wfn.org | UMNS Cast of 100 brings Nativity alive in Delaware

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> Cast of 100 brings Nativity alive in Delaware

LEWES, Del. (UMNS) ? For the past nine years, hundreds and now thousaands of people have come annually to the Living Nativity at Conley's United Methodist Church, presented this year on the nights of Dec. 18-19.  "We could not imagine not doing the Living Nativity," says Cheryl Wood, who with her husband, Robert, is in charge of the annual event. "The focus of Christmas at our church is on the Christ child, and it would seem strange to us not to present the birth and events around it to the community." The cast includes some 100 persons from Conley's who consider the annual production not only a play, but also an opportunity to share their faith with others. A feature story about the Living Nativity can be found here.

United Methodist chaplain leads top recruiting team

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) ? U.S. Army Recruiting Command has named the West Army Chaplain Recruiting Team in Encino, Calif., the top chaplain recruiting team. Capt. Steve Blackwell, a United Methodist-endorsed Army chaplain, leads the team. Blackwell, a native of Springfield, Tenn., was also named as the top individual chaplain recruiter for 2009. He was senior pastor at Craft Memorial United Methodist Church in Columbia, Tenn., prior to active duty. The West Chaplain Recruiting Team, responsible for recruiting chaplains and chaplain candidates in a 10-state area in the western United States, recruited 65 chaplains and chaplain candidates in 2009. Their assigned mission was to recruit 42.