“It is also an activity that brings us together. It is an occasion we use to raise huge sums of money for the church.” — Sylvanette Tawah on church birthday celebrations in Sierra Leone.
Birthday parties a gift to the church
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — Churches in the Sierra Leone Conference have good reason to celebrate. Thanks to some healthy competition, annual birthday celebrations are bringing in big money for area churches, with proceeds going toward a variety of church development programs. Phileas Jusu reports.
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Choosing a new church
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — When U.S. adults look for a new house of worship, they look first for a place where they like the preaching and where they feel welcomed. Fully 83 percent of Americans who have looked for a new place of worship say the quality of sermons plays an important role in choosing a congregation, according to a new Pew Research Center study.
Ebola animation selected for film festival
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — “Ebola: In Praise of Prevention,” the second collaboration between United Methodist Communications and Chocolate Moose Media to raise awareness of Ebola, has been selected for screening at the 2016 Global Impact Film Festival in Washington Aug. 26-28. The festival seeks to educate socially minded filmmakers on how to create social change through media.
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Help revise the hymnal
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Discipleship Ministries is accepting applications for membership on the committee that will oversee revision of The United Methodist Hymnal. The agency will appoint seven of the 15 committee members, and wants applicants who have a background in both music and liturgy.
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UMW executive receives Woman of Courage award
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (UMNS) — Donna Akuamoah, an executive with United Methodist Women, received the 2016 Woman of Courage award from the YWCA Brooklyn in honor of her “strong commitment to public service and advocacy.”
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Wespath names chief operating officer
GLENVIEW, Ill. (UMNS) — Wespath Benefits and Investments, formerly known as the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits, has named Bill Kavanaugh as its chief operating officer. He comes to Wespath from Allstate Insurance Company.
Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.
Deadline to register for two online courses — United Methodist Communications will offer the following courses Sept. 7 to Oct. 19: “Communicating Faith in the 21st Century” and “Welcoming Ministry 100.” Details
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