Basingstoke Methodist Circuit

UMR Communications Headlines

1. Large Church Initiative spreads ideas and hope
   The Large Church Initiative is part think-tank, part spiritual retreat, part cheerleading session, and it draws hundreds of UM clergy eager for ideas and hope. We report on the latest such event.
2. COMMENTARY: Caring for world’s orphans should be church’s priority
   The Rev. Wayne Lavender argues that the UMC should make care of orphans worldwide a new focus of ministry.
3. Q&A:Bill McKibben, UM writer/activist, keeps focus on climate change
   Author/activist Bill McKibben has led the fight against the Keystone XL pipeline. He’s also a longtime United Methodist. Managing editor Sam Hodges caught up with him for a Q&A.
4. DVD REVIEW: ‘The Way’ follows characters on spiritual pilgrimage
   The Rev. Gary Keene offers a review of The Way, directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, about an unexpected traveler on a famous religious pilgrimage route in Spain.
5. South Georgia clergy shed pounds, focus on health
   Special contributor Kara Witherow reports on efforts by UMC clergy in the South Georgia Conference to lose weight and improve their overall health.
6. WESLEYAN WISDOM: ‘Signs of the times’: Pages from my ’95 notebook
   Donald Haynes uses his Wesleyan Wisdom column to share highlights of a 1995 memo he wrote suggesting reforms for the UMC. Many still have merit, he writes.
7. Paul Simon’s music takes rambling spiritual journey
   Paul Simon’s So Beautiful, So What album has earned considerable attention for the spirituality embedded in its lyrics. Mr. Simon and others are quoted in a piece by Religion & Ethics Newsweekly.
8. Breadfruit project aims to enrich Haiti
   Hennepin Avenue UMC in Minneapolis has a project underway to turn flour milled from breadfruit into a cash crop for Haiti. UMNS has the story.
9. HISTORY OF HYMNS: Watts’ ‘Praise My Maker’ among Wesley’s favorites
   C. Michael Hawn’s latest History of Hymns column gives background on Isaac Watts’ “I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath.” John Wesley figures into the story.
10. On display - Exhibits focus on children’s books, Civil War Methodism
    Drew University has an exhibit on Civil War Methodism and Bridwell Library at Perkins School of Theology has one on centuries-old religious books for children. Our story looks at both displays.
11. REFLECTIONS: Letter to Martin Luther King Jr.
    Retired Bishop Woodie W. White pens his annual “Letter to Martin” column, this time with a focus on progress made in race relations and the challenges that remain.
12. BOOK REVIEW: Wesley’s advice inspires guide to essential books
    Staff writer Mary Jacobs reviews 25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics. She notes that John Wesley was an inspiration for this new volume.
13. HISTORY OF HYMNS: Hymn expresses longing for arrival of our Savior
    C. Michael Hawn’s latest History of Hymns column looks at the Advent hymn “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” with text by Charles Wesley.
14. COMMENTARY: An unusual advocate in call for divestment
    The Rev. John Wagner writes about finding an unlikely ally – a socially and politically conservative UM lay member – on the issue of using divestment to pressure Israel to treat Palestinians more fairly.
15. Q&A: What can we learn about God from music?
    The Rev. Jeremy Begbie is a music expert with Duke Divinity School, and he shared his thoughts about Christmas music and more with Faith & Leadership, which allowed us to share the interview.