News

Register Your Church to Change the World

In 2012, the Church will come together – not only for General Conference, but also to change the world. United Methodists will extend justice and compassion in community on May 19 and 20.  In 2011, 25 Cal-Nevada churches participated and more than 2,000 events were registered worldwide: everything from developing/enhancing community gardens to fighting human trafficking. Think now about how your congregation will Change the World!   Your event will be charted on the...

Two New Ministry in Action Stories Reflect Commitment Plus Creativity

In Ministry in Action stories just posted to the Conference website, two California-Nevada Annual Conference churches share examples of commitment coupled with creativity. Merced UMC: Pastor Jay's Challenge is the story of how a sermon illustration generated hundreds of dollars for ministry – when the pastor "put his money where his mouth is"!   FUMC Santa Rosa Calendar Supports Youth tells how a desire to help youth inspired a creative – and successful –...

America's Sunday Supper Promotes Service

United Methodist Communications and the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society are urging communities to Rethink Church with America's Sunday Supper on January 15, 2012, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. America's Sunday Supper will be a nationwide night of simultaneous dinners and discussions shared in churches, homes, community centers, and kitchens to promote positive change in the world. As an activation partner with Points of Light, United Methodist Communications has...

Webinar on Immigration Planned for Oct. 4

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Immigration is a front-burner topic in today's political world, yet people of faith who work with immigrants often avoid talking about immigration issues. To help Christians foster fruitful conversations on immigration, Rethink Church will conduct a webinar at 8 a.m. (PDT) on Tuesday, Oct. 4. To participate, sign in as a guest. Rethink Church, part of United Methodist Communications, also offers a free resource guide to help organize and facilitate discussions....

Reclaiming Sept. 11 as 'Day of Hope'

As we prepare to observe the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Washington, D.C., it is worth remembering that that day also galvanized United Methodist hands to be a force for change in their community. On Tuesday, United Methodist Communications launched a national digital and audio advertising campaign, asking everyone to Rethink Church and reclaim September 11 as a day of hope.   The ads point out that 10 years ago, 9/11 made many of us rethink our...

Vital Churches Share Common Characteristics

A UMNS Feature By Barbara Dunlap-Berg* Bishop John R. Schol shepherds the Baltimore-Washington Annual (regional) Conference, and he is always on the lookout for standout congregations. As team leader of the Vital Congregations initiative, he rattles off the description with ease.   A vital congregation, he explains, has five things: Inviting and inspiring worship Engaged disciples in mission and outreach Gifted, equipped, and empowered lay leadership Effective,...

'Rethink Immigration' Resources Now Available

Nashville, Tenn. (UMNS) — Rethink Church is ready to help you rethink immigration, by offering a free package of materials to use in many different ways. The package features a 12-minute video about Jasmine, a Michigan teen who found solace in The United Methodist Church when the complications of immigration left her alone. It also includes bulletin graphics, promotional poster designs, and newspaper ads to help you advertise to your community, along with supplementary resources...

Change the World Weekend: Cornerstone UMC 'Gathers in' to Spruce up Homeless Shelter

A group from Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Rocklin gathered at the Gathering Inn, a Placer County nomadic/homeless shelter, and painted the day room as part of "Change the World" Weekend May 14-15. Pastor Joan Pell promoted the project with congregants by tying the themes of "Rethink Church" and "Be. See. Do" (theme for the 2011 Annual Conference Session) to the Change the World concept....

Change the World Weekend: Weather Reminds Fremont Crop Walkers of Their Purpose

By the Rev. Anne Lau Choy Pastor, St. Paul's UMC, Fremont Unfortunately the weather wasn't cooperating for this year's Crop Walk but everyone was a good sport in spite of the rain. As people asked whether we would still be walking that day, as we watched the weather, the slogan "we walk because they walk" was a sobering reminder. Indeed, people in developing countries walk not only in sunny weather but also in the rain. And even in our country, many people do not have...

Change the World Weekend: Two Churches, Several Languages, One Pentecost-Themed Event in Clovis

By Sara Glazebrook Memorial UMC, Clovis On the evening of Sunday, May 15, three language ministries gathered together and invited their neighborhoods to join in a Pentecost-themed event. Fresno Korean Fellowship of Clovis joined the English and Hmong language ministries of Memorial United Methodist Church, also in Clovis, celebrating with an ice cream social and multicultural music festival, complete with dances from all three of the language ministries. The best part was getting to learn the...

