Daily Digest - March 3, 2015

"God has protected us. We have tested 100 people for Ebola and the total is still zero." — Dr. Simplice Dagnan, director of Côte d’Ivoire’s National Institute of Public Hygiene and a United Methodist.
 

Ebola changes Côte d’Ivoire without crossing border

ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire (UMNS) — Ebola has not crossed the border into Côte d’Ivoire, but the deadly virus has changed the country forever. Church visitors are still greeted with exuberance and joy. But those joyful notes are tinged with a new ritual of hand-washing, a constant reminder of the seriousness and sadness of Ebola. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
Read story and post comment
View photo essayUMCOR remembers its birth state: New Jersey

OCEAN, N.J. (UMNS) — The United Methodist Committee on Relief was born in New Jersey, so it is no surprise the agency has remembered its birth state in times of need, most recently Superstorm Sandy. Jeff Wolfe reports for the Greater New Jersey Conference on the occasion of UMCOR’s 75th anniversary.
Read story
More on UMCOR’s 75th anniversary

Liberian church welcomes bishop home

MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) — Bishop John G. Innis is back home in Liberia after 11 months in the United States for health reasons and because of travel restrictions imposed on the country due to the Ebola outbreak. Julu Swen reports.
Read story and post comment

United Methodists join student gathering in Colombia

BOGOTA, Colombia (WCC) — United Methodists are among those gathered through March 5 for the 35th General Assembly of the World Student Christian Federation. The federation has been invited by churches and ecumenical partners in Colombia “to play a key role in making visible the work for justice and peace in the country,” said Christine Housel, the group’s top executive. The World Council of Churches has the story.
Read WCC story
See assembly website

‘Why women preachers?’

ROWLETT, Texas (UMNS) — A local Church of Christ congregation used its sign to quote a verse in Corinthians and ask, “Why are there women preachers?” The Rev. Jan Davis, pastor of First United Methodist of Rowlett, chose to respond from the pulpit and in her blog.
Read blog post
Watch sermon

Lent Quiz: What does a Tenebrae service consist of?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — During Lent some United Methodist churches will offer a Tenebrae service. What is a Tenebrae service like?
Take today's quiz

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.

Friday, March 6
United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits listening session — 11:30 a.m. EST. The United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits invites plan participants and other constituents to address the board of directors during a listening session in Philadelphia. Details.

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