Tuesday's Catch: 'It’s Time For A Church Transition: Should The Pastor Leave? Hand Off? Or Reboot?' And More

It’s Time For A Church Transition: Should The Pastor Leave? Hand Off? Or Reboot?
No church should be so reliant on one person that it’s at risk of collapse when that person leaves. Even if that person is the pastor.

Diocese of Washington church plant offers outdoor worship on the banks of the Potomac
For four years the Rev. Pete Nunnally worked to create and refine an outdoor worship experience in the Episcopal tradition that was liturgically sound but decidedly different from most other services.

On Sept. 14, Water and Wilderness Church, the newest church plant in the D.C.-based Episcopal Diocese of Washington, had its official launch on Sept. 14, drawing 60 people.

Vibrant, innovative new churches may be the way forward for the Episcopal Church. These churches can be started in the facilities of existing churches as well as in non-traditional settings.

Anglican Chaplains Face Choice as Bishop Departs
A dispute between the leadership of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and its endorsing body for chaplains resulted in the latter unilaterally cutting ties with the North American church last week. ACNA endorses more than 300 chaplains, 187 of them in the U.S. military, twice the number endorsed by the Episcopal Church.

From Fringe to Mainstream: Why Doug Wilson Is Having His Moment
Katelyn and Roxy explore who Wilson is, why he matters, and what his growing influence reveals about the kind of conservative religion gaining political power in this moment.

Defense Secretary Hegseth tests Constitution in Pentagon worship services

Speaking at a recent worship service at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the US needs to be 'in prayer, on bended knee, recognizing the providence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission lauds Kirk, hears from Coach Kennedy
The evangelical Christian church in America is under attack, Jentezen Franklin told members of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission at the start of their third meeting Sept. 29.

West Tennessee bishop issues statement on Trump’s troops deployment to Memphis
West Tennessee Bishop Phoebe Roaf, whose diocese is based in Memphis, issued a statement Sept. 29 responding to the Trump administration’s deployment of troops to the city to combat crime. Residents want safe communities, Roaf said, but she emphasized the need to trust local leaders and instead address the root causes of crime.

Nearly half of American adults don't believe the Bible is literally true: study
While significant majorities of Evangelicals, black Protestants and Americans in the South continue to hold fast to literal belief in Scripture, a new study has found that nearly half of American adults see the Bible as a collection of helpful but “ancient myths” that are “not literally true.”

The Church Number: 70.5% Churches That Share Their Facilities with Other Organizations
In this episode, Thom looks at one of the surprising findings from the 2023 FACT (Faith Communities Today) study. The research shows that more than seven out of ten churches share their facilities with other organizations. Thom explores why so many churches are opening their doors, what kinds of groups they are hosting, and how this trend impacts both the church and the community.

The Church Number: 34% How Much More Churches Receive Per Attender If They Have Online Giving
In this episode, Thom looks at new data from the 2023 FACT (Faith Communities Today) study. The research shows that churches with extensive online giving receive 34% more per attender than those with none. Thom unpacks what that number means for church leaders, why it matters, and how congregations can take practical steps to strengthen generosity in a digital age.

Can’t Catholics and Protestants Just Agree?
Mark Gilbert and Leonardo De Chirico have edited an incisive series of essays in The Nicene Creed: The Nature of Christian Unity and the Meaning of Gospel Words. These essays respectfully seek to illuminate the fundamental difference between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism with the Nicene Creed as the backdrop for analysis.

Preaching for the Love of the World
How pastors can reclaim the climate conversation. 

How Digital Ministry Is Transforming Church Experience
When churches first embraced live streaming during the pandemic, it felt like a giant leap into the digital future. But now that most congregations are comfortable with streaming, leaders are asking a new question: what comes next?

Monk or Missionary: Christian Approaches to Social Media
...I’m increasingly convinced that most people should delete their social media and the ones that stay must adopt a more active posture toward it and not allow themselves to become a passive user that is subject to the whims of the algorithm. Both groups, those who stay on and those who get off, must practice the fruit of the spirit of self-control.

It seems to me that there are going to be two dominant postures toward social media moving forward, both legitimate and both necessary. They are monks and missionaries.

How to Have Courage Instead of Recklessness
As I write about in To Live Well, the key to courage is suffering danger for the good. Recklessness is when you suffer danger for its own sake. So courage is when you risk something (a job, social status, prestige, clout, opportunities, and so on) for the sake of something genuinely good. The ultimate good we should be aiming at is God’s glory.

4 Ways to Bring Small Group Benefits to Larger Ministries
These four steps won’t yield all the benefits of discipleship in a small group. But they’ll ensure discipleship happens in larger settings.

Dealing with Conflict in Small Groups: From Disagreement to Deeper Relationships
Every small group begins with the hope of building friendship, faith, and community. Yet even in the most committed groups, conflict eventually arises. Personality differences, diverse perspectives, or misunderstandings can create tension. The good news is that conflict in small groups does not need to divide—it can be the very tool God uses to strengthen relationships and grow faith.

Christian Youth Group Activities That Make a Difference
...varied Christian youth group activities are essential. Mixing up your meetings reaches a range of personalities and learning styles. Variety also helps teens experience different aspects of faith. They’ll know joy and laughter, conversations with God, the challenge of service, and the intimacy of worship.

Most importantly, Christian youth group activities create shared experiences that open doors for discipleship.

Monday's Catch: 'Survey reveals thousands of UK churches may close by 2030' And More

Survey reveals thousands of UK churches may close by 2030
A nationwide survey by UK charity National Churches Trust has raised concerns that as many as 2,000 churches across the UK could close within the next five years.

2025 State of Theology Report Shows Evangelicalism Suffers ‘Tragic Instability’
According to the latest State of Theology survey, many Americans are confused about Christian tenets, and modern evangelicalism suffers from “tragic instability.” Yet the results also reveal signs of hope—as well as the need for church leaders to continue teaching biblical truth.

Teaching Timeless Truth: 5 Practical Ways to Use the Nicene Creed in Your Church
The Nicene Creed shapes our worship, catechesis, leadership, and discipleship, keeping the truth of God before His people.

Resisting Provocateur Politics
In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s horrific assassination, public discourse has again revealed its ugliest edges. Social media certainly has a way of exposing the “evil treasure” in our hearts (Luke 6:45).

Free – But with Limits
How the First Amendment protects Americans’ speech − and how it does not.

Who was Michael the angel and what is his significance?
29 September is Michaelmas also known as the Feast of St Michael and All Angels. Who was St Michael and what is Michaelmas all about? This is the story....

