<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0">
	<channel>
		<title>UMR Communications Headlines</title>
		<link>http://www.umportal.org/</link>
		<description></description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<pubDate>Sun, 5 Feb 2012 06:58:25 GMT</pubDate>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Large Church Initiative spreads ideas and hope]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8581</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8581</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 3 Feb 2012 04:23:21 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[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.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[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.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Q&A:Bill McKibben, UM writer/activist, keeps focus on climate change]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8583</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8583</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 3 Feb 2012 04:23:09 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Author/activist Bill McKibben has led the fight against the Keystone XL pipeline. He&rsquo;s also a longtime United Methodist. Managing editor Sam Hodges caught up with him for a Q&amp;A.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Author/activist Bill McKibben has led the fight against the Keystone XL pipeline. He&rsquo;s also a longtime United Methodist. Managing editor Sam Hodges caught up with him for a Q&amp;A.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[DVD REVIEW: ‘The Way’ follows characters on spiritual pilgrimage]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8567</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8567</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 2 Feb 2012 02:50:34 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[The Rev. Gary Keene offers a review of <em>The Way</em>, directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, about an unexpected traveler on a famous religious pilgrimage route in Spain.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Rev. Gary Keene offers a review of <em>The Way</em>, directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, about an unexpected traveler on a famous religious pilgrimage route in Spain.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[South Georgia clergy shed pounds, focus on health]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8557</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8557</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 2 Feb 2012 02:50:25 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Special contributor Kara Witherow reports on efforts by UMC clergy in the South Georgia Conference to lose weight and improve their overall health.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Special contributor Kara Witherow reports on efforts by UMC clergy in the South Georgia Conference to lose weight and improve their overall health.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[WESLEYAN WISDOM: ‘Signs of the times’: Pages from my ’95 notebook]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8566</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8566</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 1 Feb 2012 02:34:39 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[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.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[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.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Paul Simon’s music takes rambling spiritual journey]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8559</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8559</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 1 Feb 2012 02:34:32 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Paul Simon&rsquo;s <em>So Beautiful</em>, 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 &amp; Ethics Newsweekly.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Paul Simon&rsquo;s <em>So Beautiful</em>, 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 &amp; Ethics Newsweekly.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Breadfruit project aims to enrich Haiti]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8560</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8560</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:53:18 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[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.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[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.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[HISTORY OF HYMNS: Watts’ ‘Praise My Maker’ among Wesley’s favorites]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8558</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8558</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:53:02 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[C. Michael Hawn&rsquo;s latest History of Hymns column gives background on Isaac Watts&rsquo; &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll Praise My Maker While I&rsquo;ve Breath.&rdquo; John Wesley figures into the story.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[C. Michael Hawn&rsquo;s latest History of Hymns column gives background on Isaac Watts&rsquo; &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll Praise My Maker While I&rsquo;ve Breath.&rdquo; John Wesley figures into the story.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[On display - Exhibits focus on children’s books, Civil War Methodism]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8546</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8546</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:10:32 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[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.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[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.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[REFLECTIONS: Letter to Martin Luther King Jr.]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8514</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8514</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:40:23 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Retired Bishop Woodie W. White pens his annual &ldquo;Letter to Martin&rdquo; column, this time with a focus on progress made in race relations and the challenges that remain.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Retired Bishop Woodie W. White pens his annual &ldquo;Letter to Martin&rdquo; column, this time with a focus on progress made in race relations and the challenges that remain.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[BOOK REVIEW: Wesley’s advice inspires guide to essential books]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8472</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8472</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 2 Jan 2012 03:51:44 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Staff writer Mary Jacobs reviews <em>25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics</em>. She notes that John Wesley was an inspiration for this new volume.