As more than 10,000 firefighters struggled to contain the worst wildfires in California in years, residents were beginning to cope with the loss of homes, property and their way of life.

As of Oct. 30 fires were continuing south from Los Angeles County to the Mexican border, consuming nearly 500,000 acres, killing 16 people and injuring dozens of others, and destroying more than 1,000 homes.

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) funds have been depleted by the large number of significant disasters this year, yet many families who have lost their homes and belongings during the fires need assistance.

To join the response, contribute to “California Wildfires,” UMCOR Advance #901670. Gifts may be made by placing a contribution in local church offering plates or by sending a check to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115.

Credit card donors may call 800-554-8583.

To learn about UMCOR’s response to the fires go to http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/.

The Florida Conference Resource Center has more than 1,000 videotapes available for churches and individuals, including more than 50 related to the Advent/Christmas season.

Among them are “Bethlehem Near Zero” for adults, which sheds new light on the events and circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. It includes six 15-minute segments shown in a news format as if the events are unfolding on a current, daily basis. Also available is “My Favorite Christmas,” capturing a Christmas miracle as it happens in people when they least expect it.

Resources for children and youth are also available. “Lighting the Way” focuses on four young people as they each celebrate a different holiday—Kwanzaa, La Posada, Hanukkah and Christmas. “Christmas in Happy Forest” teaches children the true meaning of Christmas, and “Mary Had a Baby. Amen!” follows Simon, the rhyming mouse, as he travels back in time to experience the first Christmas.

Videotapes may be checked out for a few days or as long as one month, and there is a $5 user fee for each resource.

For more information contact Resource Center Coordinator Caryl Kelley at 800-282-8011, extension 115, or ckelley@flumc.org.

Catch the Dec. 6 broadcast of a telethon for mission that was held Dec. 12 and sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. The broadcast will air from 6 to 8 p.m. on the Inspiration Network.

United Methodists hosted the telethon fund-raiser at Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, in Nashville, Tenn. It focused on stories of mission and church development in Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Senegal, Cameroon and other countries since 1989 and featured entertainers Willie Nelson, Shirley Jones and Judy Collins.

The rapid growth of these ministries has created a critical need for funding, according to a board executive. The telethon’s goal was to raise $2.5 million to address such needs as training for pastors and lay people, programs for women and children, and the building of churches.

2003 Advent wreath candle lighting meditations for worship and home use are now available on the General Board of Discipleship’s Web site.

Included are brief liturgies for lighting the Advent wreath candles, each based on one of the lectionary passages for that day. The liturgies may be read by one person or several people. Each concludes with one or more recommended stanzas from a selection in the United Methodist Hymnal or The Faith We Sing as an option.

For more information visit http://www.gbod.org/worship/.