https://tur-ciderdev-en.onadvantagecs.com:443/contributors/george-hovaness-donigianGeorge Hovaness Donigian is an ordained and recently retired elder in The United Methodist Church. He is a member of the South Carolina Annual Conference. Donigian is an editorial consultant with an extensive background in publishing: publisher, creative director, acquisitions editor, and marketer. He developed children's curriculum resources, including Vacation Bible School and after-school materials, when he worked at the United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, Tennessee. Donigian became a managing editor in Upper Room Books and then moved into trade marketing. After a successful five years in marketing, he missed the editorial side of publishing and became the editorial director/publisher of Discipleship Resources, then a publishing imprint of the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church. In 2009 he married Mary Teasley, a clergywoman in South Carolina, and moved to the Palmetto State. Between them, George and Mary have six adult children and nine grandchildren. They live in Surfside Beach, South Carolina. Of Armenian descent, Donigian grew up and worked in his family's grocery store in Hopewell, Virginia. He worked an assortment of jobs prior to ordination: a sanitation worker on a garbage truck, a press operator in a sandpaper factory, a newspaper reporter/editor, and a musician. He also served as pastor of several United Methodist churches in Virginia. Donigian plays saxophone (soprano, alto, C melody), piano, ocarina, the Armenian duduk, and the dumbeg (Armenian hand drum). He occasionally plays one of his various instruments in church.https://tur-ciderdev-en.onadvantagecs.com:443/product/living-our-united-methodist-beliefs-3<p>What beliefs set United Methodists apart from other denominations? How has Methodism changed since its beginning in the 18th century?</p> <p><em>Living Our United Methodist Beliefs</em> is the Leader's Guide for a course that will help participants better understand United Methodist beliefs and history. It is ideal for a new members class or an adult confirmation class.</p> <p>Use the Leader's Guide with these companion components:</p> <div style="margin: 5px 20px;"> <ul> <li><a href="http://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/DR571/living-our-beliefs.aspx"><em>Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way</em> </a>by Kenneth L. Carder</li> <li><a href="https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/umc-history"><em>A Brief History of The United Methodist Church</em> </a> (scroll down the page for pdf download)</li> </ul> </div> <p>In this course participants will:</p> <div style="margin: 5px 20px;"> <ul> <li>discover the relationship of doctrine to the missional movement of Methodism and its theological influence on the practical structure and disciplines of early Methodists</li> <li>learn about the formation of Methodist denominations as an important part of the history of The United Methodist Church</li> <li>explore the Wesleyan understanding of grace, the means of grace, and how practicing spiritual disciplines leads to holiness of heart and life.</li> </ul> </div>Sat, 14 May 2022 02:50:35 GMThttps://tur-ciderdev-en.onadvantagecs.com:443/product/living-our-united-methodist-beliefs-3https://tur-ciderdev-en.onadvantagecs.com:443/product/in-days-to-come-3<p>Many people end their celebration of Christmas on December 25, but George Donigian reminds us that the celebration is only beginning. Donigian offers meditations that begin with Advent and continue through Epiphany (January 6), also known as the 12th night of Christmas.</p> <p>Like the surprises of an Advent calendar, the meditations touch on many subjects. Some topics include "An Editor," "A Counting Song," "Prudence," and "Chrismons." Instead of putting away your nativity scenes and other Christmas decorations on December 25, celebrate all the days to come.</p> <p><em>In Days to Come</em> offers devotional meditations based on a merger of several Christmas traditions: Advent calendars, ancient Advent prayers known as the "O Antiphons," the traditional celebration of Christmas on December 25, and the Armenian Orthodox celebration of Christmas on January 6. The meditations—4 per week—count down from the first week of Advent to Epiphany. While each reading stands alone, the meditations are rooted in a weekly theme. Donigian's writing style is conversational, and given his diverse interests, the conversation ranges widely.</p> <p><em>In Days to Come</em> encourages us to move with the Incarnation of Jesus Christ into the new year and into mission and ministry.</p> <div style="text-align: center"> <a href="https://urelearning.upperroom.org/p/in-days-to-come" target="_blank"><img width="200px" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/urcenter/Bookstore+Graphics/UR_elearning_tag.jpg" /></a> </div>Sat, 14 May 2022 01:32:49 GMThttps://tur-ciderdev-en.onadvantagecs.com:443/product/in-days-to-come-3https://tur-ciderdev-en.onadvantagecs.com:443/product/a-world-worth-saving-3<p>God thinks the world is worth saving. When we are close to God, we too will want to save the world.</p> <p>For anyone who dismisses Lent as a seemingly endless time of self-sacrifice and introspection, this 6-week study for Lent offers a breath of fresh air. It connects prayer and other inner spiritual practices with outward actions of mercy and compassion.</p> <p>George Donigian guides you to grow in your prayer life by praying about daily news reports, discovering the needs around you, and responding with love and compassion. You will discover ways to:</p> <div style="margin: 5px 20px;"> <ul> <li>serve others</li> <li>feed the hungry</li> <li>seek justice and fight injustice</li> <li>offer healing</li> <li>extend friendship</li> </ul> </div> <p>The author's conversational style and use of well-known hymn texts will engage you in this energizing Lenten study. This book includes exercises for spiritual growth, questions for reflection, and a Leader's Guide for small groups</p>Sat, 14 May 2022 00:49:05 GMThttps://tur-ciderdev-en.onadvantagecs.com:443/product/a-world-worth-saving-3https://tur-ciderdev-en.onadvantagecs.com:443/product/living-our-united-methodist-beliefs<p>What beliefs set United Methodists apart from other denominations? How has Methodism changed since its beginning in the 18th century?</p> <p><em>Living Our United Methodist Beliefs</em> is the Leader's Guide for a course that will help participants better understand United Methodist beliefs and history. It is ideal for a new members class or an adult confirmation class.</p> <p>Use the Leader's Guide with these companion components:</p> <div style="margin: 5px 20px;"> <ul> <li><a href="http://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/DR571/living-our-beliefs.aspx"><em>Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way</em> </a>by Kenneth L. Carder</li> <li><a href="https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/umc-history"><em>A Brief History of The United Methodist Church</em> </a> (scroll down the page for pdf download)</li> </ul> </div> <p>In this course participants will:</p> <div style="margin: 5px 20px;"> <ul> <li>discover the relationship of doctrine to the missional movement of Methodism and its theological influence on the practical structure and disciplines of early Methodists</li> <li>learn about the formation of Methodist denominations as an important part of the history of The United Methodist Church</li> <li>explore the Wesleyan understanding of grace, the means of grace, and how practicing spiritual disciplines leads to holiness of heart and life.</li> </ul> </div>Sat, 14 May 2022 00:00:57 GMThttps://tur-ciderdev-en.onadvantagecs.com:443/product/living-our-united-methodist-beliefs