Daily Digest - September 7, 2018

“It gives them a safe place to pursue their options, but it also provides time where we as a society can see the injustice of separating children from parents.” — The Rev. Robert Coombe, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Germantown, Pennsylvania.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
2 immigrant families find sanctuary in church

GERMANTOWN, Pa. — Two immigrant families, both with children who are American citizens, have taken sanctuary inside First United Methodist Church of Germantown to resist deportation orders from the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
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Bishop Nhiwatiwa earns many nicknames
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — Since 2010, Bishop Eben Kanukayi Nhiwatiwa has been called many names — all of them good. Chenayi Kumuterera reports on how the nicknames reflect his leadership style.
Read story 

Focus on Marshfield
Accidental fire destroys Wisconsin church

MARSHFIELD, Wis. — Community and church members are mourning the loss of Wesley United Methodist Church, destroyed last Sunday by a fire that has been ruled accidental. The red-brick structure was dedicated in 1922 and the congregation started in 1882. Focus on Marshfield reports.
Read story
 

PRESS RELEASES

Commission on General Conference
Trapp named GC2019 worship director

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Commission on General Conference has named Raymond Trapp as worship and music director for the 2019 special General Conference. Trapp, music director of Vanderveer Park United Methodist Church in New York, will serve the same role at the 2020 General Conference.
Read press release


RESOURCES

Oklahoma Conference
Devotions focus on spiritual help for GC2019

OKLAHOMA CITY (UMNS) — General Conference delegates and conference leaders have created a digital devotion series designed to prepare Oklahoma United Methodists for the 2019 General Conference, which will attempt to resolve the denomination’s differences on sexuality. The 28 Acts Devotion series explores the biblical account in Acts, which describes how the faith community had to decide how to move forward in the midst of differences. Meagan Ewton reports.
Read story


COMMENTARIES

Minnesota Conference
Church welcomes stranger, receives blessings

AITKIN, Minn. — The Rev. Dawn Houser, pastor of Aitkin United Methodist Church, writes about how welcoming a stranger into the church was a gift to the congregation. “Aitkin UMC was given a wonderful opportunity to truly be the heart, hands and feet of Jesus Christ in our community. We will forever be thankful for that, and we are looking forward to more strangers arriving on our doorstep,” she writes.
Read commentary


RECENT HEADLINES

Arguments mount on Way Forward plans 

Congo United Methodists seek to eradicate tribalism 


EVENTS

Wednesday, Sept. 12


Live Learning Session: YouTube for Churches


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