New Year’s Eve at All Hallows (Sunday, December 31, 2023) Is Now Online.

Welcome to New Year’s Eve at All Hallows.

This Sunday, the First Sunday after Christmas, is the last Sunday of 2023. It is also New Year’s Eve.

Reading: Galatians 6:1-10

Message: A New Year

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/12/new-years-eve-at-all-hallows-sunday.html 

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

If you are new to New Year’s Eve at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:

-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 New Year’s Eve at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Public Christianity in a Post-Christian World' And More

Public Christianity in a Post-Christian World
Evangelizing in a post-Christian setting is scarier—and more fun—than you might imagine.

Why Focusing Equally on Your Church and City Is Key to Growth
A lot of churches are stuck and they don’t know why.

What We Expect to Happen in Churches in 2024
The upcoming year could prove pivotal for many churches. Josh and Sam discuss what they expect to happen in churches in 2024. Trends in giving are changing. The roles of women in leadership could reach a boiling point in some tribes. The megachurch movement will continue to fade. And seminary education will start to shift in favor of shorter programs.

9 Reasons Some Pastors Overstay Their Calling
In general, longer pastoral stays are better than a series of short ones. But even good pastors can stay too long. Here are some reasons why.

How to Love God and Others
Evangelism is a sign of true love. Here’s why.

No One Shared the Gospel with Me
We cannot simply assume that a lost person is a lost cause.

Friday's catch: 'A Sneak Peek into 5 Characteristics of Gen Z Church' And More

A Sneak Peek into 5 Characteristics of Gen Z Church
Did what happen at Asbury University in February 2023 give us a sneak peek into the future of Generation Z Church?

How to Boldly—and Gently—Reach Our Culture 

"I’ve heard enough arguments about whether Christianity is being pushed to the margins," writes Lois Tamburro. "From my perspective, that’s an established fact. The bigger question is, What are we Christians going to do about it?"

10 Dangerous Myths About Church Growth
Myths about church growth are rampant because there’s a lot of discussion that goes on about church growth: What causes it; how to generate it, prepare for it, launch it, build it, cultivate it and even, to some degree, manufacture it. Many of the discussions are helpful, but there are a number of subtle beliefs that still creep up that aren’t healthy. In fact, they’re downright superstitious and, at times, dangerous to the church.

A 5-Step Guide on How to Create An Amazing Church Culture
A bad culture will consistently undermine an amazing mission, vision and strategy.

The Hidden Flaw in Visionary Leadership: Why Charisma Isn’t Enough
Are you relying too much on charisma in your leadership role? Find out why character is crucial for lasting influence and how it can transform your approach to leadership. This post reveals the often-overlooked flaw in relying solely on vision and charisma, offering practical insights for developing deeper, more effective leadership skills.

Ready, Aim...
It’s one of the most well-known leadership declarations in combat that, once started, almost anyone in the English-speaking world can complete. The one in charge yells, “Ready! Aim!” and then, yep, “Fire!” But it’s not just the right progression of things on the battlefield. It’s the right progression for any number of leadership situations.

Spiritual Habits: Worship Is a Fire
The heart is a heavy wood, sitting in a hearth, cold and waiting. Worship is the fire that sets it ablaze.

Good News Times Four
Almost uniquely in terms of the Scriptures we have four accounts which cover much of the same material. That gives us possibilities but also challenges if we are to read them to maximum benefit.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, December 28, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In this evening’s reading we recall an event that followed Jesus’ birth, and which foreshadowed his suffering and death on the cross. It is also a reminder of the evil which human beings are capable of and which Christians must keep watch for in themselves.

Reading: Matthew 2:13–18

Message: Herod’s Massacre of the Innocents: A Lesson for Today

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/12/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_28.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:

-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: 'Creating a Culture of Inviting in Your Church: Four Key Issues' And More

Creating a Culture of Inviting in Your Church: Four Key Issues

What are churches doing that have a healthy culture of inviting? Thom looks at some of their key strategies.

How Many Guests Does a Church Need to Have Each Week to Grow?
Most of us would affirm the importance of reaching community members who will eventually attend our services. Thom looks from a different perspective. How many guests per week would be considered “good”?

Greening Your Putting Away
“God so loved the world…” Most often Christians hear John 3:16 in relationship to personal salvation. But look again at what God loves enough to send God's own Son—the world! All of creation, not just humans. If God so loved the world, then we need to also. Choose at least one aspect of creation and love it through your action and advocacy.

Making The Hard Changes In Your Life
While you can change anything for a day or a week, lasting change requires something more. The Bible gives four principles for lasting change. Do what God’s Word says, and you can make even the hardest changes in your life.

How to Grow Through Change
How can you make the most of the change you’re facing in ministry right now? Here are eight principles for growth through change.

Should Pastors Ask for Prayer Intercessors in Their Church for Themselves?
The answer to the question is an emphatic “yes.” Thom shares why.

Retention, Succession and Stability in Youth Leadership
...whenever there is a problem or transition among the leadership this will most acutely affect your current year 11s and 12s. You will see the fall out on this demographic first because they are at an age where many of them are driving and are often granted more freedom in other ways, so they can decide for themselves to go somewhere else if they wish.

