Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, June 1, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is the Seventh Sunday of Easter, also known as the Sunday after the Ascension. In the older Church calendar, it is the only Sunday in Ascensiontide, a brief season between Ascension Day and Whitsun. Next Sunday, June 8, is Whitsun or Whitsunday, also known as the Feast of Pentecost.

The topic of this Sunday’s message is the calling that all Christians share.

Readings: Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22: 12-21, and John 17:20-26

Message: Every Christian Has the Same Calling

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/05/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-june-1.html

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Recalibrate: 10 Steps Every Church Must Take Now, Or Be Dead In A Decade' And More

Recalibrate: 10 Steps Every Church Must Take Now, Or Be Dead In A Decade 

The church is not dying. It’s in fine shape. Jesus said he’d build it, and he is. Relentlessly and beautifully. But individual congregations, denominations, and ideologies? Now that’s another story. While the church of Jesus around the world continues to move forward, chasing away the darkness with the light of Jesus, many local expressions of the church are watching their candles flicker in recent years.

"Is this thing on?"
Let’s get this out first: online ministry isn’t the future. It’s not a fad. It’s not a trend. It didn’t start with COVID—and it doesn’t end there. Online ministry is not a post-pandemic pivot, and it’s definitely not optional. Online ministry is now.

VOICES: 6 ways pastors can lead to a more Gospel-focused church culture
The biblical mandate to share the Gospel is often incorrectly viewed as an optional spiritual practice for believers, which may be a hurdle you are experiencing with your own congregation. The Bible is explicitly clear that every person who has a relationship with Christ is both called and commanded to share this good news.

Yes, You Need to Change How You Preach (Here are 5 Changes I’ve Made)
We need to communicate in the best possible way for those listening. Clear is better than clever.

Turn the World into a Pulpit
William Spurstowe saw sermons everywhere.

The 7-Minute Worship Team Check-In
Before your next worship team ehearsal do this one thing and it will transform the culture of your volunteer worship ministry.

New Trends in Kids’ Check-In
The new technology involved in children’s check-in systems today goes far beyond attendance tracking. For ministries working to achieve more with less, these systems can provide tools to ensure child safety, increase efficiency, connect with families, and access important data.

Father’s Day Program Ideas for Church: Honor Men With These Activities
Kids love to celebrate special people in their lives. And those special people love to feel appreciated! So plan now to make the day special with these Father’s Day program ideas for church.

How to Plan a Group Mission Trip
One of the highlights of my year is our church’s annual family mission trip to Belize. If I’m counting correctly, my next trip will be the seventh group mission trip I’ve led. I’ve learned a lot of what to do and what not to do along the way. In fact, each trip brings unique learning experiences. I also remember the first year we planned and feeling totally lost in how to get started. If that is you, hopefully our plan can help you.

Berliners are rediscovering their faith outdoors through local pilgrimages
Christian pilgrimage walks are a way for Berliners and visitors of all ages to engage with their faith without stepping foot in a church.

Friday's Catch: 'Is There Any Hope for Revitalizing Mainline Churches?' And More

Is There Any Hope for Revitalizing Mainline Churches?
The long, slow death of mainline churches is well documented and goes back to the 1970s. In the mid-twentieth century, approximately half of all Americans were identified as members of one of the seven mainline denominations. Today, it’s between 10% and 15%. Not much is said about revitalizing these churches, but there is hope. Josh and Sam interview one mainline Methodist elder, Chad Brooks, who has a plan to solve this problem.

Make Do With Less: A Grassroots Approach to Church Transformation
As the denomination’s budget shrinks, how are churches supposed to pick up the work of church with fewer resources available? It’s clear that the Church is weathering through trying times, but the situation also presents an opportunity to consider outside-the-box approaches to church transformation and vitality. For a long time, we thought the success of any kind of church growth depended on the development of a particular method or strategy that offered unique insight into reaching a group or community.

'Quiet revival' may be happening in Ireland too
The “quiet revival” in Britain, especially among younger men, may well be occurring in the Republic of Ireland as well, with new research suggesting increasingly favourable attitudes towards Christianity in the country, albeit with a fair amount of suspicion towards the Roman Catholic Church. A poll of a 1,000 people commissioned by The Iona Institute, and carried out by Amarach Research, discovered that Gen Z (18 to 24 years-old) are more open to faith than Millennials (25 to 34 years old).

A Theology (Not Ideology) of Creation Care
Politicization has invaded our thinking to such a degree that when it comes to environmental concerns and challenges, responsibilities and commitments, we think about our political moorings before we look to what the Bible actually says. Or more to the point, instead of what the Bible actually says. We carry our political views like they are religious views, and we often make those political views our true religion.

Real Cost of Disasters Is 10 Times Higher Than Previously Thought, Says UN
As countries face increasingly steep bills from natural hazards, the true cost of disasters is actually 10 times higher than previously estimated, with far-reaching effects across healthcare, housing, education and employment. That’s according to a report released Tuesday by the UN’s disaster risk reduction agency, UNDRR.

9 Key Responsibilities of a Pastor That Go Beyond the Pulpit
Being a pastor involves far more than delivering sermons on Sundays. While preaching is central to a pastor’s role, there are other vital pastoral duties and responsibilities that shape the health, growth, and spiritual vitality of a church community. These responsibilities often go unseen by the congregation but are just as essential to the life and mission of the church.

Two-Adult Rule: A Must for Your VBS
One supervision angle that matters greatly and can easily get overlooked at VBS merits specific attention: the two-adult rule.

The Real Meaning of Fulfillment in Christ—Not What Culture Tells You
For Christians today, understanding true fulfillment in Christ isn’t a nice idea. It’s essential if we want real peace and purpose in a noisy, restless world.

5 Questions Every Church Must Answer Before It Can Send Out Pastors and Missionaries
Your church will be ready to send out pastors and missionaries only when it can answer each of the following five questions with a loud and hearty, “Yes, and amen!”

Thursday's Catch: 'The Scandal of Evangelical Empathy: How Did We Even Get Here?"

The Scandal of Evangelical Empathy: How Did We Even Get Here?
"In 2025, the nation apparently continues to suffer from a lack of empathy, a deficit exemplified by, among other things, fresh waves of antisemitism and anti-immigrant sentiments. But not everyone sees it this way. In fact, a growing movement of evangelicals has a different take. To them, the nation suffers, not from a deficit of empathy, but an excess of it."

