Saturday Lagniappe: '3 Things Gen Z Wishes the Church Understood' And More

3 Things Gen Z Wishes the Church Understood
I often hear Gen Zers exclaim, “Why won’t anyone listen to us?” So, when asked to write on a next-gen ministry topic, I decided to go directly to the source. I asked some Gen Zers, “If you could tell church and ministry leaders anything, what would it be?”

20 Truths From ‘Discipology: The Art and Science of Making Disciples’
Ed Stetzer shares 20 truths from Peyton Jones' new book that you might find helpful.

United Kingdom: The rise of 'full-fat' Christianity?
...anecdotal evidence from up and down the country still seems to suggest that people are attending church in increasing numbers - or at the very least are curious about Christianity in a way that differs from previous years....

Are young men really returning to the Catholic Church?
Polling and surveys have for years documented a decline in the number of Americans who attend church. But Catholic parishes across the country say they are seeing a dramatic uptick in the number of young men attending their services, raising the question of whether a revival is at hand.

How Easter turned to blasphemy at the White House
All the perils of Christian nationalism came together and were shown to us with clarity this Easter.

Catholic newspaper warns Donald Trump leading US into 'corporate evil'
The ominous, unfulfilled threat by President Donald Trump to obliterate Iran this week signaled the “descent into corporate evil” for the United States, according to an editorial published on Friday.

Editorial staff at the Missouri-based National Catholic Reporter condemned Trump in a scathing critique days after he vowed to indiscriminately slaughter Iranians if their government failed to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict.

Also See: As a philosopher, I’m convinced that Trump isn’t lying − he’s doing something worse

Hegseth mentor Doug Wilson's vision for a Christian nation means married women can't vote
During a town hall at an Idaho University, Wilson and his fellow pastors pitched a vision of America with no LGBTQ+ rights, no divorce and no voting rights for married women. Wilson has gained notoriety for his Christian nationalist views and his ties to Pete Hegseth.

Also See: If you think Doug Wilson is fringe, remember Al Mohler’s influence

Blocked access to Christian holy site is a symptom of a larger problem
Anti-Christian attacks in the Holy Land have spiked in recent years.

10 wrong views about the Church
In today’s hyper-individualistic and consumer-driven culture, many believers hold views about the Church that are shaped more by modern convenience than by biblical truth. These misconceptions are not just theoretical; they influence how Christians live, serve, relate, and grow in Christ. As a result, we are witnessing a disconnection between professing believers and the body of Christ — the very Church Jesus died for and is coming back for.

To recover a biblical understanding of the Church, we must confront ten common erroneous views.

The Gospel Is All about Jesus
Tragically, many reject God because of the behavior of those who profess to be God-followers. I do know many honest and loving and gracious and generous Christians. Unfortunately, you will rarely see them in newspapers and on television, and in my experience, I don’t see all that many online either. This is very sad. I believe it grieves the heart of God.

Why Our Age Celebrates Desecration (Or, Why Reenchantment Isn’t Enough)
While the disenchantment/reenchantment model contains much truth, it’s ultimately inadequate both as an explanation of our world’s problems and as a solution to them.

Is the Rise of Reenchanted Spirituality Good?
As a Christian in these times, it’s hard not to celebrate when we see cracks in the sidewalks of secularism. In recent decades, atheism and agnosticism have been widespread among society’s elites, yet a persistent spiritual openness endures among most Americans—even those claiming no religious affiliation—like stubborn weeds or grass peeking through pavement.

Should we see these shoots of reenchantment as hopeful signs of revival or as weeds that conceal deeper dangers?

After 25 Years of Consistent Recreation Ministry, This Church Discovered Something...
Churches rarely maintain success in a single ministry for 25 years, but one church has figured it out. In this episode, Sam sits down with Upward Sports Ambassador Donnie Sisk from First Baptist Church Pelham in Pelham, Alabama. For more than 25 years, Donnie has used sports ministry—especially basketball—to connect with families and share the gospel. His church now hosts a thriving league with over 170 players, creating a strong bridge to the community. Recently, Donnie added pickleball, discovering that its smaller, more relational format opens the door to deeper conversations and intentional discipleship. Donnie shares how recreation can move beyond programs and become a powerful pathway for outreach, relationships, and life change.

How Lone Oak First Baptist Is Reaching the Unchurched Through Everyday Evangelism
Senior Pastor Scott Thomas still recalls the day when, during a prayer service, a man walked to the stage at Lone Oak First Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky, with his young son in tow. The boy then announced that he received salvation.

Friday's Catch: 'New study explores why young men are embracing Christianity in Finland' And More

New study explores why young men are embracing Christianity in Finland
A new peer-reviewed study suggests that, in one of Europe’s most secular countries, a growing number of young men are finding Christianity compelling because it offers what the researchers describe as a fuller framework for identity, meaning, stability and belonging.

Published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, the article by theology scholars Kati Tervo-Niemelä and Pietari Hannikainen examines why young men in Finland are apparently showing more interest in the Christian faith.

What Went Wrong for American Religion
Christian Smith’s provocatively titled Why Religion Went Obsolete should attract a large and wide readership. Smith, the former William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Sociology and founding director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame, is known to many Christian readers who have no particular relationship to the social sciences. If you have heard (or used) the apt descriptor “moralistic therapeutic deism,” you have already been exposed to Smith’s earlier, influential work on the religious experience of emerging adults.

When the Tribe Eats the Church
Exhausted by looking inward to discover and express who we are, we now look around desperately for the affirmation of others—the sense of identity that comes from drawing close to those who share our affinities and outlook.

10 principles for revival that lead to a changed society
Throughout church history, God has moved in distinct ways that must be properly understood if we are going to posture ourselves for genuine transformation. We often use words like revival, awakening, renewal, and reformation interchangeably, but Scripture and history show that these realities are not the same. Each expresses a unique dimension of the Spirit’s work.

Hegseth’s removal of top Army chaplain raises ‘troubling questions’ from Black denomination
‘Our nation must be careful not to allow partisan agendas to undermine institutions built on merit, sacrifice, and service,’ said the president of the historically Black National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc.