How to Cultivate and Develop Student Leaders
f faithful youth leaders want students to become disciples of Jesus who go and make disciples, this also implies that we influence and develop them to become leaders in the church and the world for the Kingdom of God. But how can we do this? We can develop leaders in our student ministry in these two ways: casting a biblical vision of leadership and cultivating a system for leadership.

The New Year Is Time for Goal Oriented Groups
Here are three tips that Kiersten Telzerow has found to be helpful for growing and strengthening our small groups, especially when a new year is right around the corner.

Top 10 Ideas for a First Small Group Meeting
"Any time you’re starting a new small group meeting, a great first meeting is very important," writes Mark Howell. "I include these ideas on a simple handout inside every new small group meeting leader’s packet."

Rethinking New Year’s Resolutions
When we shift our thinking from self-focused New Year’s resolutions to God-centered disciplines, our priorities shift as well.

Six Principles for Lasting Change
Romans 12:1-11 gives us six important principles for making a lasting change in our lives.

Don’t let the war tear apart the tapestry of faith that makes America strong
This is not the time for faith communities to retreat into ourselves.

While the war between Hamas and Israel may be contributing to antisemitism and Islamophobia in the United States, it is not the only factor. Among the other factors are social media and the 2024 presidential election

Persecution expected to rise in 2024
Persecution against Christians is expected to rise in several countries in the coming year, according to Release International. The organisation's new Persecution Trends report, released this week, warns of an intensfication of persecution in a number of countries, including Nigeria, India, Pakistan and China in 2024.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Why Don’t People Go To Church Anymore?' And More

Why Don’t People Go To Church Anymore?

Feeling disillusioned with the consumeristic approach in churches? Discover how a shift towards authentic discipleship can rejuvenate the faith experience of your church.

Why Don’t Church Members Invite Their Friends Anymore?
About 80% of your neighbors are receptive to an invitation to church. At best, most churchgoers invite someone once or twice a year. Almost a third of churchgoers never invite anyone. Inviting someone to a worship service or church event is not evangelism, but this invitation is a significant first step to cultural change in your church. What happened to the culture of invitation? Thom and Sam discuss their thoughts on this week’s episode.

How To Revitalize an Old Church (and Live To Tell the Tale)
"For what they are worth," writes Joe McKeever. "Here are a few of my comments to the young minister about how to revitalize an old church...."

Homeless in Halifax
Homelessness is a growing problem in the United States as well as Canada. A major contributing factor is the lack of affordable housing.

The Comforting Consistence of God’s Immanence
God is seated on his throne. But he reaches out to the needy.

Staying Put: The Increasing Significance (and Growing Desire) of Longer-Term Pastorates
...the culture of short-tenured pastors remains in many churches. But a shift is beginning to occur. Longer-tenured pastors are more critical than ever, and more of them want to stay at their churches longer.

How Church Leaders Can Be a Nonanxious Presence
Anxiety is contagious and transmitted through relationships in a social group such as a family or a church congregation. This means the emotional state of one person can significantly influence the emotional states of others within the social group.

New Research for Better Preaching
This article is adapted from Charles Stone’s book, If Jesus Gave a TED Talk: 8 Neuroscience Principles the Master Teacher Used to Persuade His Audience.

How Much Does the Holy Spirit Have You?
Do you ever wonder how to unleash the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in your life?

The nail in the board: Careless words always leave a mark
Words will never hurt me’ is a traditional belief that is fanciful and false.

Tuesday's Catch: 'What are the Twelve Days of Christmas?' And More

What are the Twelve Days of Christmas?
There is a well-known Christmas song called the Twelve Days of Christmas. Some people think it is steeped in biblical allegories. This is the story....

The real story behind ‘Good King Wenceslas’
Think of it as the English-speaking world’s most popular day-after-Christmas carol.

Today is the Second Day of Christmas and the Feast of Stephen the First Martyr.

What Is Multi-Directional Leadership And Why Is It So Important?
Michael Wallenmeyer answers this question and urges pastors and other church leaders to become more multi-directional.

Dear Pastor . . . Let’s Cultivate Honesty in Our Churches—Starting with Us
Sin has tainted each part of life, and Christ has come to redeem and mend each part of life.

10 Ways to Engage People Who Worship Online
How can congregations better engage people who worship online? Jim Keat, Digital Minister at The Riverside Church, offers 10 tips for congregations to strengthen engagement and build relationships with online worshippers.

Reading Scripture Is a Walk in the Park: Bible Reading Plans for 2024
Regular Bible reading forms Christians. Whether we read through the Bible every year or take several to make it through, the difference between being a regular Bible reader and someone who simply wants to be one is having a plan. Knowing what you should read next is better than wondering where to begin and how far to go.

Reading Scripture Rightly
When reading a section of Scripture, we will find that a passage almost always comes across weighted on one side of an issue or another. I mean this: a passage is written intended to drive a certain point home, aimed at a particular audience, for a specific reason by an author who knew what was needed.

How Much RAM Do I Need for Music Production?
Music production is a big part of the music industry and it can be challenging to find out how much RAM you need for your computer if you are new to the process. This article will give you all the information that you need to make an educated decision on how much RAM and what kind of RAM is best for your needs and budget.

Monday's Catch: 'The real meaning of Christmas' And More

VOICE: The real meaning of Christmas
Stephen J. Nichols reflects on the true meaning of Christmas.

