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Daily Digest - December 14, 2020

“I think there’s been a great deal of debate around human sexuality but no conversation, for the most part, around the part that race has played in the problems the denomination is facing.” The Rev. Rudy Rasmus, senior pastor at St. John’s Downtown Church in Houston. 


NEWS AND FEATURES

Black United Methodists want changes

HOUSTON (UM News) — Black United Methodists are pushing for change in the denomination — changes they believe are both long overdue and overshadowed by the debate about LGBTQ people in the church. A new book — “I’m Black. I’m Christian. I’m Methodist.” — features essays from 10 Black United Methodists. It was edited by the Rev. Rudy Rasmus of St. John’s Downtown Church. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story

Baltimore-Washington Conference, Washington Post 
Church vandalized by demonstrators 

WASHINGTON — Asbury United Methodist Church, a historically Black congregation, was among the churches vandalized by demonstrators at a pro-President Trump rally. "We believe this is a wakeup call for all to be more vigilant and committed to anti-racism and building a beloved community,” senior pastor the Rev. Ianther M. Mills said in a statement.
Read statement
Read statement from Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling
Read Washington Post story

Dallas Morning News 
Fire claims church near Dallas

ANNA, Texas — Anna United Methodist Church’s sanctuary, fellowship hall and education center were destroyed by fire in the early morning of Dec. 11, and investigators are trying to determine the cause. Anna is about 40 miles northeast of Dallas. Tom Steele and Charles Scudder report.
Read story

United Methodist Communications
The real story of ‘Joy to the World’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Christmas perennial song “Joy to the World” dates to a 1719 poem and isn’t about Christmas at all. The lyrics to the song, based on Psalm 98, are about the second coming of Christ. The music wasn’t added until 1839. Crystal Caviness has the story.
Read story


COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.

The church is not yet a ‘great multitude’
SAN ANTONIO (UM News) — Sharing instances of racism he saw committed by the church throughout his life, retired Bishop Joel Martinez feels we still have much work ahead to resemble the inclusive choir from the Book of Revelation.
Read commentary


RESOURCES

Michigan Conference
Kids’ Christmas Eve service available online

LANSING, Mich. — The ABCs of Christmas, a 15-minute children’s Christmas Eve worship service, is now available for local churches to use. The service is geared for younger children and was developed by the Rev. Kathy Pittenger, the children’s ministry coordinator for the Michigan Conference. The video can be shared as is or downloaded and edited as a personalized local church service, as long as “a production of the Michigan Conference” appears somewhere in the video. 
Watch video 
Download editable video 
See more Advent resources


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EVENTS 

Tuesday, Dec. 15
 
Blessed Are the Poor webinar: Physical Poverty

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