“I see myself as a bridge between people. We have a 2,000-member congregation, so I try to get to know the people and see their needs.” — Joy Eastridge, first lay parish nurse certified by The United Methodist Church.
Denomination certifies first lay parish nurse
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (UMNS) — After nearly two decades serving as a church nurse in the Holston Conference, Joy Eastridge heard God’s call to take the next step in her ministry. She is now The United Methodist Church’s first certified lay minister with the specialization of parish nurse. Discipleship Ministries has the story.
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Easter prayer for Korean peninsula
GENEVA (WCC) — The National Council of Churches in Korea and the Korean Christian Federation have worked together to prepare the “2017 Easter Joint North-South Prayer.” People around the world are encouraged to join in the prayer, which calls for a life of harmony and peace on the Korean peninsula.
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Read prayer in Korean
Pastor's limo helps kids arrive in style
PECULIAR, Mo. (UMNS) — When you see a stretch limo cruise by, you probably wonder who is inside. A celebrity, a CEO of a large company, a foreign dignitary? But in this Missouri town, people are more likely to think, “Probably some kids going to youth group at their church.” The Missouri Conference reports on this peculiar ministry of Peculiar United Methodist Church.
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Perkins offering church management, social innovation
DALLAS (UMNS) — Perkins School of Theology, a United Methodist seminary at Southern Methodist University, will offer new degree concentrations in church management and social innovation. The programs, to be done in partnership with SMU’s Cox School of Business and Meadows School of the Arts, start this fall.
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Church opens doors to citizens in training
CHEVY CHASE, Md. (UMNS) — When you walk into the “Rainbow Room” at Chevy Chase United Methodist Church on Saturday mornings, you might think the people around the U-shaped table are a mini-United Nations. Linda Worthington writes for the Baltimore-Washington Conference about the church’s citizenship classes.
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Berryman leaving Reconciling Ministries
CHICAGO (UMNS) — Matt Berryman, executive director of the unofficial United Methodist advocacy group Reconciling Ministries Network, has announced he plans to leave the organization June 1. The group advocates for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning individuals in the life of the church. He will remain a member of the Commission on a Way Forward, which is working on denominational unity despite deep divisions around homosexuality.
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LOOKING AHEAD
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.
Sunday, April 9
Palm/Passion Sunday — This holy day recapitulates the beginning and end of Christ’s final week in Jerusalem. Discipleship Ministries offers worship resources. Details
Sunday, April 9 to Saturday, April 15
Holy Week — Holy Week is the heart of the church’s ritual, theological and missional life. Everything we do in worship, doctrine and mission springs from this week. Discipleship Ministries has worship resources, including its “Through Death to Life" series. Details
See more United Methodist events
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