Understanding the miracle at the heart of Christmas
At the heart of Christmas is the celebration of the miracle that took place when Jesus was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary. In this article Martin Davie explores three issues in relation to this miracle, the nature of the miracle, how this miracle fits in with the way God normally operates in the world, and why the miracle took the form that it did.

What was the Census that took Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem?
In the Christmas narrative Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem because of a census. This is the story....

The Greatest Gift You Can Give Your Pastor
You may be wondering what it is.

What are churches doing when Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday?
For most years, Christmas Eve is a time when many churches across the United States and abroad hold multiple worship services to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. However, unlike most years, Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, which means the usual morning services most congregations have might be altered because of the liturgical calendar. So what are some churches doing in response to this? Are they canceling morning worship, revising their regular schedules, or simply holding all the usual services?

Deck the Hall: The Stories of our Favourite Christmas Carols
An excerpt from Deck the Hall: The Stories of our Favourite Christmas Carols, by Andrew Gant.

The Holly and the Ivy 

The traditional English carol, "The Holy and the Ivy," performed by the Medieval Baebes, from their album, Mistletoe & Wine. Video includes lyrics.

The Gift of Everyday Discipleship
...parents, not ministers, have the greatest influence on their child’s faith whether they are intentional about it or not.

Christmas at All Hallows (December 25, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Christmas at All Hallows.

Some will gather with family and friends at Christmas; others will spend Christmas alone. Well, not quite alone. They may not have the company of family or friends, but God is with them. As Psalm 139 tells us, we can never escape from God’s Spirit. We can never get away from God’s presence. We may not be able to sense God’s presence, but God is with us. We may experience loneliness, but we are never alone. God is our companion.

This service is for Christmas Eve during the day or in the early or late evening or Christmas Day in the early morning or at such other time as may be convenient.

Reading: Luke 2:1-20

Message: “To Certain Poor Shepherds…”

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/12/christmas-at-all-hallows-december-25.html

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

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

-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 Christmas at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'When It Does Not Feel Like Christmas' And More

When It Does Not Feel Like Christmas
Christmas time does not feel like a joyful time for everyone. What do you do when it does not feel like Christmas?

Don’t Let Deconstruction Become Deconversion

Review: ‘Set Adrift’ by Sean McDowell and John Marriott

Leading Topics: Enhancing your Church’s Hospitality and Welcome
Extending genuine hospitality to newcomers isn’t just good manners or a good membership recruitment strategy. It embodies the Gospel and expresses Christ’s love for all. And yet too many congregations overlook this critical need. Or they welcome people in ways that are off-putting or ineffective. In this eighth Special 20th Anniversary Edition of Leading Ideas we share some of our most helpful articles and resources on making church visitors feel truly welcome.

A Harmony of the Birth of Jesus: Matthew and Luke Here is a simple chronology to show how the events of Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2 fit together and what each of the gospel authors emphasize. Matthew tells things more through the eyes of Joseph and Luke (who perhaps interviewed Mary) tells the events largely through her eyes.

Why Small Congregation Worship Matters
Teresa Stewart has faith in the future of small congregations because she has faith in a God who shows up even in small and forgotten places. She believes that small churches are critical learning laboratories as the church navigates a future far too complex for one-size-fits-all patterns of ministry.

Teens and Church: 6 Things Young People Need From You
Asking what teens want from church is the wrong question. What teenagers desire from a faith community doesn’t compare to what they need. So let’s look at the topic from that angle.

FREE Download: Bible Reading Plan for the Families in Your Ministry
This weekly Bible reading plan will get families into some of the best-known stories and important lessons from Genesis to Revelation—and get them talking about it with simple questions/reflections for every reading. Whether families start this in January or some other time of the year, this plan will help them read, enjoy, and apply what they read.

8 Reasons to Pray for Your Small Group Leader
Whether your church has Sunday school or off-site small groups during the week, you likely have small group leaders who week after week facilitate the group...Here’s why we must cover them in prayer....

Why Your Mindset Will Matter in 2024
Before we know it, 2024 will be here—and the beginning of the year is a great time for a fresh start in your life and in your ministry. It’s when we try new diets, new budgets, and (often) new ministry plans. While there is nothing magical about the first few days of a calendar year, it can be a logical time to try something new. If you’re already eyeing a change in 2024, don’t overlook the most important place to start: All change starts in your mind.Here’s why.

4 Characteristics of Biblical Evangelism
Lewis Center Director Doug Powe says biblical evangelism is characterized by four key practices — proclamation, community, service, and witness. Focusing on these practices can demystify the concept of evangelism and strengthen a congregation’s evangelistic efforts.

5 Essential Qualities of Effective Evangelism
Priscilla Pope-Levison’s book, Models of Evangelism, studies eight influential approaches to evangelism, everything from visitation and revivalism to social media. She finds that regardless of the method deployed, five qualities are essential to effective evangelism — hospitality, relationships, integrity, sharing the Christian message, and rootedness in the church.

The United Methodist reckoning
In following the developments over the past four years, one thing has been clear: The name United Methodist is not enough to hold together groups that no longer see one another as united.

Some traditionalist bishops revolt after Vatican allows ‘blessing’ same-sex couples
Pope Francis may have authorized non-liturgical blessings for same-sex couples, but not everyone in the Catholic hierarchy is going along. Traditionalist bishops, particularly in Africa and Asia, already are revolting and defying the pope’s supposedly unquestionable authority.

