Tuesday's Catch: 'The Analog Church: Why People Are Craving Real Connection' And More

The Analog Church: Why People Are Craving Real Connection
I see it everywhere now. What once felt like a quiet undercurrent is now showing up in plain sight: People are rediscovering the value of the physical, the tangible, the personal. Yes, even in this digital-first, AI-fueled, screen-saturated world, there’s a growing hunger for something slower, deeper, and more human.

Analog is making a comeback.

The Quiet Crisis of the 100–200 Attendance Church
This crisis is real and pervasive in American churches. Jess and Thom discuss why it is “quiet.” The church is often too large to operate relationally like a small church but too small to operate like a larger church.

Five Signs Your Church Is Becoming an Insider Church
These are much more dangerous than most church leaders and members realize. Jess and Thom discuss why.

Why Churches Stop Growing at Predictable Barriers
Every growing church eventually hits a wall, and in this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through three predictable barriers that slow or stall church growth. These are not problems that cause growth to begin in the first place, but rather real, pragmatic obstacles that show up when a healthy church is already moving in the right direction and needs to clear the path ahead.

Also See: Why Churches Stop Growing at Predictable Barriers

Three Things Growing Churches Do With Their Facilities That Declining Churches Don't
Growing churches and declining churches handle their facilities very differently — and it often has nothing to do with budget or building size. In this episode, Scott and A.J. break down three practical philosophies that healthy, growing churches apply to their physical spaces that plateaued or declining churches tend to overlook.

Also See: Three Things Growing Churches Do With Their Facilities That Declining Churches Don’t

Communicating with Your Church Before Strategic Planning Starts
Before a church begins the strategic planning process, how leaders communicate with their congregation can make or break the entire effort. In episode 349 of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu walk through three practical steps for preparing your church before strategic planning starts, covering everything from setting the right expectations to inviting the whole congregation into the journey. Whether you are just beginning to consider strategic envisioning or already have a planning team in place, this episode gives you a clear, actionable communication framework to build unity from the start.

How to Handle "We've Always Done It This Way" in Your Church
"We've always done it this way." It's the most common objection church leaders face when trying to move their congregation forward — and one of the most frustrating. In this episode, Scott and A.J. break down what this phrase is actually communicating, who tends to say it and why, and walk through a practical three-step framework for responding to it without blowing up the unity of your church.

Also See: How to Handle “We’ve Always Done It This Way” in Your Church

How Aging Churches Can Attract Young Families: 5 Game-Changing Strategies
Is your congregation aging and struggling to attract younger families? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, we explore practical strategies to breathe new life into your children's ministry and effectively connect with young families.

Also See: How to Attract Young Families to Your Aging Church: 5 Proven Strategies

5 Reasons Church Revitalization Fails (And How to Avoid Them)
In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu discuss five key reasons why revitalization efforts in churches often fail. They emphasize the importance of distinguishing between activity and genuine progress, recognizing demographic changes in the community, establishing accountability structures, navigating decision-making challenges, and avoiding the consensus trap that can hinder momentum. The conversation highlights practical strategies for churches to implement effective revitalization processes and the value of having experienced guides to support them.

Why I’m Not a Christian Nationalist
The same government power that favors your faith today can be used to suppress it tomorrow.

AI Worse for Mental Health Than Social Media? Andy Stanley & Holly Goddard Interview Carey Nieuwhof
We missed what social media would do to human flourishing. We can't afford to miss what AI is about to do, especially to the next generation. Andy Stanley and Holly Goddard sat down with me to talk about AI, mental health, employment, the isolation it's accelerating, and why the church might be the one place AI can't replace.

Image Credit: All Saints Episcopal Church, Fairfield, North Carolina, Beth Yarbrough

Monday's Catch: 'The Counties with the Most Churches—and Millions Still Unreached' And More

The Counties with the Most Churches—and Millions Still Unreached
Drive through almost any American city, and you will see church buildings everywhere. Some occupy prominent downtown corners. Others meet in storefronts, schools, warehouses, and theaters. Their visible presence can create the impression that their communities have already been thoroughly reached.

The data tell a different story.

How Church Size Culture Is Affecting the Decline of Denominations
Church Size Culture often causes greater points of connection and disagreement than our theological traditions or denominational ties.

What Does It Take to Revitalize a Rural Church?
There are unique challenges in rural ministry. Here’s what it takes to lead revitalization in a declining rural church.

How the new General Synod could move beyond the present disagreement over same-sex relationships
In July the present General Synod of the Church of England came to an end. A new one will be elected in the autumn and inaugurated by the King in November. A key part of its agenda will be to consider the unfinished business concerning marriage and human sexuality left over from the Prayers of Love and Faith process which formed a central part of the business of the previous Synod.

The Sports Gambling Epidemic is Only Getting Worse
Young men are the hardest hit demographic of sports gambling’s rapid growth.

Mike Bowie: Dare to Shift!
The United Methodist Church is living through a defining moment. Congregations are experiencing decline. Communities are changing. Cultural expectations are shifting. Leaders are navigating unprecedented challenges. Some churches are struggling to understand their identity and mission in a rapidly changing environment. Others are wondering whether the strategies that sustained the Church for generations can still carry us into the future.

As I see it, both the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church need to prioritize planting new churches and revitalizing existing ones, as well as showing greater sensitivity to conditions on the North American mission field. 

Former SC Episcopal Bishop Reflects on Anglo-Catholics and Justification by Faith

Former Bishop of South Carolina, the Rt. Rev. Dr. C. FitzSimons Allison, believes that Anglo Catholics do not take Reformation soteriology seriously by showing that without justification by faith dogma loosens their Gospel proclamation and become doctrines that must be believed, a law deprived of its grace. He has tried to build up on the virtues of Anglo-Catholics, their concern for doctrine, their love of the church and their witness to metaphysics and the numinous reality beneath the rational reductionism of mere physics and mere phenomenon. He wants them to know about how concerned he is about the distortions and foibles of the Anglo-Catholic tradition.

Why Aslan Is Male, and Why God Is a Father
Recent news outlets have announced that the forthcoming Greta Gerwig film, a cinematic portrayal of C. S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew, features the actress Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan. At the risk of seeming dramatic, I was heartbroken. The Magician’s Nephew is one of my favorite books, and the character of Aslan has been chiseled into the Western world’s “social imaginary” (to use Charles Taylor’s phrase) for almost three quarters of a century. So, why is it such a big deal that Aslan’s voice is cast by a woman rather than a man?