White House and Vatican relations reportedly strained
Even though Vice President JD Vance is a convert to Catholicism, relations between the White House and the Vatican may be at the lowest point in modern history, according to a report in The New Republic.

At issue now is the Trump administration’s penchant for war and the pope’s preference for dialogue and peacemaking instead.

Also See: Pentagon-Vatican meeting latest flash point in Trump's clash with religious leaders; Vatican official spills secrets of MAGA goons' bullying

Do the Ten Commandments apply to Christians today?
The helpful website, gotquestions.org, has over 10,000 answers to frequently asked Bible questions, such as this one: "Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament law?"

After briefly explaining some of the laws that were given to God's people, (Ten Commandments, civil, ceremonial) their website states, "None of the Old Testament law is binding on Christians today."

Do you see any problem with their answer?

According to the historic Anglican formularies, the 1571 Articles of Religion and the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the Ten Commandments are binding on Christians today. Article VII states that "no Christian...whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral." The recitation of the Ten Commandments form a part of the 1662 Holy Communion service and the 1662 Catechism contains a section on the Ten Commandments. The preface of the 1662 Confirmation service mandates knowledge of the Ten Commandments as one of the requirements for Confirmation.

When the Pastor Stops Feeling God: The Spiritual Burnout No One Talks About
There is a tension for some at the center of pastoral ministry that few congregations ever see and even fewer pastors feel safe to name. It is not primarily scandal, nor moral failure, nor even burnout—though all of those are real. It is something more fundamental: the private erosion, or at least destabilization, of a pastor’s own faith while he or she is tasked with sustaining the faith of others.

Bible reading declines as openness to Scripture rises in US, new State of the Bible report finds
A newly released national study by the American Bible Society finds that while Bible reading and engagement in the United States have declined from last year’s levels, openness to the Bible has grown significantly, with 9 million more Americans expressing interest in its message since 2024.

3 Spiritual Habits That Will Change How You Read the Bible
When it comes to the Bible, most of us have one gear: we open it, read a passage, maybe journal or pray, and close it. That’s a fine starting place. But it’s a bit like having a library card and only ever reading the same chapter of the same book.

Scripture rewards three distinct kinds of engagement, and each requires its own habit: breadth, depth, and internalization.

How Do Older Adults Invest in Young Adult Ministry?
When senior adults intentionally invest in young adult ministry leaders, the impact extends far beyond one ministry area.

3 Strategies for Cultivating a Congregation That Lives Sacrificially
Our spiritual growth is evident as we learn to daily choose to obey God and sacrificially deny our own desires and wishes.

Also See: 6 Arguments Satan Uses to Tempt You and 6 Responses to Use When He Does

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (April 9, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

This Thursday is the Thursday in Easter Week. It forms a part of the Octave of Easter, an eight-day period that begins on Easter Sunday and ends on the Second Sunday of Easter and is an extension of the Feast of the Resurrection as Easter Sunday is also known.

The topic of this Thursday evening’s message is the teaching of Jesus commonly called the Golden Rule.

Reading: Luke 6: 27-36

Message: Whatever Happened to the Golden Rule?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/04/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows-april_9.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: 'Something spiritual is afoot' And More

St. Paul's, Darien, Connecticut 

Arthur Brooks’ Best Advice for Preachers (How to Reclaim 20 Hours of Sermon Prep Time)
Includes a report by David Kinnaman on recent Barna research findings on growth in the church.

Why we are not in a Catholic revival — despite increase in adult baptisms
Across the country, scores of catechumens were baptized into the Catholic Church for Easter this year. Many of these new Catholics were young people. Even though precise figures won’t be available for some time, there is enough anecdotal evidence from both pastors and secular media to draw attention.

Pentagon-Vatican meeting latest flash point in Trump's clash with religious leaders
The increase in faith-fueled militaristic rhetoric is pitting the president against a growing list of faith leaders, ranging from local clergy to the pope.

S.C. Priest to Be Missionary Bishop in Liberia
The Rev. Canon Wilmot Merchant II was planning to retire from ordained ministry this year. And so during a trip to Liberia, where he was born, raised, and ordained a priest, he did not take seriously the thought of becoming a bishop suffragan in the Episcopal Church of Liberia, one of the dioceses in the Church of the Province of West Africa.

Easton diocese’s church becomes overnight shelter to keep unhoused people from facing jail time
An Episcopal parish in Ocean City, Maryland, is facing a potential new legal clash with city officials after it last week began allowing unhoused people to sleep inside the church.

Flagship Charismatic Episcopal Church to Be Demolished
The former flagship parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut — St. Paul's, Darien — is being demolished to make way for multimillion-dollar homes, according to local news reports.

Also See: Settlement reached in St. Paul’s Darien, Connecticut, cases; Episcopal Church plans to demolish Darien church, build four homes; and St. Paul’s History (partial)

Miracle In Darien book review. What happens when a church listens to God together...
Miracle in Darien captures the extraordinary story of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and their transformative new rector, Terry Fullam. Despite his initial reluctance to lead a local congregation, Fullam found himself divinely guided to this small Connecticut church where God had remarkable plans in store.

Also See: Miracle in Darien

Village church remembers 1926 national broadcast
A village church has recreated a concert that took place a century ago and was thought to be the first live outside broadcast from Cambridgeshire by the BBC.

Call to pray for ‘helpless’ seafarers in the Gulf
Seafarers in the Gulf have become the helpless victims of the battle being fought around them – according to the head of a charity supporting nearly two million crewmen and women working on ships across the world.

Peter Rouch, secretary-general of the Mission to Seafarers, and an Anglican priest, has described the helplessness experienced by seafarers in the Arabian Gulf, on ships that could find themselves under attack. The charity’s latest prayer diary encourages prayer for seafarers in the region.

College students losing ability to participate in class discussions since they offloaded their thinking to AI 

It’s well known that students from grade schools to the big universities are increasingly outsourcing their thinking to large language models (LLMs). The consequences are already measurable: elementary students are losing cognitive skills, leading them to tank their exams.

