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Daily Digest: March 25, 2014

“Chaplains are doctors of the soul, and we are part of a huge team in our hospitals. We try and do what Jesus, the apostles, and what the saints of the ages have done: represent God's love.” – The Rev. Chris Madison, a hospital chaplain.

Chaplains: Part of the medical team
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (UMNS) — The Rev. Chris Madison, a United Methodist elder in the Indiana Annual (regional) Conference, shares why he is a hospital chaplain and the important role chaplains play in medicine. “Chaplains don’t want to ever be underfoot or in the way. We often work as liaisons between medical staff and families in crisis,” he writes.

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Bishop urges prayer after mudslide
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. (UMNS) — Bishop Grant Hagiya, who leads the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area, is asking for prayer for those affected by this weekend’s deadly mudslide in Washington. Patrick Scriven of the Pacific Northwest Annual (regional) Conference shares the bishop’s words and an update.

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How to protect your church from theft
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Often, people are shocked to learn of the significant losses congregations face from embezzlement and dishonesty by church workers. Paul Stephens, vice president of marketing and risk-management services for The Church Insurance Agency Corp., offers ways churches can reduce their risk.

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See series on protecting churches when disaster strikes


History of Hymns: ‘Blessed Assurance’
DALLAS (UMNS) — This hymn is the creation of two notable Methodist women — the prolific poet Fanny Crosby and song composer Phoebe Palmer Knapp. This is the story of the song that helped generations of Christians to be “Praising my Savior all the day long.”

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Rebuilding Haiti, one computer at a time
THOMAS, Haiti (UMNS) — The international news service Reuters features how individual United Methodists and United Methodist Communications are providing technology for development and improving lives in Haiti.

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Hearing his call in the beat of a drum
THONOTOSASSA, Fla. (UMNS) — Meet Dock Green Silverhawk, the spiritual leader of the American Indian Christian Circle of Thonotosassa. The circle meets at Thonotosassa United Methodist Church and gives Native Americans the opportunity for Christian worship that honors their spiritual and cultural heritage. Kathy Steele of the Florida Annual (regional) Conference has the story.

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Church shops and sells with a purpose
LYONS, Ga. (UMNS) — It’s not often that shopping and service come together, but that’s exactly what happens each time a purchase is made at the Wings of Hope Thrift Store, a new ministry of Lyons First United Methodist Church. The South Georgia Annual (regional) Conference has the story.

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2 conferences join forces for mission trip
LAKELAND, Fla. (UMNS) — The Florida and Western North Carolina annual (regional) conferences are sending a joint delegation to deepen relationships with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. Each conference has sent three representatives for the two-week mission trip that began March 24.

Read Western North Carolina story

Read Florida Conference story

 

 

 


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