A little encouragement for the more senior pastor who’s been doing it right for years
Today’s church in Western culture is ageist, it worships young pastors who preach in skinny jeans and fitted shirts and are members of the same gym you are. Often overlooked are the men who have spent decades in their study and on their knees so they could competently lead all the rest of us. As churches search for “young ministers with young families” who can “attract” young families from the communities, these more senior of pastors can be overlooked and vastly under-valued. Here’s a few words of encouragement for them....

5 Preaching Mistakes You’re Probably Making (And How to Fix Them)
The way you approach preaching ultimately determines how you preach, and of course, how your audience interacts with your message—and how effective your message really is.

So today, I want to walk through 5 preaching mistakes I’ve made—and mistakes I’ve seen others make far too often.

Quit Trying To Become A Great Preacher
Trying to be a great preacher can easily become about me. Preaching more effectively is always about Jesus.

Seven Expectations of Every Church Member that Should Never Change
Almost two decades ago, a church member asked me a straightforward question: “What things should we all do all the time?” This person understood individual calling and spiritual gifts, which can vary with each believer. He wanted to know the timeless expectations of every church member that never change.

Simple question. But a challenge to answer.

Church Community Is a Necessary Part of Your Spiritual Formation
...we can also rejoice in the reality that God does not ordinarily ask us to walk apart from other people. Instead, he gives us the good gift of companionship: friends and spouses, pastors and parents, all those who come alongside in the home, the church, and beyond to encourage us in our Christian walk. Let’s begin to explore this theme by considering two of the basic contexts in which we meet other Christians—home and church—and then consider how Puritan authors envisioned those relationships as profound sources of spiritual nurture.

Why Churches Need ‘Magnetic Spaces’
Magnetic spaces open doors to lasting hope by pointing us toward the gospel.

Sundays at All Hallows (September 28, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sunday at All Hallows.

In the Western Church the hymn “Glory to God,” or Gloria in excelsis, was a fixed element in the cathedral, or popular, daily office of Lauds, an early form of Morning Prayer, as was the canticle, “The Song of the Three Young Men, or Benedicite Domine laudemus, also known as ”The Song of Creation,” and “All You Work of God Bless the Lord,” and the last three psalms of the Book of Palms, Psalm 148-150. Th chief purpose of Lauds was to begin the day with an offering of thanks and praise to God.

The daily office of Lauds also contained capitellum, a selection of verses from the Psalms, that served as prayers of intercession and petition. The capitellum survive in Morning Prayer in the Suffrages.

When the bishop was present, the service concluded with the bishop laying hands on the members of the congregation and blessing them individually. When congregation grew too large for the bishop to bless congregants individually, bishops adopted the practice of extending their hands, palm outward, over the congregation and blessing the congregation as a group. When the bishop was absent, the service was concluded with the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.

Praise is a key element of Morning Prayer. It begins with the Invitatory Psalm and the variable Psalm or Psalms, continues with the canticles after the lessons and the hymn or anthem after the third collect, and concludes with the final versicle and response, “Let us praise the Lord….”

In this Sunday’s message we unpack 1 Timothy 6: 6-19 with particular attention to what Paul wrote about money and the things that really matter.

Readings: Amos 6: 1a, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6: 6-19; and Luke 16: 19-31

Message: Paul, Money, and the Things That Really Matter

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/09/sundays-at-all-hallows-september-28-2025.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: 'ACNA is tested and chaplains scramble as chaplain-endorsing nonprofit exits' And More

ACNA is tested and chaplains scramble as chaplain-endorsing nonprofit exits
The break comes as their bishop, Derek Jones, declined to participate in an investigation he and his lawyers deemed unlawful.

For readers unfamiliar with Derek Jones, a series of articles I wrote in 2010 may provide them with some background information and the controversy surrounding his reception into the ACNA from a non-Anglican convergence denomination--Anglicans Ablaze Goes A-Begging, Openness + Transparency = Trust + Confidence, More unanswered questions in Derek Jones’ reception as an ACNA bishop, and More than One Episcopi Vagantes Bishop in the Anglican Church in North America. As one can see from these articles, secretiveness and defensiveness have long been characteristics of the ACNA leadership.

Big Cities Need Great Small Churches, Too
Alongside big churches, we need an explosion of smaller, niche churches to infiltrate neighborhoods and challenge us to think differently.

The Burge Report: The Kids Aren’t Alright—And Church Student Ministry Might Actually Help
From diapers to dating, parenting never stops presenting hard questions. But today’s concern is different: Gen Z teens are experiencing a full-blown collapse in social connection. Dating is down. Friend time is down. Jobs are down. According to Monitoring the Future, the percentage of antisocial high school seniors quintupled from 3.5% in 1995 to nearly 16% in 2022. But here’s the twist: the one group that remained more socially engaged? Teens who attend church monthly. In today’s episode, Ryan, Thom, and Sam unpack the surprising role of religion in keeping kids socially healthy—and what churches can do to help.

In an ironic turn, Baylor University mirrors Southern Seminary What went around for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary three decades ago has come back around for Baylor University this fall. Woe be unto Baylor.

Another Pandemic Is Inevitable. Trump Is Making It More Dangerous.
Among its many painful lessons, the COVID-19 pandemic taught us that America’s defenses against a devastating health crisis were far weaker than most had reason to expect. More than 1.2 million Americans lost their lives to COVID, the most of any country. It’s puzzling and frightening to watch the Trump Administration dismantle initiatives aimed at keeping us safe from another pandemic.

COVID-19 has had a devestating effect upon church in the United States. It has not only resulted in a significant decline in church attendance but also has caused divisions among Christians over how to respond to outbreaks of highly infectious diseases and contributed to a widening division in society at large over vaccination and other public health issues.

Episcopal leadership conference focuses on churches’ response to the global refugee crisis
As Western governments continue cuts to foreign aid and humanitarian assistance, and as the United States dismantles its federal refugee resettlement program and eliminates the U.S. Agency for International Development, nongovernmental organizations and religious institutions, including The Episcopal Church, may need to step up their efforts to address the global refugee crisis.

With this in mind, the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe focused its annual leadership training over the weekend on the theme, “The Refugee Crisis: What we can do as parishes, missions and individuals.”

How ‘RaptureTok’ amplified an extreme corner of faith
The trend highlights how TikTok amplifies extreme performances of religion and raises questions about its impact on young people’s beliefs.

Also See: If You’re Reading This, You Might Have Missed the Rapture (According to TikTok)

Six types of people today’s church leaders have to try to shepherd in a single congregation... 

To help you better understand one of the many challenges church leaders face in shepherding the flock of God put into their care, it’s important to understand that in each congregation you’ll likely find a mix of these six types of people attending that local church....