Americans are becoming less spiritual as well as less religious
But you'd never know it from the latest Pew survey.

Friday's Catch: 'America may not be as much ‘post-Christian’ as post-white Christian' And More

America may not be as much ‘post-Christian’ as post-white Christian

Many American societies are beginning to be understood as “post-Christian.” Churches are hemorrhaging masses of disillusioned congregants as Christian cultural norms are losing their grip on public discourse. Even so, there has been a new Christian movement unsuspectingly burgeoning on the margins of this Western world: the diasporic immigrant church.

The story of songs in Luke's Nativity - and their influence on Christian worship
A set of five short songs in the Gospel of Luke are known as the Christmas Canticles, and have contributed greatly to Christian worship over the centuries. This is the story....

Outreach Tips: Intentional Ways to Befriend New Families
Every outreach effort you undertake can be effective if you approach it from a practical perspective. Consider these outreach tips!

52 Church Small Group Ideas To Encourage Fellowship
The following is a list of 52 church small group ideas that create fellowship. This list is not exhaustive. There are some great activities that are not on it. Some of these activities will fit your group; others will not. These church small group ideas are meant to serve as an idea starter, so you can come up with your own activities and plans for implementing them. The key is to do it together.

Christmas Is for Doubters
Believe it or not, Christmas is for doubters. Read the Christmas narratives in Luke 1–2 and you’ll see they’re filled with people who doubt.

Spiritual Growth: Monergistic or Synergistic? 

ARE YOU READY for a couple of big words? They are monergistic and synergistic. You are probably familiar with synergistic. It describes the action of two agents working together to produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual effects.

7 reasons most churches aren’t reaching the lost in their own backyards
After countless conversations with church leaders and first hand observations of innumerable Sunday morning services Greg Stier is convinced there are 7 reasons why most churches are not effectively reaching the lost with the Gospel in their own communities.

‘What the hell is wrong with these people?’: An Advent message on Christian white nationalism and the end of America
Tim Alberta and his wife are far from the only ones wondering what in the world is going on with a substantial segment of American Christians and a huge segment of Republican voters.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, December 21, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In the Churches of the West Christians have traditionally celebrated the birth of our Lord for twelve days. In the Anglican tradition Christmastide, the Twelve Days of Christmas, begins at sunset on the evening of Christmas Day and concludes on the Feast of the Epiphany, which recalls the day that the nativity story tells us that the magi, or wisemen, visited the infant Jesus. With this Thursday evening’s service All Hallows is winding down its observance of the Advent Season. This year the last Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve.

Reading: Romans 16: 25-27

Message: “…so all may believe and obey.”

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/12/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_21.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:

-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: 'The Power of Personal Invitations: 10 Tips for Bringing People to Church' And More

The Power of Personal Invitations: 10 Tips for Bringing People to Church

...inviting people to church can sometimes feel like a daunting task. So here are 10 tips as you seek to love your neighbors by inviting them into a community centered on Jesus.

Capitalizing on Christmas
Shared beliefs around Christmas can provide a foundation for moving someone beyond Jesus’s manger to His cross and empty tomb.

800 years of the traditional Nativity scene
Today, what we might call the "traditional Nativity scene" is a well-known feature of Christmas. It is found in churches, homes, even in some municipal settings. They come in different shapes, sizes, and appearances. The features are well known. In a stable, often with some straw scattered on the ground, the models of the Holy Family are placed centre stage. Jesus lies – swaddled – in a manger (an animal feeding trough) filled with hay.

Chasing the Past
Every church that has been opened more than a few years has set in motion “the way things have always been done.” The leadership team sets down markers for growth, spiritual renewal, programs, partnerships and precedents each year. Many of these are unintended and only come about because they fit the current reality that they are facing. But for leaders and members alike, it freezes what should or should not be done in time. “How we have always done it” sneaks up on churches and becomes set in stone overnight.

Americans urged to vaccinate again as new Covid variant JN.1 sparks huge surge in deaths
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that America is yet to see the worst of Covid this winter as a highly transmissible subvariant causes an uptick in deaths and hospitalizations across the country.

Churches can do a great service to their members and attendees and the public at large by encouraging church members and attendees to get immunized against flu, COVID-19, and RVS, particularly the more vulnerable members and attendees of the church.

Advent Prepares Us for Mission
Advent is a time when Christians gather. However, Advent can also remind us how we’ve been called to scatter. In the Great Commission, Jesus sends his followers to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). We sometimes neglect to see that this mission is foreshadowed in Jesus’s birth narrative (Matt. 1–2). Mission didn’t begin at the end of Christ’s earthly work; instead, Jesus’s birth foreshadows that a mission to the nations was the purpose of his coming.

Is the Eucharistic Prayer Theater?
Calvin Lane draws attention to how for some Episcopalians what occurs during the Eucharistic Prayer has become a show, something to be watched.

One way to correct this misperception is to give the congregation a larger part in the eucharistic prayer which is the prayer of the whole assembly for which the presider acts as "tongue," as one early church father put it.

5 Places to Find New Group Members
Need more people in your small group? Not sure where to find them? Surely, not everyone’s already in a group in your church? Where are they hiding? How can you find them? Don’t worry, sometimes Christians hide, and that’s ok, but we don’t want them to stay hidden. Other times, they’re looking for you too. Here are 5 places you can find new people to invite to your group.

