Tuesday's Catch: 'Advocates reeling as Trump shuts down legal refugee entry' And More

Advocates reeling as Trump shuts down legal refugee entry
On “day one,” President Donald Trump shut the door on legal immigration of well-vetted refugees into the United States. While much of Trump’s anti-immigrant campaign rhetoric focused on what he called “illegal” immigrants — people he uniformly equated with crime and disease — this Jan. 20 executive order goes much further and shuts down a part of the nation’s immigration system even evangelical leaders had begged him not to harm.

Letter from Episcopal Church leaders on Trump administration immigration executive orders
"Even as we gave thanks for a peaceful transfer of power, we learned from news reports that the new presidential administration has issued a series of executive orders that are a harbinger of President Trump’s pledge to deport undocumented immigrants at a historic scale, restrict asylum, and direct other immigration actions. We read this news with concern and urge our new president and congressional leaders to exercise mercy and compassion, especially toward law-abiding, long-term members of our congregations and communities; parents and children who are under threat of separation in the name of immigration enforcement; and women and children who are vulnerable to abuse in detention and who fear reporting abuse to law enforcement."

Do You Really Remember What Took Place in Churches During COVID?
Though COVID is still mentioned frequently, many of the detailed memories have disappeared. Thom and Sam recall six very specific developments in churches during COVID based upon hundreds of stories from members of Church Answers. They share what we can learn from them today.

Embracing Latino Spirituality
Latinos are often seen primarily as a demographic solution — a potential means to bolster numbers and build diversity. This perspective, however, reduces a vibrant culture and its rich spiritual life to mere statistics, overlooking the profound spiritual depth that Latinos bring. To genuinely address the church’s challenges, we must move beyond this narrow focus on demographic contributions and recognize the cultural and spiritual wealth inherent in the Latino community. Our role is not just to increase numbers, but to foster genuine relationships and true inclusivity.

Seeds of Religious Freedom: The 500th Anniversary of the Anabaptist Movement
As snow fell on Zurich’s narrow streets on January 21, 1525, a group of young Swiss reformers huddled inside Felix Manz’s home in the shadow of the Grossmünster cathedral. The air outside was frozen, but the room was filled with fervent prayer and intense discussion. This was a forbidden gathering. Zurich’s city council had prohibited these men from convening for Bible study. The edict was to no avail. The smallest seeds of religious freedom had already been sown. By the end of the night, the first Reformation-era believers’ church was born.

Against Executive Pastors
For churches of a similar size and wealth to the aforementioned leafy London church, an increasingly popular hire has been an Executive Pastor. They have become somewhat ubiquitous in churches of a certain size and evangelical lilt. Now, I have been in a number of churches with EPs, and this is not to say that those men have not been gifted or productive in the life of those churches. Yet I find the role somewhat superfluous conceptually.

What Happens at the Prayer Meeting? 

Each Sunday night we have a prayer meeting. The church gathers, there is singing, a short exhortation from a passage of Scripture, and then we pray through that passage of Scripture. That is how the prayer meeting happens. I want to tell you what happens at the prayer meeting.

Hundreds of churches offer warm spaces this winter
As winter continues to bite, hundreds of churches across the country are opening their doors each week to offer a warm space to people struggling to keep their heating on. There are 485 Church of England churches offering warm spaces this winter, many of them with food and activities to help build community.

Monday's Catch: 'Should We Trust Churches? And If So, How?' And More

Should We Trust Churches? And If So, How?
Should we trust churches? Obviously, not all churches are trustworthy, some aren’t even orthodox! But setting matters of prudence aside for a moment, Should we desire and work to trust churches and other religious institutions or should we have a posture of skepticism? Put differently, what do we lose if we hold a posture of skepticism toward religious institutions and what do we risk?

10 Features of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Beloved Community
C. Anthony Hunt identifies 10 features of the Beloved Community in the work of Martin Luther King Jr. He describes how King’s concept of Beloved Community, rooted in the biblical notion of God’s unconditional love, connects faith to action.