Also See: The Magic Is Real 

National support for child and youth ministry drives local fundraising teams

A national campaign spearheaded by the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC) to raise funds for local child and youth ministry, Say Yes! To Kids (SYTK) began as a one-time initiative in 2021 before becoming an annual campaign the following year. But 2026 felt different for AFC staff, executive director Scott Brubacher says.

“We felt like this year the church got it,” Brubacher says. “The donations were coming faster and more immediately and it felt more organically charged … We felt like, ‘Ah, people get it now.’ It took a few years for us to get this cranked up and running, so we’re excited to see where it goes from here.”

Shine Your Light campaign aims to reach millions of lonely people this Christmas
Summer is over, school is back and so naturally thoughts are already drifting towards Christmas.

Following the success of last year’s Shine Your Light evangelistic campaign, organisers say they want this year’s efforts to be even greater and to give special focus to those struggling with loneliness during the festive season.

Sundays at All Hallows (September 20, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday, September 20, 2026, is the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. Tuesday, September 22, is the Autumn Equinox and the first day of Fall. It is also Hobbit Day, a holiday declared by the American Tolkien Society in 1978 and observed by fans of hobbits and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien was an Oxford don, a professor of Anglo-Saxon and English Literature. He was also a devout Catholic. While The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are not Christian allegories, they do reflect the influence of Tolkien’s faith, particularly the conflict between good and evil that is central both to The Hobbit and the LOTR trilogy.

Saturday, September 26 is the peak of the Harvest Moon, the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox.

In the British Isles harvest festivals are celebrated in September or October, according to local tradition. These celebrations are variously called Harvest Festival, Harvest Home, Harvest Thanksgiving or Harvest Festival of Thanksgiving. They involve hymn-singing, prayer, and the decoration of churches with the fruits of the harvest, with shocks, or stooks of wheat and other seasonal grains, vegetables from the field and the garden, fruit from the orchard, and loaves of freshly baked bread.

For this Sunday’s Invitatory Psalm, you have a choice as you did last four Sundays, either the original version of Michael Perry’s metrical paraphrase of the Venite (Psalm 95), “Come Worship God,” or the inclusive language version. The organ accompaniment for both versions is the same-- Joseph Francis Thrupp’s hymn tune EPIPHANY.

Beginning next Sunday, September 27, we will be introducing new service music which we will use for the remainder of the Season after Trinity. To facilitate its introduction, links to a video of the new Venite and MP3s of the accompaniments of the new Benedictus and the new Te Deum have been posted with the new canticles’ lyrics after the service so anyone wishing to practice them beforehand can do so.

The topic of this Sunday’s message is God’s grace.

Readings: Jonah 3:10-4:11, Philippians 1: 21-30, and Matthew 20:1-16

Message: Our Gracious and Compassionate God

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/09/sundays-at-all-hallows-september-20-2026.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: '3 Reasons First-Time Church Visitors Don't Come Back' And More

3 Reasons First-Time Church Visitors Don't Come Back
Most churches think their guest problem is a hospitality problem. It's not. It's structural — and it's fixable. In this episode, we walk through three specific reasons first-time visitors don't come back, and what you can do about each one.

Leading Indicators That Predict Healthy Church Growth
What if you could see church growth coming before it actually arrives? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu walk through three leading indicators that can predict future church health and growth, rather than simply reviewing what has already happened. They explain the difference between lag measures (like attendance) and lead measures, and show how tracking the right numbers gives church leaders real leverage to make smarter decisions.

Beyond the Logo: 3 Steps to Define Your Church's Irresistible Identity
What does your church actually stand for, and does your community know it? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott and A.J. walk through three practical steps to help your church define and communicate a genuine, compelling identity, one that goes far deeper than a new logo or a refreshed website. Drawing on real examples from ministry and culture, they make the case that a church's brand must grow out of who it truly is, not out of what it wishes it looked like.

Most practising Christians are evangelical, study finds
A landmark study has shed more light on the size, shape and identity of evangelical Christians in the UK.

Evangelicals are “younger, more ethnically diverse, and more likely to be male than the wider population”, according to the 28-page report published by the Evangelical Alliance UK.

Also See: Evangelical Alliance takes heart from latest survey; UK Evangelicals defying religious decline, with young men leading growth

Meryl Streep as Aslan in 'The Magician's Nephew' sparks Christian backlash: 'Creative vandalism' 

Confirmation that actress Meryl Streep will voice Aslan in the upcoming Netflix adaptation of C.S. Lewis' The Magician's Nephew has prompted backlash from some who claim it's an affront to the classic Christian allegory.

"I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness. Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight," director Greta Gerwig told Empire of Streep's casting as the Christ-like lion who sacrificed himself to save a sinner in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

It is a given that movie directors and script writers will monkey with the original story the author tells in a book. If you want to visit the real Narnia and meet the real Aslan, skip the movies and read C.S. Lewis' books.

Church of England blessing same-sex relationships 'a bridge too far'
Canon Chris Sugden, the Chair of Anglican Mainstream, has said that the Church of England’s decision to bless same-sex relationships “was a bridge too far”.

In a conversation with Tony Rucinski, Chief Executive of the Coalition for Marriage, Canon Sugden spoke of his love for the Anglican church and its traditional “broad church” approach, under which Anglo-Catholics, evangelicals and liberals can all share the same denominational tent.

Sugden, who has also been a member of the General Synod and was at the founding of GAFCON in Jerusalem in 2008, said that elements of the Church of England were determined to silence the views of those who did not agree with pro-LGBT ideological views.

According to Wiktionary, "a bridge too far" is an English idiom meaning that a proposal is "a step or action that is too ambitious; an act of overreaching."

Algerian police seize Bibles as 12 Christians arrested for holding non-Muslim service
Special forces police in Algeria raided a worship service at a humanitarian shelter on Sept. 4, arresting all 12 Christians present on suspicion of holding an unauthorized, non-Muslim religious service.

The House of Refuge shelter in L’Ayaida, 36 kilometers (22 miles) east of Oran, serves as a haven and restoration center for vulnerable women and their families. It housed a worship hall before authorities ordered its administrative closure in October 2019, but Christians have continued to meet for church services in one of the separate apartments on the shelter premises.

Letting Pastor’s Kids Be Kids
Laura Heikes reflects on two decades’ worth of lessons learned from raising pastor’s kids while serving in ministry. Healthy ministry families, she writes, are nurtured when churches allow children to be fully human, respect family boundaries, and help kids discover meaningful ways to belong and serve.

