New Year’s Day at All Hallows (January 1, 2026) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to New Year’s Day at All Hallows.

Every year Christians in the Methodist and other Christian traditions gather on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, or the first Sunday of the New Year to reaffirm their commitment to Christ and to the Church. In the New Year’s message, we will examine the reasons for making such a recommitment.

Reading: John 15: 1-5

Message: “I Am Not Mine, I Am Yours God”

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/12/new-years-day-at-all-hallows-january-1.html

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

If you are new to New Year's Day 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 New Year’s Day at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Suspended ACNA Bishop Founds Breakaway Church' And More

Suspended ACNA Bishop Founds Breakaway Church
Until the evening of December 30, the ARCC’s website described itself as a new member of the Union of Scranton, an Old Catholic umbrella group, and characterized this affiliation as a reunion, not a schism. “We are not merely establishing another Anglican jurisdiction but pioneering a pathway back to authentic catholicity,” the website stated.

How a fight over 300 chaplains and $48,000 is tearing apart the ACNA
Beneath the salacious headlines from the Anglican Church in North America lies a high-stakes battle about military chaplaincy.

Acting ACNA archbishop faced claims of financial misconduct prior to current role
Bishop Julian Dobbs was reportedly cleared of the claims that he misused tens of thousands of dollars.

Young people more grateful to God, study finds
A new survey has suggested that 18 to 34 year olds are more likely to be grateful to God and have transcendental experiences.

“Grateful Britain?” was commissioned by the Policy Institute of King’s College London and conducted by Opinium, who spoke to 2,050 adults in Britain in October.

Preparation for Worship – the Most Important Things You Can Do for the Team
Let’s face it: Time is one of those things that we all wish we had more of. With all that is on our plates, both in our ministry and personal lives, finding time to fully prepare ourselves and our teams for the next worship service can be a daunting task. Sunday morning can creep up quite unexpectedly, and a lack of preparation for worship can lead to some very awkward moments.

Worship teams can often make the mistake of thinking it is solely the leader’s job to prepare the set and the musicians will just show up and follow along. Of course the leaders carry a larger responsibility, but the team members should also take the time to prepare both individually and as a whole. Whether it’s for rehearsal or for the big show, having a team that proactively invests into itself is a major blessing and takes work to develop that culture.

We Have Smartphones — Why Memorize Scripture?
God’s words must enter us and take root in us in order to really transform us.

Goals for Youth Ministry & How to Measure Success Before we dive in, know that measuring success isn’t about numbers. While attempting to measure spiritual growth or success, think ratios instead.

Personal Growth Advice: Just Do Something!
Need some personal growth tips, especially as another new year begins? Unless ministry leaders are growing personally and spiritually, they won’t be leading effectively or for long. So check out this advice from a longtime children’s ministry leader.

Tuesday's Catch: 'The Church in 2025: 5 Moments That Changed Everything' And More

The Church in 2025: 5 Moments That Changed Everything
2025 was a year of major shifts in the Church—some encouraging, some challenging, all significant. In this video, I break down five defining moments that shaped the Church in 2025 and what they mean for pastors, leaders, and believers heading into 2026.

New Year's Eve events cancelled around the world as urgent warning issued - full list
New Year's Eve celebrations are being called off in cities worldwide as local authorities grapple with terror threats in places ranging from Sydney to Paris.

Ringing in the New Year: A history of New Year traditions in the British Isles
To understand how New Year traditions came into existence – especially in the British Isles – is to explore a complex historic tapestry that is woven from ancient rites, calendrical reforms, and a common human desire to mark the passage of time, while reviewing the past and looking into the future.

Anglican schisms continue: The splintering of the splinter
The Anglican Church in North America — a denomination founded in 2009 by breaking away from the Episcopal Church — is now facing its own splintering.

Community pantries mark a million visits as new research highlights impact on food insecurity
Community pantries across the UK have recorded their one millionth visit, as new research suggests the membership-based food model is helping thousands of households reduce food insecurity, cut costs and prevent them from falling into extreme hardship.

The milestone was reached by the Your Local Pantry network, a Christian charity operating neighbourhood food clubs allowing members to obtain groceries for a small weekly fee as well as encouraging social interaction and community involvement.

Would this approach work in some US communities?

Top Seven Reasons a Pastor Chooses to Go to a Church
Jess and Thom share the top seven reasons pastors choose to go to a church.

The Importance of Humility for Future Pastors
The thing is that the more we open our Bibles, the more we will realize that the greatest danger for a future pastor is not his incompetence - after all, who is really competent to do the work of God? - but his pride. Therefore, I believe we can argue that since that’s the case, a future pastor’s greatest protection is not his intellectual brilliance - but his humility.

Puerto Rico Seminary Seeks ATS Accreditation
Seminario San Pedro y San Pablo (Saint Peter and Saint Paul Seminary) in Bayamón—16 kilometers west of San Juan, Puerto Rico—is seeking accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Bishop Rafael Morales Maldonado of Puerto Rico said a visit from ATS officials is expected soon, but he did not have a more specific date.

The organization accredits and supports more than 270 graduate theological schools in North America.

Do You Have a Plan to Read the Bible in 2026? (Here’s an Option!)

Most Christians agree that reading the Bible matters. Far fewer of us actually finish reading it. That disconnect usually isn’t about desire; it’s about design. We start the year with good intentions, but without a clear plan, Scripture reading slowly becomes sporadic, fragmented, or abandoned altogether. Life gets busy. Leviticus arrives. We fall behind. Eventually, we give up. What if the question for 2026 isn’t whether you’ll read the Bible, but how?

Don’t Forget To Pray For The “M”s
Ihave an unfortunate talent for getting easily distracted from a task. One way this shows itself is when I decide I’m going to pray through the church membership list. I start strong. I make my way diligently down the list: Adams, Ainsworths, Bolens, Bonds, etc… To my shame, by the second month, my “praying through the list” has lost its focus. I start praying for other things, and I just keep forgetting to look at the membership list to see who is up next. And you know what that means? All the “M”s get missed. Here’s your reminder to pray for the “M”s.

How NOT to Burn Out Tech Volunteers
Church life thrives on people who serve. Yet church leaders often forget that tech volunteers are people first, not behind-the-scenes robots firing off slides and sound cues. When we insist they show up like clockwork without nourishment for their souls, relationships, or skills, we quietly set them up for burnout.

