“People want to have good relationships with their neighbors in the next street and their neighbors in the region.” — Marvin Parvez, Community World Service Asia.
Building good relations in Pakistan, Afghanistan
NEW YORK (UMNS) — Marvin Parvez regrets that when Pakistan and Afghanistan receive international attention these days, it’s usually about a bombing or attack. The representative for Community World Service Asia said he finds most people in the region to be genuine, generous and “extremely hardworking.” This week, he also is representing the Church of Pakistan at the World Methodist Conference in Houston. Linda Bloom has the story.
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Children plant trees to protect environment
CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (UMNS) — Sixty-two children planted trees to support The United Methodist Church’s efforts to protect the environment in the Philippines. Gladys Mangiduyos reports.
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How to gut a house in six steps
SHREVEPORT, La. — First, remove all the furniture. Then you cry, writes the Rev. Jessica Lowe, United Methodist pastor of Grace Community Church, in a commentary on the flooding in Louisiana for The Washington Post.
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New U.S. labor standards and the church
DES MOINES, Wash. (UMNS) — The U.S. Department of Labor has announced changes to federal overtime rules, which means more U.S. workers qualify for overtime pay. Rik Jamieson, assistant treasurer for the Pacific Northwest Conference, explains what these changes mean for churches.
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College pastoral interns share summer highlights
HOUSTON (UMNS) — Deployed to a variety of churches for the summer, Texas Conference interns have unique experiences to share from their pastoral preview. The Texas Conference, which has emphasized cultivating young clergy, reports on some of the highlights.
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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.
The month of September
Hunger Action Month — Nearly 50 million people in the United States today are hungry or food insecure. The Society of St. Andrew, a United Methodist partner, offers resources for churches to work against hunger. Details
Thursday, Sept. 1
Registration deadline for the Northeastern Jurisdiction Native American Ministries Committee annual meeting Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 6-8 — Accommodations will be at the Hampton Inn and the meeting will be held at Christ United Methodist Church in Wheeling, West Virginia. This is a time to share updates on Committee on Native American Ministries activities, connect with the resource representatives who work in Native ministries, receive updates on Native issues, and share fellowship. Details
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