Change the World Weekend: Wesley UMC in Bakersfield 'Paints the World' on May 15

By the Rev. Karen Stoffers-Pugh Pastor, Wesley UMC, Bakersfield Thirty-nine folks from Wesley UMC in Bakersfield began Sunday morning with worship on May 15. After a quick half-hour service, we traveled 1/2 mile east of the church to Horace Mann Elementary School. One of our church/choir members is a teacher at HM. Several members of the congregation either attended HM or their children attended HM. Along with the principal and her daughter, we touched up murals in the "reading...

Cal-Nevada 'Change the World' Participation Doubles This Year

Twenty-five (25) churches in the California-Nevada Annual Conference are planning events to "Change the World" this weekend (May 14-15). That's more than double the 12 churches which participated in the inaugural event last year! From cleaning – to building, painting, repairing, and landscaping; from fundraising for worthy causes to distributing food and planting gardens; from visiting shut-ins, to praying and tutoring – these are just some of the many ways that thousands...

New Ministry in Action Stories Posted

Three inspirational stories of Ministry in Action within the California-Nevada Annual Conference have been posted in the Ministry in Action section of the Conference website at cnumc.org. Adam Walker Cleaveland writes about an "Interfaith Works: Service and Learning" event he hosted last Saturday (April 30, 2011) at Asbury United Methodist Church in Livermore, California where he is Minister for Youth and Young Adults. Twenty-five interfaith high school students and...

New Online Bible Study From UMC's 'Rethink Church' Explores Contemporary Faith Issues

'Encounter Faith' debuts March 14 Nashville, TENN. – The United Methodist Church is set to debut an online Bible study beginning March 14, in which participants will have an opportunity to explore and discuss contemporary topics and how they relate to the Christian faith in response to the call to Rethink Church. Participants who sign on for the Encounter Faith Bible study, available for free at RethinkChurch.org/encounterfaith, will be looking through a lens of faith at timely...

Prepare Now to Change the World: May 14-15

Last year United Methodist churches provided opportunities for 100,000+ people to join in helping to Change the World – one project at a time. With more than 1,000 work sites, in every state (and outside the United States), the first Change the World weekend did make a difference, and continues to reap results. Start preparing now to be a part of Change the World 2011!   Change the World is a movement to connect United Methodists across the world in service, both locally and...

Project Idea for Change the World Weekend, May 14-15

Churches – here's an effective and meaningful project idea for Change the World weekend, May 14-15. The Society of St. Andrew is an official partner with Change the World. Its Hunger Ministry Weekend program offers your church all the guidance and materials it needs to hold a Hunger Ministry Weekend, in which fresh fruit and vegetables are taken to worship on Sunday, and congregation members distribute that nutritious food to the agencies in your community which provide to those who are...

New Seeker Site, 'RethinkChurch.org,' Launched This Week

Young adult hub offers enhanced engagement features NASHVILLE, Tenn. – UPDATED Nov. 12, 2010 | The United Methodist Church's revamped website for young adult spiritual seekers, RethinkChurch.org, made its debut on Friday, November 12. This is the website's beta launch, a period when the website is fine-tuned amid real-world exposure.   "Research shows that young adults tend to embrace their digital and physical worlds as one," said the Rev. Larry Hollon,...

New Seeker Site, 'RethinkChurch.org,' to Launch This Week

Young adult hub offers enhanced engagement features NASHVILLE, Tenn. | The United Methodist Church's revamped website for young adult spiritual seekers, RethinkChurch.org, will debut this Friday, November 12. This marks the website's beta launch, a period when the website is fine tuned amid real-world exposure.   "Research shows that young adults tend to embrace their digital and physical worlds as one," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist...

First Impressions Matter to Church Guests

A UMNS Commentary By the Rev. Sheila Fiorella* The people who come through the doors of our church have expectations. They're making decisions as consumers at first. Whether they return rests on their entire experience with our community. Those people leave asking the same questions they ask of businesses throughout the week: "Was this worth my time? Do the people care about me? Am I valued here?"   How will our guests answer these questions? How do you answer those...

Watch 'Rethink Conference' Video, Attend Last Event on Saturday

The sixth "Rethink Conference" event is scheduled for this Saturday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to noon at Sparks United Methodist Church in Sparks, Nevada. If you have not attended one of the five previous such events, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. looks forward to the chance to meet with you, share his vision for the California-Nevada Annual Conference, and respond to your questions. We invite you to send a question or observation to...