Psychopaths not only lack empathy--the abiity to understand and share the feelings of other people and to imagine what it would be like to be in their situation, but also they have no moral conscience. Neither do they feel any sense of resposibility for the wellbeing of other people nor do they feel remorse for their actions.

Our Own Personal Jesus
According to sociologist Landon Schnabel we are experiencing a time of “individualization,” which he describes as “a phenomenon in which people increasingly craft their spiritual lives according to personal values, rather than institutional dictates.”

Older adults are much more religious than younger adults
There’s a 29-point gap between Americans 65 and older who identify as religious and the share of young adults ages 18 to 29 who identify as religious. This is among the findings of the latest Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study, which found 83% of Americans 65 and older identify as religious, while only 54% of young adults ages 18 to 29 do.

On anniversary of the first Council of Nicaea, Christian leaders seek to return to ecumenism
Christian leaders stress that the council and its anniversary still have relevance in the modern day, despite theological divides.

PCUSA may drop below 1 million members by end of 2025: report
Presbyterian Church (USA), the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States, may dip below 1 million members by the end of the current year, according to a recent report. The PC(USA) Interim Unified Agency released its annual report on church statistics, which found that the denomination lost nearly 49,000 members in 2024, going from approximately 1.094 million members in 2023 to approximately 1.045 million members last year.

SBC’s losses exceed membership in other denominations, Burge says
The Southern Baptist Convention has lost more members in the last two decades than many other denominations have in total membership, according to religion data analyst Ryan Burge. “The convention is down nearly 3.6 million members since its peak in 2006. That single figure is a bigger number than the total size of most Protestant denominations,” Burge wrote in a new Substack post in his series called “Graphs About Religion.”

5 Signs It’s Time for a Pastor to Take a Sabbatical—And How to Plan One
Pastoral ministry is one of the most demanding callings, requiring emotional strength, spiritual depth, and constant service. Over time, even the most faithful pastors can experience weariness, spiritual dryness, or burnout. While pastors are often quick to encourage rest and renewal for others, they may struggle to recognize the same need in themselves. A well-timed sabbatical can be a lifeline—not only for the pastor but for the entire church community. Knowing the signs that it’s time for a break and understanding how to plan it well is critical. A pastor sabbatical guide can help church leaders discern the right time for a break and provide a practical framework for planning it effectively.

Climate Experts Urge Caution as Summer Temps Increase
Meteorological summer starts June 1, and the season is heating up across the U.S. Summers have warmed in 97% of 242 U.S. cities analyzed — by an average of 2.6°F since 1970. One in every five cities now experience at least an additional month of hotter-than-normal summer days than in 1970. Summers are heating up in every region — especially the Southwest and Northwest. Hotter summer temperatures lead to heat-related illness and worsen air quality — putting health at risk.

Are You Ready? Windows 10 Is Ending Support
It seems like just yesterday we were reveling in the announcement from Microsoft that Windows 10 would be the last version of Windows. No more upgrades, no more end-of-service support, no more IT hassle. It seemed utopian. Now here we are. We’re well into Windows 11 — waiting for Windows 12 — and dealing with the end-of-service for Windows 10. How things change.

How to Defuse Friction in Your Small Group
Small groups are often the heartbeat of a church community. They offer a more intimate setting for growth, accountability, and discipleship. However, because small groups bring together people from diverse backgrounds, personalities, and spiritual maturities, it’s not uncommon for tension or conflict to arise. If left unchecked, small group friction can hinder relationships, spiritual development, and the overall health of the group. The good news is that with intentionality, grace, and some practical strategies, it is possible to defuse tension and restore unity.

Outreach in the Story of the Triune God
I know a pastor who admits to suffering from a condition I like to call trinipraedicarephobia: “fear of preaching the Trinity.” In this, my inaugural theology column, I want to address this fear. I submit to you that the Trinity is the ground, grammar and goal of all genuinely Christian outreach.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, May 29, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

This Thursday, May 29, is Ascension Day, or the Feast of the Ascension. It is a key Christian festival along with Christmas, Easter, Whitsun, and Trinity Sunday. Ascension Day commemorates the ascent of Jesus Christ into heaven forty days after he rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples and other witnesses. It also reminds us that all power and authority has been given to Jesus, that Jesus entrusted his disciples with what is known as the Great Commission to go to farthest corners of the earth, to proclaim the gospel, and to make disciples of all peoples, and that Jesus promised to be with his disciples until the end of the age.

Since Ascension Day is a key Christian festival, the structure for this evening’s service is that of the Service of the Word (Ante-Communion) outlined in the Additional Directions on pages 406-407 of The Book of Common Prayer (1979).

The topic of this evening’s message is the doctrine of the ascension.

Readings: Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, and Luke 24:44-53

Message: What Do Christians Believe about the Ascension?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/05/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:

-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: "The Myth of the ‘Irreligious World’" And More

The Myth of the ‘Irreligious World’
Perhaps surprisingly to some, the West isn’t the global region in which religion faces a gloomy immediate forecast.

Evangelical pastor detained by ICE despite stay of removal, no criminal record
An Evangelical pastor in Florida who entered the United States illegally several years ago but was allowed to stay under certain conditions has been detained by authorities. Maurilio Ambrocio, a pastor and owner of a landscaping business, was detained last month by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as part of a broader sweep championed by both state and federal officials.

Revisiting the UMC's legacy of overlap
After decades of many congregations in too small a radius, The United Methodist Church now finds itself in a different kind of situation - fewer churches than before, and not by any of its own design or intent. In some areas, disaffiliation has left significant gaps, though with a deep sense of purpose that includes the need to reassess its future. What should have been a moment for a long-overdue strategic pivot instead became a reactive decision to stabilize what remains.

In this article Andrea Byer-Thomas identifies a number of problem areas which also affect churches in the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Anglican Church in North America, and the Continuing Anglican Churches.

Zero Invitations: The Unforced Error Series
An “unforced error” is a term borrowed from sports, especially tennis, meaning a mistake made due to one’s own lapse rather than being forced by an opponent. In everyday language, it refers to an avoidable mistake or misstep, typically resulting from a lack of attention or care rather than external pressure. Thom and Jess examine one of the most common unforced errors in this podcast: zero invitations.

Also See: The Holy Huddle: The Unforced Error Series

“Church Giving and Worship Attendance Trends” featuring Joe Park
What are the current church giving and worship attendance trends? In this conversation, Joe Park unpacks key trends in worship attendance and giving from Horizons Stewardship’s Church Giving and Worship Report: Key Findings from 2024. He emphasizes digital engagement, discipleship, and strategic ministry planning, while highlighting the importance of adaptive leadership, consistent generosity messaging, and authentic relationships.

