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Daily Digest - February 2, 2017

"God knows your worries. God knows your weakness."  — Leandro Cordero, pastor, A Place of Hope, in Santa Clara, Cuba.

Cuban worship: Music, prayer and passion

SANTA CLARA, Cuba (UMNS) — Whether gathering on wooden benches in a makeshift worship space or celebrating Christ in a historic sanctuary, Cuban Methodists are focused on fellowship and growth in Christian life, from local church to seminary settings. Linda Bloom and Mike DuBose report in the second of a four-part series.
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Going digital at Havana seminary

Feb. 7: From tiny places of worship to the largest church-related camp on the island, Cuban Methodists are skilled at creating community and forming relationships. 

United Methodists help Cubans stuck at border

LAREDO, Texas (UMNS) — United Methodists are providing relief to Cubans who planned to immigrate to the United States, but remain just across the Mexican border due to a recent change in U.S. policy. The Holding Institute, a United Methodist-affiliated mission in Laredo, has become a center for supplies. First United Methodist Laredo and the United Methodist Committee on Relief also are helping in an effort coordinated with the Methodist Church of Mexico. Abel Vega of the Rio Texas Conference reports.
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Online library open to global scholars

GENEVA (UMNS) — An online library of Methodist and Wesleyan resources is now available to scholars across the world through a joint project of the Methodist e-Academy and the Global Digital Library for Theology and Ecumenism. Susan Keaton has the story. 
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Church to apologize to gay pastor it fired

KENOSHA, Wis. — Members of First United Methodist Church will offer a public apology to a former pastor during a Feb. 4-5 “Weekend of Reconciliation.” The Rev. Kevin Johnson was outed and forced out of the church when he affirmed his gay orientation in 1981. Daniel Gaitan reports for the Kenosha News.
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Watch TV report

Blog: Lessons from immigration rally

BOSTON (UMNS) — Evan Robinson-Johnson, a high school junior and volunteer in the communications office of the United Methodist New England Conference, shares his experience, through video and words, at an immigration march in Copley Square.
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UMW members protest North Carolina law

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UMNS) — United Methodist Women staged a protest at Marshall Park in Charlotte this week to demand repeal of House Bill 2, popularly referred to as the “bathroom bill,” which mandates that people use the restroom that corresponds with the gender listed on their birth certificates. The bill also bans cities from raising minimum wage above the state minimums and eliminates state protections against racial and other forms of discrimination. Tara Barnes reports for UMW.
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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.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Healthy Families Webinar Series: Setting Healthy Financial Goals — 2 p.m. CST. This interactive webinar will discuss how families can nurture healthy giving, saving and spending habits. It includes ideas for teaching children about money. Details

More United Methodist events

 


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