The Beholding Method
A single pass over a passage, followed by a sprint towards meaning and application, will tend to produce either cold, informed Christians who never really worship, or busy and obedient Christians who never learn to delight. Our study needs to affect our whole being. It needs to impact our minds, affections, and will. There are methods that are close to what I do, but they mainly focus on the mind and will, while skipping the affections. The Beholding Method is my approach to improving this.

Responding to AI Concerns is a Matter of Pastoral Care
As with any significant community change, clergy need to help their congregants navigate the personal, ethical and social terrain of AI, writes Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes. She directs the Technology, Innovation & Digital Engagement Lab at Union Theological Seminary.

What AI Is Teaching My Youth Group Girls
“I can’t even text my friend without asking AI what to say first,” one of the girls in my eighth- and ninth-grade small group told me.

It’s no surprise that each generation, for the most part, uses technology more than the generation before. However, I wasn’t expecting the hyperdependence on AI that I was hearing about from these sweet 13-to-15-year-old girls sitting across from me...

I’d asked the students how they navigate relational conflict, and that’s when this girl said she asks AI before she texts her friends. As I began to sift through what she meant, they all chimed in, sharing similar reliances on AI.

As they talked, I noticed three themes...

The Gen Alpha Shift: 3 Things Every Kids Ministry Must Change Now
Gen Alpha kids (born 2010 to 2024) are reshaping what families expect from children's ministry, and most churches need some practical, achievable adjustments to keep up. In this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through three concrete changes any church can make to better reach Gen Alpha kids and their parents. Whether your church is just getting started or looking to sharpen what you already have, this conversation will give you a clear path forward.

Church Community Outreach: Practical Ways to Share the Gospel
There’s an overworn debate in the church about whether proclaiming the gospel or demonstrating the gospel through meeting needs is more important. For Efrem Smith, this is a false dichotomy. His church, Midtown Church in Sacramento, California, is creating opportunities for sharing the gospel through meeting their neighbors’ needs in very practical ways. In addition to pastoring Midtown, Smith is co-owner of Influential LLC and the author or co-author of several books including, most recently, Church for Everyone (IVP). He is a main stage speaker at the upcoming Amplify Conference, October 20–21 at Wheaton College, in partnership with Outreach magazine.

In the conversation below, Smith talks about how church churches can reach the community around them through engaging with culture and demonstrating the gospel through acts of service. He also talks about the importance of collaboration between churches in furthering the kingdom of God.

Friday's Catch: '5 Myths About Religion’s Collapse' And More

5 Myths About Religion’s Collapse
Overall, American Christianity is changing, not declining, but too many believe these myths about religion’s collapse.

The "Side-Door" Strategy: 3 Ways to Reach Your Community Without a Sunday Invite
Many churches default to the Sunday morning invite as their primary outreach strategy, but for a growing number of people, that front door feels intimidating before a relationship even exists. In this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through three practical "side door" approaches that churches can use to build genuine connections with their communities before ever asking someone to show up on a Sunday morning.

Growth Creates Problems. That’s Not Always a Problem.
Growth has a way of exposing holes.

And creating tension.

That doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Sometimes it means something is growing.

A few realities I’ve observed in growing churches and organizations...

Gen Z and Loneliness
In early 2025, an app was created, several variations of which have since been released. The premise is that you can cancel plans with a friend without awkwardness. If you secretly want to cancel, you can go to the app and press a button. If the other person decides the same, the plans are cancelled. And if the choice is just yours, then the other person will never know that you didn’t want their company.

While this app does not seem to have gained much traction, it is a symptom of a concerning phenomenon.

How Privatized Spirituality Makes Us Lonely
If we lose organized religion, we lose a shared sense of reality, rituals, and morality. Why does a shared sense of reality, rituals, and morality matter? Because when these things are no longer shared but privatized, all their burdens fall to the individual.

Can the Church be Renewed?
Can the Church of England still be reformed and renewed? Amid doctrinal confusion, institutional failures, and widespread discouragement, is there reason for hope?

Anglican evangelicalism in the age of John Stott, Jim Packer and Dick Lucas: Surviving and thriving in a mixed-up denomination
How can evangelical Christians remain faithful, fruitful and outward-looking within a denomination marked by theological difference?

In the 2026 Annual Moore College Lectures, Professor Andrew Atherstone explores Anglican evangelicalism through the era of John Stott, Jim Packer and Dick Lucas. Drawing on British and Australian evangelical history, he considers ministry within a theologically mixed denomination, the growth of evangelical networks and theological education, and lessons for the church today.

Trinity Launches Holy Order, a New Podcast Exploring Faithful Christian Living in a Disordered World
Trinity Anglican Seminary announced the launch of Holy Order, a new podcast exploring how Scripture and the Anglican tradition—in all its richness and depth, both catholic and reformed—forms Christians for faithful living in a disordered age. Though produced by the seminary, the show is not about Trinity itself. Rather, it extends the seminary’s teaching ministry beyond the classroom, making the formative riches of Scripture and the Anglican tradition more accesible to the wider Church and the world at a time when many are seeking a deeper, more rooted faith.

Evening Arose in Eden: The Fall in Perelandra
Lewis’s view on the Fall can be seen most clearly, not in one of his essays or monographs, but in a work of fiction called Perelandra. It weaves a fantastical tale from Earth to Venus with green ladies and possessed scientists, but it is really a deeply theological text...

Why are women leaving churches and where are they going instead? A journalist explains.
Sarah Stankorb's latest book, ‘Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion,’ published on Tuesday.

Casual Christians have a harder time forgiving themselves, others: survey
Casual Christians struggle more than those who regularly attend church services and read the Bible to offer and receive forgiveness, even as research links forgiveness to greater flourishing and lower stress and loneliness, a new survey finds.

The American Bible Society released the sixth installment of its “State of the Bible: USA 2026” report last Thursday. The new chapter, titled “Forgiveness,” examines how Americans forgive themselves and others, and whether they believe they have received forgiveness from God. The findings come from a survey of 2,649 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 8 to 27.

Ministry Embellishment and the Heart of a Leader
One unfortunate reality I’ve seen in ministry is the temptation to make things look better than they actually are. The temptation often plays out as embellishing ministry impact so that congregants, volunteers, and financial supporters are pleased and willing to continue giving, serving, and attending. I sometimes wonder if it stems from a leader’s desire to cover up inadequacies or win approval.