The Frequency of the Lord’s Supper 

The clues in the New Testament about the frequency of communion combine to make a cumulative case. We’ll look at some verses in 1 Corinthians and in the book of Acts.

Many United Methodist churches celebrate Holy Communion only once a month and on Maundy Thursday and major church festivals. Yet John Wesley strongly advocated frequent reception of Communion and he himself practiced what he preached; William Willimon and other United Methodist leaders have encouraged more frequent celebration of Holy Communion; and the United Methodist Church licenses deacons and lay pastors to officiate at Holy Communion service, authorizing them to consecrate and distribute the elements. On the other hand, many small Episcopal congregations must rely on a shared priest or a supply priest to administer the sacrament and may celebrate Holy Communion only once or twice a month. On social media you find posts in which self-identified Anglicans champion only monthly celebration of Holy Communion.

Pray bigger prayers
We were thinking in our community group on Tuesday night about the kind of prayers we pray. Or, rather, the kind of prayers we often don’t pray.

To Speak Or Not To Speak: Thoughts on Making Public Comment
In recent weeks, I’ve seen a lot of public comment on current cultural issues. We live in a unique time. With the advent of social media, we have an abundance of hyperconnectedness, and the unprecedented ability to make our opinions known. The question that I constantly ask is, “Is this biblical?” To speak or not to speak? That is the question.

Fall Youth Group Retreat: Should You Plan Autumn Outings? 

Does it pay to organize a fall youth group retreat? Read on for expert advice about this important youth ministry topic.

Friday's Catch: 'When ‘Evangelical’ Means Everything but the Gospel' And More

When ‘Evangelical’ Means Everything but the Gospel
What once signified adherence to core biblical truths now functions more as a political identifier than a theological one.

Americans Are Split on the Role Religion Should Play in Schools
Americans are divided on religion in schools—most oppose displaying the Ten Commandments but agree its principles are worth following.

Embattled Oklahoma schools chief leaving post 

Ryan Walters will step down as the superintendent of Oklahoma public schools Oct. 1 to lead a conservative organization founded to oppose teachers’ unions and “the liberal, woke agenda” he claims is polluting American education and values.

ACNA Inhibits its Chaplaincy Bishop
The Anglican Church in North America’s Special Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy, which provides canonical residence to 300 military, hospital, and other chaplains, has attempted to secede from that church as its bishop, the Rt. Rev. Derek Jones, faces allegations of misconduct. The jurisdiction announced its disaffiliation from the ACNA on September 22, less than a day after Archbishop Steve Wood informed its chaplains of Jones’ inhibition from ministry.

Episcopalians join conservationists opposing Trump plan to end ‘Roadless Rule’ in federal wildlands
...All Saints’ Green Team and other Episcopalians who care about federally protected wilderness are joining Americans across the country in speaking out in opposition to the Trump administration’s plan to reverse a policy that for more than 20 years has kept large swaths of federal land off limits to automotive traffic, development and resource extraction.

Running dry: New study warns of extreme water scarcity in the coming decades
A new study published in the journal Nature Communications by researchers from the IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP) at Pusan National University in the Republic of Korea reveals that global warming is accelerating the risk of multi-year droughts that can lead to extreme water scarcity, threatening water demands in cities, agriculture, and livelihoods worldwide, already within the coming decades.

Fossil fuel burning poses threat to health of 1.6bn people, data shows
Fossil fuel burning is not just damaging the world’s climate; it is also threatening the health of at least 1.6 billion people through the toxic pollutants it produces, data shows.

US intends to cancel $13 billion in funds for green energy
The U.S. Department of Energy intends to cancel more than $13 billion in funds that the Biden administration had pledged to subsidize wind, solar, batteries and electric vehicles, it said on Wednesday.

How Trump’s assault on US wind industry threatens jobs and power for nearly 5m homes
Donald Trump has jettisoned Republicans’ long-standing “all of the above” approach to energy by using the US government to aggressively stamp out clean energy projects – particularly offshore wind turbines.

Young People Lead Urban Greening to Ease Climate Crisis
“Urban greening” projects led by young people are easing adverse climate effects in U.S. cities as well as instilling character and leadership skills in teenagers and young adults.

Regenerate and Renew in Fall: October Creation Tips
Ours is a faith of resurrection, renewal, regeneration. Our lives are a call to live that faith. Creation care gives us down-to-earth opportunities.

Thursday's Catch: 'Chaplains group in battle to cut ties with Anglican Church in North America' And More

Chaplains group in battle to cut ties with Anglican Church in North America
A chaplains agency body is attempting to end its affiliation with the Anglican Church in North America; however, the denomination is claiming that it cannot legitimately do so.

The Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy, an endorsing agency for Anglican chaplains established in 2014, sent a letter on Monday to ACNA Archbishop Steven Wood stating that they were terminating their affiliation with the denomination.

Episcopal Diocese of Maryland sees increase in the number of new people attending church
Earlier this year Maryland Bishop Carrie Schofield-Broadbent began to hear reports of a growing number of new people coming to churches across the diocese, so she brought it up at the mid-April service when diocesan clergy renew their ministry vows.

“She asked, ‘How many of you are experiencing growth?’, and over half the hands in the room went up,” the Rev. Catherine Thompson, rector of All Saints’ in Frederick, Maryland, told Episcopal News Service. In response, Schofield-Broadbent said it was important to note that what the diocese was experiencing “is a narrative that you don’t often hear in The Episcopal Church today.”

Church of England bishops overseeing parishes opposed to ordained women need extra help
Independent Reviewer Canon Maggie Swinson is recommending extra support for two bishops who provide extended episcopal oversight to parishes with a conservative stance on the ordination of women.

New Wineskins: Missionaries’ Family Reunion
The triennial conference, which brought participants to the Blue Ridge mountains from dozens of nations, marked its 50th anniversary, first founded as the Episcopal Church Missionary Community in 1975. Among the largest recurring events in the Anglican Communion, New Wineskins serves as a mission conference, family reunion for sending churches and missionaries serving across the globe, and a time of united worship.

IRS Proposal to Allow Political Speech in Churches Is Bad Advice
Attorney Holly Hollman of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC) cautions churches and nonprofits about partisan political actions and endorsements, even with recent changes to the administration of the IRS regulation that has forbidden tax-exempt entities from such activity. The BJC, founded in 1936, carries on the historic Baptist focus on separation of church and state by working with people of all faiths to protect religious liberty.

Rapture, again: Why the end times never end
We need theologies that bring us deeper into the society’s pain, not dreams of an escape hatch.

Day Shall Come Again
J.R.R. Tolkien was fond of the light/darkness dichotomy, even as all great myth makers and religious sages before him. Day and night, darkness and light are tremendously important in Tolkien’s legendarium.