Church for ‘nones’: Meet the anti-dogma spiritual collectives emerging across the US
These spiritual communities discard doctrine, prefer questions over answers and have no intention of converting anybody to anything.

These "spiritual collectives" are reminiscent of the atheist Sunday gatherings which were launched a few years ago.

New study finds Christian nationalists to be more complex than media portrayals
Many Christian nationalists, the group Neighborly Faith found, espouse troubling views while simultaneously expressing openness to aspects of American pluralism.

Wednesday's Catch: '4 Ways to Maximize Your Christmas Service' And More

4 Ways to Maximize Your Christmas Service

As you continue planning the details of your Christmas Eve or Christmas Day worship services, here are some things to consider.

There is still time to do some last minute tweaking.

6 Perspective Shifts on Church Attendance in the New Year
How can pastors and church leaders help their members establish rhythms of church attendance in the new year?

C.S. Lewis’ Spoke of a ‘Post-Christian’ World With ‘No Objective Right or Wrong’ in 80-Year-Old Christmas Sermon
In 1946, theologian and author C.S. Lewis was said to be “the most entertaining missionary of our time.” As the world was recovering and healing from World War II, Lewis wrote “A Christmas Sermon for Pagans.” And after nearly 80 years, his words still ring astonishingly true.

4 Big Reasons Why Pastors Lack Work-Life Balance
Why do too few pastors strike a balance? Four major reasons exist.

Don't Ruin Good Content: Proficint Pulpit Rhetoric
As preachers, are we proficient public speakers? If not, why not? Is not our message important enough to be great public speakers? Although we must not be performers, we must be proficient rhetoricians. This article focuses on just one aspect of being a good rhetorician—good vocal delivery.

What Are Reasonable Worship Leader Expectations?
Kade Young thought the congregation expected a full band, lights and the whole shebang every week or they would not come back. Turns out, he was wrong. What are reasonable worship leader expectations?

No, Your Church Doesn't Need a Custom App
Bryan Haley explais why your church does not need a cutom app of its own.

8 Way to Use Social Media for Good
The Internet isn’t going anywhere, so we can either complain about how corrosive social media is or we can use our voices to elevate what is good and true and beautiful. So just as it is easy to press “send” on another nasty tweet or post, it is easy to press “send” on content that brings joy.

Practicing Faith in a Post-Faith World: Five Ways to Respond
The West is not as post-Christian as many imagine. No doubt there are places on earth, including Middle America, where it might feel like the wider culture is currently rejecting Christianity at an unprecedented rate. But the milieu that characterizes post-Christendom is still (despite itself) irreducibly Christian.

How Event Evangelism Helps People Share the Mission
One of the tools we can use for training people to get comfortable talking with others, inviting them to our weekend worship gatherings, and eventually sharing their faith is through special events. Event evangelism can include the more popular ones like Easter and Christmas, but also can include Parent/Child Dedications, Mother’s and Father’s Day, and the beginning of a new sermon series.

What is the Good News? A response to Jayne Ozanne's reinterpretation
In this article David Robertson draws the attention to the emergence of what he describes as two different "Christianities" in the United Kingdom.

In the United States we are seeing the emergence of several different ideologies which identify themselvs as being "Christian" but diverge significantly from Jesus' message and teaching. They are tied to a particular subculture in the United States and to its views of race, ethnicity, sexuality, and gender.

On same-sex blessings, some Catholics celebrate change while others point to limits
The Vatican’s declaration allowing blessings for ‘irregular’ couples seems to have deepened an already strong divide between conservatives and progressives in the church.

Tuesday's Catch: 'The Most Important Element of Your Christmas Eve Service

The Most Important Element of Your Christmas Eve Service

As you prepare for your Christmas Eve service, make sure those who join you don’t miss the redemptive reason for the season.

10 Ways to Process the Emotions of Christmas Loss Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. As the song goes, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” But for some people the saddess of Christmas loss means Christmas can be a miserable time.

7 Ways To Lose Ministry Volunteers
Do you have a hard time retaining ministry volunteers? Is it possible the reason they aren’t staying isn’t their lack of commitment or conviction, but instead something you as their leader are or aren’t doing?

5 Ways to Protect Your Church From an IRS Audit
While audits can be stressful and time-consuming, there are proactive steps you can take to protect your church. Here are five ways to shield our church from IRS Audits.

Email Scams Targeting Churches
There are two email scams occurring with increasing frequency. These scams hurt churches in two ways, by stealing finances and by breaking congregational trust. What are these scams? What can or should you do about them? What should you do if you find yourself a victim of a scam?

A Church with Great Music
A church with a truly great music program is the one where the people sing—they really sing.

What Does It Actually Mean To Just Preach The Bible?
Most often when someone levies the claim that a preacher doesn’t preach the Bible, they are merely disagreeing with the preaching style. So it’s helpful to understand the different styles of preaching that are most common today in order to assess whether style alone makes a sermon biblical or unbiblical.

5 things the Catholic Church’s document on same-sex blessings does (and doesn’t) say 

The Vatican approved same-sex blessings, but there are a few caveats.

Monday's Catch: '9 Dangerous Fault Lines for Churches in 2024' And More

9 Dangerous Fault Lines for Churches in 2024

What are the fault lines Thom Rainer sees as we move into 2024? Here are nine of them in no particular order. They give him great concern for our churches.