Are Evangelical Worship Songs Driving Young Men to Eastern Orthodoxy?
I’m not denying the renewed interest in other Christian traditions. I’m simply pointing out how easy it is to discuss this renewed interest in a way that fosters a false narrative—that masses of young people are suddenly discovering and converting to Orthodoxy.

Male teens now outnumber females in church youth groups: Barna data
Bucking a decades-long trend of disproportionate female participation, male teenagers now outnumber their female counterparts in church youth group attendance among self-identified Christian teens in the U.S., according to a new report from Barna and the Christian youth ministry Christ In Youth.

The report, “Reimagining Ministry for Gen Alpha,” was based on a survey of 1,500 U.S. teenagers, ages 13 to 18, conducted Feb. 14 to 17.

Missouri church’s GoFundMe seeks to sustain food pantry as more people go hungry
St. Stephen’s & the Vine has raised $19,150 through GoFundMe as of Sept. 17. Based on current food costs and not counting additional emergencies, the money raised so far can at best keep the food pantry open for 38 weeks, or 9.5 months, according to the ministry’s operational expense average of $500 weekly.

The reality is that churches and other charitable organization cannot fill the gap that cuts to SNAP and other forms of public assistance have created, especially in a worsening economy due to tariffs and the war with Iran.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (September 17, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

Near where I live was a beanfield. At the edge of the field morning glories grew among the bean plants. Their blue, trumpet-shaped flowers always reminded me of the flowers of the fields of this evening’s New Testament reading. To farmers, they are a nuisance weed. To me, they were reminders of God's grace. The morning glories and the beans plants among which they grew are now gone. The field is the future site of a new elementary school.

In this evening’s message we reflect upon God’s call to choose this day whom we will serve.

Readings: Joshua 24:14-25; Matthew 6: 24-34

Message: Who Do You Choose to Serve?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/09/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_01112852738.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Thursday's Catch: 'How to Start a Church Revitalization Process' And More

How to Start a Church Revitalization Process
Is your church plateaued, declining, or in need of a fresh vision for the future? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, hosts Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu go back to the basics and break down the essential steps for launching a church revitalization process today.

5 Questions to Ask Before You Attempt Church Revitalization
Here are 5 questions I would consider before I would attempt to help revitalize a church...

5 Ways to Incentivize Church Revitalization
Here are 5 ways to incentivize church planters to do church revitalization...

Church Revitalization – 7 Priorities Every Leader Must Get Right
...there are some areas where you need to be extremely intentional.

Here are 7 of them...

Three Types of "Gatekeepers" in Your Church
In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott and A.J. break down three distinct types of "gatekeepers" that show up in churches and how each one can quietly block healthy growth and mission. From information filters to change blockers to ego-driven power players, this conversation gives church leaders the language and insight to identify what might be holding their church back. The discussion is practical, honest, and backed by real consulting experience.

Three Fixes for Failing Strategies
Many churches abandon strategies too quickly, assuming an idea simply "didn't work" when the real problem may be in how the strategy was implemented. In this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through three key diagnostic questions to ask before scrapping a ministry initiative, helping church leaders check their work rather than just look it over.

Calls for Church of England to be 'rooted in scripture' ahead of General Synod elections
With voting due to begin for the Church of England General Synod in a matter of weeks, a group called the Alliance has called upon the Church to remain “rooted in Scripture” and to hold fast to “its historic teachings and the doctrines passed down to us across the generations”.

Describing itself as a “network of networks” made up of various traditions within the Church, the Alliance has released a “vision video” outlining the potential impact it sees the Church making.

Also See: Alliance Vision Video

The Church of England still playing the man—not the ball
The statistics show that the Church of England is running out of priests, and that the fall in numbers is worryingly consistent. That does not surprise me at all. The number of priests retiring early or leaving the ministry now outstrips the number actually retiring! Golly! And this is at a time of increasing instability and insecurity in our country (i.e. not at a time of ease and self satisfaction).

To me, this shows that we are not playing the ball, but rather, we are playing imaginary balls, as they are more compatible with the current Church of England culture.

"Playing the ball" is an English football (soccer) term, meaning "making a deliberate touch, pass, kick, or control of the football...with a legal part of the body."

Biblical Anglicanism spreads across Europe
A Biblically-orthodox Anglican movement is expanding across Europe.

The Anglican Convocation Europe (ACE) welcomed Spanish congregation La Comunidad Anglicana Evangélica de Valencia (CAEV) into its diocese.

When Eastern Europe appeared to be going Protestant
We often project later experiences back into history, consciously or unconsciously assuming an inevitability to what finally occurred. However, history is complex and, what now seems inevitable, did not always look that way in the past. The distribution of forms of Christian faith in Europe is a striking example.

The Religious Behavior Index: How Engaged Are Americans, Really?
Social scientists almost always measure behavior through the lens of religious attendance. It’s just the simplest, most straightforward way to do it. Nearly every survey includes the question, and it’s easy for a respondent to answer. But there are other metrics that tap into behavior, too. That’s what I want to explore today.

Also See: What Does it Mean to be 'Religious'?

‘Third Way’ Christianity: Inside An Unconventional Anabaptist Group
Followers Of The Way claim to offer a respite from America’s poisoned politics by living like early Christians. How successful are they?

What Has Changed the Most in Preaching the Last 20 Years?
Preaching has not changed in its core calling: proclaiming God’s Word faithfully to God’s people. But the context around preaching has changed dramatically. Josh and Sam discuss the major changes in preaching over the last two decades. Pastors today must still preach the text, but they also have to work harder to explain context, build trust, apply Scripture clearly, and communicate in a world conditioned by short-form content.

How to Align Your Sermon and Worship Service for Maximum Impact
Most churches run their preaching ministry and worship ministry on parallel tracks that never really meet. The result is a Sunday service that feels more like a playlist followed by a sermon than an integrated, unified experience. In this episode, Scott and A.J. explore the practical steps any church can take — regardless of size or style — to build real collaboration between the pastor and the worship leader so that Sunday morning becomes a cohesive whole.

While close collaboration between pastor and the church's music ministry team is desirable, every hymn and worship song does not need to be tied to the theme of the lessons and the sermon. This will transforms a church service from a doxological experience into a didactic exercise. Service planners need to strike a balance between a church service's horizontal and vertical dimensions and to make sure the music fits with the place in the service where it is used.

At AI conference, religious leaders confront what technology could cost humanity
The dangers of AI hung heavy over Tuesday's conference, including the faith-focused panel with evangelical, Catholic and LDS leaders.

