The following letter was recently shared by Bishop Thomas Bickerton on the New England Conference website and via email to subscribers.  In it, he reflects on the painful places we find ourselves in at the start of this new year. He also shares a letter written by Bishop Lanette Plambeck, Resident Bishop of the Dakota-Minnesota Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, who encourages her congregations and all of us to make “our congregations to be places of refuge and prayer in the days ahead. Be attentive to grief. Listen deeply to those who are afraid. Stay rooted in Christ, who chose the way of self-giving love over the way of force.”

You can read the enirety of the Bishop(s) email(s) below, or on the neumc.orgwebsite, HERE.

From Bishop Bickerton, January 11, 2026

Each time we enter these early days of a new year, we find ourselves making new resolutions. We long for a fresh start, a new beginning, a course correction, and a movement of some kind that will signal that there is something different, something better about the journey before us than the road behind.

In the early days of this new year, we find ourselves facing, with dread in our hearts, even more of the same.

Events in Venezuela have only furthered the division in our country. Some believe it was a necessary action. Others believe it was an inappropriate exercise of power. But it doesn’t end there. With every passing day, plans are outlined for further occupations and actions that can only serve to increase the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots.” The seemingly irreconcilable differences between political parties and religious positions stoke the fear and anxiety that seem to be our constant companions these days.

And then, a shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in which a young mother is killed by ICE. The videos have jump started what we have come to know as the norm: debates around who is at fault, questions surrounding the rights of citizens, government, accusations and name-calling. That debate, fueled by media of all kinds, leaves us reeling.

In our Council of Bishops there is an unwritten covenant that the resident bishop of an area should be the one to take the lead in addressing issues that emerge from the region where they are serving. The beauty of our United Methodist connection is that we have outposts where leaders are called upon to weave our theology and our practice into the fabric of that region to make known how Methodism views and addresses situations that arise.

I am blessed to share that work with the Resident Bishop of the Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church, Bishop Lanette Plambeck. Below you will find the pastoral message Bishop Plambeck has shared with her people, and now, with us. I believe that her words speak to who we are as the people called United Methodist and represent the way each of us can and should respond to what has happened in Minnesota as well what is continually unfolding in the events of our country and world. Bishop Plambeck puts it simply yet profoundly: The work of the Church begins here.

I stand with Bishop Plambeck, not only in her leadership among the people of Minneapolis, but in the manner in which she calls us all to exercise our faith and practice a better, more holy way.
 
May it be so. 

The Journey Continues, . . . 
 

Thomas J. Bickerton
Resident Bishop
The New Hope Episcopal Area, the New England and New York Annual Conferences.

From Bishop Plambeck

A Pastoral Letter to the Dakotas–Minnesota Episcopal Area 

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; … those whose spirits are overwhelmed.” – Psalm 34.18 NLT, adapt. 
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; 
and what does the Lord require of you 
but to do justice, and to love kindness, 
and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6.8 NRSV 
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.

I write as one who, in my episcopal role, is called to guard the faith, shepherd the people, and work for unity. It is from this responsibility that I offer these words.

Today in Minneapolis, during a federal immigration enforcement operation, Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot. Investigations are underway. Accounts differ. Many details remain unclear. At the time of this writing, what we know, and must not move past too quickly, is this: a human life has been lost.
The work of the church begins here. Before we receive deep analysis or a full explanation of the events that led to the shooting, we enter into lament. We grieve a life ended too soon. We hold in prayer the family and loved ones who now carry an unimaginable loss. We acknowledge the fear and trauma this event has stirred, especially among immigrant and refugee neighbors for whom encounters with law enforcement already carry profound risk.

We also speak to the wider moment in which this tragedy occurred. Across our nation, we are witnessing a troubling willingness to normalize violence as a tool of order and to resist accountability as though it were a threat rather than a safeguard. The church must say clearly: power that is unexamined, unchecked, or unaccountable stands in tension with the way of Jesus Christ.
Scripture reminds us that authority is given for the sake of the common good. When power is exercised, its first obligation is to preserve life and protect the vulnerable.

The measure of justice is not how quickly actions are justified, but how faithfully truth is sought and responsibility is held.  This word is spoken not in condemnation, but in love. Love for communities living in fear. Love for institutions that must be called back to their highest purposes. Love for a nation whose soul is shaped, for better or worse, by the choices it makes in moments like these.

As your bishop, I call our congregations to be places of refuge and prayer in the days ahead. Be attentive to grief. Listen deeply to those who are afraid. Stay rooted in Christ, who chose the way of self-giving love over the way of force.

In moments of grief and uncertainty, most of us naturally lean toward news voices we already trust. In our vulnerability, we rush to make complex situations clear-cut. While that is human, it can also narrow our understanding. I encourage us to broaden our listening, seek out careful reporting from news sources representing multiple perspectives, and remain open to voices that may challenge our assumptions. Expanding how we listen is one way we practice humility and love in the pursuit of truth.

In this fragile space between tragedy and truth, may we be a people who lament honestly, seek justice humbly, and refuse the lie that violence has the final word. We hold fast to the resurrection promise that love endures and that life, not death, will have the final say.

May the God who binds up the brokenhearted draw near to all who mourn, and may the Spirit lead us in the way of justice, mercy, and peace.

