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Chuck Knows Church: Christmas Comes Into Focus

Dec 28, 2013

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Local Church
The Rev. Bob Long speaks Dec. 2, 2020, during Advent at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. The Rev. Long’s Advent and Christmas series was inspired by the memoir of Sanford D. Greenberg, a Jewish philanthropist who has devoted himself to eradicating blindness. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Bob Long.

Blind man’s memoir sparks Advent sermons
The Rev. Bob Long drew on Sanford Greenberg’s “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” for a pre-Christmas sermon series, inspiring a congregation and making the pastor a friend.
Local Church
A single lit candle in a wreath signifies the first week of Advent. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, United Methodist churches are thinking creatively for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Photo of Glendale United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tenn., by Steven Kyle Adair, United Methodist Communications.

Salvaging Christmas amid coronavirus concerns
Pastors already dealing with a stressful 2020 now must lead United Methodists through the seasons of Advent and Christmas as the coronavirus pandemic rages.
Social Concerns
Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver II (right) spoke with Erin Hawkins during The United Methodist Church’s fifth online discussion about eradicating racial injustice. Cleaver, a United Methodist pastor who represents Missouri’s 5th Congressional District, said he is heartened by diverse crowds of young people coming together to march against racism. UM News graphic.

Moving voting rights 'from ideal to reality'
Voter suppression has been a part of the U.S. historical narrative. Ensuring voting rights for all will be difficult and uncomfortable process, says a United Methodist congressman.