Why Writing by Hand Beats Typing (in 6 Charts)
Typing may be faster, but the research shows that handwriting engages our brains in richer, more meaningful ways.

Wednesday's Catch: 'How Churches Can Measure What Really Matters' And More

How Churches Can Measure What Really Matters
What you measure shapes how you act, even in the church. Even in measuring discipleship.

Honoring Congregations of Every Size
The work of ministry must always be attentive to context. Many denominational assumptions need to be questioned and more sharply. The challenges of fewer people and resources will continue, and the church is always in danger of trying to return to previous forms. Negativism and pessimism do not serve us well, and, perhaps most importantly, everything the church does should move us closer to the purpose for which we exist.

What Makes a Flourishing Small Church?
While the cohort looked at United Methodist Churches, I think it extends beyond the UMC. And, while I could ramble on about the report, I wanted to highlight three notes that I have been thinking about since the cohort ended. The entire report is worth reading, though. It’s free, so download it here!

I should note that I’m not summarizing anything in the report. I’m drawing out my own analysis, based both on the time in the cohort, the report itself, and my work with small and rural churches across the country.

Also See: Flourishing Small Churches Report and Flourishing Small Churches Cohort Curriculum - Downloadable PDF

7 Paradigms Often Necessary for Church Growth
With the best visions, however, if you want to have a culture susceptible and open to growth then there are some common paradigms necessary for church growth. You have to think certain ways in order to reach a desired vision. In most every situation, an absence of certain actions or mindsets on the part of leaders keeps the church from moving forward.

C. S. Lewis’s Overlooked Apologetics Strategy
What we want is not more little books about Christianity,’ Lewis declared, ‘but more little books by Christians on other subjects—with their Christianity latent.

In Germany, right-wing ‘Christfluencers’ hope to follow the US religious right
Radicalized by COVID-19 and anger over immigration, right-wing pastors like Tobias Riemenschneider in Germany hope to gain followers by promoting conservative Christian views and politics. They have looked to religious right leaders and conservative influencers in the US for inspiration.

Why Our Baptist Forebears Wouldn’t Support Blasphemy Laws
Parliament ensured that the suppression of heresy was a political and legal function, rather than a theological issue to be administered by an independent church.

Why Gavin Ortlund Rejects Comparison Between Praying to the Saints and the Doctrine of the Trinity
Is praying to the saints a valid practice Christians can infer from the Bible similar to how Christians infer the doctrine of the Trinity, even though the Bible never mentions the word “Trinity”? Dr. Gavin Ortlund addressed this idea in a follow-up video on the Protestant view of praying to the saints and explained why he believes the answer is no.

Prioritize Public Scripture Reading During Church Services
We’re unlikely to make much progress in establishing a proper worship service if we don’t first prioritize the public reading of Scripture.

AI Parenting Advice: Is AI Is Sinful in Nature? And the Killer App Trap
Faith Tech's James Kelly sits in rooms with the people building AI companies and models, and he's blunt about what that means for your kids. He unpacks the Killer App Trap, why he won't let his own kids use AI companions yet, and reflects on how AI itself is subject to the fall.

Why Is No One Talking About AI’s Worst-Case Scenarios?
Why is no one talking about AI's worst-case scenarios? Here's what AI will do to your church if leaders don't prepare now.

Most church leaders are only having the AI policy conversation, is it okay to use ChatGPT for the bulletin, should staff use AI for sermon research? Those questions are fine, but they're not the conversation that matters.

The real question is what AI will do to your church: the jobs your people work, the income your donors have, the meaning they wake up looking for.

In this video, I walk through AI's worst-case scenarios nobody in your pastor network is warning you about — mass job loss, a mental health crisis, and a haunting conversation I had with Seth Godin about AI becoming a new religion. I also give the optimists a fair hearing.

This isn't meant to scare you. It's meant to prepare you.

What AI’s ‘Confessions’ Teach Us About Us
Why would we ever think the imperfect (us) could somehow create the perfect?

Live Outside of the Bubble
n the Christian life we have to maintain a careful balance. The Bible is very clear, we must not love the world: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Within context, John identifies the “world” as “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride and life”—all of these things are “not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16). We must not, therefore, engage in the moral, ethical, and spiritual rebellion of the world. To do such things is to love the world.

On the other hand, if we are to represent and reflect the redeemed image of God, then there is a sense in which we must love the world. “God so loved the world,” John tells us, “that he gave his only Son” to it (John 3:16). Moreover, Jesus commands us to love our enemies—to love unbelievers, even those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44). If we are supposed to love and pray for unbelievers, we must at some level interact with and get to know them. Recall that even Jesus supped with sinners and tax collectors (Matt. 9:11). He spent time with unbelievers in an effort to share the gospel with them.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Why Your Church's Front Door Is Bigger Than You Think' And More

Why Your Church's Front Door Is Bigger Than You Think
The Rainers discuss big opportunities to make the front door bigger and more effective.

Five Things Churches Keep Doing That No Longer Work
Jess and Thom review five areas where churches keep repeating mistakes.

As Pope Leo prepares to visit France, can its 'Catholic moment’ become a lasting revival?
Record numbers of young people are seeking baptism in France. As Pope Leo arrives to greet 80,000 of them later this month, the country's diminished Catholic Church is faced with the challenge of turning the burst of enthusiasm into a lasting renewal.

Also See: Catholic baptisms fall sharply across Ireland as births decline and secularisation grows

Al Mohler reverses course, rejects blasphemy laws after controversy
The longtime president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary said he erred in saying the government should be able to punish those who don’t believe God was part of America’s founding.

UMC launches pilot program to install solar panels on church buildings
The United Methodist Church has launched a program to provide solar panels to congregations across the United States, along with training to help churches advance sustainability efforts.

The General Board of Global Ministries Environmental Sustainability and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) U.S. Disaster Response have launched the UMC Solar and Battery Pilot Program.

Also See: Growing number of churches moving away from oil and gas amid rising energy prices

Does the ACNA Constitution Require Dual Integrities?
Whether women clergy should be ordained and licensed in the Anglican Church in North America has been a perennial issue dividing the ACNA since its formation and may eventually lead to the breakup of the denomination. In this article Steven Wedgeworth takes a look at what the ACNA's constitution says and unpacks its implications.

What to do with a Gospel text that asks us to forgive two days after 9/11?
Killings and torture lead to more killings and torture. A balance is never achieved. Vengeance inspires more vengeance.