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Staff writer Mary Jacobs reviews <em>25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics</em>. She notes that John Wesley was an inspiration for this new volume.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[HISTORY OF HYMNS: Hymn expresses longing for arrival of our Savior]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8392</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8392</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:26:10 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[C. Michael Hawn&rsquo;s latest History of Hymns column looks at the Advent hymn &ldquo;Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,&rdquo; with text by Charles Wesley.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[C. Michael Hawn&rsquo;s latest History of Hymns column looks at the Advent hymn &ldquo;Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,&rdquo; with text by Charles Wesley.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[COMMENTARY: An unusual advocate in call for divestment]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8389</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8389</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:57:56 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[The Rev. John Wagner writes about finding an unlikely ally &ndash; a socially and politically conservative UM lay member &ndash; on the issue of using divestment to pressure Israel to treat Palestinians more fairly.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Rev. John Wagner writes about finding an unlikely ally &ndash; a socially and politically conservative UM lay member &ndash; on the issue of using divestment to pressure Israel to treat Palestinians more fairly.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Q&A: What can we learn about God from music?]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8361</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8361</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:22:33 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[The Rev. Jeremy Begbie is a music expert with Duke Divinity School, and he shared his thoughts about Christmas music and more with Faith &amp; Leadership, which allowed us to share the interview.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Rev. Jeremy Begbie is a music expert with Duke Divinity School, and he shared his thoughts about Christmas music and more with Faith &amp; Leadership, which allowed us to share the interview.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[HISTORY OF HYMNS: Hymn challenges singers through images of sorrow]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8318</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8318</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 8 Nov 2011 03:39:56 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[This week&rsquo;s History of Hymns column provides background on &ldquo;God Weeps,&rdquo; by Shirley Elena Murphy, found in the hymn supplement <em>The Faith We Sing</em>.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[This week&rsquo;s History of Hymns column provides background on &ldquo;God Weeps,&rdquo; by Shirley Elena Murphy, found in the hymn supplement <em>The Faith We Sing</em>.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[REFLECTIONS: Reconciliation is lesson from ‘riveting’ new book]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8325</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8325</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 4 Nov 2011 11:13:03 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Retired Bishop Woodie W. White devotes his &ldquo;Reflections&rdquo; column to a new book that explores an episode in Methodist history that African-Americans and whites have tended to see very differently.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Retired Bishop Woodie W. White devotes his &ldquo;Reflections&rdquo; column to a new book that explores an episode in Methodist history that African-Americans and whites have tended to see very differently.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[COMMENTARY: Want church growth? Be willing to take risks]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8327</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8327</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 3 Nov 2011 01:01:12 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[The Rev. Tom Arthur&rsquo;s reading and experience have taught him that trying to help a church to grow necessarily means accepting a certain amount of risk and failure.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Rev. Tom Arthur&rsquo;s reading and experience have taught him that trying to help a church to grow necessarily means accepting a certain amount of risk and failure.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[COMMENTARY: Methodist history does matter]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8326</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8326</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 1 Nov 2011 01:48:16 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[The Rev. Chris Shoemaker agrees with a previous <em>Reporter</em> column that adopting a business model for growth is wrong for the UMC. But he challenges the column&rsquo;s position that history has little to teach us.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Rev. Chris Shoemaker agrees with a previous <em>Reporter</em> column that adopting a business model for growth is wrong for the UMC. But he challenges the column&rsquo;s position that history has little to teach us.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[COMMENTARY: Making room for children in hands-on mission work]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8323</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8323</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 1 Nov 2011 01:48:04 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Young children can and should be considered for church teams performing short-term mission work, argues special contributor Glenys Nellist.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Young children can and should be considered for church teams performing short-term mission work, argues special contributor Glenys Nellist.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[COMMENTARY: Seek the virtue of diligence]]></title>
			<link>http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8233</link>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.umportal.org/main/article.asp?id=8233</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:12:25 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Ruth Sears, a UM commentator from North Texas, writes about the virtue of diligence as addressed in the book of Proverbs.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Ruth Sears, a UM commentator from North Texas, writes about the virtue of diligence as addressed in the book of Proverbs.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