9 Essential Steps for the First 90 Days in a New Ministry
Starting a new ministry is both exciting and challenging. As you enter a fresh ministry context, you’ll encounter unique dynamics within your congregation, whether you’re breaking new ground as the first woman or person of color or joining a congregation facing its struggles. Andreá Cummings provides steps to take within the first ninety days to help you build relationships and trust with your congregation, identify areas needing improvement, learn about your community, and forge new relationships with key stakeholders.

4 Traps for Clergy When Moving to a New Congregation
Bill Wilson of the Center for Healthy Churches says that the arrival of a new minister can be a marvelous opportunity to start anew for both the minister and the congregation—but only if the pastor steers clear of four common traps that can derail the new relationship.

How congregations become targets for child abuse
A recent Washington Post investigation uncovered how a Virginia youth minister allegedly used his position to groom and abuse young boys for decades. Churches failed to act, allowing him to move from congregation to congregation and continue preying on new victims, despite repeated allegations. This isn't an isolated incident. It's part of a systemic problem that persists because too many faith communities still lack clear, consistent policies to protect children, and abusers continue to take advantage of that.

Also See: Why haven't Christian leaders learned what we all know about church sex abuse?

Can You Trust People? 10 Ways Christians Can Reduce Stranger Danger
Evangelicals are more likely to trust people in their community, know many by name, and look for opportunities to talk with them.

7 Powerful Outreach Strategies to Grow Your Church
Church growth doesn’t happen by accident. While prayer, preaching, and worship are essential foundations, intentional outreach is what helps connect your church with the community. In today’s changing cultural and social landscape, churches must be creative, relational, and purposeful in reaching others. Implementing the right church outreach strategies can lead to meaningful engagement, spiritual transformation, and numerical growth.

Tuesday's Catch: 'The Burge Report: Why Are Non-Denominational Churches Growing?' And More

The Burge Report: Why Are Non-Denominational Churches Growing?
Fifty years ago, non-denominational churches were more of an anomaly. Today, they are one of largest religious groups in the United States and one of only a few growing religious groups. Why is this? Ryan Burge joins the show to discuss the reasons for growth among non-denominational churches.

Outlaw Pornography. Now.
Pornography isn’t merely immoral. It’s exploitative. It’s violent. It’s corrosive to relationships, harmful to children, and toxic to a culture that claims to value consent, freedom, and human dignity. It degrades the soul. How much longer will we stand idly by as this industry preys on us?

In her research Dr. Judianne Densen-Gerber, founder of the Odyssey House therapeutic communities for drug treatment, found a correlation between pornography and child sexual abuse. Perpetrators would use child pornography to stimulate their sexual interest in children, reinforcing their perception of children as objects of sexual gratification and wetting their appetite for further sexual activity with children, but also to persuade children to engage in particular sexual acts with them. They may see an adult perform a particular sexual act with a child on a video and this may trigger in them the desire to perform such an act with a child themselves. Watching more child pornography may heightens this desire and in some individuals will lead to them finding a victim with whom to act out this desire. Alcohol and other addictive substances can play a role in that they reduce inhibitions against anti-social behavior. They can also be used to make the victim more compliant.

3 Ways Your Church Can Communicate God’s Presence to Foster Kids
If families in our churches are welcoming foster kids into their care, how can we be equipped to come alongside these families?

Related: In Deed and Truth: How Churches Can Fight for Families and Support the Foster Care Community

The Reform of the English Church
The theory of royal supremacy justifying headship in both church and state emerged in the 1530s out of a long academic and legal debate that reached back at least to the twelfth century, with roots in a variety of sources—biblical, patristic, political, and historical.

England's prayer revolution and its modern legacy
This series of articles is about the historical pressures on the church that limit its congregational praying...This fourth article jumps forward approximately one thousand years from the last one, bringing us to seventeenth-century England and the second of our case studies.

7 Ways To Create a Powerful Worship Set List
One of a worship leader’s most fundamental jobs is picking the right songs for Sunday. Not only that, but putting the songs in the right order. Sometimes you can just feel which songs you should do. But this usually comes with years of leading. So how do you pick a great worship set list whether you’re a seasoned worship leader or just starting out?

20 Ways to Pray for Worship Leaders
Here are 20 ways to pray for worship leaders.

The ABCs of Salvation is Not the Gospel
Instead of starting your VBS training with the ABCs of salvation—the response to the gospel—you might consider ending with it.

Spread God’s Love: Printable Acts of Kindness Checklists
In a world often dominated by challenges and negativity, small acts of kindness can shine as powerful expressions of love and faith. Whether it’s helping a neighbor, sharing a smile, or offering a word of encouragement, each act can make a difference. As Christians, spreading God’s love through kindness aligns with the teachings of Jesus and helps to build a community of compassion and hope.

Monday's Catch: 'How the Decline of Denominations Is Reshaping American Christianity" And More

How the Decline of Denominations Is Reshaping American Christianity: Lessons from the Southern Baptist Convention
For decades, denominations have experienced a slow-motion deterioration. The declines in any one year are subtle, but each year’s cumulative effects have become a serious problem. Why should we care?

Related: Southern Baptists’ Membership Decline Continues Amid Other Areas of Growth

Rev. David Ewagata challenges African Evangelicals to engage the 'now generation': 'Hope is not a strategy'
In one of the most engaging and provocative speeches delivered at the 13th General Assembly of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA), the Rev. David Ewagata challenged the continent’s Evangelical leadership to radically reassess their assumptions and strategies regarding Africa’s youth.

The Mortification of Sin
Mortification is the theological term used to describe the call for those who are united to Christ and living in the power of the Spirit (i.e., Christians) to put to death (mortify) lingering sinful impulses that arise from within and resist temptations that surface from outside of the believer.

On Calling a Priest: Asking the Right Questions
Calling a new priest is one of the most consequential decisions a congregation can make. A priest is not just a leader or an administrator but a spiritual guide, a preacher, and a shepherd of souls. Yet too often, the questions asked during clergy interviews fail to reflect the sacred nature of this vocation.

Not every sermon is a challenge
...sometimes it is good to look at your church and highlight, actually, I think we do this pretty well. No doubt imperfectly. Not doubt not as well as we ought. But pretty well in the grand scheme of things. Pretty well relative to other churches we might have been part of. Maybe this bit of scripture that could be a challenge is actually a matter on which our particular church doesn’t need challenging to do better or take a hard look at itself, but needs encouraging that we’re actually doing okay on this one.

