wfn.org | Methodists Plan for 2000

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3335 notes).

Note 3334 by UMNS on Dec. 12, 1996 at 10:36 Eastern (2790 characters).

SEARCH: Jesus, Jerusalem, World Methodist Council
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT:  Linda Bloom                         622(10-21-71B){3334}
          New York (212)870-3803                     Dec. 11, 1996

Methodists prepare plans to mark
2,000th anniversary of Jesus' birth

                 by United Methodist News Service

     Millions of Christians on every continent could gather to
light candles simultaneously with Christians in Bethlehem and mark
the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus' birth.
     That's the hope of Frances M. Alguire, a United Methodist
from New Buffalo, Mich., who serves as chairwoman of the World
Methodist Council.
     Alguire convened a working group of 10 Methodists Dec. 2-5 in
Jerusalem to develop plans for "a time of serious reflection and
renewed commitment" during the 2,000th anniversary, which most
Christian bodies will inaugurate in 1999 as a year-long
celebration. The plans will be considered by the council's 73
member churches.
     The working group also affirmed that it wants to enable
people to stand alongside indigenous Christians living in the Holy
Land through acts of prayer, presence and volunteers-in-mission
service projects.
     While in Jerusalem, the working group met with Bishop Kamal
Hanna Bathish of the Latin Patriarchate, who is president of the
Jerusalem Committee for the Year 2000, to discuss plans already
underway. The delegation also was received in a formal audience
with His Beatitude, Diodoros I, the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem.
     Among the plans, which will be presented to the World
Methodist Council's executive committee and officers, are ideas
for daily Advent Bible readings in the preparatory years of 1997,
1998 and 1999 and weekly Bible studies centered in the gospels
during each Epiphany from 1998 through 2000.
     A pocket-sized "Millennium Book," designed for personal use,
would highlight events across 20 centuries to reveal how faithful
disciples have been formed in Christ through prayer, Scripture,
study and service. A larger book reflecting 2000 years of
Christian witness in history also is being considered.
     Council members will begin the year-long celebration of
Jesus' birth with bell-ringing and candle-lighting on Christmas
Eve in 1999 and with special covenant services at the turn of the
new millennium as Christians gather in local communities around
the world.
     Bible readings and worldwide celebrations of Easter and
Pentecost in the Year 2000 will help people link "God's historical
revelation" with the reality of Jesus Christ today, according to
Alguire.
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