In mid-December many houses of worship around the nation will observe a collective, interfaith Sabbath of shalom to protect life. But probably few know about. It’s National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend, Dec. 14-18, or specifically Dec. 18 for Christians …
Phila. church joins police in Prayer Walk for Peace
To witness against the violence so prevalent in its city, Grace UMC in Philadelphia embarked on a Friday night “Prayer Walk for Peace” Nov. 4, accompanied by officers and chaplains from its friendly neighborhood police precinct. As dusk settled and temperatures …
Lima UMC joins in Media’s Santa parade
The Praise Band of Lima UMC participated in Media’s Santa’s Parade. Band members were perched on a float decorated with stars and lights, as they sang out the Christmas gospel message all along the parade route. Meanwhile, more church members …
Celebrate Advent by supporting UM missions
Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29, provides United Methodists a one-day opportunity to commit to God’s mission in concrete ways, as we prepare during Advent to receive God’s great love in Jesus Christ at Christmas. The four scripture lessons for the First …
Yardley UMC hosts interfaith Thanksgiving event
The Interfaith Community of Lower Bucks (ICLB) has been busy waging peace in the midst of conflict, most recently with their annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Service, hosted by Yardley UMC Sunday evening, Nov. 20. The holiday event, like their other …
Prayer for Unity
Written after the Presidential election by the Rev. Joseph Martin, pastor of Fallsington UMC, and other Lower Bucks County area clergy, and published in the local newspaper, Courier Times. This morning, we awoke to the results of an election that …
Thanksgiving Praise
Bishop Peggy Johnson led annual Thanksgiving devotions for the Eastern PA Conference Staff and Cabinet on Monday, Nov. 21, at the Conference Office. She began with a PowerPoint devotional on praising God that offered richly illustrative visuals along with an …
Phila. church offers sanctuary to shield father from deportation
Arch Street UMC in Philadelphia is providing sanctuary for Javier Flores García, 40, an undocumented Mexican immigrant and a husband and father of three. The church, which is part of the national New Sanctuary Movement, welcomed him into asylum the …
Christmas Cards to Inmates idea getting popular
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” a New York Annual Conference staff member reminded Marilyn Schneider, head of our conference’s Prison Ministry & Restorative Justice (PM&RJ) Team, when asking to copy the popular Christmas Cards to Inmates project. In …
Nurture dreams, support education on UM Student Day
Offerings on United Methodist Student Day support scholarships for United Methodist students in college and seminary. Student Day, historically our denomination’s first churchwide Special Sunday with offering, is usually observed on the Sunday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27 this year). Churches can choose another Sunday to …