Daily Digest - January 23, 2013

"But in this service we come together to acknowledge that, in order for America to have a future, we will first need to find a deep and abiding faith in God. It is this faith that calls and compels us to humility and compassion and concern for the nobodies. It is this faith that helps us discover the kinds of visions that are worthy of our great nation and worthy of the sacrifices we can make. It is this faith that sustains us when we feel like giving up, a faith that comes from trusting in the words of Jesus who said, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." - The Rev. Adam Hamilton of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in the Inaugural Prayer Service sermon.

Hamilton preaches at Inaugural Prayer Service

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - The Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kan., delivered the sermon for the interfaith Inaugural Prayer Service at the National Cathedral. President Obama, Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden were among those who attended the Jan. 22 service.
Watch the service

Ex-pastor convicted of killing 2nd wife

STROUDSBURG, Pa.(UMNS) - A former Pennsylvania United Methodist pastor awaiting trial in the 1999 death of his first wife was convicted Tuesday in the 2008 death of his second wife, The Associated Press reports.
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Society of St. Andrews Lenten devotional

BIG ISLAND, Va. (UMNS) - The Society of St. Andrew's Lenten 2013 devotion booklet is entitled "How Beautiful" based on Romans 10:15b, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News!" The food rescue and distribution ministry group is offering an online starter kit to congregations.
For more information

2013: Evolution in the modern world

OLYMPIA, Wash. (UMNS) - The theme for the eighth annual Evolution Weekend Feb. 8-10 is evolution in the modern world. Evolution Weekend was organized as a part of the Clergy Letter Project to provide an opportunity for discussion and reflection on the relationship between religion and science.
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United Methodist Men's basketball tourney

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Thirty-two teams from United Methodist churches across the United States will participate in a three-man basketball tournament July 12-13 at Belmont University in Nashville. The tournament is part of the National Gathering of United Methodist Men, July 12-14 at Belmont.
For details

Joint statement on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - As the 40th anniversary approached of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States, the United Methodist Women and the United Methodist Board of Church and Society released a joint statement on reproductive justice that emphasizes "clearly much more needs to be done." The Book of Discipline, the denomination's law book, supports "the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures." The book also rejects abortion as an acceptable means of birth control or a means of gender selection.
Read joint statement

Clarification: Several readers wrote in to point out that an item in the Jan. 22 digest referred to Lifewatch without noting that the group is an unofficial caucus of the Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality. They are correct; Lifewatch is an unofficial caucus.