Tech volunteers are more than conduits for PowerPoint and lighting cues. They are parts of the body of Christ who need encouragement, training, and boundaries so they serve with joy rather than exhaustion. Caring for them well honors God and keeps ministry sustainable.

More Americans worried about cost of raising a family
The percentage of Americans concerned about the cost of raising a family has jumped sharply during President Donald Trump’s first year back in office, according to the latest American Families Survey.

New Year’s Goal-Setting for People with Actual Lives
What we need isn’t a better to-do list but a better grid for making wise decisions across every domain of life, whether we’re planning our fitness goals or our prayer habits. Such a grid should work for anyone, in any season, pursuing faithfulness in any calling.

> Three biblical priorities can serve as this grid: Prioritize your priorities, prioritize your energy, and prioritize your limits.

How Satan Attempts to Hinder Churches from Being Evangelistic
The Enemy seeks to destroy. He loathes evangelism and will do anything he can to hinder church members from sharing the gospel. Jess and Thom share five of his most common tactics.

Monday's Catch: 'ACNA court acquits bishop, blames ‘narrative capture’ and social media' And More

ACNA court acquits bishop, blames ‘narrative capture’ and social media
The Anglican Church in North America’s court for the trial of a bishop has unanimously acquitted Bishop Stewart Ruch III of the Diocese of the Upper Midwest on all charges of misconduct, concluding a tumultuous trial by blaming social media and advocacy groups for creating a “toxic public circus.”

Two hundred years of the Brethren: who are they and what do they believe?
One of the lesser known movements of Christian history is the Brethren, also known as Christian Brethren or sometimes (unhelpfully) Plymouth Brethren. They are known for their Bible knowledge, their commitment to global mission, and their belief that local churches (often called ‘assemblies’) can function perfectly well without the need for ordained clergy to lead them. But why do they often call their buildings ‘Gospel Halls’? What is the difference between Exclusive Brethren and Open Brethren? And why do some Brethren congregations prefer not to be known as ‘Brethren’ at all?

Five Reasons Why Many Pastors Are Inadequately Paid
Pastors enter ministry knowing it will be demanding, but few expect the financial pressure that follows them week after week. Still, it’s a reality in far too many churches.

Most of the time, the issue isn’t intentional neglect. It’s a mix of assumptions, old habits, and blind spots. Many churches simply haven’t updated their thinking about what it costs for a pastor and family to live today.

Is a Preaching Calendar Really Necessary?
Every Sunday comes with its own set of joys and pressures. You’ve wrestled with the overnight scramble for Sunday’s message, felt that creeping panic around Wednesday afternoon, and maybe asked yourself at least once if a preaching calendar is really necessary. That simple planning tool often feels like extra work piled on top of already overflowing plates. But what if the right kind of calendar doesn’t just keep you organized but actually strengthens your preaching, deepens discipleship, and preserves your soul?

How to Use Stillness and Silence in Your Worship Set
Stillness and silence in worship may feel like soft whispers in a culture that prizes volume and motion. Yet these quiet moments can act like spiritual anchors, grounding hearts in God’s presence and helping worshipers transition from distraction to devotion. When we intentionally weave stillness and silence into a worship set, we create breathing room for the Holy Spirit to work and invite our congregation into deeper attentiveness.

AI comes with a built-in worldview. Christians need to understand it.
Christians must engage to remain a cultural force for good in our technology-infused world.

Does Every Outreach Event Require a Gospel Presentation?
When your team gathers to plan the next outreach event, a question often comes up: “Do we have to include a clear gospel presentation every single time?” It’s tempting to think that a fun festival, block party, or service project alone is enough to spark spiritual curiosity. But the heart of outreach isn’t measured in foot traffic or smiles—it’s measured in life-change rooted in the good news of Jesus. That means the answer isn’t always a simple yes or no, but it does demand intentionality about how the gospel is honored.

See Also: 10 Creative Evangelism Ideas to Share the Gospel in Your Community; Dave Ferguson: The Key Steps to Building a Culture of Outreach

What if the Good Shepherd is closer than you think?
There is a quiet, often unnoticed truth at the heart of Christian life: the Shepherd who once walked beside His disciples now walks within His people. The same voice that called fishermen from their nets, the same gentleness that restored the broken, the same steadfastness that carried Him to the cross and through the grave - this Shepherd has not retired from His work. His care has simply moved location. What He once did among the hills of Judea, He now does within the hearts of those who belong to Him.

This changes everything about how we understand care, friendship, ministry, and the ordinary kindnesses we offer to those around us. Pastoral care is not a task reserved for a handful of gifted individuals; it is the life of Christ, quietly at work inside ordinary believers, expressing His character through their words, presence, and attentiveness. The Shepherd’s vigilance hasn’t dimmed; it has, in a very real sense, become embodied in His people. What He continues to do, He chooses to do through you.

Image Credit: Trinity Anglican Seminary

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

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows

Both this Sunday, December 28, and the following Sunday, January 4, fall during the Twelve Day of Christmas. Anglicans and Lutherans count the Twelve Days of Christmas from Christmas Day, December 25, to Twelfth Night, or Epiphany Eve, January 5. The Feast of Epiphany, January 6, falls on a Tuesday, the first Tuesday of the New Year. Counting this Sunday, we have nine more days left of the Christmas Season.

This Sunday’s message is a reflection upon Matthew 2:13-23.

Readings: Isaiah 63:7-9, Hebrews 2:10-18, and Matthew 2:13-23

Message: God Will Prevail

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/12/sundays-at-all-hallows-december-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.

Breakaway Chaplains Incorporate New Continuing Anglican Church

 

By Robin G. Jordan

You may have read David Virtue’s article, “JAFC Bishop Form New Anglican Denomination,” https://www.virtueonline.org/post/jafc-bishops-form-new-anglican-denomination-the-anglican-reformed-catholic-church-will-be-led-by-bi,  or Michael Gryboski’s article, “Embattled chaplains group forms new denomination named Anglican Reformed Catholic Church” https://www.christianpost.com/news/embattled-anglican-chaplains-group-forms-new-denomination.html .The new ecclesial entity will be led by Bishop Derek Jones, whom earlier in December an ACNA Board of Inquiry charged with four alleged canonical law violations.

Bishop Jones is a former bishop of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches who was received into the Anglican Church in North America in 2010, fifteen years ago. His reception was not without controversy and questions were raised at that time about the regularity of Bishop Jones’ reception and the ACNA’s commitment to transparency, the historic episcopate, classical Anglicanism and Reformation Christianity.  I wrote several related articles in July and August of that year, links to which are given below.

