Message by Samuel Longmire “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” A couple years ago when I was a …
The FAQs (as in Frequently Avoided Questions): A Millennial Update
2019 EPA UMC Laity Address | June 13, 2019 Good Morning, everyone. I’d like to start by reading a few verses related to this year’s Annual Conference theme—Tell the Coming Generations. The book of Psalms, Chapter 78. Starting at verse …
Re-envisioning the Global Church
A speech delivered by Krystl Johnson to the Wesleyan Covenant Association Northeaster Regional Meeting, at Washington Crossing UMC May 11, 2019 It is an honor to stand before all of you as a young adult and to share this platform …
Musing a Methodist Mulligan: Reflections on General Conference 2019
by David E. Woolverton I’ve been a church pastor for over thirty years; consequently, there’s still a lot that I have to learn. Yet, there’s one thing I do know: Church conflict makes good people do stupid things. Why? In …
Musings after 2019 Special Session of General Conference
By Clarita Anderman Krall Numbness! Disbelief! Profound disappointment! Frustration! Utter sadness! Depression! Mourning! Anger and a call to arms, figuratively speaking, to continue the quest for full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ United Methodists in their …
The One Church Plan as the ‘Way Forward’
By Clarita Anderman Krall* In February 2019 the General Conference (GC) of The United Methodist Church (UMC) will gather to conclude unfinished business of the 2016 GC. For over 45 years, since language about the practice of homosexuality was first …
Why the One Church Plan is a bad idea
By the Rev. Joseph F. DiPaolo* With the 2019 session of General Conference just months away, many United Methodists are seeking information on the various plans and petitions to be considered in St. Louis. Our bishops and other leaders have …
Homecoming: A Thanksgiving homily
Home-goings and homecomings. That’s what Thanksgiving is about for many people. Many will travel home or welcome family and friends home this week. The profound gratitude we feel for home and for reuniting with loved ones, are a big part …
Freedom
By John W. Coleman–Adapted from a sermon on Mark 5:1-20, preached July 1, 2018, at Servants of Christ UMC Philadelphia. The demon-possessed man languishing among the dark tombs in Gerasenes ran to Jesus…
What does God want for us?
We would all probably agree that God does not want us miserable, tired and cranky.” I read those words in a recent e-mail sent by a co-worker, titled Upcoming Events. She went on to encourage us to “look for, believe for an infusion of joy.”