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Disaster Response and Recovery
Higher Education & Campus Ministry
Pan-Methodist Campaign for Children in Poverty
7/24/2020
Dear Friends, We have planned three 2020 North Alabama Annual Conferences under the leadership of Director of Connectional Ministries Linda Holland and the planning team she leads. That’s right – three! The first one was scheduled for Sunday, May 31- Tuesday, June 2 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic was postponed to Sunday, August 16- Monday, August 17 which for the same reason was postponed to Saturday, September 26. The Annual Conference planning team has been flexible and grace-filled through ...
7/7/2020
Dear Friends, Like many of you, I am wearing a mask in public places during the pandemic. I am not doing this as a political statement or because of fear, but as a way of embodying Philippians 2:3-4. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” How does wearing a mask during this pandemic place the interests of others first? Much of the advice offered by ...
6/17/2020
Dear friends, Perhaps some of you saw my recent video that compared two basketball moves: a pivot and a pause. An offensive player pivots away from their opponent to an open space on the court to take a jump shot, make a pass or drive to the basket. This is in contrast to pausing and then suddenly sprinting forward past the defender (also known as a stop and go move). https://youtu.be/0-cim_Hkrmc We are in a pivot or pause moment in North Alabama Methodism as it relates to post COVID-19 ministry...
6/1/2020
Dear Friends, The senseless killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, has shaken our nation to the core. The fact that the inhumane and unjust treatment of Mr. Floyd is not an isolated incident in our country adds to the pain, fear and outrage felt by countless Americans. The situation is made worse by uncertainty about whether all of those involved in George Floyd’s death will be held accountable. George Floyd’s killing has brought to the forefront several issues that must be addressed in our ...
5/26/2020
Dear Friends, A question that many people are asking is, “When will our church buildings be reopened?” The answer will vary from church to church, based not on a specific date, but on local data. Our North Alabama Conference District Superintendents recently hosted 32 virtual town hall meetings attended by 860 of our clergy and lay leaders. Discussion centered around Do No Harm: Recommendations for Reopening our Church Buildings (www.umcna.org/donoharm) and a video featuring Dr. Neil Lamb, ...
5/7/2020
Dear friends, The first several months of 2020 have been difficult as the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in sickness, death, unemployment and economic challenges of epic proportions in our state, nation and world. The Cabinet’s and my hearts are heavy for all those who have been adversely affected by the coronavirus. Through it all, I am thankful for the creative and sacrificial ways in which our clergy and laity continue to be the church. In addition to pivoting from in-person to online worship...
4/23/2020
Bishop and Cabinet request North Alabama Conference United Methodist Churches continue the suspension of in-person worship services and gatherings until at least May 18 and possibly later. Postponement of 2020 North Alabama Annual Conference until August 16-17. Dear Friends, I am so grateful for the amazing ways in which clergy and laity of the North Alabama Conference are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of our United Methodist Churches have adjusted to the “sheltering-at-home” ...
4/1/2020
Dear Friends, Prayer is foundational for Christian living. Jesus said “when” not “if” you pray. (Luke 11:2) The Lord’s Prayer, prayed by Christians all around the world, is based on Matthew 6:9-15 and Luke 11:2-4. It includes four dimensions to prayer: Praising, Repenting, Asking and Yielding (PRAY). I often use the PRAY acronym as a structure for my prayers. P: Praising God – “Hallowed be Your Name “(Luke 11:2, Matthew 6:9) R: Repenting- “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (Luke ...
3/25/2020
Dear friends, I am inspired by how North Alabama United Methodists are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Churches of all sizes are finding innovative ways to be Christ’s hands and feet in their communities. Examples include: Online worship services offered by many of our congregations, with more being added every day. A few churches are hosting drive-in worship, using low-cost FM transmitters to allow participants to worship in their cars; One church continues to cook Celebrate Recovery ...
3/16/2020
Dear Friends, These are unusual times for us all. Indeed, most of us cannot remember a circumstance when during a time of crisis churches were asked to suspend worship services and meetings. However, in the instance of the COVID-19 pandemic, health experts warn us that it is in the best interest of church members, especially those in high-risk categories, the community, the state of Alabama, our nation and world for us to stop assembling for a period of time for worship services and other group ...
