Friday Digest | Jan 06, 2023 |
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 | "Our church has a very strong rural and peri-urban education system, but we didn’t have any schools in the urban areas. I think it’s a very good phenomenon that we now have city schools, which provide top-notch education.” — Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa, Zimbabwe Episcopal Area
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| United Methodists establish urban schools | | HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Over the past three years, the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area witnessed the dawn of a new era as The United Methodist Church founded two state-of-the-art private schools in Harare. An international high school for girls is set to open its doors in Mutare early this year. Kudzai Chingwe and Eveline Chikwanah report. | | | | |
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| Greater New Jersey Conference
A creative outlet for outreach
| | WESTFIELD, N.J. — COVID-19 affected every aspect of life, including how people worshipped. The Rev. Alison Van Buskirk Philip and her team at First United Methodist Church Westfield wanted to find creative ways to reach as many people as possible. They began producing videos addressing topics that are relatable to anyone and connecting them back to the church on a personal level. Krista B. Jeffries has the story. | | | | |
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| KSL.COM
Amid emergency, church stretches to provide shelter
| | SALT LAKE CITY — As temperatures plunged below freezing, Salt Lake City and surrounding areas needed increased capacity to shelter homeless people. Salt Lake City First United Methodist Church opened its doors on six nights when temperatures dropped to near freezing. Medics volunteering at the church also treated 10 people for frostbite. Ashley Freddie reports. | | | | |
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| CBS News Pittsburgh
Organist marks 70 years of Christmas services
| | PITTSBURGH — Shirley Schmunk, 91, was hired as the main organist and music director for Hill Top United Methodist Church in 1952, but she's been a lifelong member of the congregation, having been baptized there as well. Schmunk marked her 70th year as the organist for Christmas services this past holiday. Kym Gable has her story. | | | | |
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| Western Jurisdiction
Bishops share Epiphany message | | DENVER — The five bishops serving the Western Jurisdiction, including three newly elected bishops, offer a video message for the celebration of Epiphany. The holiday that celebrates the magi’s visit to the Christ child officially falls on Jan. 6, but many churches will mark the celebration this Sunday. The video is intended to be used by churches in worship or online. | | | | |
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| Upper New York Conference
Retired bishop joins Global Methodist Church | | LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Former Upper New York Conference Bishop Mark J. Webb, who retired on Dec. 31, has surrendered his credentials as an elder and bishop in The United Methodist Church. He is now an elder in the Global Methodist Church, where he will serve as an active bishop. Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, who now leads the Upper New York Conference, shared Webb’s news and his own vision for the conference. | | | | |
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| | | | UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not UM News staff. |
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| Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
What is your Star Word? | | PHILADELPHIA — Star Words are a tradition gaining in popularity where people choose life-guiding words on Epiphany Day (Jan. 6) or on Epiphany Sunday. This word, chosen at random, is to help guide you on your spiritual journey throughout the year. The Rev. Julia Singleton, whose 2023 Star Word is “generosity,” talks about the practice. | | | | |
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| | | | Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, you can add it to the calendar by clicking here. |
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Wednesday, Jan. 11-Tuesday, Jan. 17 | | |
| Monday, Jan. 16-Saturday, Feb. 4
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Reflecting on 2022: The year in photos | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Amid challenges from an evolving denomination, multiple natural disasters, the war in Ukraine and a continuing struggle to address migration, United Methodists continued to live out their faith and serve their communities in 2022. Photographers from UM News, the denomination's official news service, documented a year in the life of United Methodism worldwide.
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Celebrating 20 years of mission in Mongolia | SEOUL, Korea (UM News) — The Mongolia mission initiated by the Korean United Methodist Church in 2003 now has 12 United Methodist churches, two mission centers and various outreach ministries serving the Mongolian community. During the Mongolian Mission Initiative’s annual meeting, that work was celebrated and the first two local elders in the country were ordained. The Rev. Thomas E. Kim reports. | | |
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A generational passion for justice | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A book by Episcopal priest and journalist James D. Richardson explores the life of his great-great-grandfather, a Methodist clergyman and abolitionist. Written with the help of the ancestor's unpublished memoir, it’s a harrowing tale of a Methodist pastor who risked his life for the cause of ending slavery. Jim Patterson has the story. | | |
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Ask The UMC
Is Epiphany about pageants? | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As United Methodists prepare to celebrate Epiphany Sunday, Ask The UMC explores the pageantry associated with the observance. Whether the procession commemorates the journey of the magi or the journey of Jesus to his baptism, pageants have been a persistent way in which Christians of many cultures have embodied and borne witness to what the observance of Epiphany is about. | | |
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Central and Southern Europe Conference
Churches continue to support Ukrainians | ZURICH (UM News) — While continuing to pray for an end to the war in Ukraine, United Methodists in Europe faithfully respond to the needs of those affected. An ambulance, fully loaded with medical supplies, was recently provided to Ukraine by the church in the Czech Republic. Since Russia has been targeting the Ukrainian power grid, churches also are sending generators, batteries, lamps and reflective vests. Urs Schweizer reports. | | |
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Judicial Council
Question about bishop complaints added to docket | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Judicial Council has added to its docket a request from the Council of Bishops to rule on the constitutionality of parts of Paragraph 413 in the denomination’s Book of Discipline. The measures in question provide a way for the Council of Bishops as a whole to address complaints under church law against fellow bishops. The bishops requested the church court give their question expedited consideration. Briefs are due Feb. 1 and reply briefs are due Feb. 11. | |
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