OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe United Methodist Church is working with a partnership of other organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to eradicate deaths from malaria across the globe.  Someone dies of this deadly disease every 60 seconds, but real progress is being made through a combination of strategies that include distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets, education for local leaders, funding for the development of repellant creams to prevent mosquito bites, and the establishment of local health boards across Africa that are working to prevent and treat the disease.  In November, Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton announced that the people of the United Methodist Church worldwide have raised nearly $60 million of its $75 million goal to eradicate the disease in Africa.  Sedona United Methodist Church is participating in this campaign, contributing $3,539 in 2014.  The result is a powerful witness of what God can do when people of faith join together for a common cause: since The United Methodist Church began the campaign the death toll from malaria has been cut in half.

Please join Sedona United Methodist Church for Worship on Sunday, Feb. 23rd at 9:30 as guest preacher Rev. Gary Kennedy, District Superintendent of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, shares about how God is working in the world.  UMC is located at 110 Indian Cliffs Road, just off the Back O’ Beyond roundabout on Route 179 in Sedona.  Nursery and Sunday School every week and all are welcome!  Upcoming events include The Red Rock Appella Sweet Adeline chorus has their annual show on March 2nd at 2pm at Sedona UMC.  Call Linda Nelson for tickets at 928-284-0492.  SUMC’s Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on March 4th from 4:30-6:30.  Always a complete joy, the Rainbow Acres choir will be performing at 5:30!  The Sunday School is sponsoring this evening and proceeds go to their main outreach, Heifer International.  This year’s Ash Wednesday service on March 5th will be celebrated at Cottonwood’s Mountainview UMC.