The Problem With Altar Calls – 4 Reasons NOT to Give Them
...there are situations and reasons where giving altar calls is not only wrong, it is dishonoring to God. What is the problem with altar calls?

How social media made me a better Christian
...social media’s harmful effects on individuals – worsening mental health, promoting tribalism and ignorance, for example - can be ameliorated by how we choose to engage with it. With some intentional adjustments, its effects on us can be transformed from harmful to enlightening, from a spiritual point of view. When social media brings out the worst in us, we can use that awareness to inspire change towards a better way rather than treading the same path.

When You Don't Feel Like Going to Church
Sometimes the most meaningful worship happens when we show up despite reluctance, allowing God to meet us in our weakness through the church community he designed for our spiritual formation.

Mission Trip Essentials: Packing Lists and Tips for a Faith-Filled Journey
Embarking on a mission trip is a transformative experience filled with opportunities to serve, grow in faith, and build meaningful connections. Whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, thoughtful preparation is essential for making the most of your journey. From packing the right essentials to cultivating a servant-hearted mindset, this guide will help you navigate your mission trip with confidence.

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, May 25, 2025) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday, the fourth and last Sunday in May, is the Sixth Sunday of Easter (or the Fifth Sunday after Easter). The Feast of the Ascension is next Thursday, May 29.

The three days before Ascension Day are traditionally known as the Rogation Days and this Sunday, the Sunday before Ascension Day, as Rogation Sunday. The following Sunday, June 8, is Whitsun, also known as the Feast of Pentecost.

In the past the fields were blessed on Rogation Sunday. Processions were held in which the Great Litany was sung or recited and additional prayers offered for the right kind of weather for the crops to grow and for a bountiful harvest.

It was also customary to conduct perambulations of the boundaries of the parish, the practice of “beating the bounds,” in which the boys and apprentices of the parish were shown the boundary markers of the parish and then beaten or otherwise treated roughly to ensure that they did not forget them. If the boundary marker was a pond or brook, they might be thrown into it. In later, more gentler times choir boys, armed with switches, would beat the boundary markers.

The topic of this Sunday’s message is what Jesus taught his disciples about loving him.

Readings: Acts 16: 9-15, Revelation 21: 10-14, 22 - 22: 5; and John 14: 23-29

Message: What Did Jesus Teach His Disciples about Loving Him?

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/05/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-may-25.html

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'UK bishops condemn Gaza violence' And More

UK bishops condemn Gaza violence
The House of Bishops of the Church of England has issued a strongly worded statement on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In it, they call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and international recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state.

Related: Canada’s Anglican, Lutheran leaders call for humanitarian aid to Gaza

Trump’s redefining of ‘antisemitism’ is all part of a plan
Before President Donald Trump’s second election, the Heritage Foundation created a blueprint for dismantling support for Palestinians in the U.S. Trump already has implemented three key parts of the plan: attacking nonprofits, cutting funding for universities and revoking visas of foreign students set for deportation.

Jewish Victims in D.C. Shooting Attended Episcopal Parish
The two young Jewish professionals who were shot at close range after leaving the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on the evening of May 21 were “exploring their faith as regular worshippers at Ascension & St. Agnes Episcopal Church near Logan Circle,” Bishop Marian Edgar Budde of Washington said in a statement on May 22. The parish, steeped in the Anglo-Catholic tradition and led by its rector, the Rev. Dominique Peridans, is a mile away from the scene of the crime.

Related: Washington bishop, cathedral dean issue joint statement on Israeli embassy staff members’ deaths

Heated debate on New Jersey church’s homeless shelter plan sets up vote in June
Christ Episcopal Church will have to wait a bit longer for a final decision on its overnight shelter proposal after pointed and divided debate took up the entire May 22 zoning board meeting in this Jersey Shore town.

Related: New Jersey church's proposed homeless shelter stil in limbo after zoning meeting

Primatial vote, future shape of church set to take centre stage at General Synod
Anglicans are gearing up for the next meeting of General Synod, which is set to take place June 23-29 at RBC Place in London, Ont. in the diocese of Huron and will include the election of the 15th primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, as well as an update from the primate’s commission on re-imagining the church.

Rick Warren tells African Evangelical leaders they 'must lead' to complete the Great Commission
Pastor Rick Warren, internationally known author of The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, addressed the General Assembly of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA) via livestream on Wednesday, calling on African Evangelical leaders to take the lead in completing the global mission of the Church. Speaking from California to Evangelical representatives from African nations, Warren emphasized Africa’s central role in the future of Christianity, urging the continent’s churches to step forward in global leadership.

What is Aldersgate Day?
Aldersgate Day is celebrated on May 24 (or the Sunday closest) to commemorate the day in 1738 when John Wesley experienced assurance of his salvation.

In the Church of Englannd May 24 is a lesser festival honoring John and Charles Wesley, evangelists and hymn writers. In Common Worship (2000), the collect for day is:

God of mercy, who inspired John and Charles Wesley with zeal for your gospel: grant to all people boldness to proclaim your word and a heart ever to rejoice in singing your praises; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

In Episcopal Church March 3 is a lesser feast honoring the Wesleys. In Lesser Feasts and Fasts, 2022, the collect for the day is:

Lord God, you inspired your servants John and Charles Wesley with burning zeal for the sanctification of souls and endowed them with eloquence in speech and song: Kindle such fervor in your church, we entreat you, that those whose faith has cooled may be warmed, and those who have not known Christ may turn to him and be saved; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

"How Small a Spark Has Lit a Living Fire!"
In 1988 the New Zealand hymnwriter Shirley Erena Murray wrote this hymn to celebrates John Wesley's Aldersgate experience for the 250th anniversary of the event.

Lyrics and Music:" How Small a Spark Has Lit a Living Fire!" (PDF)

Megachurch Geography: Why America's Largest Churches Thrive Where They Do
Maybe it's not just Divine favor that leads to growth.

Are Church Members Cussing More Today Than in the Past?
The co-hosts have noticed something—it seems church members are cussing more these days. But are their anecdotal experiences supported by data? Josh and Sam talk about the expletive problem in churches today.

Friday's Catch: 'Women in US remain more religious than men, even as Gen Z trend flips' And More

Women in US remain more religious than men, even as Gen Z trend flips
American women remain more likely to be religious than men, according to Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape Study. The study aligns with other research on gender and religion: Women have consistently been found more likely to be religious than men, in America and many other countries.

