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Daily Digest - February 23, 2015

"Most of us are saying: ‘Let It snow! We have a great God to celebrate and we can't be held back from doing just that!’" – The Rev. David Wells, Douglas, Massachusetts.

 

Severe winter alters church routines but not commitment

BOSTON (UMNS) — Last week, Union United Methodist Church in Boston’s South End had a dilemma. A snow emergency parking ban and, well, snow — on the streets, on the sidewalks, piled up to the stained-glass windows, with the promise a Valentine’s Day snowstorm — made it clear that worship Feb. 15 would be difficult if not impossible. Union is one of many congregations across the United States finding ways to deal with severe winter weather. Linda Bloom reports.
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Improving nutrition in Nepal

NEW YORK (UMNS) — Malnutrition is a problem among women and children in Nepal and Deirdre Zimmerman, a missionary assigned there by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, is using education as a tool to improve the situation.
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Should a pastor know what church members give?

WASHINGTON (UMNS) — Ann A. Michel, associate director of the United Methodist-related Lewis Center for Church Leadership, says there are valid pastoral, spiritual, and developmental reasons why pastors should know what church members give. Here are her thoughts.
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Get resources for One Great Hour of Sharing

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief through One Great Hour of Sharing on March 15 help cover the committee’s cost of doing business so that 100 percent of all other contributions go straight to relief projects. Bulletin inserts, video, and more for observing this Special Sunday on March 15 or any other day you choose are available at umcgiving.org.
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Louisville church accepting Bitcoin

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (UMNS) — Fern Creek United Methodist Church is accepting Bitcoin donations. ForeXminute, a foreign exchange market website, interviewed Tim Totten, the chair of the finance team at Fern Creek, about the decision to use the online payment system.
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Are Sundays counted in the 40 days of Lent?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — True or false? You can take Sundays off during the season of Lent. Check your answer to the daily quiz.
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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.

Tuesday, Feb. 26
Free webinar "Lent as a Season of Repentance, Reconciliation and Renewal" — Noon to 1 p.m. EST. Robert M. Franklin Jr., the James T. and Berta R. Laney Professor in Moral Leadership at Emory University's Candler School of Theology, will speak. Registration required. Details.

Tuesday, Feb. 26
The Revitalization of Latin American Christianity consultation — 1 to 8 p.m. EST. The Boston Theological Institute will hold its annual Costas Consultation at Boston University, George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Ave. in Boston. The consultation honors the life of Orlando E. Costas, a pastor, missionary to Latin America and internationally known missiologist. Lectures will include a global perspective on Latin American missions and Latin American Pentecostalism, church-state relations, and the rebirth of Latin American Christianity. Details.

You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.


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