Holy Week

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week for United Methodists around the world.  Some elements of Holy Week observation are common across The United Methodist Church: Palm Sunday processions, Maundy Thursday communion services, Good Friday commemorations, and Easter Sunday celebrations, perhaps with rousing singing of Charles Wesley's great Easter hymn, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today."  Some elements vary, however: the other hymns or praise songs that will be sung, whether animals are involved in the Palm Sunday procession, whether to do a foot washing on Maundy Thursday, how to commemorate Good Friday - a noontime service? the seven last words?



This leads to discussion then: What commonalities and diversities do we as United Methodists have in our Holy Week observation?  What does it mean to observe Holy Week as a United Methodist in many nations around the world?

GBGM has offered a few suggestions for how to sing Easter as a global denomination: http://www.umcmission.org/Find-Resources/Sing-World-Round-at-Easter

Share your thoughts in the comment box!

Global UMC News of the Week

Black Methodists for Church Renewal approve a new structure, saying "we must readily acknowledge and intentionally build linkages beyond the shores of the United States of America for the cause of justice in every place and for all people": http://www.unyumc.org/news/detail/1581

Belmont UMC in Nashville and the Malawi UMC form on-going global partnership: http://www.umcmission.org/Learn-About-Us/News-and-Stories/2013/March/0315-Miracle-Offering

For St. Patrick's Day: What St. Patrick can teach United Methodists: http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=9193369

Contribute to Methodist theological education in Africa by helping donate e-readers: http://www.gbod.org/misc/give-to-the-ereader-project

United Methodists react to the new head of another global Christian communion: the Roman Catholic Church: http://www.unitedmethodistreporter.com/2013/03/ums-comment-on-naming-of-new-pope/?utm_source=unitedmethodistreporter.com&utm_medium=twitter

Progress Update: UMCOR's Growing Impact on Global Health: http://www.umcmission.org/Find-Resources/New-World-Outlook-Magazine/2013/March-April-2013/0313-UMCOR-s-Growing-Impact

UMC exceeds goals for new church starts around the world: http://www.unitedmethodistreporter.com/2013/03/new-church-starts-up-in-u-s-and-abroad/?utm_source=unitedmethodistreporter.com&utm_medium=twitter

UMW helps organize International Women's Day rallies: http://umcconnections.org/2013/03/07/umw-organized-march-rallies-to-mark-international-womens-day/

Coming soon!

Welcome to the UM & Global blog!  This blog is intended to provoke conversations about the global nature of The United Methodist Church.  As the church is increasingly an international institution, we need to rethink ecclesiology, mission, and ministry on a global scale.  To help in that process, the United Methodist Professors of Mission will be providing unique content to this blog reflecting on these questions, and blogmaster Dr. David W. Scott will aggregate other relevant news and views about global United Methodism.

The blog isn't quite ready to launch yet, but check back in late April or May when the blog will go live.
In the meantime, check out these links:
Committee to Study the Worldwide Nature of The United Methodist Church
UMC General Board of Global Ministries
United Methodist Professors of Mission

In Christ,
David W. Scott