Daily Digest - December 12, 2013

"We really do believe those on the margins, those who are ostracized, can be part of promoting, spreading and being agents of God's mission in the world." - The Rev. William Williams III, Asbury United Methodist Church.

UMTV: Church erases AIDS stigma

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (UMNS) - World AIDS Day is a significant occasion at Asbury United Methodist Church. Asbury is in the epicenter of what remains an epidemic in 2013. And, the congregation is committed to embracing those living with the disease.
Watch video.

'Living Timeline' leads to 2014 UMW Assembly

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (UMNS) - When Catherine Murphy moved to Colorado 20 years ago, she joined other young women in a circle of the United Methodist Women unit at First United Methodist Church in Longmont. Now, as she prepares to attend her first UMW assembly, Murphy will honor Lydia Circle by creating an illustration for the assembly's "living timeline" on Pinterest.
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CBS special: Church response to human trafficking

NEW YORK (UMNS) - Several United Methodists who deal with issues of labor and sex trafficking are interviewed in "Living in the Shadows: Religion's Response to Human Trafficking," a CBS-TV interfaith special that will begin airing on Dec. 15.
Check local listings
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Ecumenical Filipino group to meet Dec. 14

SAN FRANCISCO (UMNS) - The new Northern California Chapter of the National Ecumenical Forum for Filipino Concerns will be host to a gathering from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Kelly Cullen Community, 220 Golden Gate Ave. After 3 p.m., participants will begin a procession to the Philippine Consulate on Sutter Street, where they expect to meet with the deputy counsel. All are welcome.
To register

EcuFilm to close

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - United Methodist Communications announced Dec. 11 that EcuFilm, which provides multimedia resources for small groups and churches, will close at the end of 2013. A ministry of United Methodist Communications, Ecufilm has been a long-time provider of video resources for United Methodist churches and other denominations. Throughout December, the remaining stock of DVD resources will be on sale at 25 percent to 75 percent off the usual price at The United Methodist Church Store.
Read news release.

Find-A-Church goes global

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Find-A-Church, the online directory of United Methodist churches, is expanding to include information on churches in Africa, Europe and the Philippines for the first time. The church's online directory will begin to provide a resource for global communities by collecting church names, locations, GPS coordinates, names of pastors, local cell phone numbers and other information for United Methodist churches outside the United States.
Read news release.

Support for raising minimum wage crosses religious lines

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - A poll by the Public Religion Research Institute released Dec. 5 found more than 7 in 10 Americans - 71 percent - support raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10 an hour. A solid majority of all major religious groups, including mainline and evangelical Protestants, support the increase.
See more about the poll.

Church member's body found

DALLAS (UMNS) - Hal Ticknor was the object of an organized search by fellow members of First United Methodist of Garland, Texas, near Dallas, after he went missing at age 82. The body of Ticknor, who had dementia, ultimately was found by hunters. He was himself an avid sportsman and beloved family member and friend.
Read obituary.

Thinking about reconciliation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Nashville (Tenn.) Area Bishop Bill McAlilly writes about using Advent to celebrate God's invitation to reconciliation. "To be reconciled to God is to be actively living what Jesus taught: Love God and love neighbor. Jesus' invitation is also a call to discipleship," he writes.
Read blog.