“Episcopi Vagantes in the Anglican Church in North America”

https://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2010/07/episcopi-vagantes-in-anglican-church-in.html

“The Sound of Silence”

https://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2010/08/sound-of-silence.html

“A view of the emerging Anglican Church in North America”

https://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2010/08/view-of-emerging-anglican-church-in.html

“More unanswered questions in Derek Jones’ reception as an ACNA bishop”

https://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-unanswered-questions-in-derek.html

The preceding article contain links to other relevant articles

“More than One Episcopi Vagantes Bishop in the Anglican Church in North America”

https://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-than-one-episcopi-vagantes-bishop.html

While the leaders of the newly formed Anglican Reformed Catholic Church (ARCC) claim that the jurisdiction will be “classic Anglican,” one is prompted to question this claim due Bishop Jones’ background and the group’ past affiliation with the ACNA. Time will show whether the ARCC is committed to the classical Anglican formularies and genuine historic Anglicanism or is just another Convergence or Independent Catholic denomination masquerading as an Anglican entity. 

Saturday Lagniappe: 'The great unchurching of America' And More

The great unchurching of America
The U.S. is undergoing its fastest religious shift in modern history, marked by a rapid increase in the religiously unaffiliated and numerous church closures nationwide.

Why it matters: The great unchurching of America comes as identity and reality are increasingly shaped by non-institutional spiritual sources — YouTube mystics, TikTok tarot, digital skeptics, folk saints and AI-generated prayer bots.

Also See: Americans reject religion in record numbers, study shows

Amid 'rage-bait' posts and AI slop, these faith-based influencers found real audiences in 2025
> From Erika Kirk to Ms. Rachel, these influencers brought their faith to our algorithms this year.
>
Celebrating the wrong Jesus of Christmas
When I became a Christian at age 19, I was kind of a mess, doctrinally speaking, especially where my view of Jesus was concerned.

Did I believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Check. My Savior? Check. Crucified and rose from the dead? Of course.

But I did not, at the time, understand that Jesus is God or get the doctrine of the Trinity.

Over £900,000 awarded to help UK churches stay open amid growing funding pressures
Hundreds of churches across the UK are receiving vital financial support to remain open and safe, as rising repair costs and shrinking funding streams place historic buildings under increasing strain.

> UK charity National Churches Trust has distributed over £900,000 in its latest round of grants to churches, chapels and meeting houses nationwide.

Ten Must-Do New Year’s Resolutions for Every Pastor
It’s that time of year when people partake in the annual ritual of making well-intended promises. Josh and Sam discuss these ten pastoral resolutions.

Hey Churches: Make Sure You Have Christmas Songs For All Year Round.
Now that we’re only a few days away from packing away the tinsel and the tree, (and from signing up to the gym), can I urge us all not to pack away one thing – deep biblically-informed communal singing?

On other words, don’t pack away theologically rich songs with the Christmas baubles.

10 Easy Worship Songs on Guitar for Beginners
Crafting a list of easy worship songs on guitar can greatly benefit beginners eager to express their faith through music. Worship music often carries a depth of emotion and spiritual significance, making it a fulfilling genre to explore for guitarists of all skill levels.

The Joy of Bible Journaling
When a friend gave me a notetaking Bible several years ago, I could not have imagined how precious this particular Bible would become to me.

No One Is Going To Make You
As the new year approaches, I know a lot of folks are making godly plans to pray, read the Bible, attend church, etc… We have our Bible reading plans, prayer notebooks, and best intentions all ready and accounted for. And because of these godly plans, I’m certain that a lot of plans will be established (Prov 4:26). And while I’m confident that the godly planning is not in vain, I feel like there is something that needs to be said: No one is going to make you.

Friday's Catch: 'The #1 Outreach Campaign for Your Church' And More

The #1 Outreach Campaign for Your Church
Every mission-minded pastor has a passion to expand the Kingdom of God through the labors of their ministry. It’s a part of obedience to the call of Christ. The challenge is, what is the best way to impact the community, an outreach campaign to reach our city?

Also See: Does Online Evangelism Actually Work?; Intimidated by Evangelism? Here’s How to Share Your Faith

The Burge Report: Who’s Really Watching Online Church?
Nearly five years after COVID-19 lockdowns, the research reveals surprising truths about how Americans engage with church online and what that means for pastors and ministry leaders.

While 91% of churches now livestream services, only about 14% of Americans watch weekly. Most online viewers are also in-person attenders, meaning livestreams tend to serve already-committed believers rather than reaching the unchurched. The dream of a large “online-only” congregation just doesn’t match the numbers. In this episode of the Burge Report, Ryan, Thom, and Sam give their key takeaways.

Who was St Stephen and why is he remembered on December 26?
The carol says, “Good King Wenceslas last looked out on the Feast of Stephen.” In many countries, December 26, also known as Boxing Day, is better known as St Stephen’s Day. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. This is the story....

Also See: Good King Wenceslas - English Christmas Carol

10 Ways to Renew (or Keep) Your Passion for Ministry
I’ve been there. You know God has called you to ministry, but your passion for ministry is waning, if not gone. Going to work in the morning can be a battle. If that’s where you are, maybe these suggestions will help you. If you’re still on fire for God’s work, I pray these ideas will fuel the fire so it doesn’t go out.

What I Learned from Bach, the Worship Director
Bach was conscious of his vocation as a church musician to serve God and the people of God.

Discipling Younger Men
Discipling younger men is both a challenge and a delight. It is a challenge knowing that these young men have so much room for improvement so one needs to patiently bear with their shortcomings and immaturities. It is a delight knowing when we see them grow through us. God is gracious to use flawed people like us to the disciple the next generation.

Thursday's Edition: 'All Creation Welcomes Jesus' And More

A Very Bright and Merry and Most Blessed Christmas to Everyone!

All Creation Welcomes Jesus
A vivid European folk tale comes to life in Olivia Armstrong and Mira Miroslavova’s lovely Christmas story. We all know of the gifts of the three wise men, but The Birds of Christmas asks: What if all of creation longed to celebrate the coming of Christ, offering whatever gifts it could to this precious child?

Carol of the Birds ( El Cant Dels Ocells )
"The Carol of the Birds" is a traditional Catalonian carol called "El Cant Dels Ocells." A version of this carol, arranged forchoir, piano, and cello, is available from GIA.