Grace and peace,

Bishop Lanette Plambeck
Resident Bishop
Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church

Prayer
God of mercy and nearness,
we come to you with heavy hearts.
We grieve a life lost and hold close all who mourn.
Be near to those whose hearts are broken,
to those who are afraid,
and to all who are waiting for truth to come into the light.
In this tender space between tragedy and understanding,
teach us to lament honestly,
to seek justice with humility,
and to walk gently with one another.
Guard us from haste, from hardened hearts,
and from the temptation to let fear or violence shape our way.
We place our hope in you, O God of resurrection.
When death and grief seem to have the final word,
remind us that life and love endure.
Make us instruments of your peace,
and keep us faithful in the days ahead.
We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus,
who brings life out of death
and hope out of sorrow.
Amen.

Advent is a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. It can be a deeply meaningful, holy season if we allow space for reflection and time with God.

But Advent can be complicated. Some are grieving the loss of past holiday joy. Others are feeling guilty about their crowded calendar and not having enough time for the “real reason for the season.”

This article by Laura Buchanan was published on umc.org on November 7, 2025. Read the full article, HERE.

Meet the Methodist Church’s General Board of Church and Society, “dedicated to the work of living faith, seeking justice, and pursuing peace.”

The GBCS advocates for policies rooted in the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church, You can read about the church’s current position on a wide variety of legislative issues HERE, then use the online form provided to contact your government representatives and urge them to support policies that are in line with the church’s social principles (and your beliefs). (Scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up for “Action Alerts” via email whenever there are new issues to act on).

In THIS blog post, retired UMC pastor, Kim Hornung-Marcy, shares ways we can and why we must care for our planet and all of its inhabitants,  “Because we do believe in a God of love our efforts to treat the earth well and to work for a world where human rights count is never in vain.”

In her article about Methodism’s “vile” practices (ministering to those outside of the church, visiting the imprisoned, and holding authorities accountable for inhumane treatment, to name a few), Dr. Ashley Boggan(general secretary of the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History) suggests that now is the time for the Methodist church to be even more vile. She explains that “Wesleyan viletality is a willingness to look beyond today’s acceptable practices and norms and bend the rules in order to ensure that more people can experience the love of God.”

Read the full article, HERE.

“Mary Magdalene is a prominent figure in the story of Jesus’ life and resurrection. She is one of the few named women who is a follower of Jesus. She has a pivotal role in the Gospels, because she is the first to see him resurrected (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20).

“This Lent, let’s consider using Mary Magdalene as our guide, following Jesus as she did…

“We are invited to listen to his teachings and witness his healing work as described in the Gospels. We are asked to journey with him to Jerusalem and witness his final days and crucifixion. Like Mary Magdalene, we are also beckoned to wake up early on Easter and go to the tomb, only we know that we will find it empty! We are called to share the good news with each other. We are charged with sharing our encounters with the risen Christ.”

This is just the beginning of a devotional written by Rev. Tiffany McDonald. Read Rev. McDonald’s complete devotional, as published in the March 10 issue of UM Now, HERE.

In 2021, the New England Conference offered an online study of the book “Faith After Doubt,” by author Brian D. McLaren. In addition to being a prolific author, McLaren is on the faculty of the Center for Action and Contemplation (cac.org) where he recently introduced the center’s 2025 Daily Meditations theme of “Being Salt and Light.” Sound familiar? See and hear McLaren’s thoughts on the scriptures Pastor Anne addressed in her recent sermons, HERE. If you missed Pastor Anne’s recent sermons on salt and light, you can watch or read them on our website (https://crawfordmethodist.org/sermons/).

“The term ‘spiritual practice’ doesn’t usually refer to hiking or painting, but these activities can strengthen our faith. Here are four practices to try when you are yearning to draw close to God…

…People find a deeper connection with God by spending time in spiritual practices that are best for their unique personality and situation. Spiritual practice exploration is an option any day of the year, but adopting something new during a specific season can be helpful. Consider adding a practice during Lent, the 40 days leading to Easter, or Advent, the four weeks leading to Christmas.”

In an article published on umc.org, author Laura  Buchanan explores how activities such as making art, hiking, meditating, and listening to or making music can help us find a deeper connection with God.  Read the full article HERE.

Know that exhaustion is normal. And to carry on, you must resist turning exhaustion into shame.

This post was originally shared in an email by the Reconciling Ministries Network (see HERE)

After an acute experience of stress, most of our bodies respond by feeling tired. But after prolonged periods of stress, we may experience “adrenal fatigue” – deep exhaustion and lethargy. We borrow against our future energy, and that depletes our future capacity.

Avoiding a fatigued spirit is a group project, not a solo endeavor. Shame will tell you that fatigue is abnormal and a sign that you don’t belong to the community of justice seekers. The Spirit of God will tell you, in contrast, that you were born a beacon of their love.

We can teach our spirits to regulate, and we can co-regulate in community. What a gift – that we retain the child-like ability to come back to ourselves in the presence of others who can bring us there.

Regulating our spirits doesn’t mean accepting increasing dehumanization or cruelty. It means shoring up our relationships and tools so that further cruelty doesn’t blow us off target.

The regime is testing our boundaries now to see who we think is disposable. All our disparate strands of suffering are bound up in one corded whip. So, when they call “red rover, red rover”: hold fast to your neighbor and get low to the earth. We will send no one over!

“The ritual of lighting candles at Advent is not a shallow exercise. It begins the Christian year with a clear reminder that God so loved the world Jesus came to provide the best example of how to find beloved community amid our challenges…It acknowledges, with the lighting of a simple candle once a week, that God is still in our midst, still calling us to be the body of Christ “\’until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.’”

Read Bishop Bickerton’s full Advent letter, HERE.