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When I was a little girl back in the early 50’s,
I really didn’t know much about the season of
Lent. However, I did know about Good Friday. We
had the day off from school, and Dad didn’t have
to go to work. When Mom woke us up, there weren’t
any of the normal morning smells of coffee
brewing or breakfast being prepared about the
house. Instead, Dad was gathering his yard tools
and Mom was getting groceries, bedding, and
clothing together. We were preparing to go to our
church, which was approximately 12 miles from
where we lived.
Date posted:Mar 30, 2007
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As I reflect on my life, I ask how I got to this
point. It is clear to me that business is no
longer the same as usual. I am a born-again
Christian who has been on this faith journey
since October 1996 after a divorce and a
miscarriage. I knew I could not continue on the
same path that I was on. There was no peace in my
life and I desired to have peace.
Date posted:Mar 27, 2007
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The UMCOR Hotline for March 27, 2007
In Today's Hotline:
Israel: Violence Prevention
Liberia: Help for the Homeless
US: Sager Brown Turns 140
Afghanistan: Making Winter Warmer
Date posted:Mar 27, 2007
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An ammunition depot explosion near the capital of
Mozambique has killed at least 100 people,
injured more than 450 others and damaged two
neighborhoods with United Methodist parishes.
The March 22 explosion on the outskirts of Maputo
sent munitions flying in all directions in the
metropolitan area, according to Carol Kreamer,
coordinator of The Mozambique Initiative, a
program of the United Methodist Missouri Annual
(regional) Conference.
Date posted:Mar 27, 2007
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Alain is 37. His clinical diagnosis is severe
mental retardation and Down Syndrome. I invited
Alain to accompany me in worship leadership with
a liturgical dance. The song I chose for him to
interpret was, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”
Date posted:Mar 21, 2007
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United Methodists in Liberia have a new radio
station at 98.7 FM.
The 300-watt station is located at the Liberia
Annual Conference headquarters and was dedicated
during a March 3 service attended by United
Methodist bishops of the West Africa Annual
Conferences.
Date posted:Mar 21, 2007
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Washington, DC – An ecumenical church conference
and a US Senate hearing in Washington, DC, in mid-
March put the international spotlight on a rash
of political murders in the Philippines over the
last five years.
Date posted:Mar 20, 2007
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The UMCOR Hotline for March 20, 2007
In Today's Hotline:
India: Educating Educators
Azerbaijan: A Ray of Hope
UMCOR: Thank You for Your Partnership
Worldwide: World Health Day
Date posted:Mar 20, 2007
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The centrality of song to Christian life and
mission is the subject of a collection of essays
just published by the United Methodist General
Board of Global Ministries.
Music & Mission: Toward a Theology and Practice
of Global Song was edited by the Rev. Dr. ST
Kimbrough, Jr., who recently retired as the
executive in charge of the Global Praise program
of the mission agency.
Date posted:Mar 19, 2007
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One of the themes for this week is God’s lavish
love: a constant, persistent, and inexhaustible
love that desires, searches, and joyously
celebrates our return whenever we have strayed
or
wandered away. During our times of being lost,
the knowledge that this abundant love is seeking
us and ready to welcome us back can be a great
source of comfort and hope.
Date posted:Mar 16, 2007
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Women's History Month is celebrated every year
in
March, though around the world, related events
often begin in late February. During the
celebration, women gather together to strategize
action plans that both remember and focus upon
the struggles of women everywhere.
Date posted:Mar 13, 2007
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Why is it necessary to have Women’s History
Month? One reason is that, historically, women
have not been accepted for leadership roles in
the same manner as men.
Date posted:Mar 09, 2007
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SHADE AND FRESH WATER is a popular Brazilian
expression that transmits a desire to find a
place that provides for protection from life’s
harsh realities. One of those harsh realities is
that the Brazilian family is in crisis. Millions
of parents must rise very early in the morning
to
hurry off to work in an ongoing struggle to
provide for their families.
Date posted:Mar 08, 2007
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Korean Text of a Statemnt by Rev. R. Randy Day
Date posted:Mar 08, 2007
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Korean Text: Mission Leader Sees Hope in Six-
Party Agreement on North Korea Nuclear Issue
Date posted:Mar 08, 2007
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A century of Methodism in Estonia is being
observed this year, with a major celebration set
for early June.