Harder to quantify — but impossible to miss if you’ve spent any time in school lately — is the situation unfolding across classrooms, where students from all layers of society have become empty vessels that parrot the outputs of AI without critically engaging with the subject matter at hand.

When No Children Come Forward: How Churches Can Grow Young Again
If you’ve watched the number of children in worship shrink year after year, you’re not alone. But renewal is possible. Laura Heikes gives us four practical, joyful steps that helped one church go from “no kids this week” to a vibrant, diverse, growing group of children who are now woven into the life of the congregation.

Wednesday's Catch: 'There may not be a Christian revival, but Britain’s traditional churches aren’t doomed' And More

There may not be a Christian revival, but Britain’s traditional churches aren’t doomed
In the same week that a new archbishop of Canterbury was installed, YouGov admitted that a poll suggesting there was a “quiet revival” of Christianity was a dud. It had been inflated by fraudulent results and should be ignored. To those of us who study the bigger picture of religion in Britain, this comes as no surprise. There are good reasons to doubt that Britain is experiencing a Christian revival today – but that does not mean it is dying out.

To understand what is happening in Britain, it is helpful to compare it with the US, which has has long been viewed as exceptionally religious in comparison. Recent evidence suggests something less clear-cut.

Growing Number of Churchgoers Face Doubts
Churchgoers tend to trust God’s involvement in their lives and the lives of others, but many admit doubts can creep in.

America Got a Little More Religious. No, Really.
...the share of the sample who identifies as atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular has dropped again. That’s a continuation of an ongoing trend that started in 2023 where the nones have declined in a slow and steady way. In 2022, the percentage of Americans who identified as non-religious was 36.2% in the CES. It was 35.6% in 2023, 34.1% in 2024, and then the data from 2025 puts the nones share at 31.8%.

That’s almost back to the levels recorded in 2017 and 2018.

Protestants see greater growth, Catholics report more stability in church giving, surveys find
When it comes to giving, Protestants and Catholics may be more alike than one might expect.

Protestants overall appear more likely to report giving growth compared to Catholics, who show higher adoption of recurring giving, according to the 2026 Annual Church Giving Report and the companion Annual Parish Giving Report from Ministry Brand.

Evangelical leader says Trump's deportation policies are 'reshaping American Christianity'
Christian leaders in the United States warn that the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown is hurting churches, noting that pastors are being detained or are self-deporting.

During a press call last week, Evangelical and Catholic leaders voiced concern about how the Trump administration's aggressive deportation policies have placed strains on American churches.

The biblical backstory of Iran
Iran is back in the headlines. The word “Iran” does not appear in the Bible, but the names of preceding peoples and empires occupying that land today are written into the biblical narrative. This is the story...

Wolfe says conservative Christians must impose their will on America
Conservative Christians must impose their will and interpretation of Scripture on all other Americans, a Southern Baptist and former Trump administration official said.

Yes, there is a movement to take away women’s right to vote
A century after the U.S. passed the 19th Amendment allowing women to vote, Dale Partridge and some other pastors say that was a mistake and are calling for its repeal.

Women Complete Easter
In the Easter story, women are the first to proclaim the resurrection – but churches today are still divided over female preachers.

Disability and the Church: Why Inclusion Is Essential to the Gospel
“Disability” is a broad label that attempts to capture the range of ways a person’s physical, mental and/or social means of functioning are judged “abnormal” compared to socially and medically constructed norms. Disabilities may be temporary or permanent, congenital or acquired, and—depending on the situation—more or less disabling. Some disabilities seem easier to accommodate and accept than others. Responding to this diversity requires a multifaceted approach; there is no one-size-fits-all.

What do we know about Simon of Cyrene?
Easter may have passed, but some figures in the story stay with us long after the day itself. One of those is Simon of Cyrene - a man who appears for only a moment, says nothing, and then disappears. And yet, his story carries lessons we can hold onto all year round.

So, who was Simon of Cyrene and why does his brief appearance matter? Let’s take a closer look.

As a music consultant, Smith preaches the value of choirs
Sid Smith III is a man on a mission to help church choirs and music ministries flourish.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Five Types of Unmovable Church Members' And More

Five Types of Unmovable Church Members
Change is a challenge in any organization and especially in churches. Jess and Thom discuss the five types of church members who resist change the most.

How to Build an Eager Coalition for Change in Your Church
Do you want to lead change in your church? If you do, you will need to build allies and supporters to work alongside you. Jess and Thom share the five most common sources to build an eager coalition.

Bungee Cord Leadership: Leveraging Tension to Lead a Church Through Change
Tension doesn't have to stress us out. We can use it to our church’s advantage if we follow a few simple principles.

Gen Z, millennials more optimistic about potential spiritual revival in US than Gen X, boomers: poll
Millennials and Gen Z Americans are more optimistic than older generations about the potential of seeing a spiritual revival in the U.S., according to a poll showing a rise in young adults embracing Christianity.

ACNA’s Bishop Dobbs Walks the Gospel Sites in Wartime Jerusalem — and Brings the Church with Him
While most Western church leaders observed Holy Week from their own pulpits, the Rt Revd Julian Dobbs, Dean of the Anglican Church in North America and Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word, was in Jerusalem — filming a daily video series from the Gospel sites and leading the collects of the Book of Common Prayer from the streets where they were first lived.

The series was published by Christ Church Jerusalem and the ACNA’s own YouTube and Facebook channels across the week, each episode filmed on location at a site corresponding to the events of that liturgical day. On Holy Wednesday, Dobbs filmed at the Mount of Olives. On Maundy Thursday, he stood in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Also See: Easter Morning: A Message From Bishop Julian Dobbs

Donald Trump’s Easter clash of hell and holiness
The president mixed Christian claims with threats of war and insults to immigrants during Holy Week, including a threat to send Iran to 'Hell' on Easter.

Down the rabbit hole: Trump offers dark Iran warnings after Easter bunny act
Donald Trump began his day standing with a person in a giant bunny costume and boasting about the Iran war to an audience of children.