A Leadership Lesson I Used Immediately
Bishop Emmanuel Sinzohagera tells of a leadership lesson he learned shortly after his recent election to the episcopacy that made his leadership more fruitful as he practiced “outside to inside” thinking.

A Quiz for Those of Us who Don’t Delegate Well
I’ll admit it: I struggle with delegation. It’s tough for me to admit that fact because of what it says about me, but an admission is a first step toward addressing the problem. If that’s where you are, I challenge you to take this quiz. Identify the reason(s) you don’t delegate, and then determine one step you will take in the right direction.

3 Preaching Trends That Are Changing Sunday Mornings
If you’re a pastor, preacher, or communicator, you’ve felt it—something has shifted. Preaching isn’t landing the way it used to. Audiences are distracted, engagement feels flat, and the sermon is no longer the only message people hear all week. So how do you break through the noise and connect in today’s digital world?

In this video, I unpack 3 preaching trends every pastor and communicator must know if you want your sermons to truly resonate....

The Preaching Style That Reaches Young Adults
Research shows younger adults are showing up to church more often than other generations. Is your preaching reaching young adults?

How Fast Should a Preacher Preach Words if a Preacher Could Preach Words?
My reaction to this article was: Talk too fast and you'll lose your congregation's attention: they'll tune you out. The problem may be that you are trying to cram too much information in your sermon, more information than your congregation can remember and digest.

10 Reasons Youth Leave the Church
Reasons youth leave the church is a challenging, often-discussed topic. Read on for expert insights into why teens leave churches and youth ministries after graduation.

Fuel for KidMin Leaders: Fill Up Your Tank
Need fuel for kidmin leaders and church staff? Learn how filling your leadership tank gives you the fuel to lead your entire team.

Don’t Wait Until the Teen Years To Talk With Your Kids About Sex. Here’s Why.
Here are four reasons I encourage parents to start having age-appropriate conversations about these topics with our kids well before their teenage years....

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (September 25, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

It is now officially fall in the Jackson Purchase, the westernmost region of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. After a lengthy dry spell, the autumn rainy season has begun. The ground had become so parched in places that it had begun to crack. The leaves on the trees had become wilted and discolored from the lack of moisture and were falling prematurely.

Christians also experience dry spells, times in their lives when God seems to be absent and they struggle with prayer and other spiritual practices. Yet God has not deserted us during these times. God is with us always even though we may not sense God’s presence. Such times can lead to greater self-awareness and to a deeper spiritual life, in the same way an autumn rainy season follows a summer drought.

In this evening’s message we consider the implications of the outcome of what Church historians call the Council of Jerusalem for the early Church and for today’s Church, for ourselves and those exploring the Christian faith.

Reading: Acts 15:1-21

Message: A Momentous Decision

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/09/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_25.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: 'Why Young Men Are Coming Back to Church' And More

Why Young Men Are Coming Back to Church
J.T. Reeves offers his take on why young men of his generation are returning to church.

Religious People Are Happier Than Non-Religious People
It's time to say the 'one true thing.' 

Do We Need a Mission Statement? 

Does a parish need a mission statement? Do they matter for church growth? After all, Jesus did not leave us adrift; our Lord gave us five different “great commissions” (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; John 20:21; and Acts 1:8). Yet it’s near impossible to find an Episcopal parish of any size without a mission statement. Are they necessary?

A mission statement that is succinct, direct, to the point, and easy to remember does serve a useful purpose. It can be used to keep a church focused on its principal mission. Churchgoers quickly forget what is the mission of their church unless they receive frequent reminders. A surprising number of Christians and I suspect even larger number of Episcopalians are not acquainted with the Great Commission.

Fresh approaches needed to tackle political ‘age of rage’, US study suggests 

Efforts to reduce the hostility people feel towards rival political parties can result in small changes – but such effects largely evaporate within two weeks, researchers have found.

The team behind the work, which explored the impact of interventions ranging from correcting common misperceptions of the other side to enabling contact between political opponents, say their results suggest fresh approaches are needed to tackle what some have labelled the “age of rage”.

Covid 'peculiar' symptoms as doctor warns there's three things you should know
A new Covid variant is spreading rapidly, causing a surge in infections and presenting unusual symptoms that may catch some people off guard.

Also See: RFK Jr’s vaccine panel votes against recommending prescription for Covid vaccine, emphasizing personal choice

The Results Are In: 2025 State of Theology Survey
The 2025 results are in, and they’re sobering.

This nationwide survey highlights widespread confusion about God and His Word, even among evangelicals who claim to have a high view of the Bible.

Doug Wilson Is Not a Prophet
Confusing Doug Wilson with a prophetic voice distorts the prophetic office and damages the church. I write with this concern not as an outsider but as one who pastored in the CREC for more than a decade. From that vantage I saw both the appeal of Wilson’s persona and the theological and moral toll it exacts, though one need not be in the CREC to recognize the pattern. My concern now, as it was then, is to guard Christ’s flock from mistaking brand-building provocation for authentic prophetic ministry.

The SECRET to Delivering Engaging Sermons and Talks
83% of Americans say preaching impacts their decision on a church home. Having just filmed a new 45 video course called the Art of Preaching, Mark Clark and I share 90 minutes of our best preaching tips from the course and our accumulated years of reaching tens of thousands of unchurched people.

Also See: Five Questions for Preachers; 3 preaching rules

What Is Congregational Worship?
This reflection on what is congregational worship comes from Ed Steele....

Finding true friends in Christ: 6 traits to look out for
... in the search for friends, it’s worth remembering that not all friendships are the same. As Christians, we long for more than just temporary bonds - we long for friendships that are anchored in Christ; relationships that carry eternal value. These are the friends we’ll one day rejoice with in heaven.

So, what does a true friend in Christ look like?

Opinion: When extremist content meets glorified violence online, communities pay the price
Deadly school shootings in the U.S. are tragically common, but they are not inevitable. The 16-year-old who opened fire on his classmates and ultimately took his own life had been exposed to a toxic online community, including a forum in which graphic violent videos and extremism were celebrated.

Also See: In the Wake of Charlie Kirk's Assassination, Get Your Kids Offline

RFK Jr. wants an answer to rising autism rates. Scientists say he's ignoring some obvious ones
his week, the Trump administration announced that it was taking "bold action" to address the "epidemic" of autism spectrum disorder — starting with a new safety label on Tylenol and other acetaminophen products that suggests a link to autism. The scientific evidence for doing so is weak, researchers said.

RFK Jr. is running a dangerous experiment on all of us
This week in “science” according to politicians, President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are now warning pregnant women to avoid Tylenol — yes, Tylenol — because of its supposed link to autism. Never mind that there’s no strong scientific evidence to back that up. It’s just the latest example of a clear trend in this administration: ideology-first policymaking.

