Music

Church History
The Rev. Ted Campbell edited and published “A Core Methodist Hymnal,” a collection of 126 hymn texts by Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, Fanny Crosby and others. Campbell intends the book as a devotional and teaching resource “to form people today in a Wesleyan and Methodist way of being Christian.” Photo courtesy of the Rev. Ted Campbell.

New attention for old hymn texts

Scholar Ted Campbell has edited a book for devotional reading of early Methodist hymns. Each of the 126 hymn texts is followed by a short commentary from Campbell.
Faith Stories
The lyrics of “First United Methodist Day Care Christmas Show” evoke memories of children’s holiday programs. The song by Amy Speace on her new album, “The American Dream, was inspired by a Christmas pageant at a United Methodist church. Music image by Frauke Riether, courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Christmas single inspired by kids’ pageant

A Middle Tennessee church holiday pageant inspired a lighthearted Christmas single from singer-songwriter Amy Speace. It’s called “First United Methodist Day Care Christmas Show.”
Worship
The St. John's United Methodist Church Choir in Lubbock, Texas, performs "My Soul Gives Glory to My God." Photo courtesy of St. John's United Methodist Church.

Ask The UMC: The liturgical history of Lessons and Carols

Increasingly over the past four decades, United Methodist congregations with choirs have included a service of Lessons and Carols among their Advent or Christmas musical celebrations. While the music may be what draws people to the services, what actually drives the vigil form of worship historically is an extended period of listening to the Scriptures.
Mission and Ministry
Samson Chikoore sings with the Seke South Mubvuwi we United Methodist Church choir at a music festival in Harare. The Zimbabwe East Conference’s United Methodist men’s organization, popular for winning souls to Christ through spiritually uplifting music, is now adding income-generating projects to its quadrennium objectives. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Zimbabwe men’s organization moves beyond music

Members of Mubvuwi we United Methodist Church turn to income-generating projects for sustainability — to fund their own programs and support the church.

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