The annual Easter egg roll on the White House South Lawn conjured a fitting Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland image for a US president who has disappeared down what many would call a rabbit hole.

Analysis-Trump seizes on rescue of downed airman to recast unpopular Iran war
President Donald Trump was on the verge of a crisis in the Iran war, faced with the rare instance of an American airman shot down and stranded deep inside enemy territory.

Then, the airman's daring Easter weekend rescue gave the U.S. president the chance to quickly flip the script.

Over 100 International Law Experts Warn: U.S. Strikes on Iran Violate UN Charter and May Be War Crimes
The United States and Israel initiated strikes on Iran over one month ago, on February 28, 2026. The attack was a clear violation of the United Nations Charter. The conduct of the war, and statements of U.S. officials, also raise serious concerns about violations of international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes. We have written the below statement together with over 100 U.S.-based international law experts, to detail our profound concerns about the war. The letter is signed by international law experts across the United States, including senior professors; leaders of prominent international law associations, non-governmental organizations, and legal clinics; former government legal advisors; and military law experts and former Judge Advocates General (JAGs).

From Hegseth to RFK Jr., leaders are using religion as symbol — not substance
In both cases, Christianity has been severed from the theological tradition that both limits it and gives it coherence.

What is CREC and how does it shape Pete Hegseth’s religious rhetoric?
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s conservative evangelical religious beliefs drew attention even before his confirmation hearings in January 2025. He is a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches – CREC – whose beliefs have been influenced by a 20th-century movement called Christian Reconstructionism.

Hunger is rising — by Republican design
It would be easy to look at SNAP participation and conclude that hunger is falling in America.

It isn’t.

Young people leading the charge on non-religious identity, analysis claims; Bible Society responds
Days after YouGov retracted Bible Society’s “Quiet Revival” data, a new analysis contends that non-religious identity among young people in the United Kingdom, particularly those under 35, is a permanent shift rather than a temporary phase, prompting a response from the nondenominational organization.

Why Easter must reclaim its throne in American faith
There is a quiet contradiction in America, one that lives in our homes, our churches, our calendars and our consumer habits. It is the reality that the most theologically powerful moment in Christianity — the resurrection of Jesus Christ — often receives less cultural reverence than his birth.

Most pastors use AI but some worry it could replace their guidance in pews: study
While a majority of pastors are personally reaping benefits from the use of artificial intelligence, some remain troubled by a raft of concerns about the technology's impact on ministry, including the displacement of pastoral spiritual guidance and the erosion of congregants’ trust, a new study shows.

Also See: AI models are lying to save each other, and no one knows why

7 Challenging Personalities & How to Lead Them in Small Group
People are complicated. And a small group puts all of that complication in a room together, week after week. So how do we lead them well?

Experts warn new highly mutated COVID strain may be spreading more among children
A long winter virus season is finally coming to a close, but there is still reason to frequently wash your hands and get all of your latest vaccines.

A highly mutated COVID-19 variant, BA.3.2 ― nicknamed Cicada ― is spreading in at least half the country and appears to be infecting kids at higher rates than other variants.

How children learn to be good
Richard Weissbourd and Kiran Bhai are part of the leadership team at Making Caring Common, a Harvard Ed School initiative focused on making moral and social development a priority in child-raising. In this article, they answer this question:

Can we become better people—more caring, generous, honest, and just?

Research questions if discipleship is more a noble sentiment than a mission
The mandate is clear: “Go and make disciples.” It’s the final, foundational command Jesus gave before ascending to heaven, the very heartbeat of the Church. Yet, new data from Lifeway Research’s “State of Discipleship” study reveals a startling disconnect within U.S. Protestant churches: Pastors overwhelmingly prioritize discipleship, but for many, it remains a noble sentiment rather than a concrete, measurable mission.

The study, which offers a preliminary look into the perspectives of church leaders, shows that while half (52%) of pastors feel satisfied with the spiritual formation happening in their churches, a mere 8% strongly agree with that assessment. This vague satisfaction is often paired with a lack of specific strategy. Only 52% report having an intentional, written plan for discipling individuals and encouraging their spiritual growth.

Monday's Catch: 'The Leadership Question: Breaking 200' And More

The Leadership Question: Breaking 200
Breaking through the purpose and personal barriers I talked about in that first article is a part of growth and development as a leader. That growth then continues through theological and practical development. This need for theological and practical growth applies to breaking growth barriers in churches, like the 200 barrier, and it applies to everyone in church leadership.

So, let’s explore how we can grow in these areas.

Can the Anglican Communion unite?
On 3 October 2025, the world was told that Sarah Mullally had been selected to be the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. Twenty-five weeks later, after numerous ceremonies including last week’s ‘Installation', she can finally get on with the job.

One man who has been on this journey with her is Joaquin Philpotts, an industrial engineer and lay-minister from Buenos Aires. As was one of five representatives of the Anglican Communion on the Crown Nomination Commission, he spent last summer deliberating over different candidates. In January, he was called to offer part of the ‘Charge’ at the confirmation of Sarah Mullally’s election and last week he was there at Canterbury Cathedral to see her installed.

Archbishop of Canterbury calls for peace in first Easter sermon
Dame Sarah Mullally has used her first Easter Day sermon as Archbishop of Canterbury to renew calls for peace in the Middle East.

Also See: Church leaders remember victims of war in Easter messages

Pope Leo’s Easter message to the world: ‘Let those who have weapons lay them down!’
As wars intensify across the globe, Pope Leo XIV used his first Easter address to deliver a stark warning against growing indifference to violence, urging both world leaders and ordinary people to reject fear and choose peace through dialogue.

Iran war's shock waves threaten England's farms 6,000 miles away
Few places feel farther from the Iran war than the potato fields of eastern England, where pastoral landscapes and ancient forests have inspired romantic painters and poets for centuries.

But this bucolic scene is not immune from the shock waves triggered by the American-Israeli assault — and it’s a story being repeated across farms all over the world.

