Daily Digest - October 14, 2013

"They're definitely feeling the hurt, the weight of it. I think people have enough to get by right now, but there's a lot of fear with what will happen in the future." - Rachel Keller, organizer of service event for furloughed government workers.

Washington church serves furloughed workers

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - The impact of the ongoing government shutdown is affecting people in the heart of Washington. Erik Alsgaard of the Baltimore-Washington Annual (regional) Conference reports that Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church opened its doors to serve soup to government workers on furlough. The Rev. Donna Claycomb Sokol estimates that the shutdown has affected about 20 percent of her congregation.
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Human chain protects Christians during Pakistan mass

LAHORE, Pakistan (UMNS) - The Express Tribune reports a human chain from the Muslim and Christian communities formed around St. Anthony's church in Lahore on Sunday, Oct. 6, in a show of solidarity for victims of the recent Peshawar church attack. This followed a similar event in Karachi.
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Pakistani bishop thanks United Methodists

NEW YORK (UMNS) - Bishop Rt. Rev. Humphrey Peters, bishop of Peshawar for the Church of Pakistan, thanked Thomas Kemper, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, for his recent letter of condolence and support. "It is taking a little longer to respond to all friends, well-wishers and the body of Christ for their prayers, concern and solidarity. Still too busy after the suicide attack at the All Saints. The real task of taking care of the orphans, widows, disabled, people who have lost their earning hands and the scattered ones has started now. Do remember us in your special prayers," Humphrey wrote.
Messages of solidarity with Kenya and Pakistan
Christians united in Pakistan and seeking friends
Peshawar Dioceses

Exploration 2013 deadline Oct. 18

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The registration deadline for Exploration 2013 is Oct. 18. The Nov. 15-17 event seeks to help young adults age 18-26 hear, discern and respond to God's call to ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry sponsors the event in Denver.
Details

Dozen countries at deaf ministries summit

NAIROBI, Kenya (UMNS) - Last month, about 130 people from more than a dozen countries gathered for the third Global Methodist Missions Conference for the Deaf. Participants came from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Korea, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Zimbabwe and more. "Each country has its own sign language," explained the Rev. Tom Hudspeth, who was part of the delegation from the United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries. Julia Kayser has the story.
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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 with others, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.

Explore United, Tuesday, Oct. 15, and Wednesday, Oct. 16- 9 a.m. ET, United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, will have an open house for prospective students. Details.

Window on Wesley, Tuesday, Oct. 15, and Wednesday, Oct. 16 - 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET, opportunity to experience a day in the life of a Wesley Theological Seminary student. Details.

Free webinar "Pastors Read," Wednesday, Oct. 16 - 10 a.m. CT, discussion of Brian Godawa's book "Word Pictures: Knowing God through Story and Imagination." To register.

Deadline to sign up for pension board listening session, Wednesday, Oct. 16 - The United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits invites interested plan participants to address the board of directors Thursday, Nov. 7, in Chapel Hill, N.C. To place your name and topic on the agenda, contact Colette Nies at [email protected]. Details.

Deadline to register for Women, Theology and Ministry Annual Women's Forum: "Living Out Love," Tuesday, Oct. 22 - 11 a.m.4 p.m. ET, Friday, Nov. 1, featuring the Rev. Becca Stevens, Cox Hall, Emory University, $15. Details.

Free webinar "Intergenerational Activities for Children and Older Adults," Wednesday, Oct. 23 - 10 a.m. CT, focuses on children in intergenerational ministry and activities that can be replicated. To register.

Webinar "Breaking Through the Stained Glass Ceiling: Women Pastoring Large Churches," Thursday, Oct. 24 - 7 p.m. EDT, editors of a new book that offers a glimpse into the daily lives and spiritual journeys of clergywomen who lead large churches will discuss the Lead Women Pastors Project of The United Methodist Church, $9.99. Details.

Reformation Day at Emory: "Reformation Women," Thursday, Oct. 24 - 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, event at Emory University's Candler School of Theology in Atlanta celebrates the contributions of women to the Reformation of the 16th century. $10 for optional lunch. Details.

Convocation on the Black Church, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26 - Presented by the Mississippi Annual (regional) Conference at Anderson United Methodist Church in Jackson and Hinds Community College in Pearl. Details.

Great Day of Service, Saturday, Oct. 26 - United Methodists and community partners, along with United Methodist Communications' Rethink Church, will work with the town of Wildomar, Calif., to restore and reopen Wildomar Parks. Volunteers welcome. Details.

"Catechesis: Why United Methodists Must Recover Their Doctrinal Heritage," Saturday, Oct. 26 - 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET, William J. Abraham and David F. Watson will speak about what some sees as the collapse of doctrine in The United Methodist Church at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Evangelical Fellowship of West Ohio is a sponsor. Details.

Revitup! Event for young clergy, Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 28-30 - Event in Atlanta for clergy ages 25-39, sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits. Aims to help clergy manage debt and set boundaries. Details.

Deadline to register for online course "Tools for Increasing Your Church's Vitality," Wednesday, Oct. 30 - Nov. 6-Dec. 18, featuring "Vital Churches: Changing Communities and the World" by the Rev. Jorge Acevedo, from United Methodist Communications, $49.99. Details.

Deadline to register for online course "Communicating Faith in the 21st Century," Wednesday, Oct. 30 - Nov. 6-Dec. 18, designed to help Christians reclaim their voice to speak the good news using today's communications tools, from United Methodist Communications, $29.99. Details.

Deadline to register for online course "Web Ministry 100: What is Web Ministry?" Wednesday, Oct. 30 - Nov. 6-Dec. 18, foundational information and theological basis for creating and maintaining Web ministry, from United Methodist Communications, $49.99. Details.

Deadline to register for online course "Welcoming Ministry 100," Wednesday, Oct. 30 - Nov. 6-Dec. 18, leading local churches to practice radical hospitality, from United Methodist Communications, $29.99. Details.

Deadline to register for online course "Moodle Basic Training 100," Wednesday, Oct. 30 - Nov. 6-Dec. 18, learn how to design online Bible studies and other online courses, from United Methodist Communications, $89.99. Details.

In Mission Together, Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 7-9 - The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries will hold 50/50 Partnership Roundtable for United Methodists in the U.S., Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The gathering is at Cheviot United Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Details.