32 Random Thoughts About the Local Church
In this post Tim Challies shares "a long list of brief, random (and unsolicited) observations and pieces of advice related to the local church."
How Can the Church Respond to the Rise of the Nones?
What is the church to do in the face of increasing rates of religious disaffiliation and the rise of the Nones? Researcher and pastor Ryan Burge says it’s important that the church not lose hope. We must continue to step out in faith and sow the seeds of love, grace, and hope.

Ongoing research suggests that the rise of the religiously unaffiiated and the growth of secularism is not related so much to antipathy toward religion but to a lack of interest in religion.

Christian symbolism and the perfect Christmas pudding
The festive season simply wouldn't be complete without the rich and indulgent delight of a perfect Christmas pudding. This timeless dessert, brimming with festive flavours, is a tradition that brings warmth and joy to any gathering.

Where Was Jesus Before Bethlehem?
Even many churchgoing Christians are confused about Jesus’s existence before Bethlehem. What can we do to help them?

6 Ways To Love People Like Jesus Did
In this post Charles Lee shares what he has learned about Jesus' approach to loving humanity from his exploration of Jesus' life.

The Powerful Witness of Long, Ordinary Obedience
Witnessing the Spirit active and working in another’s life has a powerful evangelistic influence.

Uncomfortable Christmases: Witnessing to Family at the Holidays
How might we evangelize our family on what appears to be a minefield?

5 Must-Have Church Evangelism Strategies
Through the years of helping design missional initiatives and evangelism training, Will Mancini has found five essentials that church evangelism strategies MUST have in order to work in your local culture.

With Pope Francis’ encouragement Vatican allows blessings for same-sex couples
'God never turns away anyone who approaches him!' read the document issued by the Vatican's doctrinal department.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'The Story of the Christmas Tree' And More

The Story of the Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is not in the Bible but is rooted in Christian symbolism. This is the story....

Why I Changed My Mind about Deconstruction
"While writing The Deconstruction of Christianity with Alisa Childers, we discovered some fundamental beliefs that undergird the deconstruction process," writes Tim Barnett. "Moreover, these ideas are antithetical to the Christian worldview. This helps explain why so many who deconstruct their faith end up leaving the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). Here are three reasons why I changed my min Ideas for Celebrating Christmas throug Servingd about deconstruction...."

A Greek Class that Left Me in Awe of God as Father
J. I. Packer wrote that the heart of the New Testament is the glorious news that God has adopted us as children through Christ. He stated: “You sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s Holy Father. If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father.”

7 High Standards of Leadership
Those who carry leadership authority must live according to higher standards.

Don’t Forget These 5 Things the Christmas Ministry Season
If you are in ministry, Christmas can be a tough gig. Multiple services. Long hours. Special events. Christmas parties to attend. The most wonderful time of the year can become the busiest time of the year. As you are quickly going into this season here are 5 things to remember.

4 Ideas for Celebrating Christmas through Serving
Most of us are not looking for one more party or event to attend during the Christmas season. But we are interested in making a memory and a difference during this time of year. Our Sunday School class or small Bible study group can be a means for doing just that.

How Individualism Corrupts the Church’s Mission
A popular slogan in the world of sports claims, “Players win games. Teams win championships.” Of course, even non-sports-lovers can agree that some things require the contribution of more than one person. Westerners struggle to think and act in step with this truth, however. That’s because certain thoughts, habits, and societal incentives have permeated our culture with imbalanced tendencies toward autonomy, self-sufficiency, and (perceived) uniqueness—an unholy trinity of individualism.

5 simple ways to share Christ this Christmas
Christmas is one of the holidays where engaging others in a Gospel conversation can be easier and more natural. It is a time of sharing laughter, food and, of course, gifts.

Vatican asserts single mothers should be 'encouraged' to receive communion
The Vatican's doctrinal office said Thursday that single mothers who have confessed their sins should receive the Eucharist. The guidance, which was approved by Pope Francies and signed Wednesday by Argentine Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandéz of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, was in response to an inquiry from the Dominican Republic's Bishop Ramón Alfredo de la Cruz Baldera.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, December 17, 2023) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This year the fourth Sunday of Advent, next Sunday, falls on Christmas Eve. Strictly speaking, the eve of the Feast of the Nativity, commonly known as Christmas, does not begin until the sun has set. However, it is customary to refer to the day before Christmas Day as Christmas Eve. Since All Hallows will not be offering a Christmas Day Service, Christmas Eve at All Hallows, an early celebration of our Savior’s birth, will replace Sundays at All Hallows on the last Sunday of Advent.

Reading: Romans 15: 4-13

Message: “Accept One Another … as Christ Has Accepted You.”

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/12/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-december_16.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:

-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.

Friday's Catch: 'Beyond the Decorations: Christmas Reveals the Person and Character of God' Ad More

Beyond the Decorations: Christmas Reveals the Person and Character of God

The Christmas story teaches us that God understands our own stories. During this season, we celebrate the coming of our Savior and King. The biblical story unfolds the need for a Savior and the promise of his coming. Prophets foretold his birth for centuries. After years of waiting, Jesus Christ the Messiah—Immanuel—came into the world. God became flesh, incarnate, for us.