Candlelight, carols and chalk blessings shape Christmas across Eastern Europe
Receiving a chalk blessing at the doorway or decorating wooden boats instead of Christmas trees may seem unfamiliar to many outside the region. Yet across Eastern and Central Europe, Christmas is still marked by traditions shaped by faith, memory and shared life — customs that quietly anchor the season in meaning and community.

The Forgotten Holiday Called ‘Old Christmas’
Because of the shift from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in the 1500s, Christmas ended up being celebrated 11 days earlier than before. When the change reached America in the 1750s, some people continued to observe December 25 as sacred and also marked January 6 as “Old Christmas.” This tradition held on strongly in Appalachia and remained part of Kentucky’s holiday heritage as a parallel celebration alongside the newer Christmas date.

Cherry Tree Carol
A complete version of The Cherry Tree Carol.

This Mischief of Mice Preserves a Cathedral
Meet a mischief of mice that is not nibbling away at the foundation of an old building. Rather, these mice have made a contribution for more than six decades by raising the funds needed for the maintenance of a 150-year-old Episcopal cathedral in the upper Midwest.

Since 1962, volunteers known as Cathedral Mice have produced a different handmade mouse each year. At $20 a mouse, the sales add up. At about 2,500 mice a year, the profits have covered the hefty maintenance costs and capital campaigns for St. Paul’s Cathedral in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

A brief history of Christmas bans
These days, Christmas is hard to miss and nearly impossible to avoid. But at various times it has been banned in different countries, including Britain. This is the story.....

Marginalising the Messiah
We’re too familiar with the Christmas story. It doesn’t surprise and challenge us enough. We’re used to thinking of Joseph and the heavily pregnant Mary being turned away by a grumpy innkeeper who relegates them to an animal barn. But recent historical research has given us a better understanding of what actually happened. They were indeed marginalised and ignored. But not by a businessman bent on profit. By their own family.

7 symbolic details we often miss about Jesus’ birth
When we think of Christmas, the nativity scene usually comes to mind. And most of us can picture the scene instantly — Mary and Joseph, a manger, shepherds, angels, and a bright star overhead. Maybe you even played one of the characters as a child. It’s a story we know so well that we sometimes overlook the depth, beauty, and unexpected details woven into it.

Yet the birth of Jesus is full of quiet surprises. Layered beneath the familiar narrative are cultural, historical, and theological details that reveal just how intentional God was in sending His Son into the world.

A Christmas Sermon 1,700 Years Old (From St. Gregory of Nazianzus)
Celebrate this Christmas with those believers who have gone before us. Here is a Christmas Sermon from St. Gregory of Nazianzus (AD 380).

Keep Christ in Christmas? First, keep Christ in Christian
Empathy is not a soft substitute for holiness; it is the pulse of the Christian, and the Christmas story.

William Tyndale and the 500th anniversary of the Christmas story in English This Christmas is the 500th anniversary of when ordinary men and women could first hear the Christmas story being read from print in plain English. This is the story....

What if Charles Wesley Had Written Joy to the World?
Charles Wesley doesn’t need anybody to stick up for him when it comes to Christmas songs: The man gave us "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," after all. And if you add the Advent song "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus" and a bunch of less famous but altogether worthy ones in the collection Hymns for the Nativity of our Lord, he’s got an impressive seasonal footprint.

Thoroughly Converted: Enslaving the Inner Man for the Glory of Christ
Walter Hooper, the literary advisor of C.S. Lewis’s vast estate after his death and, more importantly, a close friend of his, once described Lewis as “the most thoroughly converted man [he] ever met.” He expands upon this reflection by saying that Lewis’s “whole vision of life was such that the natural and the supernatural seemed inseparably combined.”

Organisers of Christmas evangelistic campaign thrilled with impact
Organisers of this year's Shine Your Light Christmas evangelistic outreach have been "overwhelmed" by the response from local churches.

They said that over 3 million people were reached through church events that took place from 12 to 14 December across the four nations of the UK, plus Ireland.

Christmas Day at All Hallows (December 25, 2025) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Christmas Day at All Hallows

Up until the 1930s “Old Christmas” was celebrated in Eastern Kentucky, in Appalachia. “Old Christmas” fell on January 6, what had been Christmas Day, according to the Julian Calendar. With the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar in the sixteenth century Christmas Day was moved in Roman Catholic countries to December 25, twelve days earlier. In England, a Protestant country, however, the Gregorian Calendar was not adopted until the eighteenth century. While Eastern Kentucky was not settled until after England had adopted the Gregorian Calendar, the early settlers continued to celebrate Christmas on the old date.

Today’s message is a reflection on Luke 2: 8-20.

Readings: Isaiah 62: 6-12, Titus 3:4-8a, and Luke 2: 8-20

Message: “To Certain Poor Shepherds”

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/12/christmas-day-at-all-hallows-december.html

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

If you are new to Christmas Day 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 Christmas Day at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Recovering Christ at Christmastime' And More

Recovering Christ at Christmastime
When it comes to Christmas, there are also two kinds of preachers: those who love it and those who dread it. After all, the more familiar the story, the greater the pressure most ministers feel preaching about it. The weight of the occasion can crush them rather than carry them. But underneath these different feelings we can have about Christmas, we all need one and the same thing. We all need the real message of Christmas.

The first Christmas song to be sung in churches
Every Christmas, people sing the song “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”. Unlike many other songs and carols that include elements of non-biblical tradition and myth, this song is pure Scripture. It was the first Christmas song authorised to be sung in the Church of England. This is the story....

Five cherished Christmas carols and the stories behind them
Christian Christmas carols have carried the message of Christ’s birth across centuries, cultures, and continents. They remain a constant favourite to sing in homes and churches, sometimes by candlelight.
>
These hymns are cherished for a reason, because each time we hear them they remind us again and again of the constant hope, joy and light of Christ's coming to this dark world.

After Devastating Fire, Minnesota Church Celebrates Christmas in Borrowed Space A church in Eagan, Minnesota, will celebrate Christmas in a borrowed space after a fire broke out in its building on Friday (Dec. 19). Grace Slavic Church, a congregation that holds services primarily in Russian, is receiving an outpouring of support from the community—including from nearby churches.

Churches deliver Christmas to immigrants detained, deported and in hiding
Clergy, churches and other religious organizations wrestle with how to mark one of the most important Christian holidays while also serving an immigrant population in crisis.

