May 20 is being called a “once in a lifetime” event for United Methodists, offering an opportunity to commemorate the church’s history alongside the celebration of Pentecost. Numerous event-specific resources are available for congregations, including a video created to honor the church’s legacy since April 23, 1968, when leaders of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church declared the creation of a new denomination, The United Methodist Church.
“May 20, 2018 is Pentecost PLUS!,” said the Rev. Fred Day, general secretary of the General Commission of Archives and History (GCAH). “Not only is the third Sunday of May, Pentecost, the culmination of the great 50 days of Eastertide, the day for celebrating the loosing of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the gift of Christian unity, it is also Heritage Sunday. This year the Heritage Sunday theme is ‘Jubilee’ in a nod to the 50th anniversary, which often is referred to as the Golden Jubilee.
Be sure to view WE STILL BELIEVE: Celebrating 50 Years of The United Methodist Church. Under 5 minutes long, it is well suited for local churches and annual conferences to help celebrate 50 years of The United Methodist Church transforming the world. The denomination’s Social Creed is set against the sweeping history of the Wesleyan movement, from John Wesley being saved from a fire in his childhood home, to the contemporary events that helped shaped the denomination’s birth. Using historical and contemporary imagery, the film is a moving tribute to how The United Methodist Church has helped shaped history.
Consider using this video and other resources for your celebration of Heritage Sunday. For example: