Bishop Susan Hassinger offers insight into discussions at a recent extended area cabinet gathering. She writes that as part of that time, "We considered, as we worshiped together and sought God’s guidance, where were the bright stars among us that were lighting the way to the Christ, and to the future.  We reflected on those pastors and congregations and communities where new moving outward of the gospel message was happening, or where we were seeing the potential for that to happen."

She shares the characteristics used to identify those situations and invites pastors and local church leaders to look at your congregations in this way. 

At the recent Council of Bishops meeting, this semi-annual global gathering of United Methodist Bishops, active and retired, adopted unanimously a pastoral letter which we are asking every congregation to hear during the season of Advent.  The theme of the pastoral letter is “God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action,” and is the result of more than four years of study and listening to many persons and groups around the world. Bishop Susan Hassinger shares her thoughts on the letter and urges churches to use it and supporting documents in worship during Advent and in study in the new year.