Presiding bishop releases Christmas message, encourages support for 3 Episcopal ministries
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe released a Christmas message on Dec. 23 focused on the many people “on the move” in the story of the Nativity to see the newborn Jesus, including “my favorites” the three Magi.

“You might be greeting Christmas this year with the awe of the shepherds or the wariness of the Magi,” Rowe said. “Either way, the Gospel reminds us that Jesus came both to experience all of the joy, uncertainty, and brokenness of our humanity, and to bring God’s kingdom near.”

Rowe also drew Episcopalians attention to three ministries supporting “the most vulnerable among us” and encouraged donations to the three, Episcopal Migration Ministries, the Good Friday Offering and Episcopal Relief & Development.

CS Lewis’s Life Reveals 3 Truths for Reaching Even the Most Reluctant Converts
Most people know C.S. Lewis through his books—perhaps “The Chronicles of Narnia,” or more explicitly theological works like “Mere Christianity” and “The Screwtape Letters.” Through these and more than thirty other books, along with essays, radio talks, films, and theatrical adaptations, Lewis has shaped the faith of millions.

Far fewer people know the man behind the books.

A Christmas Devotion for Tired, Discouraged Church Leaders I fear that in this Christmas season, too many pastors and church leaders are so frustrated with what they don’t have in their church . . . so disappointed that their congregation wasn’t what they thought the church would be . . . so pessimistic that anything will ever change . . . that they walk right past the gifts of people God has given them in that same church. I want to push you to see them today.

Perfectly Imperfect Churches
Jesus launched the church. It was messy, and led by flawed leaders.

The early church began in a time where the culture was shifting, political and religious leaders didn’t agree, and the fledging churches had their own internal problems. (Sound familiar?)

Special Needs Families Deserve Care at Church
How can you support and celebrate special needs families? Learn how one church goes the extra mile to love these families and adapt to their needs.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Are We in the Midst of a Gen Z Awakening?' And More

Are We in the Midst of a Gen Z Awakening?
Cultural Christianity is fading. The middle ground—those who once went to church out of habit or obligation—is shrinking. What’s emerging is a sharper distinction between disengagement and authentic hunger. Fewer young people are going to church just to go, but those who are engaging are doing so with deeper intentionality and a longing for something real.

At OneHope, our Global Youth Culture research uncovered similar spiritual openness. Nearly half of U.S. members of Gen Z said they’d attend church if invited. More than half of teens worldwide say Jesus is worth studying or believe he’s the Son of God. Yet this openness exists alongside profound spiritual discontent.

10 Steps for Reaching a Gospel Saturation Tipping Point
n his seminal book The Tipping Point, Canadian journalist Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that once a trend takes hold in 16% of a population, it reaches a tipping point where its adoption accelerates exponentially. If there’s ever been a time when such a tipping point is needed for the gospel, it’s today.
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What will it take for churches in North America to get to the point of becoming reproducing churches, sparking a movement to saturate our cities with the gospel? Based on what we at Christ Together have seen and experienced in over 100 cities across North America, here are 10 essentials we came up with....

Maine church sues UMC, claims denomination is wrongfully trying to take over property
A small Maine congregation is suing a regional body of The United Methodist Church, claiming that the mainline denomination is trying to take over its property.

Broad Cove Church of Cushing, a small congregation that identifies as independent, filed a complaint earlier this month against the UMC New England Annual Conference.

Who is Jesus?
Instead of making Jesus into whatever we want, let’s look to the God who chose to become like us so He could save us from our sin.

12 things a pastor should not say Christmas Eve
... here are 12 things a pastor probably should not say at a Christmas Eve service. I offer these from a wellspring of experience, a pastoral heart and deep respect for the moment.

3 Great Tools for Assessing Your Website’s Reach
Every pastor who has tried to measure website effectiveness knows the feeling: you update your homepage, upload a new sermon, refresh a ministry page, and then wonder whether anyone actually saw it. A church website is more than a digital bulletin board. It’s a front door, a welcome mat, a first impression, and for many people, the beginning of discipleship. That’s why understanding your site’s reach isn’t optional. It’s pastoral care in a digital age.

Thankfully, there are simple tools that help churches measure impact without requiring a degree in analytics.

Do Small Groups Still Work, or Has Their Time Passed?
Every pastor has wondered at some point whether small groups still accomplish what they once did. Attendance rises and falls. Leaders get tired. Schedules grow crowded. And yet, people still long for connection that goes deeper than a Sunday morning handshake. The question isn’t whether small groups have passed their prime. It’s whether we are guiding them with clarity, purpose, and pastoral imagination.

Small groups remain one of the simplest and strongest ways for people to grow in Christ when they are crafted with intention rather than routine.

What Teens Need from Church (and from You)
Wondering what teens need from church? Instead, we often ask what teens want from church. When people choose a church, personal taste often plays a big role. Other relevant factors include location, denomination, and where their parents worship. Then you have music, youth program, people they know who attend, type of building, and on and on.

Asking what teens want from church is the wrong question. What teenagers desire from a faith community doesn’t compare to what they need. So let’s look at the topic from that angle.

Teen Discipleship Tips for Lasting Faith
Teen discipleship is central to every Christian youth ministry. Students need more than just social time. They need rooted, resilient faith in Jesus. And God places youth workers (and parents) in an ideal position to grow it.

Being Generous to the Poor at Christmas
Many of us spend hours at Christmas contemplating what to purchase for someone who doesn’t need anything—something Scripture never commands—while giving far less thought to how we might care for those who have very little or nothing, something Scripture repeatedly calls us to do.

Monday' Catch: "America Is Open to ‘Spirituality’" And More

America Is Open to ‘Spirituality.’ This Christmas, the Church Can Help Them Know Just How Helpful True Faith Can Be
As the 2025 holiday season approaches, about half of Americans now say religion is not an important part of their daily life; even though many say they’re open to spirituality.

But beneath all the data is a quiet ache—for connection, for purpose, for hope. And on Christmas, that longing rises to the surface, becoming unmistakable. December is the one time of year when many people who feel unsure about God, organized religion or spiritual beliefs still find themselves walking into a church simply to feel part of something bigger than themselves.

A Silent Young Adult Night: Reaching Young Adults This Christmas
Christmas is busy, yet for many young adults, a silent night is a familiar reality all year. And Christmas can sharpen it.

