Thursday's Catch: 'How Can the Church Care for Its Disabled Members?' And More

How Can the Church Care for Its Disabled Members?
The question of how to care for individuals and families touched by disabilities in the church is first answered by recognizing a responsibility to care for all members of the church. Disability ministry is not optional, even if there may not be many people with disabilities in your church. It is not a ministry that we focus on after the “more important” ministries to children, youth, etc. Virtually every local church has someone in their midst impacted by disability, whether clearly visible or more invisible. And there are many more people in the community who long to be embraced by the church as well.

Also See: 10 Things You Should Know About Disability Ministry

Evaluate Your Summer Church Communication Strategy
It doesn’t matter what you say in staff meetings. What does the voice of your church, your communications, say are your priorities? Especially summer church communications.

Don’t Look for Bigfoot When You Need the Church
n his new book The Ghost Lab: How Bigfoot Hunters, Mediums, and Alien Enthusiasts Are Wrecking Science, freelance journalist Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling explores the connection between the implosion of institutional trust and the growing interest in the paranormal. His earlier book, A Libertarian Walks into a Bear, follows the disorder caused by the rejection of institutions in one small New Hampshire town. The Ghost Lab is an extended case study on the Kitt Research Initiative (KRI), one of dozens of paranormal investigation groups that operated in New Hampshire in the 2010s.

Catholic Mass in Anglicanism's home cathedral taps UK vogue for saints' relics
The July 7 event at Canterbury is evidence of a growing interest in shrines, saints and relics in the Church of England, often abetted by local Catholics.

Segregation, Affinity Spaces, and How the Gospel Defeats Racism, with Mika Edmondson (Ep 106)
A hopeful conversation about racial issues that aims to bring clarity and unity into an arena that's often dominated by confusion and division.

Vetoing our future
On June 22, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott line-item vetoed funding in the state budget that would have brought Texas into the federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program. By doing so, Texas is turning down an estimated $450 million in fully federally funded food assistance for children. That means our tax dollars are not coming back to this state.

What's in Trump's big bill that passed Congress and will soon become law
Republicans muscled President Donald Trump's tax and spending cut bill through the House on Thursday, the final step necessary to get the bill to his desk by the GOP's self-imposed deadline of July 4th. At nearly 900 pages, the legislation is a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and other Republican priorities, including new money for national defense and deportations.

This article does not cover a number of hidden provisions in this bill.

Medicaid, food aid recipients worry about safety net cuts in bill sent to Trump
Supporters of the sweeping tax and spending legislation that Congress has sent to President Donald Trump say the changes to Medicaid, food aid and other programs will encourage personal responsibility and halt those scamming the system. Critics of the bill, given final congressional approval Thursday, say the requirements will upend lives.

Churches can anticipate further strain on already strained community food banks and church food pantries for starters.

South Dakota church destroyed by fire rebuilds with support from two others sharing name
A small South Dakota congregation whose church was destroyed by fire two years ago is rebuilding this summer – with support from two similarly named congregations on opposite ends of the United States. Holy Innocents Episcopal Church was established in the Rosebud Reservation community of Parmelee in 1890. When the original wood structure succumbed in October 2023 to a fire, likely set by an arsonist, the news caught the attention of two other Holy Innocents congregations, in Lahaina, Hawai‘i, and Atlanta, Georgia

Why the Holy Spirit is More Relevant Now Than Ever Before
The world feels louder, faster, and more confusing than ever. Technology has advanced, society is shifting rapidly, and many are feeling anxious, spiritually dry, or disconnected from truth. In the midst of all this noise, Christians are asking deeper questions: Where is God in all this? How do I stay rooted? How do I discern truth from lies? The answer lies in one of the most powerful, often misunderstood gifts God gave us: the Holy Spirit.

Mainline Pastors Less Likely to Hold Historic Christian Doctrine
Evangelical, Catholic, and Black Protestant pastors share convictions on Christian doctrine that aren’t as common among mainline pastors.

What Makes a Sermon Work
Preaching this past Sunday reminded me how sermons work.

An Agrarian Prayer
If you have ever prayed the Lord’s prayer, then you have prayed for the soil and its earthworms—even if you didn’t intend to.

How Much Tech Do You Actually Need?
Whatever your situation, here are some basic principles to guide your decisions regarding tech purchases during this important process.

Why Small Group Ministries Fail
Many churches have attempted to start small groups, only to abort shortly after takeoff. I’ll share why small group ministries fail: the top 10 ways to ensure the failure of your group.