"We may not always agree, but when we bind together as the body of Christ, we are a force to be reckoned with." - The Rev. Wilma Bone, speaking of how the United Methodist connection reached out to Henryville (Ind.) United Methodist Church after a devastating tornado.
When disaster hits: Lessons from others
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - United Methodist congregations across the United States have not been exempt from what the Los Angeles Times reported as 14 calamities of a billion dollars or more in damages in the United States in 2011 and 11 more in 2012. In the second part of a special report, United Methodist News Service asked pastors to share their stories. Here is what three clergywomen - from Alabama, North Dakota and Indiana - said.
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Harvest reaps blessings
Minot celebrates beginnings
Indiana town bounces back
When disaster hits: Churches must prepare
Dealing With Disasters
Church hosts Burt Reynolds film
MARIETTA, Ga. (UMNS) - Actor Burt Reynolds experienced some United Methodist hospitality during filming for a movie. The Marietta Daily Journal reports that the straight-to-DVD film, "Hamlet and Hutch," starring Reynolds has scenes from inside County Line United Methodist Church, just outside the city limits of Acworth, Ga.
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Disagreement over church's homeless ministry
BUNNELL, Fla. (UMNS) - On Wednesdays, First United Methodist Church provides a free dinner to the homeless. On the coldest nights of the year, it opens its Fellowship Hall for overnight shelter. The rest of the year, men and women are allowed to use the grounds' bathroom, water fountain and prayer garden but not stay there overnight. To some neighbors, it's a lot more, and a lot worse, than that. Flaglerlive.com reports on how the church is trying to work with its neighbors and with local government to address concerns about the church's homeless ministry.
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Cokesbury VBS video wins Telly Award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The "Adventure Video" for Cokesbury's 2013 vacation Bible school program, "Everywhere Fun Fair," has won a Telly Award for Excellence in Children's Programming. Cokesbury partnered with Gemini Production Group of Nashville to produce the video. The "Adventure Video" resource features video segments for assembly time at VBS to reinforce key learnings about God's welcoming love.
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Fundraiser goes 100 miles to fight malaria
MARYVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The Rev. Charles Maynard, district superintendent in the Holston Annual (regional) Conference, and Randy Pasqua, camp ministries director, plan a 100-mile journey to raise money for the denomination-wide Imagine No Malaria campaign. Maynard will start walking 100 miles on April 21, and Pasqua will start a 100-mile bicycle ride on April 24.
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Follow journey online by visiting:
www.thenextmile.weebly.com
www.facebook.com/thenextmileumc
www.twitter.com/thenextmileumc
'Pastors are human, too'
INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS) - Indiana Area Bishop Mike Coyner reflects on the suicide of the son of the Rev. Rick Warren, Saddleback Church pastor and best-selling author. Coyner is saddened that in Warren's time of grief, others have used the tragedy to condemn both him and the Christian faith. "Perhaps this sad situation with the Warren family can remind all of us that clergy and their families are human, too," he writes.
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