Methodism came to the northern-most of the three
Baltic countries with traveling lay preachers
from Russia in 1907.
Date posted:Mar 07, 2007
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The recent retirement of Chief Illiniwek, the
University of Illinois' controversial athletics
program mascot, has drawn intense reactions from
both fans and opponents, including affirmation
from many Native American United Methodists.
Date posted:Mar 07, 2007
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We understand that the grace of God is an
undeserved gift. Isaiah presents it to us
directly--in a simple way that makes it
completely clear to us.
Date posted:Mar 06, 2007
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For the 34th time in as many years, The Rev.
Charles Keller led a group from Central
Pennsylvania Annual Conference to 475 Riverside
Drive, New York City. Rev. Keller estimated that
he had introduced 1,857 people to the mission
agency offices of The United Methodist Church
through this annual three-day immersion
experience.
Date posted:Mar 06, 2007
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The United Methodist Church in Nigeria has a new
bishop, the Rev. Kefas Kane Mavula, who was
elected and appointed on his 40th birthday.
The March 3 election was held during a special
session of the West Africa Central Conference at
S.T. Nagbe United Methodist Church in Monrovia.
Mavula garnered all 74 votes cast by delegates
attending the conference.
Date posted:Mar 06, 2007
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It was an early morning phone call from the
Philippines that woke Bishop Eliezer Pascua on
the day he would address a World Day of Prayer
service in Sacramento, California. The General
Secretary of the United Church of Christ,
Philippines listened as the caller told of the
latest killing just hours earlier - another UCCP
member gunned down in the streets.
Date posted:Mar 04, 2007
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St. Paul & St. Andrews Methodist Church raises a
banner on its altar that reads:
"How good it is when brothers and sisters dwell
together in harmony ... " World Day of Prayer is
held on the first Friday in March of every year.
Date posted:Mar 01, 2007
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Dans la L’Église Méthodiste de St. Paul & St.
Andrews, au dessus de l’autel est élévée une
banderole sur laquelle il est écrit: “Qu’il est
doux pour des frères et soeurs de demeurer
ensemble …”
Date posted:Mar 01, 2007
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As I reflect on the various women in my life who
have greatly contributed their influence on me, I
first think of my mother. I will always treasure
her unconditional love, as well as her examples
of a deep faith and hard work. I also think of my
two daughters, who have given me many
opportunities to follow my mother's example and
share learning and experiences daily.
Date posted:Mar 01, 2007
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This year the geographic mission study for the
Schools of Christian Mission will be
Israel/Palestine. This Middle Eastern conflict is
an issue that never seems to go away because it
never gets resolved. The region has been in
conflict my whole life, so in some ways, I don't
expect it to be resolved. But then, ...
Date posted:Mar 01, 2007
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This year United Methodists begin a two-year
mission study on Israel/ Palestine. The year 2007
marks 40 years of Israeli military occupation and
colonization of Palestinian land in the West
Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.
Date posted:Mar 01, 2007
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The stories the Bible contains have helped
peoples find strength, consolation, freedom,
justice, mercy, love, and salvation. The Bible
has been a part of proclaiming release to the
captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and
setting the oppressed free (Isaiah 61:1a, Luke
4:18b).
Date posted:Mar 01, 2007
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Hardly any one heard him cry and I was the only
one that watched the tears flow down his cheeks.
He came to my office to seek help, but his
problem was too enormous for a simple clergyman
like me to solve. He is a Palestinian citizen of
Bethlehem who once had a small piece of land near
Rachel's Tomb.
Date posted:Mar 01, 2007
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Along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea
lies a small, sandy piece of land known as the
Gaza Strip. Conveniently located at the juncture
of the major trade routes passing from the warm
southern climes of Africa, the exotic spice
countries of Asia, and the commercial centers of
Europe, for thousands of years the area of Gaza
had been a major trade center.
Date posted:Mar 01, 2007
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For centuries, Christians have traveled to the
Holy Land on pilgrimages. Yet too many such tours
go only to ancient biblical sites and never meet
with the living Palestinian Christian communities
of today.
Date posted:Mar 01, 2007
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