6 observations about ‘online’ church
My current forced layup has recalibrated some of my thinking toward live-streaming church services. I have now watched a number of services online, across 5-6 different churches, where friends of mine are pastoring. Doing the very thing I don’t like to do (watch online) has given me time to think. What do I think about live streaming services? Well, here are 6 reflections on watching church services online. Two of these thoughts are potential goods that can come about and four are cautions and/or negatives connected with live streaming church.

Also See: The Cost of the Camera: Karl Vaters on Why I Changed My Mind About Church Live Streaming (Ep 136)

Virtual Morning Prayer builds unlikely friendships, community in the Diocese of New York
Every weekday at 8 a.m., over a hundred Episcopalians in the Diocese of New York log on to Zoom for Morning Prayer. From those on bus commutes to those sitting in living rooms, Bishop Matthew Heyd said, this daily service has brought the diocese together.

AI could become a ‘very dangerous master’, warns John Lennox
Apologist and Oxford mathematician John Lennox warned Christians that artificial intelligence could contribute to a generation becoming increasingly disconnected from Scripture and cautioned that technology meant to serve humanity can become a “very dangerous master.”

In a conversation with fellow apologist Wes Huff at the 10th annual Sing! Conference, Lennox reflected on the rise of AI, the resulting decline of reading and how Christians can faithfully engage a culture searching for meaning.

Also See: How much privacy should you expect at church?

Monday's Catch: '7 Signs Your Church is Ready to Reach New People' And More

7 Signs Your Church is Ready to Reach New People
If new people showed up this week, is your church set up to receive them? Here are seven signs your church is ready to reach new people.

The Problem of Ageism and Church Staff Near Retirement
Many churches say they value older adults, but their staffing decisions often tell a different story. Thom and Sam discuss how ageism is a real and often overlooked problem in church personnel decisions, especially for staff members approaching retirement. Churches may seek “younger energy,” cut older staff under the banner of stewardship, or assume older workers cannot adapt. But a healthy, multigenerational church should value a multigenerational staff and help older leaders finish well.

Young Christians, you need older Christians in your life!
Most churches, especially as they get larger, tend to have specialised children, youth and young adult ministries. If a church is large enough, perhaps it will also have a dedicated youth or university student worship service. At the other end of the demographic scale, it is common to see ministries or services aimed at shall we say more mature believers. This all makes a great deal of sense sociologically. Everyone gets to be with a group they are comfortable with. Each ministry can be tailored for a narrow audience, making things like music choices or teaching style simpler. So what’s the problem?

A Practical Guide for Church Families Supporting Seniors in Need
As congregations seek to care well for aging members, good intentions alone are not enough. Justin Black offers practical ways church leaders can organize consistent emotional, practical, and spiritual support so older adults feel connected, respected, and cared for by the whole church community.

HPUMC case tests limits of United Methodist connectionalism
If a Methodist church does not recognize the authority of its regional conference or its bishop, is that congregation still a United Methodist church?

In its legal dispute with the Horizon West Conference of The United Methodist Church, Highland Park United Methodist Church is pushing boundaries not often tested in the nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination.

Southern Baptist senior pastors saw a pay cut over past 2 years: study
Most senior Southern Baptist pastors have seen their pay packages and compensation decrease over the past two years, even as employer-sponsored healthcare availability for these leaders varies widely by church size, a new study finds.

Lifeway Research released its 2026 Southern Baptist Church Compensation Study on Tuesday. The report — a joint effort by Lifeway, Baptist state conventions and GuideStone Financial Resources — collected responses from 3,888 full-time senior pastors, staff ministers and office personnel at Southern Baptist churches.

Why Your Church Needs an Abuse Prevention Policy
The key purpose of an abuse prevention policy is to protect the vulnerable from those who may wish to bring them harm. A related purpose is to protect the vulnerable from those who may inadvertently bring them harm, thus distinguishing between someone who deliberately hits a child, for example, and someone who mistakenly knocks one over. In most cases, vulnerable people include children and those with special needs, though some churches may broaden it to better encompass the scope of their ministries...

How Below-Average Pastors Become Good Leaders
The focus of this article is on improving the ineffective rather than redeeming the unethical. These leaders are not malicious, just ineffective. They want to make ethical decisions, but they are oblivious to how their decisions affect others. What are some ways in which below-average church leaders can become better?

When the Church Bully Is the Pastor: Signs and What To Do
Diotrephes (pronounced dye-OT-ruh-feez) was a first-century church leader named in 3 John 1:9-10. The apostle John describes a man who loved being first, refused to accept John’s authority, spread malicious talk about him, would not welcome traveling believers, and put out of the church anyone who tried to welcome them. He is the clearest picture in Scripture of a church leader who bullies.

“The Leaders We Need Don’t Lead Alone” featuring Beth Ludlum
Collaboration is essential for the future of the church. In this episode Beth Ludlum, the Co-Director of The Hub for (Re)imagining Ministry and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Wesley Theological Seminary, shares how moving beyond ministry silos can create deeper relationships, greater creativity, and new possibilities for the church. She also explores how building relationships, embracing vulnerability, and creating space for new voices can help churches imagine new ways of serving their neighbors and living out their mission.
8 Signs Your Churchgoers Are Seeking God 

The By-Products of Faithful Preaching
It is a basic Christian axiom that words do things. God speaks in creation, for example, and in the unfolding of salvation his Word became flesh. In the life of the church too, the Spirit uses our words to effect new realities—pronouncements like “I do” in weddings or “I forgive you” through tearful eyes. Preachers, in particular, put words together into sermons, which also by the power of the Spirit do things. Sermons may encourage or teach, warn or comfort. A sermon has a purpose (or function) that answers the “so what?” question lurking behind all our talking. Preparing a sermon in study and prayer, preachers ask, “What do I want this message to do?” and “What do I want my listeners to do as a result of hearing this message?”

8 Signs Your Churchgoers Are Seeking God
Churches become healthy when their people are faithfully seeking God, leading them to look and live like Jesus.

Also See: Are You a Part-Time follower of Jesus

Sundays at All Hallows (September 13, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday, September 6, 2026, is the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity. This year the Last Sunday after Trinity, also known as Bible Sunday, falls on October 25, 2026, six Sundays from this Sunday. You can learn more about Bible Sunday from this Christian Today article, “What Is Bible Sunday?” 

For this Sunday’s Invitatory Psalm, you have a choice as you did last three Sundays, either the original version of Michael Perry’s metrical paraphrase of the Venite (Psalm 95), “Come Worship God,” or the inclusive language version. The organ accompaniment for both versions is the same-- Joseph Francis Thrupp’s hymn tune EPIPHANY.