Related: Bible engagement rises among younger men, surprising researchers at American Bible Society

Episcopal Church raises alarm at GOP fiscal plan’s potential to harm low-income Americans
With congregational Republicans and President Donald Trump now poised to enact a fiscal plan offering tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy while slashing spending on safety net programs that benefit the most vulnerable Americans, the church’s Office of Government Relations has issued action alerts on some key provisions of the legislation.

Supreme Court tie vote dooms taxpayer funded Catholic charter school in Oklahoma
The outcome keeps in place an Oklahoma court decision that invalidated a vote by a state charter school board to approve the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which would have been the nation’s first religious charter school.

Related: Split Supreme Court won’t allow public funds for religious charter school; Supreme Court blocks public funding of religious school, outcome supported by Episcopal leaders

Five years after George Floyd’s murder, church leaders say race relations face retrenchment
‘We are honest about the conditions that we're facing, but we are not hopeless about what we're facing,' said Bishop W. Darin Moore of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

Evangelical leaders say Trump inspires national spiritual revival
Christians have long prayed God would send revival. Now, some Christian leaders say they are seeing signs of revival thanks to President Donald Trump.

"Historically, revival has come from pulpits, not politics. America’s first and second 'Great Awakenings' of the 18th and 19th centuries focused on salvation from sin and new life in Christ. These revivals spurred church growth and sparked far-reaching social reforms.

But a new breed of preachers and self-declared prophets prioritizes politics over evangelism, saving America over saving souls. Some of them prophesied that Trump’s reelection would spur revival."

How To Lead Those Who Don’t Want To Follow
Leadership is rewarding and definitely worth it, but let’s be honest, there are many days when it’s no picnic. Typically, those days have something to do with human conflict. Would you agree? And one of the most tension-filled situations involving conflict is attempting to lead someone who doesn’t want to follow you. So when that happens, do you know what to do?

What Should You Do When There’s No Time to Pray?
What should you do when there is no time to pray? On the surface, this appears to be a simple question, but it turns out to be a bit more complicated in practice. Here are four perspectives that may help.

VBS Recruitment Sources for Successful Summertime Outreach
With summer near, VBS recruitment is top of mind for kidmin leaders. Where can you find volunteers for this important ministry? To recruit volunteers for VBS, the obvious place to start is with your regular weekly children’s ministry volunteers and teachers. But you might also find volunteers in some unexpected places.

Small-Group Discussion Questions for Teens That Build Disciples
Bible-based small-group discussion questions for teens help them open up, build community, and grow closer to Jesus. Use these strategies and sample ideas for effective small-group ministries.

Thursday's Catch: 'Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or a fortune teller, Pew study finds' Ad More

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or a fortune teller, Pew study finds
Over half of LGBTQ+ Americans consult astrology or a horoscope at least yearly.

Related: 1 in 4 American Jewish adults in the United States consult astrology, survey says

Ireland sees rise in New Age weddings
Fewer people in Ireland are choosing to get married, and those who do are more likely than ever to opt for a New Age ceremony, statistics have revealed. Not including the pandemic years, Ireland’s marriage rate last year hit its lowest level with just 3.8 marriages per 1,000 adults.

Divided Supreme Court affirms ruling against Okla. Catholic charter school
An equally divided United States Supreme Court has affirmed an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling against the creation of what would have been the first taxpayer-funded religious charter school. In a brief per curiam opinion released Thursday morning, the high court ruled 4-4 to affirm the state Supreme Court ruling against the establishment of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.

Evangelicals urge 'AI President' Trump to launch advisory council to address 'profound ethical questions'
About a dozen prominent Evangelical leaders are calling for President Donald Trump to help usher in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) while addressing concerns about its potential dangers.A letter released Wednesday titled "Christianity in the Age of AI: An Appeal for Wise Leadership" expresses optimism about AI while acknowledging the dangers of "autonomous smarter-than-human machines that no one knows how to control."

Related: AI Makes Me Doubt Everything

Why the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed matters
This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the formulation of the Nicene Creed. If you're not deeply familiar with Christian history or theology, that might sound like an obscure detail. You might even be wondering: what does a fourth-century church meeting have to do with me today? Actually, quite a lot. Let’s take a quick journey down history lane.

3 Mistakes We Might Make When Thinking About Faith
The word “faith” appears approximately 250 times in the New Testament. But that word is a noun, and when you include the verb expressions of that word, there are far more. These would be words like “trust” and “believe.” Based on the number of mentions alone you’d have to include that “faith” is an important concept in the Bible.

Five Keys to Applying for a Ministry Job
Not long ago, a candidate reached out and asked me for specifics as to why he wasn’t selected, as well as for advice as to how he could better position himself the next time he applied for a position. The young man is to be commended for his willingness to learn—I have a hunch that will serve him well in ministry. Below is an adaptation of what I shared with him....

Simple Stage Planning for Great Sound and Worship
How do you render a stage setup? That’s the question posed to me by a reader. It’s a simple question that leads to a simple, yet lengthy response. Setting up a stage is more than just placing gear and placing people, it’s about consistency. I received an email asking, “Most of the time we just show up to church and spend a lot of time just trying to figure out where to put the instruments.” This means that right off the bat, there are two problems related to stage planning.

Anxious Times: What You Need to Know About Childhood Anxiety
Feeling anxious about the rise in childhood anxiety today? Read on to discover what anxiety is, how to help kids through anxious moments, and what our Father God wants us to remember during anxious times.

Discipleship as We Go: Learning From Jesus’s Everyday Discipleship Model
Like Jesus, we are called to recognize that life’s everyday moments offer extraordinary opportunities to invest in discipleship.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, May 22, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

This evening’s reading is taken from the Gospel according to Luke. In addition to a Gospel, Luke also wrote the Acts of the Apostles, which tells the story of the early Church. Luke’s Gospel is sometimes called the Gospel of the Holy Spirit because of the role that the Holy Spirit plays in it. The Holy Spirit also plays a major role in the Acts of the Apostles.

This evening’s message examines that passage to make its meaning clearer and considers how it applies to followers of Jesus and those who are not yet his followers.