English choirs seek to protect a musical tradition little changed since Queen Elizabeth I
On a gray afternoon in the days before Easter, a dozen or so schoolchildren straggled into a side building at Rochester Cathedral and began their transformation.

Off went the jackets and backpacks, on came burgundy cassocks and white surplices. Then they trooped into the cathedral, opened their mouths and sang as one. The youthful gaggle had become a choir, giving voice to a tradition of choral music in the Church of England that has survived largely unchanged for almost 500 years.

An England bereft of organs will not be the same country
There are still 15,000 pipe organs in Britain’s churches. However, according to a survey by the charity Pipe Up for Organs, they will be virtually extinct by 2070. Poor village churches, already under tremendous financial pressure, are ripping them out at a rate of five a week and leaving them in landfill.

Church's 500-year-old bell to ring again
A 500-year-old church bell will be rung for the first time in more than a decade after repairs to its tower are completed.

The bell at the Church of Our Lady in Seaton, Northumberland, has been out of use since 2010 because it was feared the sound of its ringing would make cracks in the building worse.

Also See: Welsh church to hear full bell ring for first time at Easter service

Easter Sunday and the hope of resurrection 

Easter Sunday is the high point of the Christian faith. It marks the joyful end of the Lenten journey and the glorious celebration of Jesus Christ rising from the dead on the third day. This is not just an event Christians remember once a year. It is the very heart of our hope.

Easter Is the Most Ordinary Day in History
...in a deeper and truer sense, the events of the first Easter morning were the most normal thing that’s happened in human history.

When the Call Comes Late
Perhaps you are discern whether God is calling you to full-time ministry in a later stage of your life, or perhaps someone is looking for your advice as they wrestle with this decision, either way, there are a few things that might be helpful to know.

Do Extroverts Make Better Pastors?
A young man who intends to pastor in Canada, and who therefore acknowledges that he may well be the sole pastor on staff at a local church, recently asked me, Do extroverts make better pastors? Behind the question was this uncertainty: Can I, as an introvert, be a successful solo pastor? This is my attempt to answer the question.

The myth of the omnipotent pastor
A pastor who tries to do everything does harm to more than just himself.

Pastor, Don’t Heal Thyself: 3 Reasons Pastors Need Community
Ministry can create a particular kind of loneliness, but health cannot be sustained in isolation. Pastors need community.

Sundays at All Hallows (April 5, 2026) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is Easter Sunday, also known as Resurrection Sunday. On this Sunday Christians who follow the calendar of the Western Church celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Easter Sunday, with Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ birth, is one of the two most important festivals of the Christian Year. The festival begins at sunset on Holy Saturday, the Saturday before Easter Sunday, and lasts until sunset on Easter Sunday. Christians, however, do not confine their celebration of Jesus’ resurrection to one Sunday. As well as dedicating an entire season to celebrating his victory over death, Christians have historically seen every Sunday of the year as a celebration of Jesus’ rising to new life and what that means for those who believe.

In this Sunday’s message we take a look at the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection for believers and for those who do not yet believe.

Readings: Acts 10: 34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, and John 20: 1-18

Message: The Third Day

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/04/sundays-at-all-hallows-april-5-2026.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. 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: 'The Science Behind Prayer, Mindset & Overcoming Limiting Beliefs' And More

The Science Behind Prayer, Mindset & Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
How do you get past your self-limiting beliefs? Best-selling author Nir Eyal talks about the research behind why some leaders see the positive when others see the negative, how to change your mindset and gain greater agency, and talks about the science behind why prayer works to improve resilience and mindset.

The far-right Christians pushing Trump’s war — to bring on the apocalypse
On March 9, Donald Trump posted a nine-year old video on Truth Social that seemed to reveal his worsening political desperation. The video is a compilation of clips of charismatic Christian prophet Kim Clement, spliced together from 2007 appearances in California and Arizona. (Clement died in 2016.) The clear implication is that Clement was identifying Trump as God’s choice for president. Now some MAGA leaders may be taking the prophecy show on the road.

Imprecatory prayers: A theological-political caution
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Pastor Brooks Potteiger and other MAGA evangelicals are using imprecatory prayers asking God to kill their enemies.

Should we be alarmed? A few examples of imprecatory prayers here and there don’t portend an outbreak in the churches. Books of worship and prayer books of the denominations don’t have such prayers. Most preachers and priests would be appalled.

Not in God’s name: How Pope Leo is pushing back at divine justification of war
While Leo is not a confrontational pope, he is increasingly speaking out about the US-Israeli war with Iran. And he’s doing so as Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, frames the war effort as divinely supported, even using scriptural justification.

As first Easter of Leo's papacy approaches, his priorities come into sharper focus
While Leo’s first year has largely implied continuity with Francis, analysis of his leadership style highlights his willingness to empower clergy and delegate authority.

Evangelical churches who backed Trump now feel like 'collateral' in his deportation agenda
As President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown intensified over the past year, members and leaders of Latino evangelical churches are reeling from the effects of the stepped-up enforcement actions. Now this key electorate that helped Trump return to the White House finds itself caught in the crosshairs of his mass deportation agenda.

Their tiny church is on the cover of JD Vance’s new book. They don’t know him.
The modest church on the cover of Vice President JD Vance’s new memoir unpacking his Catholic faith has a tiny but loyal congregation.

What it doesn’t have, members said: any connection to Vance or Catholicism.

Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe’s Easter message
One of the paradoxical truths of our faith is that Easter morning begins with sorrow. In John’s telling of the Easter story, we can almost feel the panic and confusion of the disciples in the predawn hours when Mary Magdalene discovers that the tomb is empty....

Cult of King Charles the Martyr reflects enduring political divisions
A cult of martyrdom began forming around Charles Stuart—who, as reigning monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland, was known as King Charles I—almost immediately after his execution for high treason on Jan. 30, 1649.

Andrew Tate Doesn’t Get the Point of Books
The erosion of deep reading weakens our capacity to grasp complex ideas.

Why Leaders Fail to Delegate (and How It Kills Team Morale)
What does the power of delegation mean to you?