Jesus Wasn't Born in a Stable...
The Christmas story is so familiar to many of us. Most of us who have grown up around the church will have heard it most years. We all know the nativity scenes, the children’s plays around Christmas and the various advent calendars telling us the story. Little captures the imagination more than the belief that Jesus was born in a stable.

A Home for the Holidays: Refugees and the Christmas Story
With Christmas right around the corner, it is the best time of the year for churches to cultivate meaningful relationships with vulnerable families in their communities. By doing so, we can empower them to build their lives not just for a generation but for an eternity.

Christmas resource for churches highlights lived experience of refugees
Churches are being asked to play a five-minute video that highlights the "significant" link between the original Christmas story of the birth of Jesus, and the lived experience of millions of refugees in the world today.

Telling the Story that Changed the World
Let this Christmas season be one of telling the story of our Savior as we equip our people to tell others the reason for this season.

Two C of E Bishops: Same-Sex Liturgies ‘Illegal’ Two evangelical Church of England bishops have advised their clergy not to use the Prayers of Love and Faith recently commended by the House of Bishops for blessing same-sex unions. Bishops Paul Williams of Southwell and Nottingham and Rob Munro of Ebbsfleet wrote in December 12 ad clerum letters that they believe the liturgies violate the church’s canons, leaving clergy who use them vulnerable to legal challenges.

VOICES: The silencing of Christian believers is chilling but true
Sir Winston Churchill, the “old British Bulldog,” once famously quipped, “Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without it being extolled, but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage.” It’s been more than six decades since the late prime minister’s observation, but the inconsistency he identified in his country is as present today as it was back then.

One fourth of United Methodist churches in US have left in schism over LGBTQ ban. What happens now?
The vast majority are conservative-leaning churches responding to what they see as the United Methodists' failure to enforce bans on same-sex marriage and the ordaining of openly LGBTQ persons.

Republican supporters of Donald Trump share this trait, Pew Research finds
An unwillingness to compromise is a common denominator among supporters of Donald Trump in his bid to return to the White House, according to Pew Research. A new national survey of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters found 63% believe it is important for a Republican nominee to avoid compromising their agenda, compared to only 36% who want their candidate to find common ground with Democrats. 

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, December 14, 2023) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In the opening dialogue of this evening’ service we pray, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” But are we ready to meet him when he does come again in glory?

Reading: Isaiah 55: 6-11

Message: Repent!

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2023/12/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_14.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:

-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: 'Focus on Your Ministry Now for the New Year' And More

Focus on Your Ministry Now for the New Year
As the year winds down, it is an opportunity to pause and refocus on your ministry and direction of the church through prayer, obeying God, and dreaming dreams of what is to come in 2024. Here are three quick and easy way to focus your ministry in the new year.

The gifts of Christmas
It's so easy to miss the greatest gift of all, the one that was laid right at our feet, the one we so desperately need. Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Christmas Should Humble Us
Christmas shows us more than Christ’s humility—it also shows us our own.

VOICES: What to think when holiday traditions change
For better or for worse, celebrations of Christmas haven’t always been the same. But throughout centuries of ever-changing cultural traditions, the reason for celebration remains the same, whether people want to acknowledge it or not: the birth of Immanuel, God with us.

The only family holiday tradition that I observe in this season of my life is to attend a church service on Christmas Eve. If a church has a service on Christmas Day, I'll attend that too but doing so is my own tradition.

Giving to Christ at Christmas
What is the most important thing you can do this Christmas?

Cash Giving Rebounds Among Churches in 2023
After record giving in 2020 and 2021, cash giving declined last year. But churches are seeing giving rebound in 2023 and remain optimistic.

Your Church Is Probably Not Paying Your Pastor Enough
Likely, your church is not paying your pastor enough. What gives?

Prolific Hymn Poet Rae E. Whitney (1927-2023)
Rae E. Whitney (1927-2023), hymn poet, was the published author of over 500 hymns and four major hymn collections. Her work appears in hymnals of many Christian denominations, both in the United States and around the world, including The Hymnal 1982 and Voices Found.

Narrative Preaching: Do You Make These 10 Mistakes?
Let’s consider the pitfalls we must avoid in order to preach with power when we take up narrative preaching. Too many preachers miss these vital skills necessary to preach the narrative portions of the scripture.

You Must Study the Bible with a Purpose
Every good endeavor should be done with purpose. Without a clear sense of purpose, our efforts to do a good thing well can flounder. But with a clear purpose, we are far more likely to persevere. This is certainly true of building Bible literacy—it takes effort to build, but maintaining a clear sense of purpose sustains us in our labor. How can we begin to be more purposeful in the way we approach Bible study?

Donate Toys for Christmas: 5 Places That Put Donations to Good Use
Want to donate toys for Christmas? As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to give back and reach out. If your church or children’s ministry conducts an annual toy drive, you’ll need to know where to donate toys.

We buy new toys for our children, our nephews and nieces,our grandchildrn, and our grandnephews and grandnieces. It is only right that we also buy new toys to donate to an annual toy drive. It says that we value the children to whom the toys will be given.

How Groups Can Overcome Politics and Stay On Mission
The political landscape is more polarized than it’s ever been (and it’s never been great). You don’t have to look too far before you find memes or yard signs that either strongly agree or strongly disagree with your own political position. But, how can you love your neighbor/enemy in this day and age? How do you reach people who are far from God and post an oppositional meme? What if they show up in your small group?

