Friday Digest | Feb 02, 2024 |
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 | “We migrants have a hard journey. We’re tired. But then we find a place like this where we can rest, we can bathe our children, and the next day, we can continue our journey with a lifted spirit and renewed hope.” — Brian Jose Rivas Romero on receiving aid from a Methodist church in Mexico.
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| Victor Lugo, a migrant from Venezuela, talks with two of his granddaughters at CAFEMIN, a migrant shelter in Mexico City. Photo by the Rev. Paul Jeffrey, UM News.
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| Mexican Methodists offer hospitality to migrants | | APAXCO, Mexico (UM News) — As the number of migrants passing through this small town in central Mexico has skyrocketed in recent months, the community’s Methodist church has continued to offer food, shelter and hope to weary families riding freight trains north toward the United States. The church operates a shelter that receives support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The Rev. Paul Jeffrey has the story and photos. | |
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| Jaden José Rivas Romero, a 4-year-old boy from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, eats a meal in the Center for Attention to Migrants in Apaxco, Mexico. Photo by the Rev. Paul Jeffrey, UM News.
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| United Methodist Communications
Cultivating everyday spirituality | | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On the latest “Compass" podcast, Everyday Sanctuary app creator the Rev. Abigail Browka explores the significance of daily spiritual practices, silent retreats and the emergence of new spiritual practices and faith communities.
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| Houma Today
Louisiana pastor honored for service | | HOUMA, La. — The Rev. Kirby Verret received the 2023 Most Useful Citizen Award during the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce annual banquet. Verret was the first Native American to graduate from Houma’s Vanderbilt Catholic School. He served as chief of the United Houma Nation Tribe from 1984 to 1992, and he has been pastor of Clanton Chapel United Methodist Church since 1986. He has led numerous hurricane recovery efforts in his area. Colin Campo has the story.
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| Mississippi Conference
Anti-racism tour gets underway
| | JACKSON, Miss. — A series of worship events intended to inspire people to stand up to racism will occur in five Mississippi locations through June 15. The Freedom Trail Revival Tour is a product of the conference’s End Racism for Good initiative. It will take place at churches and colleges, ending with a June 15 service at Gulfside Assembly in Waveland. | | | | |
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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. | National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry
'Walk together, children'
| | ATLANTA — This year is consequential not only for decisions on the future of The United Methodist Church, but also a polarizing U.S. presidential election. Since so much uncertainty can lead to anxiety, the Rev. Dr. Lydia Muñoz, executive director of the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry, suggests turning to African American spirituals during Black History Month. “The collective stories of our African American siblings remind us that we have been in adverse and weary times before and they have the power to bring us hope once again,” she writes. | | | | |
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| Church and Society
Webinar discusses Revised Social Principles
| | WASHINGTON — In the next installment of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society’s “Justice Talks,” agency staff and partners discuss the Revised Social Principles. Hear about the motivation, process and draft, and what to expect when it comes before General Conference this spring. The free Zoom webinar will be at 2 p.m. U.S. Central time on Feb. 7. | | | | |
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| United Methodist Communications
Help in reviewing church communications
| | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Audits don’t have to be scary. The Local Church Services team at United Methodist Communications offers audits to help congregations identify strengths and weaknesses in their internal and external communication practices. Diane Degnan and Brenda Smotherman report.
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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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| Thursday, Feb. 29-Friday, March 1
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A beginner's guide to General Conference | CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UM News) — Because of the pandemic, the last regular session of General Conference was nearly eight years ago. Now, the international legislative assembly is scheduled for April 23-May 3. Need a primer on The United Methodist Church’s big meeting? United Methodist News has you covered.
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Mexican Methodists respond to climate crisis | ACAPULCO, Mexico (UM News) — As residents of this seaside resort continue to put their lives back together following an October hurricane, a Methodist pastor said the storm offers a wake-up call about the climate crisis. The Methodist Church of Mexico — with support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief — is responding as climate change pushes congregations throughout the country to address new pastoral challenges. The Rev. Paul Jeffrey reports. | | |
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North Alabama Conference
Book ministry connects church, inmates | BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Canterbury United Methodist Church’s Books to Prisons Ministry serves inmate populations in the state and nationwide by providing books and magazines via U.S. Mail. Inmates write letters to request books, and 600-800 packages are sent each month. Bonds have formed between inmates and the program volunteers who sort, stack, catalog and mail out books. Lyn Cosby reports. | | |
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Faith & Leadership
Pastor stirs things up with soup | OLNEY, Md. — The Rev. Cristin Cooper founded Coop’s Soups as a Fresh Expressions ministry of The United Methodist Church. She had the goal of selling Mason jars of homemade soup at the local farmers market to help Soup Church, a dinner church she and her husband started in their apartment. But her soup-making business has, on its own, proved effective in building community and sparking spiritual conversations. Cooper tells her story in a piece for Faith & Leadership, a Duke Divinity School website. | | |
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Western North Carolina and North Carolina conferences
Conferences unveil General Conference welcome site | CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Western North Carolina and North Carolina conferences have launched an informational website dedicated to enhancing the General Conference experience for those attending the April 23-May 3 gathering. WelcomeToGC.org shares opportunities to serve at the legislative assembly, ways to connect with local churches and tips for navigating Charlotte. | |
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