Last week, a low-profile but high-stakes meeting on the country’s vaccine guidance flew under the radar, but there was major drama — and again more ideology on display than science.

3 Foundations of a Discipleship Culture
Pastors and church leaders must take deliberate steps to shape a culture that makes discipleship the expectation and the norm.

10 Mistakes I Made Navigating Theological Differences
Winnie Mughogho shares 10 mistakes she made in engaging with people of different theological leanings.

How to Solve the Overreaction Epidemic
Everywhere we look—on cable news, on social media, in our own backyards—people are in full-blown freak-out mode. We rage at TV talking heads, spiral into despair over current events that may or may not actually take place, and we lash out at loved ones as a result.

Yes, there are real problems in the world which warrant our attention—and may rationally elicit feelings of anger or anxiety.

But here’s the truth: While we can’t always control what happens, we can decide how we respond to it. And that, in turn, changes everything.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Annual USDA Hunger Report Cancelled' And More

Trump administration cancels annual hunger report after enacting historic cuts to nation’s safety net
The Trump administration is terminating the federal government’s annual report on food insecurity in America, saying it had become “redundant, costly and politicized” and noting that “extraneous studies do nothing more than fear monger.”

As I recall, President Trump in his first term in the midst of surging hospitalizations and deaths from the COVID 19 epidemic, questioned the need to report these hospitalizations and deaths since the reports kept the gravity of the epidemic in the spotlight. He hazarded that with a cession of these reports the epidemic would disappear. If the hospitalizations and deaths went unreported, there would be no problem, much less a serious one. It appears the same kind of thinking lies behind the cancellation of the annual USDA hunger report. Food insecurity will, however, continue to plague the United States with rising food prices, unharvested crops, food shortages,  increased unemployment, and cuts to SNAP, even if the Trump administration turns a blind eye to it. It will not go away if it is ignored!

Opinion: Trump is breaking his most important promises and keeping the worst
When President Trump was sworn into office for his second term, he made a lot of promises to the American people. He has broken many of them.

Donald Trump’s Corruption of the Law Is Destroying American Democracy
Donald Trump lies about virtually everything except for one topic: his unrelenting hatred of his political foes. He’s willing to indulge this rage even at the most inappropriate moments—say, a nationally televised funeral service supposedly based on Christian faith and healing.

‘We are on the side of God,’ Stephen Miller says
Enemies of the MAGA movement “have nothing,” Stephen Miller said at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service Sunday morning. But conservatives, on the other hand, “are on the side of God.”

Miller, who has been called the mastermind behind the most controversial actions of the Trump administrations past and present — including family separation and the deportation of legal immigrants — was among a host of speakers at the five-hour political rally memorializing Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA.

Anglican Communion entering a 'crucial' period, says Gafcon leader ahead of Nigeria meeting
The Most Reverend Dr Laurent Mbanda, Chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council, has called on all “orthodox” bishops within the Anglican Communion to join a meeting in Abuja, Nigeria in early March next year.

Back to School: Why Theological Education Matters to the Church
The common assumption is that theology belongs in the schoolroom, not the sanctuary—hence the relative lack of concern about the epidemic of seminary closures—but Kevin J. Vanhoozer begs to differ.

Medievalism Isn’t the Answer to Modernity
It’s hard not to feel that the world order is changing and that the West is in terminal decline, undermined by liberal progressivism within and revanchist imperial nationalism without. Are we witnessing the death of Western civilization?

Jamie Franklin, a high-church Anglican vicar in England, certainly thinks so. In The Great Return: Why Only a Restoration of Christianity Can Save Western Civilization, he argues that the only answer to cultural decline is a widespread return to a Christian society of a medieval flavor.

Reconsidering the Articles of Religion: The Contemporary Value of the Articles of Religion
Over the course of my consideration of the Articles of Religion as a confession thus far, I’ve made two arguments: that the Articles of Religion are best understood as a broadly Reformed statement of faith, and that for most of the history of ‘Anglicanism’ as an independent form of Christianity, they have functioned as our confession. Both of these are essentially descriptive claims, about what the Articles are and about the most plausible reading of Anglican history. Now, in the final part of this piece, I want to move onto a more normative claim: we should retrieve the Articles as our confession of faith for contemporary Anglicanism....

AI in the Pulpit: How Pastors Can Use It Without Losing Their Souls
Technology has always reshaped the way God’s people gather and communicate His Word. From the invention of the printing press to the rise of radio and television, each new medium has raised questions about how faith can be faithfully shared. Today, church leaders face a new frontier: the rise of artificial intelligence. AI in the pulpit can be both a gift and a challenge, offering efficiency and creativity while raising questions of integrity, authenticity, and spiritual depth.

What’s So Intimidating About the Bible?
"What makes the Bible so intimidating? Here are some of the things that were running through my mind as I furtively examined Bibles, alone in the bookstore...," writes Rebekah Matt.

Understanding Your Hindu Neighbor
If you are a follower of Jesus living in the U.S., you probably cross paths with someone who identifies as Hindu. You may want to take steps of genuine friendship toward them but feel unsure how to do so. You may also want to share the good news of Jesus but worry about offending anyone because of what seem to be substantial cultural and religious differences.

How do you navigate these differences to move from crossing paths to experiencing deeper friendship with Hindu neighbors?

Monday's Catch: "Church leaders object to ‘co-opting’ of Christian symbols" And More

Church leaders object to ‘co-opting’ of Christian symbols
Church leaders from a broad spectrum of denominations and traditions have issued a joint statement against the “co-opting” of Christian symbols like the cross.

At Charlie Kirk's memorial, religion and MAGA politics combine
Shortly before the speaking program began at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday (Sept. 21) to kick off the massive memorial service honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a group of prominent Christian musicians onstage sang a rendition of the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul.”

...It was the beginning of what quickly became an unapologetic fusion of conservative Christianity — particularly evangelicalism, Kirk’s chosen religious tradition — and President Donald Trump’s style conservative politics, sometimes delivered by prominent representatives of the U.S. government.

Also See: Trump officials praise Charlie Kirk’s faith and his mark on the conservative movement

In conversation with Matthew Boedy
Matthew Boedy is a professor of rhetoric and composition at the University of North Georgia, a leading expert on Turning Point USA and its founder, Charlie Kirk, and the author of The Seven Mountains Mandate. This interview took place before Charlie Kirk’s murder and does not anticipate or respond to it.

Another year, another apocalyptic prediction
Recent days have once again seen a flurry of speculations regarding the return of Christ in what is commonly referred to as the “rapture” or the parousia. A message has been rapidly spreading through social media suggesting the rapture is to take place this September, during the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets.