The topic of this Sunday’s message is Jesus’ teaching about forgiveness.

Readings: Genesis 50: 15-21, Romans 14: 1-12, and Matthew 18: 21-35

Message: What Did Jesus Teach about Forgiveness?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/09/sundays-at-all-hallows-september-13-2026.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Where have all the clergy gone?' And More

Where have all the clergy gone?
The root cause of many of our problems was the disastrous decision by those in what was then called the Advisory Board for Ministry (ABM) to push the average age of ordination up by ten years over about ten years. Just pause for a moment, and reflect on what that does to the age profile of clergy.

Sarah Mullally is outshining Justin Welby on assisted dying
Earlier this week, Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally wrote an opinion piece in the Telegraph urging MPs to vote against the reintroduced Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill when it comes before the Commons on Friday. The article restates her opposition to assisted dying, expressed in a speech in the House of Lords last year and again when the previous bill ran out of time in the upper house in April.

UK High Court rules Exeter breakaway congregation does not control FCE properties 

The High Court of Justice in London (Property, Trusts and Probate List) has held that the Free Church of England Central Trust—not the trustees of the congregation that withdrew from the denomination in 2023—is the charity trustee of Christ Church Exeter’s principal properties. The ruling turns on the legal meaning of “in union with” the Free Church of England and leaves unresolved the underlying accusation that the FCE has departed from its Protestant founding principles.

Christian Nationalism Since 2019: A Retrospective 

One of the greatest snags for the nationalist is what to do with people who, though within the geographic boundaries of the nation-state, are not of the “people” or ethnos or “imagined nation,” whether that be defined in terms of religion or race or something else. The advantage of federal unions and empires is that they have allowed various peoples or nations to exist with a level of harmony and peace; proper nation-states have a hard time coping with whatever “other” there may be in a country’s populace. But how have the self-identified nationalists and their allies been getting along since 2019?

The Suitors’ Days Are Numbered 

...multiple denominations and churches (even churches that don’t affiliate with a denomination) all around the world have been racked with scandal as sexual abuse has come to light in recent years.

It’s as if the Lord has seen fit to expose the corruption at all levels and remove any reason for denominational or tribal pride. There’s hardly anywhere any of us can look for a church tradition or Christian organization that isn’t, in some way, stained by this evil. The scandal of sexual abuse—the unbearable weight of story after story of spiritual shepherds abusing their authority and preying on sheep—has grown heavier and heavier.

Human trafficking, evangelicals and the ‘lifestyles’ of survivors
Victims and survivors were forcibly wrapped up in a sinful situation. But it was created by the sins of their traffickers, by which they found themselves unfree to experience anything else. Although they experienced and endured sinfulness, they are not the ones who sinned.

Rise of Hispanic Church Plants
In 2025, Lifeway Research worked with 16 denominations or similar groups to survey leaders at almost 300 new Protestant Hispanic churches to gain insight into what these new ministries look like. Sponsored by Exponential and the Church Planting Leadership Fellowship, the Hispanic Church Planting Study 2025 follows up on similar 2019 research. Here are some key findings...

Theology and the Episcopal Church with Kelli Joyce and Scott MacDougall
Today we get a taste of how two of the top theological and pastoral thinkers in the Episcopal Church more broadly consider theology and its role in Episcopal life, from personal formation to polity and Church unity, and they’re helping other Episcopalians to understand how they’re already “doing theology” together.

This podcast offers a window into present day theological thinking in the Episcopal Church. It is always a good idea to know what others are thinking even though you may not share their views.

You Don’t Have to Dread Your Vocation
Every Monday morning, I receive an email that reads, “Pastor, it’s Monday. Don’t quit.” The email comes from an important ministry that serves pastors, providing resources to help them persevere and thrive in ministry. As a pastor, it’s a ministry I appreciate very much. Pastoring can be lonely, and it’s always encouraging to receive practical help from others who are in the trenches of ministry.

However, as much as I appreciate this ministry, I’ve come to despise this weekly email. Every single week, at the very top of the page, I encounter the same five words in two short sentences. Every week, I delete it immediately without reading the rest of the email. To be honest, I’m frightened by the email. I know how easy it is for me to adopt a mindset of self-pity and dreadful loathing of what God has called me to do. I don’t need a weekly assist in this area. In fact, in my interactions with other pastors, I don’t think any of us need to be reminded that ministry is hard. I believe this messaging is dangerous.

Workarounds for the 2019 Anglican Standard Eucharistic Rite: A Guide for Reformational Anglicans 

I wrote this article five years ago. My observations and suggestions for the most part remain unchanged. The rites and services of the 2019 ACNA Proposed Prayer Book tend to be more pretentious than practical. For example, the entrance rite for both eucharistic rites is modeled on the late medieval entrance rite of a Roman Catholic Mass celebrating a visit from the Pope! The rubrics make no provision for a simpler entrance rite, one more suitable for a small congregation worshiping in a non-traditional setting like a firestation's community room.

Should the Bible Be Taught in Public Schools? Yes.
Many critics and even some conservative Christians have sounded the alarm that this comes close to violating the U.S. Constitution’s establishment clause by favoring Christianity over other religions. This, coupled with the mandatory posting of the Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms, has some nervous about the encroachment of Christian nationalism.

But I don’t think constitutionalists should be so worried.

Should the Bible Be Taught in Public Schools? No.
Machen is worth hearing on this issue precisely because no one can accuse him of theological squishiness or embarrassment about the Bible. He gave his career, his reputation, and eventually his denominational standing to defend the full authority of Scripture.

Why, then, did he so strongly oppose Bible reading in public schools? His reasons are worth considering today.

‘Come As You Are’: Inside The Journey Church’s Growth
The Journey Church in Newark, Delaware, has rooted its identity around one conviction: “We’re a real church for real people.” Located in a college town where the median age is just 22 years old, the church near the University of Delaware has found authenticity to be the ultimate growth strategy.

Friday's Catch: 'Ed Stetzer: Is Revival Here?' And More

Ed Stetzer: Is Revival Here?
"What are we to think about all of this talk about a religious resurgence and increased spiritual interest? What is really happening?"

A journalist coined ‘the Bible Belt’ 100 years ago – it’s been oversimplifying the South ever since
‘The Bible Belt’ has been used for a century to describe religion and politics in the South. But it captured just some of life in the region then – and doesn’t capture what’s going on today.

