Month: December 2023

The church that predates the historical Christmas Conference

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The historic Christmas Conference in 1784 is the official beginning of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America, but the seeds of Methodism were first planted in America almost two decades earlier in New York City. Dr. Ashley Boggan D. welcomes United Methodist pastor Stefanie Bennett, who shares the history that dates back to 1766 and resulted in the establishment of John Street UMC, the oldest Methodist U.S. congregation.

Learn more United Methodist history by visiting umhistoryhub.teachable.com.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/archivesandhistory.

When Christmas is blue: A guided meditation with Cindy Serio

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‘Tis the season for all things merry and bright. Except when you’re feeling sad, lonely and perhaps grieving. Retired United Methodist pastor Cindy Serio discusses why Christmas can be a challenging season for some folks and shares a guided meditation that acknowledges that you might feel blue at this time of the year while offering encouragement for finding hope, even on the longest night.

Learn more about this episode at: https://www.umc.org/en/content/when-christmas-is-blue-a-guided-meditation-get-your-spirit-in-shape-ep-131

Have questions or comments? Email us at gysis@umcom.org.

[124] Contemplative practices for a peaceful Christmas

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Ryan Dunn addresses the struggle to find peace during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Offering contemplative practices for a more peaceful Christmas, Ryan explores ways to connect with God’s loving and peaceful spirit during this special time of year.

From leveraging inconveniences as moments of reflection to turning preparations into prayers, listeners are guided through five contemplative practices to infuse the holiday season with spiritual significance. Join us as we delve into the significance of Christmas and uncover ways to find inner peace amidst the chaos.

In this episode:
(00:00) the importance of peace and Christmas
(01:27) Intro to contemplative practices
(02:22) Using inconveniences as reminders
(03:20) Preparation as prayer
(03:30) Practicing fasting
(04:27) Reading Luke 1 and 2
(04:56) Engaging with Christmas imagery
(06:21) Closing and additional resources

More from the Compass podcast: www.umc.org/compass

United Methodists combat HIV/AIDS with compassion and action

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HIV and AIDS aren’t in the news much anymore as the western world has gained access to life-saving medications and cases have decreased. Despite the good news, the worldwide HIV/AIDS pandemic still exists, with the World Health Organization reporting a startling statistic: Of those people living with AIDS who don’t receive treatment, 95 percent die. On World AIDS Day, Dr. Douglas Smith, a United Methodist man who lives with AIDS, shares about the work of the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee and how all of us can be a loving presence in our communities and congregations for those people living with HIV/AIDS.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

Have a question or comment? Email us at gysis@umcom.org

Connect with The United Methodist Church by visiting UMC.org.