17 Easy Kids Church Games for Sunday School (No Prep Needed)
Looking for fun, easy kids church games that actually keep children engaged? These 17 Sunday school games are perfect for large or small groups, require little prep, and work for a wide range of ages.

Friday's Catch: 'Six Reasons Pastors Must Be More Courageous Today' And More

Six Reasons Pastors Must Be More Courageous Today
Though there have certainly been more difficult times in the course of church history for pastors, leading a church today is much tougher than it was 20 and 30 years ago. There have been some demographic and cultural shifts that reflect this reality. But some of the challenges can only be understood in the context of spiritual warfare. On this episode, Thom and Sam discuss six reasons why pastors must be more courageous today.

Why Catholicism is drawing in Gen Z men
A phenomenon that warrants more study.

Why Catholic initiations are surging this Easter: From influencers to sacraments
Catholic influencers are helping drive a trend this Easter as young adults prepare to be baptized in large numbers.

A wave of new Catholics is coming this Easter. Not all for the right reasons.
Many influencers offer a version of Catholicism unfamiliar to the Church.

Britain is quietly awakening to full-fat supernatural Christianity
"...nothing much seems to be happening in the mainstream Church of England, whose congregations are declining fast, perhaps weary of sermons about climate change and social justice. The impact seems mainly confined to two domains: Protestant evangelicals and Catholics (Anglo and Roman), not perhaps coincidentally the two areas where full-fat supernatural Christianity is still generally preached."

Also See: No quiet revival: When confirmation bias masks error

Mixed-ecology church model growing in Anglican parishes
The Church of England declared in its vision and strategy for the 2020s that one of its three priorities was to “be a church where mixed ecology is the norm”. But the concept of a “mixed-ecology” church, in which a traditional parish co-exists with new expressions of church, has also become increasingly popular within the Anglican Church of Canada.

To what extent is this model working for the Church of England?

Leo XIV and the Anglican Communion
Latin Mass Catholics react to the pope's letter to the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally.

‘Heresy’—Christians Slam Paula White-Cain for Comparing Trump to Jesus at Easter Lunch
Paula White-Cain is drawing comments of “heresy” and “blasphemous” from Christian leaders for remarks she made at an Easter lunch at the White House on Wednesday, April 1. White-Cain compared President Donald Trump to Jesus, saying that like Jesus, Trump was “betrayed and arrested and falsely accused.”

Also See: Trump’s spiritual advisor sparks backlash for comparing him to Jesus; At White House, Trump lauded as suffering king like Jesus

For first time ever, Army chief of chaplains fired — by Hegseth
For the first time in history, the U.S. Army chief of chaplains has been fired by the Secretary of Defense.

Pete Hegseth made national headlines April 2 for firing Gen. Randy George, the Army’s chief of staff. But on the same day, Hegseth removed Army Maj. Gen. William Green, who had served in that post since 2023.

Alabama judge isn’t buying UMC’s ‘trust clause’ claims
An Alabama judge has dealt an unusual blow to one of the strongest arguments The United Methodist Church has made to keep churches from defecting.

Houston County Circuit Judge Christopher K. Richardson ruled March 25 that the UMC does not own and has no legal claim to the property of Harvest Church in Dothan, Ala.

Thursday's Catch: 'What we lose when churches stop naming themselves' And More

What we lose when churches stop naming themselves
A church may drop “Baptist,” “Methodist,” “Presbyterian” or “Pentecostal” from the sign. It still has convictions about baptism, ministry, Scripture, worship, discipline and authority. Those convictions do not evaporate when the name does. They simply become less visible.

The Gen Z revival being debated won't happen in churches that talk but don't listen
Young people are not asking whether churches have better programming or more relevant worship. They are asking whether anyone in that building will actually hear them.

Pastors Support Legal Immigration, Split on Deportation Levels
Pastors overwhelmingly view legal immigration positively but are more divided over the deportation of those in the United States illegally.

How Should We Think About The Liberal Trad?
Over the past five years or so, I have begun encountering a kind of person I call the “Liberal Trad.”

Want to renew healthy eating habits? Greek monks have a spring playbook
For six weeks every year, millions of Orthodox Christians around the world adopt a largely vegan diet, abstaining from meat, dairy products, eggs, and fish with backbones.

The Top Ways to Annoy Your Pastor
In this tongue-in-cheek episode, Josh and Sam discuss their top annoyances as pastors. Everyone has their pet peeves, and the co-hosts share theirs.

Intercessory Prayer Examples: How to Pray for Others (+ Scriptures)
Looking for intercessory prayer examples you can actually use?

Why Kids in Your Community Need VBS This Summer
The biblical content of Illumination Station VBS addresses five apologetic questions kids in your community are facing this summer.

Sunday School Crafts for Kids: 16 Easy Bible Craft Ideas
Looking for easy, engaging Sunday school crafts for kids? These Bible-based craft ideas help children learn Scripture while creating something meaningful to take home.

Also See: 7 Easy Mother’s Day Crafts for Sunday School Kids (That Moms Will Keep)

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (April 2, 2026) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

This Thursday is the Thursday before Easter, also called Maundy Thursday, the day in Holy Week, Christians in the Western Church commemorate the events of the Last Supper and celebrate our Lord’s institution of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. It is also known as Holy Thursday.

This Thursday evening, we complete our Lenten series on the means of grace, practices of Christian faith in which God meets us and works in us.

The topic of this Thursday evening’s message is fasting and abstinence.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Message: Fasting and Abstinence

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2026/04/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows-april.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.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Breaking Barriers Before Breaking 200' And More

Breaking Barriers Before Breaking 200
In this series, I want to walk through some best practices and principles for leading your church to grow. This first article will address two of the most powerful barriers that prevent churches from growing beyond 200. That said, the principles apply to churches of all sizes, and they start with church leaders and pastors.

This Pastor Started a Church for Gamers—and It’s Working
Mark Lutz pastored a regular church for a few years. Then, as a gamer, he opened up Lux Church, a 100% digital church created for gamers. He explains the model, why it's reaching people no one else is reaching, how online relationships are as real as IRL relationships and what other churches are missing and getting wrong when it comes to their digital ministry.