Reading: Luke 5:27-39

Message: Of Tax Collectors, Wine Skins, and Patches

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/05/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_22.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: "In England and Wales, a ‘quiet revival’ is boosting faith" And More

In England and Wales, a ‘quiet revival’ is boosting faith
In 1800, 15-year-old Mary Jones hiked 26 miles across the harsh terrain of Northern Wales to purchase a Welsh Bible. Her journey inspired William Wilberforce and his band of social reformers to create what would become the Bible Society, a nonprofit in the UK dedicated to providing Bibles and resources around the world. Now, according to a report by the Bible Society, young people not much older than Mary are leading a “quiet revival” in England and Wales. Within the last six years, church attendance has grown by 2 million people, and young adult Christians in these countries report being more excited and actively engaged in their faith.

6 in 10 US adults say they’re Christians
Six in 10 adults living in the United States today identify as Christian, according to Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape Study.

Also See: Religious Landscape Study; How Many Americans Are Actually Spiritual But Not Religious?

Faith and religious observance a significant factor in 'human flourishing', Harvard study finds
A new piece of research conducted by Harvard academics has suggested that “human flourishing” is connected to faith and spirituality, with religious believers generally scoring higher than the irreligious. The Global Flourishing Study, published this week, looked at more than 200,000 people across 22 countries over the last five years.

Resettling Afrikaners is a ‘Faustian bargain,’ says Episcopal Church’s Sean Rowe
'Afrikaners don’t fit any definition of refugee,' said the Most Rev. Sean Rowe, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.

Also See: Presiding bishop visits Rome’s refugee center, a model for Episcopal churches across Europe, US

‘We don’t get to discriminate’: How a Raleigh ministry decided to help resettle Afrikaners
Faith-based groups are weighing whether to help the US government resettle Afrikaners after it shut down refugee resettlement for all others.

Over 5,500 sign petition against NJ town's plan to seize Episcopal church via eminent domain
More than 5,500 people have signed a petition to stop a New Jersey town from seizing the property of an Episcopal Church via eminent domain. Last month, Toms River Township Council narrowly approved a proposal to take control of the 11-acre property of Christ Episcopal Church and turn it into a recreational facility. The petition, which was recently posted by the church's rector, the Rev. Lisa Hoffman, has garnered over 5,600 signatures as of Tuesday morning.

>Hymn Vs Song — Is There a Difference?
I once wrote an article called “Three False Reasons to Label Your Worship Song a Hymn.” But what about the other side of that? In a world that sometimes seems like hymn vs song, let’s look at characteristics of a true hymn.

As someone who at one stage in his life was preparing to become a English teacher and has been at various times involved in music ministry, I must point out that there is also a type of poetry called free verse which deliberately has neither a strict meter nor a rhyme scheme and that the meter of some hymns is irregular. Some hymns also have refrains or repetitions. Call-and-response singing is typical in the church music of some cultures. 

Don’t Overcomplicate Your Bible Reading
I think every Christian should read through the entire Bible routinely. We are commanded to live on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt 4:4), and it is commended that we read in it all the days of our lives (Deut 17:19). And while this seems like it shouldn’t be controversial to say, I have found that almost every person I talk to in the American South (and I’d imagine is true of a lot of places) has never read through the Bible in it’s entirety. And it’s not just in nominal, cultural Christians. It is often in well-meaning, genuine Christians. Some are even leading in church or para-church ministries. For these people, I don’t think the problem is sincerity, but rather an overcomplicating of the Bible-reading process. I want to shine a light on some common mistakes and hopefully help you avoid them.

“Say Cheese!” Take Pictures to Expand Ministry
What’s happening in your church that deserves to be seen? Laura Heikes highlights a simple yet powerful way to expand your church’s reach—through pictures and videos. Every ministry is already doing meaningful work, but too often, only the direct participants see it. By capturing and sharing these moments, churches can increase engagement, inspire generosity, and change how the community perceives their mission. Here’s how to start sharing your story.

Your Church’s Biggest Entry Point: Why Social Media Matters
Church leaders often view social media as a low priority, but in today’s digital age, it’s a vital first impression for potential visitors. People search online before stepping into a church, seeking authenticity and connection. Megan Cullum, ShareChurch Marketing & Communications Specialist, says a strong social media presence fosters community and discipleship beyond Sundays. Focus on one platform, engage consistently, and balance content to make social media an effective ministry tool.

Kindergarten Bible Lessons Build an Early Faith Foundation
Kindergarten Bible lessons help young children learn about Jesus. With age-appropriate lessons, children’s ministry workers and Sunday school teachers can help kindergartners fall in love with God and the Bible. Read on for developmental tips, plus sample ideas for teaching kindergarten Bible lessons.

NIRD Principle: Service and Mission
The NIRD principle of Service and Mission emphasizes that discipleship should not only focus on personal spiritual growth but also extend outward in acts of service that impact the wider community. This principle reflects the biblical call to love one’s neighbor as oneself and to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. By engaging in service and missions, believers not only embody the teachings of Christ but also strengthen their communal bonds, making their faith active and dynamic. 

Tuesday's Catch: 'Acoustic Church: Could You Do a Sunday Service Without Microphones?' And More

Acoustic Church: Could You Do a Sunday Service Without Microphones?
In today’s worship culture, amplified sound is the norm. From microphones and in-ear monitors to digital soundboards and high-powered speakers, many churches rely on advanced audio technology to deliver Sunday services. But what if we paused to ask: could we do church without it? Could your congregation return to the raw, unfiltered simplicity of an acoustic church? This question isn’t just hypothetical—it invites a deeper look at how we worship and what truly matters in our gatherings.

Five Reasons Healthy Churches Seek Outside Help
Churches can struggle with seeking outside help, even when it’s obvious they need it. Thom and Sam discuss why healthy churches often have outsiders speak into the operations of the church.

Hope Amid Decline
Many within the church are deeply discouraged, not only because they fear their congregations may not exist in 20 years, but because their children and grandchildren have either drifted away or never engaged with the church at all.

Kentucky gov. remembers 19 killed in tornado as children of God, asks for prayers
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear remembered 19 people killed by a tornado that ripped through the state Friday as children of God and asked for prayers for others injured or displaced by the event.

Churchgoers respond to deadly US twisters
United Methodists in Kentucky and Missouri, among other states, are trying to bring relief after deadly tornadoes wreaked havoc this weekend. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is already processing grants for multiple conferences. Prayers and financial donations are welcome. United Methodists in Kentucky are asking for volunteers to help with cleanup, but otherwise people are asked not to self-deploy.

PCUSA to require clergy candidates to be asked their stance on LGBT issues
The Presbyterian Church (USA) will require ordination candidates to be asked about their views on LGBT issues, a move critics claim will discriminate against biblically-grounded theological conservatives.