What Does Hate Feel Like in The Body?
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, but when hate sneaks into our hearts, we can lose both self-control and awareness of who we’ve become, writes the Rev. Neelley Hicks. It is critical for Christians to understand the spiritual, emotional and physical warning signs of hate. Through self-awareness, we can recognize the triggers that set us off and take steps to de-escalate, she says.

The Church and the Illusion of Political Salvation
The French philosopher Jacques Ellul once discussed “”The biblical view [of the church] is not just apolitical but antipolitical in the sense that it refuses to confer any value on political power, or in the sense that it regards political power as idolatrous, inevitably entailing idolatry” (The Political Illusion, 1972, p113). These words profoundly echo in our moment, as numerous Christians are attracted to the appeal of political engagement.

3 Approaches to Recruiting Volunteers Among Infrequent Church Attendees
How does less frequent attendance impact volunteer recruitment? There are three mindsets church leaders may have as they recruit volunteers.

Why Don’t Pastors Use All Their Vacation Days?
Few pastors use all their vacation days. One-third of the pastors say they always take fewer vacation days than the church permits.

3 Keys To Overcoming Barriers To Bible Engagement In The Church
In North America, we have more Bibles than ever, but less and less real engagement. Why?

Prayer Is Not Like a Good Recipe
Though in the Lord’s Prayer Jesus provided a basic structure to inform the way we pray, he did not provide a formula. And in fact, no such formula exists, for prayer is not meant to be formulaic. It is not meant to be an exercise in rote statements or vain repetitions.

The Psychology of Short-Form Content: Why We Love Bite-Sized Videos
73% of consumers prefer to watch short-form videos to learn about a product or service, and 56% of marketers reported that short-form video was the top trend they planned to invest in in 2024. So, why are short-form videos so popular? Turns out there are a few reasons, one of which involved a bit of psychology. Let's get into it!

7 "Somebody's" In Our Lives
A few years ago, I wrote a book called, Nobodies for Jesus: 14 Days toward a Great Commission Lifestyle—a book about being so fascinated with Jesus that we don’t worry about getting recognition from others. All we want is to make sure others know the name of Jesus. In today’s post, though, I’m thinking about “somebody’s” in our lives. Here are seven that come to mind for me—including “somebody’s” we don’t often realize are there....

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, January 19, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

In the twenty-first century those planning worship have a broad range of hymns and other forms of church music from which they can select treasures both old and new, like those the master of the house brought from his storeroom in Matthew 13:52. The church music of Christians of other times and other places is a part of their witness. Exposure to a wide variety of these forms will not only enrich the worship of a congregation but also foster its spiritual growth. This Sunday we have church music from the sixteenth century, the nineteenth century, the twentieth century, and the twenty-first century.

The topic of this Sunday’s message is spiritual gifts.

Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, and John 2:1-11

Message: Spiritual Gifts

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/01/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-january_18.html

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'What I Suspect Will Happen in 2025' And More

What I Suspect Will Happen in 2025
When it comes to the start of a new year, there tend to be two kinds of predictions. The first are “shots in the dark”—wild, almost baseless predictions that seem more designed to gain attention than to be grounded in any kind of fact. The second are more reasoned. They tend to be based on things already happening that seem to be headed toward even greater prominence. It’s the second of those types of predictions that can be of use, and I offer a dozen here that I hope will serve churches and their leaders for the coming year.

I am anticipating economic hard times due to the incoming Trump administration's agenda, e.g., tariffs, cuts to social safety net funding; deportation of migrant agricultural, construction, and meat processing workers. The affluent will not feel the squeeze but the middle class, blue collar workers, and the poor will. So will churches with a decline in giving and an increase in the number of families and individuals struggling to make ends meet.

Field Notes for Episcopalians on the 80 Percent
Despite many worthy efforts at explication, evangelical remains an uncertain label. Always an admixture of theology, history, and sociology, a turning mobile of persons, networks and institutions with only the most tenuous ties to one another — often yielding inexplicable kinship, on the one hand, but also ties that will not bind, on the other....

Christian Diversity
My beautiful ‘practicing’ Christians: As churchgoers’ numbers shrink, their social views grow more similar.

Italian bishop refutes claim of policy change allowing ordination of gay men: 'Not a correct reading'
An Italian bishop has insisted that the rules for admission to the priesthood in his home country haven't changed amid reports that new guidelines allow homosexuals to become priests as long as they remain celibate.