Judge rejects Johnson Amendment settlement, keeping ban on pastors endorsing candidates
The ruling caps a decades-long battle to overturn a ban on houses of worship endorsing candidates.

The demise of England’s great cathedral schools (and their choirs)
The most precious document held by Exeter Cathedral is its foundation charter. Written on parchment in elaborate Latin in 1050 by King Edward the Confessor, it orders the cathedral “to maintain pleasing melody day and night to the praise of God”. It has been doing so ever since, not least because, from 1179, the cathedral has been educating choristers to lift their voices to the heavens. No war, no flood, no plague, not even the Reformation could silence those pleasing melodies. But now the unthinkable has happened. Exeter Cathedral School has announced it will be closing its doors.

Church bells to ring for first time at Easter service in Betws-y-Coed
Bells at St Mary’s Church in Betws-y-Coed will rung for the first time at a church service this Easter, following the completion of a major restoration project.

Although the church was built with plans for a full ring of bells, that work was never completed. More than 150 years later, the tower now has a full set in place.

Religious people experience more mixed emotions than non-believers
Religious faith is often associated with happiness, peace of mind, and a sense of purpose. A new series of scientific analyses reveals that highly religious people also frequently experience a blend of positive and negative feelings known as mixed emotions. These findings were published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

How to Create a Culture of Recognition for Your Volunteers
As we build a volunteer team, we must also build a culture of recognition, taking time to notice and appreciate their work for the kingdom.

How to Protect Your Soul in Ministry: 6 Essential Strategies for Leaders
After almost four decades of ministry experience and coaching leaders around the U.S. and world, I have grown convinced that Satan spends a lot more time attacking effective evangelistic leaders than those who spend most of their time tending to sheep who are already following Jesus.

It’s a Risk To Be in Front of a Room
Few people have been canceled for what they have done in the pews, but a good many have been canceled for what they have done in the pulpit. Few gossip bloggers or discernment vloggers scan videos of the congregation to look for sins, nits, or anomalies, but many scan videos of the pastors. There is a whole industry of people who watch sermons in order to mock, rate, review, critique, or bring down the preachers. If it has always been a risk to be the person at the front of the room, how much more today, when a single errant word, embarrassing flub, or theological mistake can make its way around the world at the speed of social media? A sermon can become a meme before a pastor has even offered the benediction.

Connecticut woman’s passion for community helps provide people with hot meals and dignity
For almost 15 years, Dinner for a Dollar has been feeding hungry people in Hamden, Connecticut, with a focus on home cooking, dining with dignity and building community.

Allison Batson, a member of Grace and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hamden, a town of about 61,000 people six miles north of New Haven, started the program in June 2011 because she knew there were people in need in a town that “has a reputation for being prosperous, but there is economic disparity,” she told Episcopal News Service.

Evangelism Is Not a Thing You Do
When Jesus gives what we call the Great Commission, he isn’t handing his followers a marketing strategy or a church growth program. He is describing a way of life. The command to “make disciples” is not a call to manufacture converts and move on. It’s an invitation to form people who learn not just information about Jesus but how to live in relationship with him.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Easter Pressure: A Pastor's Honest Confession' And More

Easter Pressure: A Pastor's Honest Confession
Easter is the biggest moment on the church calendar. So why does it feel so hard to get right?

Why Are Free Will Baptist Church Members So Young? An Interview with Dr. Eddie Moody
It is the outlier denomination. It is the denomination that is young, while the others are decidedly older. Why is this youthfulness taking place? Join Jess and Thom as they talk with Dr. Eddie Moody, Executive Director of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, about this phenomenon. You will be amazed, encouraged. and informed!

Poll suggests opposition to CoE's role in public life
Opinion polling has suggested that a significant proportion of people in Britain wish to remove the Church of England from some of its public functions, including its management of faith schools.

Why is the British monarch also called Defender of the Faith?
The British monarch traditionally bears the title “Defender of the Faith” which also appears on British coins as “F.D.” As it’s been back in the news lately, now’s a good time to consider it in more detail.

The Primate-Count Wars: How many really boycotted Mullally's installation?
GAFCON primates boycotted Sarah Mullally’s March 25, 2026, installation as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, protesting her support for progressive innovations in doctrine and discipline as unscriptural. Lambeth Palace’s partial list of 26 attending primates triggered conflicting boycott tallies from 7 to 16 across media outlets.

Church’s Asiamerica Ministries invite Episcopalians to make origami cranes for detained immigrants
The Episcopal Church’s Asiamerica Ministries is calling on Episcopalians to make origami cranes for immigrants in detention as a symbol of peace and solidarity.

“Making each crane is an act of prayer for healing and wholeness,” the Rev. Jo Ann Lagman, missioner for Asiamerica Ministries and a Filipina American, told Episcopal News Service.

Judge rejects UMC’s claim to own breakaway megachurch
An Alabama judge has ruled that the United Methodist Church does not own and has no legal claim to the property of Harvest Church, a megachurch in Dothan that broke away from the denomination over its stance on same-sex marriage.

Houston County Circuit Judge Christopher K. Richardson issued the ruling last week, finding that Harvest Church is the sole owner of its property and that neither the denomination nor any of its affiliated bodies holds any right or interest in the church’s real or personal assets, AL.com reported.

Israel apologizes after barring cardinal from Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday
Israeli authorities apologized after barring Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, an incident that drew sharp criticism from global leaders and church officials.

Also See: Israel's defense for closing Holy Week sites in Jerusalem takes a new twist

Report finds growing trend of harassment of Christians in Israel
There was a “continued and expanding pattern of intimidation and aggression” against Christian clergy and Church property in 2025, according to an annual study released on Monday by an Israeli group.

The 155 documented incidents last year “reflect a persistent and worrying pattern in which both overt violence and everyday humiliations accumulate into a broader atmosphere of exclusion,” say the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue’s report, titled “Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem.”

Also See: Priest of last Christian village in West Bank speaks out against Israeli settler attacks

What is Sin?
Could there be a need to clarify what it means for humans to be made in the image of God and how that relates to human sin?