Scottish Episcopal and Roman Catholic bishops sign declaration of friendship
A historic declaration of friendship between the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Catholic Church in Scotland was signed in Edinburgh Sept. 16, allowing them to work more closely together in future.

The Saint Ninian Declaration supports a deepening relationship between the two denominations, making greater cooperation possible while acknowledging that there are differences between the two churches.

State of Theology Finds Stable Theology Among Americans
The latest State of Theology study of Americans finds significant stability across a wide range of theological beliefs.

Reading John 11 with Cyril of Alexandria
oes Christology inform our understanding of Holy Scripture? The Christian tradition affirms that Christ is one person with two natures, and these two natures are not united to one another. As the Chalcedonian Definition affirms, they do not mix or comingle. Rather, Christ’s divine and human natures are united hypostatically, that is, in the one person of Christ. Christ always acts as one person, but some of his acts are proper to the divine nature and others to his human nature. This is the basic claim made by the church father Cyril of Alexandria (d.444) in his important book On the Unity of Christ. But what does this have to do with reading Holy Scripture? If Christ is one person, does a two-nature Christology have anything to say about how we should read Holy Scripture? Cyril shows that it does.

Who was St Matthew and what do we know about him?
21 September is St Matthew’s Day. But who was St Matthew and what do we know about him? This is the story....

You Want to Be a Pastor?
In the words of Paul Tripp, pastoral ministry is a dangerous calling. You can inoculate yourself with the very truth that you preach and make shipwreck of your soul. You can disqualify yourself with habits of sin. The character standards are far higher for pastors than for businessmen or electricians. You cannot long pretend to love God and shepherd his people. God will not be mocked — what you sow is what you will reap (Galatians 6:7).

8 Ways to Gain Ministry Experience While in Seminary
In this article, Daniel Viezbicke lists three principles he learned in his time at seminary, followed by eight practices that helped him gain ministry experience.

Seven Areas Where Pastors Have Failed at Reading Minds
Here are seven common scenarios where pastors have “failed” at reading minds. And each of these examples reflects a deeper challenge that churches must face with honesty, grace, and a healthy dose of clear communication.

9 Reminders for Ministry After Retirement
Are you prepared for the shift from ministry to retirement? Perhaps it’s time to reimagine what retirement means for those called by God.

Every Excuse Is a Reason to Meditate on Scripture
What’s your excuse reason to meditate on God’s word today?

Praying Desperate Or Numb
Getting answers to prayer can be so painful. It’s no wonder we need strength to endure.

Saturday Lagniappe: '3 Ways to Provide Spiritual Encouragement for Disabled Church Members and Their Families' And More

3 Ways to Provide Spiritual Encouragement for Disabled Church Members and Their Families
One way a church can demonstrate an attitude of welcome is by offering spiritual encouragement to those with disabilities and their families.

Americans are deeply confused about sin, new study finds
A new national survey has found that most Americans remain deeply confused about the nature of sin, with many rejecting biblical definitions and even refusing to call themselves “sinners.”

Not an insult, but a reminder of God’s grace: why are we sinners?
Many Christians today feel uncomfortable with the word ‘sinner’. It carries heavy associations of guilt and shame. Some ask, ‘How can I be called corrupt at the core when I haven’t harmed anyone?’

The Assurance & Comfort of Becoming Like Jesus
Are you confident that you are saved, that you have received God’s grace in Christ, and that you will forever enjoy God’s presence in heaven? Christians sometimes wrestle with the assurance of their salvation; however, God intends His beloved children to walk by faith in the joy and comfort of true assurance.

The Butterfly Song
A popular children's worship song from the 1980s which Songs for Celebration - Church Hymnal Series IV introduced to the Episcopal Church. It is one of more than 330 songs in Rise Up & Sing, Third Edition Assembly Book [Hymnal Softcover] Children's Music Resource, available from OCP

Jane Austen On Prayer
On the 250th anniversary of her birth, Jane Austen’s reputation has never been higher. But what would surprise many devotees is the depth of Austen’s Christian faith, especially her deep prayerfulness. This may even be news to many of her fans. But Christian prayer was at the core of who she was and the books she wrote. And Austen offers us considerable resources for our prayer, not least the prayers she wrote.

Don’t Assume Biblically Literate Students Are Doing Fine
Youth leaders aren’t mind readers. Even so, we ought to be looking beyond surface-level signs of spiritual health. A student’s biblical literacy or the appearance of living in a Christian home doesn’t necessarily reflect the state of his or her heart. Relying on those markers alone is a risky practice. Scripture is clear that proximity to the things of God doesn’t always mean someone is walking closely with him—and when we mistake familiarity for faith, we can fall into several dangerous traps.

Care for KidMin Volunteers at Your Church
Care for kidmin volunteers goes a long way. We all know that eager (and reliable) volunteers can be hard to find. So when an A+ volunteer walks through your doors, you want to ensure they stick around.

But all the hustle and bustle of children’s ministry often leaves us heaping too much on these dependable helpers, while forgetting to encourage, support, and grow our volunteers.

To fix this issue and to keep the members of your all-star team happy, use these five ways to care for kidmin volunteers.

Want to Make Jesus Known? Use a Catechism
Could a catechism change the world? During the Reformation, catechisms presented the basics of the Christian faith in a way that proclaimed Christ and dismantled serious errors running rampant in the Church. Nothing was ever the same.

Centuries later, the truth of Scripture hasn’t changed, but the cultural context has shifted. How do we express the truth about Christ in an era when people want to create their own meaning, accept only what they feel is true, and reject biblical realities like hell, judgment, and redemption?

What one question could lead them to think about everything differently?

Friday's Catch: 'What Really Scares People Away from Church' And More

What Really Scares People Away from Church
Doctrine, expectations, and high standards do not scare people away from church. Confusion is the main enemy. According to Church Answers Research, over 60% of unchurched people agree or strongly agree that churches are confusing for outsiders—and shockingly, 60% of churchgoers say the same.

The Church Number: 79% The Number of Church Attenders Who Say Church Is “Very Important”
In this episode, Thom dives into a surprising and encouraging statistic from the 2023 FACT study—79% of church attenders say that church is “very important” in their lives. With so many articles and headlines announcing the decline of religion in America, this number offers a different perspective—one filled with hope, mission, and responsibility.

The data comes from “This Place Means Everything to Me: Key Findings from a National Survey of Church Attenders in Post-Pandemic United States” (2023 FACT study, published by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research). The study is one of the most comprehensive post-pandemic surveys of active churchgoers in the United States.