Calvin Robinson loses priest licence after just 9 days in new denomination
Calvin Robinson keeps appearing in the Anglican Church weekly news cycle. He does not sound like he has come to terms with what Archbishop Steve Wood pointed out. He, Robison, is not a good advertisement for the Anglican Church in North America. The ACNA does not need the kind of controversy he stirs up.

The Foibles and Fallibility of Christian Leaders
The inconsistencies, unattended weaknesses, eccentricities, normalizations of subtle sinful habits, relational neglectfulness or awkwardness, sometimes grating quirks, phases of tiredness and even laziness, and susceptibility to pride — just to begin the list — illustrate what kinds of things can be found in almost every Christian leader at one time or another. They should remind us that we are all treated mercifully by God and cannot claim that any leadership position or recognition is fully “deserved” but strategically assigned by the Lord. He is a master at using flawed people.

What Does a Discerning Person Do?
Some Christians seem to be specially gifted when it comes to spiritual discernment. Others take a special interest in discernment and expend the hard effort of growing in the discipline of it. But they may sometimes wonder: What should I do with this discernment? What is it useful for? How does God mean for me to exercise it?

Four Things You Can’t Do Without the Holy Spirit
At the end of His life, Jesus said something astounding. He was speaking with His disciples on the night that He was betrayed, and He said, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away” (John 16:7). Can you imagine Jesus saying that? An advantage for Jesus to leave. Really? What in the world could be better than having Jesus in His first coming? Jesus answers this: “for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). So what is more advantageous for the disciples of Jesus than having Him in the flesh? Having the Spirit of God to live inside us! Jesus knew that without the indwelling of the Spirit, we would be completely incapable of living the Christian life. With this as a backdrop, I want to quickly highlight four things that we cannot do without the help of the Holy Spirit.

How to Know When It’s Time to End a Small Group
Church small groups are a vital part of Christian community life. They provide an environment for discipleship, prayer, accountability, and mutual support. But just like any ministry or initiative, small groups can have a natural life cycle. While the idea of ending a small group may seem counterintuitive or even discouraging, sometimes it’s the healthiest and most faithful step a church can take. Recognizing the right time to end a small group —and understanding why— is essential for cultivating a vibrant church community. 

Student Ministers, Parents Disagree Over Churches’ Expectations
Student ministers and parents aren’t always on the same page in terms of the church’s expectations for the parents.

Monday's Catch: '7 Dangers Of Romanticizing The Small Church' And More

7 Dangers Of Romanticizing The Small Church
If the first job of leadership is to define reality, belittling small churches is not realistic. Neither is idealizing or romanticizing them. We must see them accurately so we can serve and lead them well.

I Don’t Want Churches To Be Small; I Want Small Churches To Be Great
Small churches have unique strengths and gifts. But we must know three basic truths if we hope to turn those strengths into reality.

This article and the preceding one are taken from Karl Vater's Small Church archives. Small churches comprise the bulk of the churches in North America. They certainly form the lion's share of the churches in the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Anglican Church in North America, the Continuing Anglican Churches, and the several Methodist denominations. For this reason I will be posting and reposting links to articles related to small churches and small church and rural ministry when I come across them and links to resources that might be helpful to small membership churches.

Church of England encouraged by increase in church attendance
The Church of England has welcomed latest figures showing an increase in attendance for the fourth consecutive year. The worshipping community as a whole rose by 1.2% in 2024 to 1.02 million regular worshippers, while Sunday attendance increased by 1.5% to 582,000. Weekly attendance was also up by 1.2%, rising to 701,000.

Young Men Lead Renewed Interest In Christianity Across The UK
A curiosity about Scripture and God may be one of the leading factors behind a study that claims a “quiet revival” is expanding among young people in the United Kingdom, said an International Mission Board leader.

Alpha International announces its most successful year ever, reaching millions across the globe
Last year, Alpha experienced its most successful year since it began nearly five decades ago. More than two million people took part in the course worldwide in 2024 – more than in any previous year – confirming Alpha’s place as one of the most widely used tools for exploring the Christian faith.

Pennsylvania animal ministry supports ‘all creatures great and small’
For Episcopalians in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, caring for creation includes animal welfare because “the Lord God made them all.” That’s why, since 2023, the diocese’s Animal Ministry has been connecting owners to pets through adoption and foster events, providing access to free and low-cost vaccines and pet food and much more.

Related: Western New York Episcopal church’s pet food pantry honors late animal-loving deacon

How Clarity Helps You Lead Change
Don’t wait for the perfect conditions for change. You don’t need more resources to lead change with vision. You need more clarity.

Are you offering a ‘kids’ table’ for single adults at your church? 

Singles aren't the only folks tht churches segregate to a 'kids' table. Some folks aren't offered a table at all. For example, I live on the outskirts of a small university town, a segment of the population of which are vegan or vegetarian or exploring a plant-based diet. Except perhaps for the town's one Seventh Day Adventist church, none of the town's churches to my knowledge give thought to this population when planning church dinners and other meals. When it comes to food choices, the local Episcopal church which boasts being an inclusive church is not inclusive.

Dangers of Theological Controversy
There are dangers that we need to seek to avoid when entering into theological debate.

The Doctrine of Vocation
The Reformation doctrine of vocation teaches that all Christians are called by God to live faithfully in three arenas, the household, the Church, and the state, in which all Christians are to live out their priesthood as believers by offering up their lives as living sacrifices to God.

12 Practical Tips for New Pastors Starting Their Ministry Journey
Starting in pastoral ministry is a sacred calling filled with joy, challenge, and tremendous responsibility. Whether you’ve just graduated from seminary or are stepping into vocational ministry after years of lay service, the early days of pastoral work can feel both exciting and overwhelming. To help guide you through this season, here are 12 practical tips for new pastors designed to build a strong foundation for a thriving, faithful ministry.

5 Biblical Principles for Leading Worship With Excellence
Leading worship is more than a musical performance or emotional experience—it’s a sacred responsibility that calls for spiritual depth, humility, and a commitment to excellence. Worship leaders have the unique role of helping God’s people encounter His presence and proclaim His truth through music and praise. To lead well, worship leaders must align their leadership with Scripture. These biblical principles for worship leaders offer guidance for nurturing a worship ministry that honors God and serves His people faithfully.

