Friday Digest | Dec 15, 2023 |
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 | “Wenceslas is the saintly leader who reminds us that we belong wholly to God and one another. He and his song remind us that we cannot remain comfortable by the fire when our neighbors are cold, hungry and in need.” — The Rev. Andrew Bridgeman, pastor of Lewiston, Winifred and Denton United Methodist churches in Montana.
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| Photo by Ales Tosovsky, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
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| The real story behind 'Good King Wenceslas' | | PRAGUE (UM News) — “Good King Wenceslas,” the famed British carol about a generous king who journeys into a cold winter’s night to help the poor, takes inspiration from a very real Christian martyr. He wasn’t from England, and he wasn’t a king. But he remains an important figure in his Czech homeland. Some United Methodists see lessons in his story for today. Heather Hahn has the story. | | | | |
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| New England Conference
Meeting room transformed at church | | SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — An arts-centric makeover of a “somewhat drab meeting room” at Trinity United Methodist Church produced a vibrant art gallery. Different artists display their work every month, and a connecting room has been turned into a cafe. Money from two grants from the United Methodist Foundation helped pay for the transition. Joy E. Mueller has the story.
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| California-Pacific Conference
Church gets helping hand after vandalism | | LOS ANGELES — Westwood United Methodist Church and businesses nearby were vandalized with graffiti after a Dec. 8 “Free Gaza” protest that occurred not far from where President Biden was holding a fundraiser. The Rev. Molly Vetter, the church’s senior pastor, said two nearby Jewish congregations, apparently assisted by some Muslim neighbors, worked quickly to paint over the graffiti. Vetter expressed gratitude “for the care of our whole community.” She added, “I am heartbroken by the devastation, injury and loss of life in Israel and in Gaza, and its connection to the lives of Palestinian and Jewish neighbors in our own community. I pray fervently for peace.”
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| United Women in Faith
Bead art sparks new relationships | | NEW YORK — United Women in Faith members in Grand Junction, Colorado, have cultivated a mutually rewarding relationship with their Indigenous neighbors. Earlier this year, the Grand Junction First United Methodist unit revived a dormant District Committee on Native American Ministries to strengthen collaboration that goes beyond selling and promoting traditional bead-weaving. Audrey Stanton-Smith has the story.
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| Texas Conference
Big grant for Texas Conference | | HOUSTON — The Texas Conference has received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help build a congregational cohort-based learning program. The Parish Project will group congregations first by geography and later by “missional congruence.” Participating churches can apply for seed money to start new, outward-focused ministries. “We are grateful for this generous gift and eager to begin the work that will bring renewed energy to the conference and its churches,” said Texas Conference Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey. Lindsay Peyton reports.
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| Wishing you a blessed third Sunday of Advent | | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As you prepare to celebrate the third Sunday of Advent, please feel free to download and share the above meme on social media.
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| Michigan Conference
Jurisdiction to hold special session
| | LANSING, Mich. — The North Central Jurisdiction will hold a special session on Jan. 23 to approve new episcopal areas. The session, to be held virtually at 8 p.m. U.S. Eastern time, was announced by the jurisdiction’s College of Bishops. Plans call for forming the Northern Illinois and Wisconsin conferences into an area. The East Ohio and West Ohio conferences also would become an area. Currently the jurisdiction has nine episcopal areas (covering 10 conferences), and the proposed changes would leave seven areas to which bishops would be assigned. A July 2024 session of the North Central Jurisdiction would decide the names of the new areas. | | | | |
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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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| Monday, Jan. 29-Saturday, Feb. 10
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Remembering United Methodists of note | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — This year, United Methodists mourned the passing of beloved bishops, influential church scholars, the editor of The United Methodist Hymnal and a country music radio pioneer who boosted careers as diverse as Randy Travis and Taylor Swift. Heather Hahn has 29 remembrances of notable church members memorialized in 2023.
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Church conventions help heal COVID-19 scars | HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Healing Conventions in the Zimbabwe East and West annual conferences brought together thousands of clergy and laity for a time of prayer, worship and spiritual healing. The meetings followed a four-year hiatus of in-person gatherings. Kudzai Chingwe reports. | | |
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Ask The UMC
Understanding proposed regionalization plan | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The regionalization legislation headed to General Conference takes several steps toward a goal of building connectional unity while making room for customization in each region of the world. In Part 4 of a new series on regionalization, the Rev. Taylor W. Burton Edwards answers questions related to the legislation, including what could be customized by regional conferences and what is not included in the proposal. | | |
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Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Conference responds to Tennessee tornadoes | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s Dec. 9 tornadoes killed at least six people and caused significant damage, including to Fellowship United Methodist Church in Clarksville and Bellshire United Methodist Church in northern Nashville. The Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference Disaster Response Team is beginning to assess community needs. United Methodists are asked not to self-deploy. Donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief and Tennessee-Western Kentucky’s response are welcome. | | |
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Status and Role of Women
Agency releases report on bishop's trial | CHICAGO — The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women, which has responsibility for monitoring church gatherings, has released its report on the church trial of California-Nevada Conference Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño. After she underwent an 18-month paid suspension from ministry, a church trial found her not guilty of all charges. The agency’s report includes its recommendations related to the suspension, trial and just-resolution process. | | |
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