The Manosphere and the Way of Christ: Why “Alpha Masculinity” Falls Short of Biblical Manhood
When held up against the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, the worldview of the manosphere is not merely incomplete but it is fundamentally incompatible with biblical manhood.

10 Traits of Jesus as Transformational Leader
When studying the subject of transformational leadership, we should take a look at our own leader, Christ Jesus. He is the one who can best speak to the issue of leadership. Here are 10 traits of Jesus, the transformational leader. As you read over the descriptions, take time to assess your own life and activity as a leader.

The Most Astonishing Moment in the Parables of Jesus
One parable stuns me, no matter how many times I read it. (Some scholars, including Klyne Snodgrass, would classify it as an analogy rather than a parable proper.) It comes in the middle of Luke’s Gospel, easy to read past. But it contains one of the most breathtaking images in all of Scripture (and it’s barely even the point).

A very Baptist identity crisis
When one style or theology becomes normative, the question we must ask is: Who disappears? Contemplatives, for whom God is met in stillness; liturgical Baptists (and yes, we exist!) who find sacramental depth in structured prayer and the church calendar; introverts, for whom corporate worship need not mean corporate performance; neurodivergent believers, for whom accessibility is not an optional extra but a justice issue; those formed in non-Western traditions whose spiritual grammar does not map onto Hillsong-adjacent aesthetics; progressive communities whose theology and practice have moved in directions the dominant evangelical center would prefer not to acknowledge and considers, ironically, “unorthodox”.

Yes, the irony is sharp: Gatherings that claim to celebrate global Baptist unity are, in practice, narrowing what counts as “authentically Baptist” and this is not simply a matter of stylistic preference; it is a question not only of freedom of conscience and religious belief, but justice, for whose spirituality is validated by our institutions, and whose is rendered invisible?

Scientists have found an alarming environmental impact of vast data centers
The vast data centers that power artificial intelligence guzzle huge amounts of energy but they also have another alarming impact, according to new research. They are creating “heat islands,” warming the land around them by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit, and making life hotter for more than 340 million people.

Monday's Catch: 'Easter Services: Big Special Production or Just Like Any Other Sunday?' And More

Easter Services: Big Special Production or Just Like Any Other Sunday?
Planning for Easter Sunday raises a strategic question: should this service look and feel bigger and more energetic, or should it resemble the regular rhythm of worship? Both approaches have advantages and downsides. Because Easter is often the highest-attended Sunday of the year, how leaders answer this question shapes not only the experience of that day, but also what first-time and returning guests assume about the life of the church.

Webinar Shares Tips on Welcoming Easter Guests
More often than not, Episcopal churches fill their pews on Easter morning with guests, occasional worshipers, and out-of-town visitors. The real question is, however, What happens on Monday morning? How can Episcopal churches create an environment of welcome and belonging before, during, and after the big Sunday event?

Palm Sunday: the triumphal entry and its meaning for us today Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most sacred week in the Christian calendar. It is the day we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when crowds welcomed Him with palm branches and laid their cloaks on the road before Him, crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:8-9).

It was a moment of celebration, honour and public recognition. Yet it was also a moment filled with deep spiritual meaning, because this King was unlike any other the world had ever seen. Palm Sunday reveals that Jesus is the King who comes in humility before He reigns in glory.

The backstory to Palm Sunday most evangelicals miss
29 March is Palm Sunday, or the sixth Sunday in Lent, which kicks off Holy Week. The events of this day echo a historical episode from Jewish history which most evangelicals miss. This is the story....

Iraqi Christians told to cancel Palm Sunday and Easter celebrations
Iraqi Christians are asking Christians around the world to remember them in prayer.

Israel stops cardinal entering holiest Christian site 'for first time in centuries'
Israeli police prevented a top Vatican cardinal from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday mass for the first time in centuries.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the head of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was blocked from entering the holiest site in Christianity.

Christians voice 'grave concern' after UN inquiry finds Ukrainian children were deported and forcibly transferred
The World Council of Churches has expressed “grave concern” after a United Nations commission concluded that Russian authorities have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes by deporting and forcibly relocating Ukrainian children.

In a statement responding to the findings, WCC general secretary Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay said the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine “confront[s] the conscience of the whole international community”.

Is there a Catholic revival? Pope Leo seems to think so. 

As 70 new catechumens are preparing for baptism in the tiny country, Pope Leo pointed to a growing — if uneven — interest in Catholicism among young people across Europe and beyond.

Roman Catholic Churches See a Surge of New Converts
Bishops are trying to understand what’s behind the wave. People joining the church described their reasons as highly personal.

Pope Leo XIV rejects claims that God justifies war in Palm Sunday Mass message
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday rejected claims that God justifies war and prayed especially for Christians in the Middle East during a Palm Sunday Mass before tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.

Asian evangelical leaders discuss pastoral response to homosexuality through lens of shame culture, discipleship
Leaders from across Asia recently convened for a webinar organized by the Asia Evangelical Alliance to address one of the most sensitive issues facing churches in the region: how to respond biblically and pastorally to homosexuality.

'Our church bells may fall silent after VAT change'
Campaigners in a North Yorkshire village have raised concerns that their 13th Century church bells may ring for the last time following a change in VAT rules.

The Desert Fathers and Desert Mothers: radical Christians in the deserts of Late Antiquity
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds Christians that they are surrounded by a great “cloud of witnesses” (NRSV). That “cloud” has continued to grow in size since then. In this monthly column we will be thinking about some of the people and events, over the past 2000 years, that have helped make up this “cloud.” People and events that have helped build the community of the Christian Church as it exists today.

God’s Yes, No, or Not Yet
This God who is all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-purposeful, hears our every prayer and responds to each one in the most appropriate way.

Can We Blame the Nones for America's Marriage Crisis?
In 1972, 85% of Americans had been married. Today it's 70%. Here's what's really driving the decline.

How to write an obituary
Think of an obituary as having five movements.

Writing an obituary can be a joyous task because it is something productive to do in a time of grief.