15 Ways to Support Missionaries in the Field (Even If You Can’t Go)
Not everyone is called to travel across the globe to share the gospel, but every believer can play a vital role in global missions. Missionaries rely on the encouragement, prayers, and practical help of those back home. If you’ve ever wondered how to support missionaries beyond simply writing a check, there are many creative and meaningful ways to be involved in their work. Here are 15 ideas to help you make a lasting impact—right where you are.

Image Credit: Groton Historical Society

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, May 18, 2025) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday of Easter, the season, and the Fourth Sunday after Easter, the day. This Sunday’s service is Festal Morning Prayer, using the order for Daily Morning Prayer, Rite Two, from The Book of Common Prayer (1979). When the office is celebrated as the principal service on a Sunday or feast day, it is done differently from the way it might done on an ordinary weekday.

An instrumental prelude may be played before the service, followed by a period of silence. (Unlike previous American Prayer Books, the rubrics of the 1979 Prayer Book make no provision for a hymn before or after the service or before or after the sermon and none was intended.) The invitatory psalm and the canticles after the lessons are sung. Metrical versions of these songs may be used. On special occasions a hymn may be sung in place of a canticle. The variable psalm or psalms are recited or sung. Metrical versions of the psalms may also be used.

The rubrics of the office permit the singing of texts like the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. Metrical versions of these texts may be used as well as non-metrical ones.

A hymn or anthem may be sung after the collects, and an offering received and presented at this point in the service.

While a sermon or homily may be preached after this hymn or anthem or after the service, the most appropriate place to preach a sermon or homily is immediately after the last reading.

One of the distinctive features of the Daily Office in the American Prayer Books is that the lesser doxology, Gloria Patri, is said or sung after the variable psalms. This is also the practice in the Daily Office of the Eastern Orthodox Church. When Percy Dearmer, English Anglican priest, liturgical scholar, and hymn composer made a lecture tour in the United States in 1919, he discovered that it was a longstanding practice to sing this doxology even when the variable psalms were recited, using both non-metrical and metrical versions of the doxology. In The Art of Public Worship (1920), which contains the lectures that he gave on this tour, he recommends this practice. It enables a congregation to end the psalmody o a note of praise, reminiscent of the laudate psalms which were at one time a fixed element of Lauds, an ancient form of Daily Morning Prayer and from which Lauds derived its name.

In this Sunday’s message we unpack the new commandment that Jesus gave his disciples on the night of his arrest after Judas had left to betray him.

Readings: Acts 11: 1-18; Revelation 21: 1-6; and John 13: 31-35

Message: A New Commandment

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/05/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-may-18.html

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'CofE mission funding has brought in 37,000 people since 2017' And More

CofE mission funding has brought in 37,000 people since 2017
Church of England estimates that it has attracted an average 4,625 people to its churches every year since 2017, via its Strategic Development Funding (SDF) and Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB).

UK churches see twice as many people commit to following Christ since pandemic: research
Churches are seeing twice as many people committing to following Jesus Christ compared to five years ago, according to the latest research report titled "Changing Church" published by the Evangelical Alliance in the United Kingdom. The findings reinforce related research disclosed recently in "The Quiet Revival" Report by the Bible Society showing an increase in young men becoming Christians.

Americans Judge the Good Book More Positively, But Still Often by Its Cover
In the past few years, Americans have grown generally more positive toward the Bible, but that doesn’t mean they’re reading it more.

When Church Growth Goes From Invigorating To Debilitating
Pastors who are motivated by the push to get bigger year-over-year are vastly outnumbered by the pastors who are discouraged by it.

With fewer ordinations, seminaries find ways to serve young professionals in other fields
'Desperation is a spiritual gift, and so it gives you a chance to experiment with things that, you know, 10 years ago were off the table,' said the Rev. Kenda Creasy Dean, a Princeton Theological Seminary professor.

It’s time for evangelicals to leave Anglicanism
There is no easy way to put this. The Anglican Communion is on fire.

Breaking away may not be the best solution to the problems besetting the Anglican Communion. In the 1874 Evangelical Episcopalians left the then Protestant Episcopal Church over the growing influence of the Catholic Revival in that denomination and formed the Reformed Episcopal Church. In 2025, 151 years later, the beliefs and practices of the nineteenth century Catholic Revival are widespread in the Reformed Episcopal Church and have so transformed its character that its original founders would not recognize it. As Jesus told the disciples in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares and Article XXVI reminds us, "...in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good...." Evangelicalism in the United States has similarly undergone such a transformation that it is more a political identity than it is a religious one. Jesus also told the disciples that God in his time would sort things out.

Bishop Sutton Withdraws Calvin Robinson’s License
According to this article, the church where Calvin Robinson was priest has left the Anglican Catholic Church.

How To Improve The Quality Of Your Annual Church Events
Taking a few minutes to collect initial thoughts right after an annual event creates space for consistent innovation with minimal effort.

The Art of Being Mentored
Which is more important – to have a great mentor or to be a great student? The easy answer is both. But more and more I think the secret resides in being a great student.

Essential Lessons for Young (and Old) Pastors
I'm used to reading blog posts with titles like “What They Didn't Teach Me in Seminary.” Usually, the goal is to create buzz or sell a course or book. I don't want to add to that noise, but I'm going to write about a few things they didn't teach me in seminary that I think are important for a young pastor to know.

Local Preacher, You Need the Global Church
The biblical answers found by believers in the Majority World shed fresh light on familiar passages.

Red Brush Christian Church: Teens Leading Teens
Christy Heitger-Ewing describes how a group of teenagers in juior high school and high school created Step Forward Student Leadership Program, with the mission of intentionally raising up students to be leaders in the church and explains how the program operates.

Family Church Event Ideas for Summer (No Volunteers Required!)
To help you plan family church event ideas for summer we gathered five awesome activities. See if one (or more) of these fun, easy children’s ministry events will work for you!

Churches hope to tap the power of pickleball
Millions of Americans have taken up pickleball, touting its health and social benefits. A growing number of churches want to tap into those benefits — with a side of spirituality.

The downtown church in which I am presently involved turns its gymnasium into a pickle ball court several times a week. Almost all of the folks playing pickle ball attend the church. From what I have observed, they do not appear to be inviting unchurched people in the community to join them. To my mind this defeats the use of pickle ball as an outreach to the community.

The Role of Hospitality in Reaching the Dechurched
Sometimes we think of people who’ve dechurched in terms of their ideas: they had ideas about Christianity. Now they have ideas that are secular. True enough. But something we often forget about people who’ve dechurched, or are deconstructing, is that we humans are as influenced by communities as we are by ideas.