Episcopal services of remembrance planned as US marks 25 years since 9/11 attacks
It has been 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and Episcopal congregations in New York, Washington, D.C., and beyond are hosting commemorations this week as part of the nationwide tributes to the attacks’ 2,977 victims.

MPs vote against assisted suicide in 'victory for hope, compassion and life'
The House of Commons has narrowly voted against the legalisation of medically assisted suicide, with 286 votes against and 270 in favour.

Trump admin has admitted zero persecuted Christians this year
Donald Trump is about to have the distinction of being the first president in possibly 45 years not to permit the resettlement of a persecuted Christian or other religious minority through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

What the AfD’s victory means for German churches’ influence
The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) Party scored a pivotal victory for the far-right in Germany, an outcome churches fiercely fought to prevent. Their inability to stop it and the spread of the party’s anti-immigrant agenda expose a deeper rift in communities in which churches were a check on right-wing extremism.

Groups seek to prevent Trump from sending armed agents to polling places
A new lawsuit seeks to prevent the Trump administration from violating federal law by sending armed federal agents into polling places during the midterm elections.

Historic UK churches face growing maintenance crisis despite £2.6m in grants
The National Churches Trust has warned that historic church buildings across the UK are facing mounting financial and maintenance pressures, despite awarding more than £2.6 million in grants during 2025.

Russell Moore tells evangelicals their immigrant jokes aren’t funny
Russell Moore is at it again — this time calling fellow evangelicals to account for their gallows humor about immigrants.

In his latest Christianity Today newsletter, the former Southern Baptist ethics leader chides evangelicals for excusing their inhumanity toward immigrants by claiming they’re “just joking.” It not funny, he says.

Paul Graves: I Care About Indifferentism
"The dangers inherent in apathy infest every historical cultural movement and every religious tradition – especially toward people “not like us”. When we fall into the endless traps of indifference, it’s too easy to justify our not caring about others. And even about ourselves."

C. S. Lewis on Why God Seems Silent
Many love C. S. Lewis because of the heartwarming world of Narnia and the logical precision of Mere Christianity. But Lewis considered his true masterpiece to be Till We Have Faces, his dark retelling of an ancient pagan myth.

Seeing God at work in everyday life
In her new book, 605 Everyday Miracles, Alpha UK director Chloe Swart challenges the perception that miraculous healing is reserved for extraordinary people or church events.

How A Pastor Can Feed the Flock Every Day on Social Media
Now, thanks to modern technology, you can teach your people every day – without them having to physically gather.

However, it will require a shift in how you distribute your preaching and teaching.

Bible Study Evangelism 

Over the course of their lives, a majority of Christians will study the Bible with other Christians in a small group or one-on-one setting. These are great times to form relationships and deepen our understanding of Scripture. But have you ever considered using a Bible study as an evangelism tool? Sharonda Cooper has. And it’s given her some helpful insights into the best ways to invite our non-Christian neighbors into spiritual conversations through studying Scripture together.

Thursday's Catch: 'How Do We Know When to Shut Down a Church?' And More

How Do We Know When to Shut Down a Church?
Before concluding that a church should close, it should be tested from five different angles. No single test is decisive by itself. Together, however, they help pastors, elders, and sending churches discern whether Christ is calling a struggling church to persevere—or to conclude its ministry.

6 Signs Your Church Is Dysfunctional
...how do you know if your Christian organization or church is dysfunctional? Let me share some signs I have observed about dysfunctional churches.

A chapel near ground zero was a relief center after 9/11. Now, an exhibit honors its victims.
A new origami installation strings 2,977 paper cranes: one for each person killed in the attacks. The 'Ever Present' exhibition also features artifacts left there in the months after 9/11.

Also See: A World ‘Covered in the Dust of 9/11’

In direct appeal to Trump, Catholic bishops' president urges end of mass deportations of Haitians
The letter marks a shift toward a more direct and pointed tone in challenging President Donald Trump’s immigration policy.

Christians urged to pray ahead of assisted suicide vote
Christian policy-group CARE has urged believers to pray ahead of a vote in the House of Commons this Friday on assisted suicide.

A Church That Has Erred Is Still a Church
What, exactly, does the ACNA think the Episcopal Church is? I want to argue that the ACNA’s own authoritative texts have already answered that question, and that Dobbs’s letter applies a rule that those texts reserve for a different relationship altogether.

Olver has a point.

When we are not in control, where do we turn? 

Creation itself has a way of confronting us with our limitations. And perhaps that is not an entirely bad thing.

Where does our help come from?

In Praise of Ordinary Time
Ordinary Time is brimming with its own peculiar virtues, its own winsome charisms. These are, to be sure, usually more subtle and understated than the signs by which the more frenetic seasons call attention to themselves, but, like a fine aged wine, they are a delight to the senses of those who comes to appreciate them.

The Fight to Ban Superintelligent AI: The Race To Replace Humans Is Already On
The AI Frontier labs are building AI to do what YOU do, only faster and cheaper. And most leaders have no idea what's coming. Will Jones of the Future of Life Institute says this is the part nobody tells you: the more you lean on it to keep up, the more replaceable you make yourself.

In this video, Will Jones, an AI safety researcher, discusses fighting to ban superintelligence, walks through the race to AGI, what it does to your work, and whether you should use AI or resist it.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (September 10, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

While the dog days of summer, the hottest, most humid time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, traditionally run from July 3 through August 11, the time of the year when Sirius, the Dog Star, appears near the sun, causing the ancients to associate the summer heat with their nearness, the hottest days in western Kentucky have so far been in the last few days, late August and early September. The heat is attributable to climate change caused by human activity and not to any star. Climate change has been a factor in several natural disasters that have occurred this year, including wildfires, landslides, and floods. Natural disasters are not the only cause of human suffering. Human beings are adept at inflicting suffering on each other. If we pulled back the curtain that conceals them from our eyes, we would also discover that spiritual forces exist in this world which also contribute to human suffering. Like climate change, we may not wish to admit their existence, much less how they influence us. In this evening’s message we look at some of the ways that these spiritual forces do influence us and why we should be on guard against their influence.

Readings: Deuteronomy 18: 9-22; Galatians 5: 13-26

Message: No, It’s Not the Wizard of Oz Behind the Curtain!

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/09/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_0246935236.html

Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.

If you are new to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-It is recommended that after reading or hearing a lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows the lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.

-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.

-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.

-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.

May Thursday Evenings at All Hallows be a blessing to you.