“People have an opportunity to pause, to reflect deeply on Holy Week, to follow Jesus from the hosannas of Palm Sunday to the cross and the empty tomb in new and effective ways.” — North Carolina Bishop Hope Morgan Ward.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Churches improvise as different Holy Week looms
DALLAS (UM News) — United Methodist churches are scrambling to figure out how best to observe Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and especially Easter while COVID-19 restrictions limit in-person gatherings. Sam Hodges reports.
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AU shifts to online classes, but some remain on campus
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Students at Africa University are adapting to online classes following the government directive to close all schools, colleges and universities to curb the spread of the coronavirus. For international students and staff who remain on campus, the United Methodist university has changed some procedures to keep everyone safe. Eveline Chikwanah reports.
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Michigan Conference
African worshippers find home in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Restoration Community, a church of African immigrants, has found a home at Wyoming Wesley Park United Methodist Church. The Rev. Dean Prentiss, pastor at Wesley Park, says an “Acts Council” with members from both congregations works to share concerns, handle conflicts and plan together. The church has since suspended in-person worship because of the coronavirus. Jack Harnish has the story.
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Global Ministries
Building capacity for coronavirus response
ATLANTA — The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries is developing an ongoing, flexible plan to help communities implement infection control aimed at breaking the coronavirus transmission chain. The United Methodist Committee on Relief and the agency’s Global Health unit also are working on ways to increase the capacity of United Methodist networks in global and local settings. Christie R. House reports.
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COMMENTARIES
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 the UM News staff.
Enforced COVID-19 isolation recalls days in prison
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — In the 1980s Republic of Korea, the Rev. Thomas Kim was held as a political prisoner for eight months, and he likens that imprisonment to the enforced isolation brought on by COVID-19. While that isolation is hard to take, he writes that it is nearly impossible to take the racism and xenophobia aimed at Asian Americans.
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RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries
Chuck Knows Church: Help during COVID-19 crisis
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The online video series Chuck Knows Church is back. He’s teaming up with Discipleship Ministries’ #SeeAllThePeople campaign to share a few simple ideas that churches can do to help their community during this time of crisis.
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RECENT HEADLINES
Pandemic presents challenge to church giving
Voice of Hope radio extends reach in Côte d’Ivoire
EVENTS
Thursday, April 23
Online class: Start Planning Your Church’s COVID-19 Recovery Ministry
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