the unvaccinated. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
Read story
Download handbook
Adam Hamilton: Leading in polarized times
LEAWOOD, Kan. (UM News) — Ahead of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection’s 2021 Leadership Institute, UM News spoke to the Rev. Adam Hamilton about the pandemic, the proposed denominational split and how the congregation navigates its disagreements. Heather Hahn and Joey Butler have the story and videos.
Read story and watch videos
Partners help pastor revitalize struggling church
EŁK, Poland (UM News) — When the Rev. Dariusz Zuber and his wife, Monika, came to God’s Love United Methodist Church in northeastern Poland in July 2012, they found a congregation yearning for new life. To implement their vision for the church, the couple invited not only parishioners but also nonprofit organizations and municipal institutions. Urs Schweizer reports.
Read story
Commentary: Virtual church is new ministry paradigm
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The shift from physical gatherings to a “church without walls” was deemed unthinkable just a few years ago, but COVID-19 lockdowns fast-tracked the practice of online ministry. “For me, a time of crisis became a time of opportunity for a greater ministry,” writes the Rev. Taurai Emmanuel Maforo.
Read commentary
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