Also See: The Church Number: 62% The Percentage of Churchgoers Who Attend Weekly

The Big Front Door for Guests Just About Every Church Misses
Most churches miss this front door, not because of a lack of awareness but because of a lack of effort. Over half of the unchurched believe church could be a great place to make friends, but nearly 60% say it’s too intimidating to visit alone. That’s a huge opportunity. Today’s episode highlights how friendship, follow-up, and one key ingredient—an invitation—can lower the barrier and open the door for gospel conversations. Thom and Sam discuss some key takeaways from their new research.

Why Conflict in the Church Is Often About Something Else
Thom and Jess discuss how church conflict is often not about the issue on the surface. Many disputes mask deeper spiritual, relational, or personal struggles — and wise leaders learn to look beyond the obvious.

Stick with Christ’s Love
“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Why faiths must lead on climate
We must lead the way to a just and livable future built on renewable energy — not dangerous fossil fuels.

Prof reviews proper and improper uses of Bible in public schools
The Bible has not been banned from public schools, but there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to use it there, a professor told a summit on religion and public education Sept. 16.

Mark Chancey, professor of religious studies at Southern Methodist University, was one of 15 speakers at the two-day summit in Dallas sponsored by Interfaith Alliance and 20 cosponsors. His assigned topic was “The Use and Abuse of the Bible in Public Schools.”

Contrary to what some evangelicals contend, the Bible has not been banned from public schools, he explained, outlining differences between teaching about the Bible versus teaching the Bible as religious dogma.

To See the Unseen: The Holy Spirit’s Eye-Opening Work
At the pinnacle of Jesus’s ministry, when he appeared in his resurrected form to his disciples, he asked, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (20:29). These words anticipated the Spirit’s work. By granting faith, changing hearts, and empowering God’s mission, the Spirit leads believers to see what we can’t see apart from him.

‘Rite 4’? Not yet, but Episcopal Church encourages experimentation with new liturgies
A quick Episcopal liturgical quiz: How many rites for Holy Eucharist are contained in the Book of Common Prayer?
If you said four, you’d be wrong – the prayer book offers the traditional Rite One, the contemporary Rite Two and a third liturgical order available for special circumstances – but a liturgy known as “Rite 4” does exist, if only at one congregation, St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.

From what I have observed and experienced, Episcopal congregations need to tighten up on how they celebrate the existing liturgies before experimenting with new ones. Too often the rites and services of the current Book of Common Prayer are celebrated with little care, effort, or attention. What is needed is not so much new liturgies as the better celebration of existing ones.

Preaching and Perspicuity
Preachers, are you tempted to imperspicuity in your preaching? Do you unnecessarily drop your knowledge of the original languages in your sermon? Instead of giving your congregation tools to clarify scripture, do you prove your own intellect?

Education: Can singing evensong encourage pupils to engage in worship?
Singing evensong in Lichfield Cathedral sounds like an unusual school outing. For the primary-school children who sang alongside the cathedral’s choristers, and their parents and teachers in the congregation, it was an intensely moving experience.

They were taking part in a new research project that has highlighted the crucial part that singing can play among primary-school children.

The Smartphone Problem in Your Church
Thom and Jess discuss how smartphones have reshaped connection — and disconnection — in the church. From constant distraction to reduced attention spans, they explore how devices affect worship, community, and discipleship.

Don’t Chase Influence, Use It
...as a Christian, you should recognise that you too are influential. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, an accountant for a multinational company, or a prominent leader in your denomination, you have influence. The singular effect of this isn’t important. Because each of us serves a role in God’s great plan. In this article, I want to exhort you both to realise that you have influence, but that it is also limited in some important ways.

Thursday's Catch: 'Is the religion gap between American men and women narrowing?' And More

Social scientists have long found women tend to be more religious than men – but Gen Z may show a shift
The religion gap between American men and women may be narrowing, a scholar explains – reflecting a seeming ‘God gap’ in US politics.

Why Gen Z Views Church Differently
Thom and Jess explore why Gen Z’s view of the church differs significantly from that of past generations. They unpack the values, expectations, and skepticism of this connected-yet-cautious generation.

Kids? Marriage? Young adults are delaying these key milestones
Young adults are prioritizing economic security over marriage and having children, according to a report from the Census Bureau. These shifting priorities reflect the burden of rising living costs such as housing, food and travel.

This trend is one of a number of trends that can be expected to affect church attendance and church growth both now and in the future.

Without Johnson Amendment protections, churches can be exploited by politicians, donors
The entire nonprofit sector risks being corrupted and captured by partisan politics and polarization.

Among high-income countries, US shows slowest progress in reducing risk of chronic disease deaths, new study finds
Among all high-income Western countries, the United States has shown the worst performance in reducing the probability of dying from chronic diseases, a new study finds.

For a high income country the United States also has a unusually high rate of infant mortality

Blue plaque unveiled at Agatha Christie's childhood church
All Saints Church in Torre, Devon, this week held a special unveiling for a blue plaque in honour of the novelist Agatha Christie, who was baptised in the church and worshipped there as a child.

The unveiling took place following the morning service on Sunday 14 September and was part of this year’s Agatha Christie Festival.

The age of re-enchantment 

Things have gone terribly wrong with our civilization. Social trust is plummeting, loneliness is epidemic, AI slop proliferates and microplastics invade our blood, brains and even breast-milk.

But the most disheartening statistic in my mind is this: 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year, and 20% have seriously considered ending their lives. Suicide is now the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults. Our children increasingly don’t want to live in the world we have made for them.

Don’t Lose Sight of a Liturgy’s Primary Aim
As I talk to younger pastors and seminary students these days, I sense a hunger for incorporating older liturgical practices from high-church traditions into Baptist and nondenominational churches known more for informal worship....

Building a Worship Ministry that Excels On and Off the Stage
Sam talks with worship leaders Tara Banks and Nate Davis about building thriving, long-lasting worship ministries. Together, they unpack how to develop leaders who excel both on stage and in organization, create healthy pipelines for team recruitment and onboarding, and refine systems that support excellence in worship. With decades of ministry insight, Tara and Nate share practical steps for sustaining your own leadership while fostering teams that are united, prepared, and spiritually vibrant.

Joining the Pub Choir
People who say “Everybody can sing” have not heard me sing, but being bad at something should not keep you from doing it.

Every congregation should be given frequent opportunities, in the words of the late Rev. Dr. Howard Hanchey, "to knock the church doors off their hinges." From my still untitled, upcoming article, "These opportunities help to elevate the congregation’s mood, to build its self-esteem, and to generate the kind of excitement that causes members of the congregation to talk enthusiastically with friends, relatives, and others about their church and even invite them to church. A congregation that sings with energy and enthusiasm and from the heart can make a powerful impression upon the first time visitor and in these days of cable TV live broadcasts and internet live streaming, upon the first time viewer."

