“Just the thought of being separated from my loved ones, and ... the chance that I would never see them again, was a very heavy burden for them, and, of course, for me.” — Marco Reyes Alvarez on taking sanctuary at a United Methodist church.
Church provides sanctuary for man facing deportation
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Connecticut United Methodist church has offered sanctuary to an undocumented immigrant from Ecuador just hours before he was to be deported. Marco Reyes Alverez is now living at First and Summerfield United Methodist Church. Reyes “faces danger and death” if he returns to Ecuador, said a U.S. senator who believes Reyes has a valid claim for asylum in the U.S. Joanne Utley reports for the New York Conference.
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Native American Family Camp returns
GORE, Okla. (UMNS) — For the first time in nearly a decade, Native American United Methodists gathered for the Native American International Caucus’ Family Camp. The theme for the gathering was “Act of Repentance: Healing the Wounds from Within.” Ginny Underwood reports.
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Sierra Leone hospital brings needed relief
ROTIFUNK, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — Twenty-two years after the facility was closed down because of the civil war in Sierra Leone, Hatfield Archer Memorial Hospital in Rotifunk has started doing surgeries again. Hernia and hydrocele surgical operations were performed on nine men in July, the first of 300 patients diagnosed for those surgical needs. Phileas Jusu has the story.
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Commentary: Closer to a Way Forward
The WOODLANDS, Texas — The Commission on a Way Forward is not trying to determine what the church should believe regarding sexual practice and marriage, writes the Rev. Tom Lambrecht in Good News magazine. “We are concentrating on how we can and cannot live together,” wrote Lambrecht, a member of the commission and vice president of Good News.
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A call to prayer for a just peace
WASHINGTON — The past few months have seen increasing tension surrounding North Korea’s nuclear program. Citing the denomination’s stance that war is “incompatible” with Christian teaching, the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, has issued a call to join in prayer for peace on Sunday, Aug. 13.
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WCC urges dialogue, engagement
Service remembers lives lost to addiction
CLEVELAND — Sobering statistics about addiction-related deaths led the Rev. Harlen Rife to hold a memorial service at Pearl Road United Methodist Church. “We’re here to reclaim and love those people,” Rife said in his sermon. People from the community turned out to remember loved ones, pray with parishioners and speak with professional grief counselors. Rick Wolcott reports for the East Ohio Conference.
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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, Aug. 13
Room at the Table: Celebrating People of All Abilities — This gathering, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT at United Methodist Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, offers workshops on ways to be in ministry with people with mental health, sensory, intellectual and other disabilities. Sponsors include the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, North Georgia Conference and the DisAbility Ministries Committee. $10. Details
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