Daily Digest - August 17, 2022

“The church is the place where people in Ukraine go to get help. They’re left with nothing and they know they can get help from the church.” — Ivan Pavlii, associate pastor of Agapé United Methodist Church, a Russian-speaking congregation in Prague.

Russian-speaking church supports Ukrainian refugees
PRAGUE (UM News) — While Russians and Ukrainians engage in war in various parts of Ukraine, a United Methodist congregation in Prague is finding ways to unite its Russian and Ukrainian members and help refugees. Joey Butler reports; Mike DuBose has photos. 
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United Methodist ministry with Ukraine

NEWS AND FEATURES

Dakotas Conference
Solar ovens improve lives
MITCHELL, S.D. — More than 11,000 solar ovens have been delivered to the Dominican Republic, Sierra Leone and the Navajo Nation by the Solar Oven Partners ministry under the auspices of Marj Evans-de-Carpio. She has headed the ministry for five years, and intends to step away as director in December. The ovens prevent people from being accosted while they’re collecting firewood in dangerous areas. Al Roll has the story.
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ResourceUMC
Digital church still needed

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — According to Barna research, about one in every three churchgoers has not returned to in-person worship services since COVID-19 shutdowns ended. With that in mind, Tricia K. Brown offers a few ways to minister to congregation members who have not returned, including tips for digital care.
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PRESS RELEASES

Archives and History
Scholars win support from agency

MADISON, N.J. — United Methodist Archives and History announced new  grants, awards and scholarships. The winners of the John Harrison Ness Memorial Award, the Josephine Forman Scholarship, the Women in United Methodist History Writing Award, the Women in United Methodist History Research Grant and the World is My Parish Research Grant were announced on Aug. 15.
Read press release

RESOURCES

United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy
Exploring how church tensions affect relationships
DENVER — A team of United Methodist pastoral counselors will lead a Zoom webinar addressing “Fracturing Family and Friendships: Inevitable Consequences of UM Splintering?” at 6 p.m. U.S. Mountain time Sept. 20. United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy and Friends, a group that intends to remain United Methodist, is sponsoring the free webinar.
Learn more and register

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