6 Simple Ways To Love Your Neighbors This Holiday Season
Here are a few ideas to get you thinking about ways to connect these next couple of months in the holiday season.

Wednesday's Catch: '7 Questions to Determine if Your Advent Traditions are Still Meaningful' And More

7 Questions to Determine if Your Advent Traditions are Still Meaningful
Meghan Hatcher says planning for Advent is the perfect time to assess whether a ministry tradition is still serving its intended purpose. She suggests seven questions to help determine if a long-standing ministry is still offering people a transformative encounter with the Gospel, or if it’s time for a change.

5 Practices for Fruitful Congregations in a Post-Attractional Era
Robert Schnase’s five key practices — radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity — have helped thousands of congregations be more fruitful in ministry. In 2018, Schnase reframed these key practices to move beyond attractional assumptions and address the more challenging realities churches face today.

5 Turnoffs for Millennials Seeking a Church
Drawing on research conducted by the Barna Group, Jeremy Steele outlines some of the turnoffs for millennials when they visit new churches. An outdated digital presence and a lack of diversity top the list.

Greening Your Gift-Giving
This Christmas season take to heart John Wesley’s Rule for Christian Living: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can!”

Actually John Wesley said nothing of the sort but he did encourage the early Methodists to do good to others as the apostles encouraged all Chrstians.

See also: “Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly…” and Greening Your Celebrations.

4 Ways to Prepare Churchgoers for Their Next Church
Your church can equip those who leave to start at their next congregation as more mature disciples than they were when you first met them.

4 Functions of a Church Choir
Brian Hehn says a church can have a vital music ministry if its choir focuses on four key functions — leading and enlivening congregational singing, singing music that the congregation cannot, serving as a small group within the church for faith formation, and singing music that glorifies God and edifies the congregation.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like…Christmas?
...who doesn’t like seeing kids perform in church? (slowly raises her hand)…ME.

4 Steps for Developing a Digital Community Strategy
Deanna Bartalini and Claudia McIvor say gathering people virtually is not that different than gathering in person. Both require intentionality, as well as a plan, a place or platform to help execute the plan, advertising, and engaging with the people who gather. They outline four key steps in developing a digital community strategy.

You Can’t Deepfake In-Person Relationships
The embodied community of the local church offers a ready solution to this growing problem of deepfake technology.

10 Tips for Building Genuine Connections with Your Neighbors
Kay Kotan says we can no longer wait for people to come to church. The church must go out into the community and meet its neighbors. She provides ten easy strategies for your church to build genuine connections with your neighbors.

All Evangelism Is Important – But Is it Equal?
All evangelism is important but all evangelism is not equal. There is a difference between a church having an evangelistic invitation (e.g., altar call) during a worship gathering and a church sending members to share the gospel with unreached people groups. Yet, most people would say both of these churches are evangelistic.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Christmas No Longer Most Popular Holiday in America' And More

Christmas No Longer Most Popular Holiday in America

Thanksgiving is the most popular and well-known holiday in the country, topping Christmas and other festive days on the popularity list.

A Christmas Reminder: 8 Reasons Why People Aren’t Coming Back 

Greg Atkinson shares a number of reasons why guests will not return for a second visit to a church, which he has identified as a mystery worshipper.

Think You Know the Christmas Story?
Michael J. Kruger identifies five common misconceptions about Christmas.

The Curious History of Christmas
As day dawned over England on December 25, 1647, the nation woke to the strangest Christmas of all: no Christmas. For the first time, Christmas had been canceled.

Christian Life, Ministry and Mission in the 2020s: Current Points of Debate
"In my first article I argued that there is a growing consensus among reformed evangelicals about how best to encourage Christian life, ministry and mission in our current Western cultural context, " writes Mikey Lynch. "The discussion has gently moved on. There are now different points of discussion. This article will outline some of these points and share some notes of commentary on them."

The Undeniable, Irresistible Resilience of the Small Church
There is an undeniable, irresistible resilience of the small church. Small churches are not better than big churches. Big churches aren’t better than small ones. The arguments we have about size are silly, dangerous and missing the point.

Pastoral Oversight and the Musical Ministry of the Church
Songs are shepherding tools. We think of the word preached as a tool of the shepherd, and it is. We think of prayer as a shepherding tool, and it is. We think of baptism and the Lord’s Supper as shepherding tools, and they are. But do we think of the songs as shepherding tools?

4 Ways Discipleship Is Broken in the U.S. Church
Here’s the present reality. When it comes to discipleship in the American church today, there are some broken parts. What are they? Here are at least four.

3 Essential Practices for New Christians
Christmas services will soon be here and we’ll be communicating the message of salvation through Christ. That IS good news. And the great prayer of the Church is for an extraordinary number of people to say yes to Jesus in Christmas services around the world. What is our responsibility to these New Christians? Like with a newborn to our own families, new believers deserve the very best of love and intentional care.Helping new Christians grow in their faith is core to the mission of the Church.

Christian Friendship, and 3 Reasons Why 2 Are Better than 1
As human beings, we were not meant to live in isolation; we are meant for each other. That “each other” includes all kinds of relationships - marriages, church groups, and just basic friendships included. In all these cases, two are better than one.