How Exactly Do I Meditate? Protestant and Catholic Visions in Tensions
Historically, Protestants have prized the biblical practice of meditation as one of God’s chief means of grace. Unlike Roman Catholics, however, the Reformers, Puritans, and their spiritual descendants have rarely offered detailed instructions for exactly how to meditate. The two approaches represent differing convictions about Scripture and tradition, and differing understandings of meditation itself. The Protestant practice, which is less directive than the Catholic approach, esteems the primacy of Scripture, treats meditation as a path for the whole Christian pilgrimage, and far better serves real communion with God.

3 Reasons to Take Your Kids to Church
Though my kids are all grown now, I well remember the challenges of getting all five of them ready for church, then delivering them to the pew relatively on time and relatively well-behaved. It wasn’t easy. Was it worth it? You bet it was. Jesus commanded that the little children be brought to Him and not hindered (Matt. 19:14), and He was indignant with the disciples who blocked the way of those who were seeking to bring their children to be blessed by Him (Mark 10:14). Children need to know that they belong and that Jesus deeply desires them to come. So, to help feed your desire to face the challenge, I offer three reasons to take your kids to church.

Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends out more than 70,000 missionaries annually, so it’s likely you’ve received a similar knock on your door, or at least seen LDS missionaries in your community. In this article, I hope to present a brief introduction to the LDS faith and highlight three important areas where their beliefs diverge from the Reformed understanding of the Christian faith.

Help for Engaging Your Catholic Friend With the Gospel
How can you equip someone in your congregation to engage their Catholic friend with the truth of the gospel in love and confidence?

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (September 18, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

God is at work in our world. Wherever compassion is shown, forgiveness given, grudges let go of and forgotten, kind words spoken, a helpful hand extended, God is at work. While we may not understand why bad things happen, of one thing we can be assured, God is present and active in the world. God is not “watching us from a distance,” as the song “From a Distance,” composed by Judith Gold in 1987 and popularized by Bette Midler in 1990, would have us believe. God is with us, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times when things are going well and in times when they are going badly. God is with us!

In this evening’s message we consider the meaning of Proverbs 27:2 and its implications for us.

Reading: Proverbs 27:1-22

Message: An Ancient Truth from the Book of Proverbs

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/09/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_18.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: 'Ed Stetzer: 'Who We Are' And More

Who We Are
Now, it isn’t right to say that all is healthy and well with evangelicalism. In many respects, evangelicalism is in a difficult place, in North America in particular. It is embattled and thriving, as Christian Smith famously commented. In this moment in the unfolding history of the evangelical movement, it is crucial for us to articulate who we are, address pressures we face, and affirm what keeps us focused—with the goal that we might continue to thrive as a movement faithful to the call of our Savior.

What Acts Teaches About Church-Growth Problems
Like the Acts church, today’s churches experience problems that come with growth, but God uses our struggles to build maturity and accomplish his mission to the world. Here are four problems the early church faced, with reflections on what we can learn from their endurance.

New Possibilities are All around You
Churches often see their circumstance through the lens of scarcity and fail to recognize assets and opportunities within their grasp. Joe Daniels and Christie Latona explain how adopting a mindset of abundance can reveal overlooked assets and open new possibilities.

How the Pandemic Changed Church Attendance
It has been several years since the pandemic, but its effects are still lasting. Thom and Jess explore how COVID-19 didn’t just disrupt church attendance for a season — it changed patterns for the long term. They discuss the lasting shifts and how churches can adapt.

10 Things Church Visitors Never Want to Hear
There are 10 things church visitors never want to hear, so why not help our church folks learn NOT to say them?

The Church Number: $35.00 (Most Don’t Know It)
n this first installment, I want to talk about a number that quietly influences nearly every aspect of church life—budgets, staffing, outreach, missions, and even the long-term health of the congregation. It’s called Weekly Per Capita Giving, or WPCG. In its simplest form, WPCG is the giving of the church per attendee each week. Most churches have never calculated this number, yet it can be one of the clearest windows into financial health and stewardship habits.

What Is a Confession of Sin?
While attending a Reformed congregation’s worship service, the minister may lead you in a confession of sin. He may read God’s law beforehand and pray or state forgiveness through Christ’s blood. What does this confession of sin mean? What is this practice’s origin? How might you participate in it more faithfully?

The good news about repentance
“Repentance.” It’s a word most of us have heard countless times in church. Yet beyond the religious familiarity, repentance is not about shame or despair—it is the doorway into life with Christ. True repentance begins with sorrow over sin, but it does not leave us there. It draws us back to redemption in God’s love.

“Leadership as a Liberal Art” featuring Michael Lamb
In this episode, Michael Lamb introduces The Arts of Leading, a book exploring how the humanities offer essential insights into leadership. He argues that leadership is a liberal art, and he highlights lessons from unsung leaders, the performing arts, and biblical figures like Moses.

The Top Reasons for Church Conflict (Why Fights Start Over Trivial Matters)
Conflict over trivial matters, especially in churches, usually isn’t really about the trivial matter at all. I took a deep dive into hundreds of our consultations and coaching relationships. Here is what I discovered.

Unfriended: 4 Keys to Resolving Conflict Peacefully
We live in a world where ‘friend’ means someone who can look at your pictures on Facebook, and with a click of a button we can just as quickly be ‘unfriended.’ Many times, we find ourselves being isolated in our individualized world. We cannot control the world around us, but we can make changes in how we live our lives and how we treat others. Ask yourself this question: In my life, which is more common – creating conflict or resolving conflict?

Preaching Our Principles—Not Our Politics
In today’s polarized climate, church leaders can navigate political tensions by preaching principles, not politics. David R. Brubaker says leaders should share personal convictions with humility and clarity, focusing on values like caring for the marginalized, nonviolence, and stewardship of the earth.

How to Ask Excellent Bible Study Discussion Questions
Bible studies have a feature that few sermons or personal quiet times can match: interaction. Harnessing the power of interaction should be one of your highest priorities when leading a Bible study. To do so, you must master four types of Bible study discussion questions.

3 Actionable Ways Church Leaders Can Emphasize Prayer This Fall
How...can you as a church leader encourage the rhythm of prayer in your church this fall?

Here are three immediately simple and actionable ways....

3 Powerful Keys To Grow in Personal Worship 

We are created to be worshippers of God...We flourish when we engage in personal worship. We flourish when we love God and love people.

5 Ways to Minister to Someone in Your Church Grieving a Death by Suicide
The ripple effect of suicide leaves us frantically searching for help and hope. How can you minister to someone grieving death by suicide?