My Generation’s Digital Boredom Makes Us Spiritually Hungry
Our boredom isn’t about having nothing to do. It’s about having nothing that matters.

These influencers are teaching Christianity online — and young people are listening
Millennial and Generation Z Christian influencers are increasingly filling a void in American religion, growing audiences across digital platforms by steering young people to biblical answers to tough questions that aren't always answered in Sunday sermons.

Christmas is Different: 3 Things to Remember about a Christmas Eve Service
A Christmas eve service carries a weight and warmth unlike any other gathering in the church calendar. People who rarely step inside a sanctuary arrive with family in tow. Longtime members bring deep expectations formed over decades. The night is tender, noisy, sacred, and unpredictable all at once. That’s why pastors and worship leaders benefit from remembering a few key principles as they prepare for this uniquely shaped moment.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s hospitality, clarity, and a steady pointing toward the Light who shines in the darkness.

Also See: 7 Christmas Eve Service Ideas That Work

Simple and Effective Ways to Follow-up With Christmas Visitors
Your sanctuary was full, the candles glowed, and the music lifted hearts. Now comes the part that often gets overlooked: caring well for the Christmas visitors who crossed your threshold. Many came because a family member invited them, others because Christmas stirs something deep, and still others simply because they needed hope. Whatever their reason, the way your church follows up can make the difference between a one-time appearance and a meaningful next step toward faith.

Follow-up is not about pressure. It is about hospitality, clarity, and genuine pastoral care.

The Twelve Best Questions to Ask Before Going to a New Church
Let’s assume the best. Someone is deciding on a new church for all the right reasons. Maybe it’s you. Finding a new church can be both exciting and intimidating. Whether you’re moving to a new area or starting a new season of life, it’s wise to ask good questions before committing to a local congregation. The goal isn’t to “shop” for a perfect church (because none exists), but to discern where you can worship, grow, and serve faithfully. These questions aren’t about consumer preferences. They’re about discovering a healthy, biblical church.

What we don’t know about Christmas
Every Christmas people are bombarded with images of the Nativity in Christmas cards, the lyrics of songs and Nativity plays. Yet many of the images embedded in our minds are pure tradition. In fact, there is a lot that we do not know. This is the story....

Youth Ministry Volunteer Roles for Youth Groups
When you broaden your definition of volunteer, you’ll discover many gifts within the congregation. And you’ll empower people to serve in roles that fit how God made them.

Saturday Lagniappe: '‘Sing, Dear Children’: Luther and the Joyful Noise of Christmas' And More

‘Sing, Dear Children’: Luther and the Joyful Noise of Christmas
‘Sing, dear children!’ Luther told his household. ‘Sing of the dear newborn little baby!’ This is the fitting response to the incarnation.

The origins of ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations
Today in the UK we celebrate Christmas and the period around it with many familiar traditions and activities. There is an understandable assumption that we have always done things this way. However, celebrating Christmas has a long and complex history and things change over time.

It is not possible to describe all the complex, rich and varied global Christmas traditions. One cannot do justice to all the traditions marked, over time, across what is now the UK either, but we can get an idea of major developments and milestones along the way to what we would now recognise as a ‘traditional’ Christmas.

3 Experiences Guests Won’t Overlook
Every person who checks out your church is different. They have different needs, perspectives, hopes and desires. Jesus teaches us that our doors are open to all who seek Him.

Key Federal Tax Law Changes Churches and Clergy Need To Know for 2025–2026
Numerous developments and updates related to tax law emerged in 2025, but none more impactful than a major legislation passed by Congress mid-year affecting the tax reporting by both churches and church staff for 2025 and future years: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

All told, 50 developments and changes should be noted by churches and clergy for 2025 federal tax returns and 2026 year-round compliance.

Who inherits the Seven Mountains Mandate after Charlie Kirk?
Kirk's Turning Point USA has gone far beyond its student roots and is now indispensable for the evangelical mandate movement.

New Orleans clergy organize interfaith opposition to ICE raids
> Faith groups in Louisiana are mobilizing along multiple fronts in response to an ongoing surge in federal immigration actions targeting New Orleans.

Clergy and congregations from across the religious spectrum are organizing protests and know-your-rights training for citizens as more people share video recordings of Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel operating in their communities.

Travel ban expansion will do more harm, advocates warn
The expansion of President Donald Trump’s travel ban will subject more refugees and immigrants to grave danger and diminish opportunities for foreign professionals and students to work and study in the U.S., immigration and education advocates warn.

You May Not See the Fruit of Your Ministry
Brother or sister, Jesus’s distinction between sowers and reapers may help you keep your hope in him while laboring in hard, seemingly fruitless seasons.

Sundays at All Hallows (December 21, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows

This year the Fourth Sunday of the Advent Season, the Sunday before the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, falls on the winter solstice, also traditionally known as “midwinter,” the shortest day and the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere. After this Sunday the light will begin to return and the days to grow longer.

In this Sunday’s message we take a look at Joseph, husband to Mary and father to Jesus.

Readings: Isaiah 7: 10-16, Isaiah 7: 10-16, and Matthew 1: 18-25

Message: Joseph, Husband to Mary, Father to Jesus

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/12/sundays-at-all-hallows-december-21-2025.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.

Friday's Catch: 'How the West Became Pagan—Again' And More

How the West Became Pagan—Again
God hasn’t been removed from the picture; he’s been relocated. Where did God go? There are as many answers as there are people.

The Rising Tide of Islam
The rising tide of Islam in America signals an opportunity for the gospel to reach the largest unreached people group on earth: Muslims.

Where Are the Young People?
Where are the young people? When over half of our church has reached the age of 65 or older and the median age is north of 50, this is not an uncommon question as I visit parishes in my area. Sadly, when it comes to campus ministries in the Episcopal Church, we are struggling. Some dioceses don’t have any campus ministries.

You're Not Ready for Revival: Domenic Ruso on a New Kind of Secularism & Reaching UnReachable People
Theologian and church planter Domenic Ruso offers lessons from church planting in Montreal, one of the most secular environments in North America, and how to reach a very difficult culture.
,br/> He talks about the lack of theological training churches are facing, why we're probably not ready for real revival, and how to reach people most people think are unreachable.

Pope Leo decries leaders who invoke religion for violence and nationalism
> Pope Leo on Thursday decried political leaders who invoke religious beliefs to justify conflicts or nationalist policies, calling that a form of blasphemy, or a serious sin that disrespects or insults God.

Trafficked, exploited, married off: Rohingya children’s lives crushed by foreign aid cuts
The sudden and severe foreign aid cuts imposed this year by U.S. President Donald Trump, along with funding reductions from other countries, shuttered thousands of the camps’ schools and youth training centers and crippled child protection programs.

Ruch Acquitted on All Charges
The Rt. Rev. Stewart Ruch, bishop of the Anglican Church in North America’s Diocese of the Upper Midwest, has been acquitted on all ecclesiastical charges by the denomination’s Court for the Trial of a Bishop. The acquittal comes five months since his trial began, three years since formal complaints were filed, and six years since a child first reported sexual abuse by a lay minister in Bishop Ruch’s diocese.

English Heritage admits promoting 'nonsense' theory about Christmas
English Heritage has admitted promoting a “nonsense” theory about why Christmas is on December 25.

The heritage charity claimed that the birth of Jesus Christ is only celebrated on that date because the Roman Empire repurposed a sun god’s festival for the occasion.

Woman Injured After Camel Kicks Her During Houston Church’s Nativity Show
A woman is recovering from injuries after being kicked by a camel during a Houston-area church’s “Christmas Spectacular” show.

How effective live nativities are as an outreach is questionable. They have deeclined in popularity in recent years. The UMC cluster in the county where I live discontinued its live nativity two years ago. Attendance was poor and it was no longer cost effective. The cluster opted to enter a float in the local Christmas parade, which is typically well attended and afforded greater visibility, and to distribute to the onlookers booklets telling the Christmas story.

Alabama church’s food and toy giveaway brings joy to families at Christmas
For more than a decade, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Jasper, Alabama, has marked the Advent season by serving families across three north-central Alabama counties through its annual Food Drive and Toy Giveaway. This year’s event, held Dec. 16, reached nearly 900 families from Walker, Winston, and Cullman counties.

The Worship Experience and Consumerism:What You Need to Know
Marketers have realized that consumers no longer just want to buy a product; they also want to buy an experience with that product. In fact, sometimes more emphasis is placed on the experience than the product. Think about some of those pizza arcades where you celebrated your children’s birthdays. Fortunately the experience was memorable because the pizza certainly wasn’t. Instead of just purchasing a cup of coffee we also now want the experience of purchasing a cup of coffee. We are even willing to pay extra for the sights, sounds and smells with an added experiential bonus if the barista knows our name. What about a worship experience?

12 Keys to Improving Worship Keyboards
So you’re playing worship keyboards for your band this Sunday! Here are some proven steps and practices to help you do a great job.

Loving and Listening to Doubters
Over the past decade of setting tables where skeptics and churchgoers sit side by side, I’ve gathered a few hard-earned insights about the art of loving those who see the world differently. But before we can talk about how to listen, we must first talk about what others are hearing when we talk about our faith. These two obstacles, I believe, are compromising the conversation.

Also See: 6 Things Believers Do that Drive Unchurched People Crazy

Thursday's Catch: 'Not a New Communion: Anglican Reformers Are Always Called Schismatic' And More

Not a New Communion: Anglican Reformers Are Always Called Schismatic
Since Gafcon—the Global Anglican Future Conference—released its Martyrs’ Day statement on October 16, 2025, the same question has followed me from Belfast to Sydney to Dallas: Have we just witnessed the birth of a new Anglican Communion?

It’s understandable. The statement was bold—speaking of a “reordering of the Anglican Communion” and introducing the phrase “Global Anglican Communion” (GAC). For some, that sounded like a split. But it wasn’t a Declaration of Independence; it was a confession of Anglicanism’s ongoing dependence on the unchanging Word of God.

Are all undocumented immigrants criminals?
Being undocumented is NOT a crime. Trump is going after those immigrants and asylum seekers who do work the process exactly as outlined in the law.

W. Va. Priest Protests Governor’s Immigration Policies
Only two percent of West Virginia’s population consists of immigrants, one of the lowest in the country.

But the figure did not keep the Rev. Zach Drennen, rector of St. James Church in Lewisburg, from joining fellow faith leaders to protest immigration enforcement policies—as they saw their effects unfold on people they know. The small town where his parish sits, with a population of fewer than 4,000, has a strong Latino community.

New study uncovers why some people leave their childhood faith and others stay
A new analysis from the Pew Research Center suggests that decisions about faith are often made early in life — and once made, they tend to last.

The research shows that more than a third (35%) of US adults no longer identify with the religion in which they were raised.

A decline in churchgoing linked to more deaths of despair
A decline in religious participation among middle-aged, less educated white Americans may have played a role in the widely noted increases in "deaths of despair," a new study finds.

Who was the historical King Herod?
At Christmas time we read about King Herod who ruled Judea at the time of Jesus’s birth, and he is the villain of many Nativity plays. But King Herod was a real historical character. This is the story....

Lead with Prayer
Let’s state the obvious. If Jesus needed to pray, how much more do we? Particularly if we are leaders. Why?

5 Ways a Pastor Can Champion Group Ministry
A healthy group ministry leads to a healthy church, and as a pastor, you have the privilege and responsibility to lead the way.

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

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In this evening’s service we continue the message series on the teachings of Jesus. The topic of this evening’s message is the guiding principle for living Jesus gave us—the Golden Rule.

Reading: Luke 6:27-36

Message: The Golden Rule

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/12/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: 'The Nones Project: What Do They Believe?' And More

The Nones Project: What Do They Believe?
Ryan Burge shares a number of the findings of the Making Meaning in a Post-Religious America project's survey.

From church to crystals: One study shows interest in magic as religion declines 

Baylor University scholar Paul Froese said the findings may reflect a greater interest in magical thinking as people move away from traditional religious beliefs.

Also See: Faith leaders embrace sound baths to connect with spiritual seekers

Sydney Anglicans Respond with Compassion After Bondi Shooting
Local Anglicans have united in responding to the trauma of horrific shootings at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on December 14.

Also See: What we know about the Hannukah celebration shooting in Australia

ACNA Bishop Stewart Ruch found not guilty on all counts after tumultuous church trial
The decision comes more than six years after a 9-year-old child first came forward with sexual abuse allegations against a lay minister in the Upper Midwest Diocese, which is led by Ruch.

Also See: Anglican Church bishop found not guilty of mishandling sex abuse cases

Exclusive: Scandal surrounds incoming Archbishop of Canterbury over handling of secret dossier
The Church of England is about to get a new figurehead, a year after Justin Welby quit, following this programme's revelations that he'd failed to do enough to stop serial abuser John Smyth.

But we can reveal that the church is facing calls to postpone the appointment of Sarah Mullally, the woman picked to succeed him, over allegations she, too, failed to act this time to prevent a priest taking his own life.

Anglican Church in North America charges breakaway chaplains group leader with misconduct
An Anglican Church in North America court is charging the bishop who heads a breakaway chaplains group with multiple accusations of violating canon law.

The ACNA Board of Inquiry released a statement Tuesday regarding charges against Bishop Derek Jones, who leads the Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy.

Don’t Overlook the Ministry of Church Greeters
In a world where houses double as impenetrable castles and most shopping is done online, serving as a greeter is countercultural. Greeters reflect an otherworldly gospel. They hold the church doors open for everyone, regardless of status—welcoming all, whether rich or poor, to the gathering of God’s people. Greeters reflect the unity believers have in Christ, a unity that transcends all worldly bonds.

Pastor, have the greeters in your church been shown the importance of their task? Have you trained them in how to build a hospitable culture each Sunday?

Mining the year: A December practice for pastors 

What if the best preparation for 2026 isn't strategic planning? What if it's actually paying attention to what 2025 was trying to tell us?

Plan your Lent in December: A 4-Week head start
With Ash Wednesday falling on February 18, the week before Christmas is the perfect time to begin designing a meaningful Lent. Follow this four-week timeline (mid-December through mid-January) for choosing themes, planning worship series, organizing small groups, and setting yourself up for a powerful season.

What Is Sanctification? A Biblical Definition
Sanctification has both an individual and a corporate dimension for Christians, a present and an ultimate meaning. However, this is not the way that sanctification is commonly defined or understood in many evangelical circles today.

Try This!: Winter Christian Outreach Ideas, Open Dinner Invitations at Easter and more
As your church plans your calendar for the coming year, why not give these winter Christian outreach ideas a try.

25 Winter Outreach Ideas
From the pages of Outreach magazine and outreachmagazine.com, and from churches around the country, here are 25 winter idea starters to help you reach your community in creative ways.

Tuesday's Catch: 'At least 11 killed in attack on Hanukkah event on Sydney's Bondi Beach' And More

At least 11 killed in attack on Hanukkah event on Sydney's Bondi Beach
Antisemitic incidents have surged in Australia since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

A pogrom on Bondi Beach
‘Globalise the Intifada’ they chant and sing. Well now we can safely say that the Intifada has been globalised. Australia, once one of the safest countries in the world for Jews, has become one of the most dangerous. On December 14, two gunmen opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, Sydney. Fifteen people have been killed, including two rabbis, a 10-year-old child called Matilda, and a survivor of the Holocaust.
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Anglican leaders respond to attack on Jewish Australians at Bondi Beach
In the wake of the Dec. 14 attack during a Hannukah celebration by Jewish Australians at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, that left at least 15 people dead and 27 wounded, Anglican leaders have issued the following statements.

Why do some people stay in their religion and others leave? A new Pew report has some clues.
Americans who had a good experience as children were likely to keep their faith. Those with bad experiences left, according to a new study from Pew Research Center.

The Rainer Scale of Unchurched Receptivity
The Rainer Scale helps churches understand how open an unchurched person is to the gospel, to spiritual conversation, and to attending church. It is not a judgment of spiritual worth, but a practical tool for identifying likely openness.

Also See: The Largest Unchurched Group in the U.S. (and You've Never Heard of Them)

The Anglican worldview of Jane Austen’s life and novels
16 December 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of novelist Jane Austen, who was born in southern England in 1775. Her novels are steeped in biblical analogy and practical theology. This is the story....

Also See: How a Christian Worldview Animates Jane Austen’s Fiction

The little-known prayers written by Jane Austen
It is now 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen whose books and their many screen adaptations are beloved around the world. Not many people know that she was a devout Christian who also wrote devotional prayers. This is the story....

What is the Gospel?
Every year the evangelical churches here in Galway rent a stall in the Christmas market that fills the square in the centre of the city from mid-November to mid-December. We use the opportunity to share the gospel with passers-by—to explain why the Son of God left heaven and came into the world as a human being. As part of our preparation we have been going over the fundamentals of the message we are hoping to share, to make sure that everyone is clear on what the gospel is.

Surely that shouldn’t be necessary in evangelical (‘gospel’) churches?! If someone asked you to explain the Christian message in just a few minutes, would you know what to say? There are all kinds of good things that we could say, but what are the essentials that must be communicated?

VOICES: Why Protestants and Catholics should revisit 'once saved, always saved'
Some Protestants promote the idea of “once saved, always saved,” while some Catholics think this theological concept is used to excuse unholy behavior on the part of professing Christians. Personally, I think Protestants and Catholics alike should revisit this particular subject and dig deep into Scripture to discover what the Bible actually teaches.

Does Your Church Interior Design Need a Tech Update?
Church interior design is one of those topics everyone notices but no one wants to talk about, like the carpet color that died sometime in the late 1990s or the soundboard held together by prayer and duct tape. Still, your building speaks even before your worship team plays a note. Technology isn’t about trying to be trendy. It’s about removing distractions so people can meet Jesus without squinting at flickering screens or trying to hear muffled microphones.

How to Use Video Teaching Effectively in Your Small Group
Using video in a small group can feel like a shortcut, but when done well, it becomes a tool that deepens conversation and strengthens relationships. People don’t gather just to watch a screen. They gather because they long for connection, clarity, and spiritual growth. A well-chosen video can help open hearts, frame Scripture, and spark the kind of conversation that doesn’t happen on autopilot.

Video is not the centerpiece of the group. It’s the conversation starter. Your job is to help the group use it wisely.

How Do We Measure Christian Maturity? (Hint: It’s Not Just Bible Facts) 

The problem is that we often measure maturity by the wrong metrics. We confuse information with formation, and equate Christian vocabulary with Christ-like virtue. Which is understandable because information is measurable. But I don’t think that it’s the right way.

4 Principles for Caring for the Poor
I’ve always found it significant that Jesus mentions the poor in his very first sermon: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18).

We must care about the poor because Jesus did. We don’t have a choice. So how can we help the people in our churches minister to the poor? Here are a few ideas I have; perhaps you have more.

What is Biblical Hospitality?
Instead of fearing hospitality, we must see biblical hospitality as an adventure that takes us to places we never dreamed of going.