Ahistoricism Leads to Doctrinal Drift
The church is always situated in a cultural context. Ever since the early church, Christians have grappled with how to speak the gospel into culture and become all things to all people while remaining true to biblical teachings. And yet contemporary Western societies have largely lost their meaningful engagement with, and connection to, history. This has left them disconnected from the full scope of the cultural context of the church. I have coined the term “Ahistoric Age” to identify the way in which this plays out.

What Will Be the Sacred Cows in Church Worship When the Millennials Are the Oldest Generation?
In about 30 years, Millennials will become the dominant older generation in most churches. What will they refuse to give up? Josh and Sam talk about their generation and what might become the sacred cows as they become elderly.

Using Loops in Worship
How can we successfully bring loops into our worship set? Many small churches want to start using loops – laptops running some sort of rhythmic or musical software in the background of different songs. How do we use loops in worship tastefully in a way that works for our congregation and feels authentic to our worship dynamic? Here are 5 non-negotiables when it comes to using loops in worship.

"But I Keep Sinning!"
Many Christians understand that justification produces sanctification, but it’s easy to forget that, while justification happens in an instant, sanctification is a lifelong process—one that is often nonlinear as you run into roadblocks and experience setbacks. If you expect to see some evidence of the end result (sinless perfection) while skipping over the process, you will be disappointed—and, worse, you will question how effective your sanctification is. Those questions will then lead you to wonder whether you were ever justified.

Also See: The Radiance of Real Holiness

Friday's Catch: 'Washington Post Digs Into Sex-Abuse Allegations" And More

Washington Post Digs Into Sex-Abuse Allegations
The Washington Post has published a 5,300-word story about multiple allegations of sexual abuse against Jeff Taylor, a former priest with The Falls Church in northern Virginia. The story said the FBI may be investigating the allegations, but the FBI declined comment.

The Vatican braces for a second Trump presidency
Recent appointments show Pope Francis and Trump already setting a different tone for Vatican-U.S. relations.

Evangelical leaders urge Trump to preserve refugee resettlement program
Leaders of some of the most prominent evangelical organizations in the U.S. are urging Donald Trump to preserve the nation’s refugee resettlement program when he takes office.

Majority of adults globally believe children will be economically worse off than parents: study
Adults in 36 countries around the world, including the United States, hold a bleak view of what the future holds for their children economically, with more than half expecting that kids today will be worse off than their parents amid growing income inequality, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.

Mark DeYmaz: Poised to Thrive
To know and place volunteers for church and kingdom advance, ministry leaders would do well to ask new or existing members the following three questions....

How To Engage Preschoolers in Church: Build an Early Faith Foundation
EngagiHappy Wednesday Blessings: Midweek Encouragement for Teensng preschoolers requires intentionality and creativity. Plus, a solid understanding of development helps. So let’s look at tips for how to engage preschoolers in church. Learn how your kidmin program can captivate preschoolers.

Happy Wednesday Blessings: Midweek Encouragement for Teens
For youth pastors and youth ministry volunteers, midweek messages are ideal for touching base and inspiring teens. So keep reading for creative ways to share happy Wednesday blessings. Learn how to offer encouragement that matters to today’s teens.

Congregation’s furniture ministry distributes hundreds of beds each year to families in need
Partners in Housing Transition is a long-running furniture ministry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Of all the furniture and household items that its staff and volunteers put in the hands of deserving families throughout the year, the most important is a place to sleep. The ministry provides new or gently used mattresses and frames, pillows and sheets – all free of charge to more than 200 families a year in Kalamazoo County.

Image Credit: The Falls Church Anglican

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, January 16, 2024) Is Now Online

 

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

Both Jesus and the apostles used what were common life experiences at that time to explain and illustrate what they were saying. These experiences may no longer be common experiences today or they may only be common experiences of one or more segments of the population. Or they may be common experiences, but we give little or no attention to them. How many people who live in the suburbs pay attention to their neighbor watering a lawn except when it is a drought and water is scarce, or the neighbor's sprinkler wets them?

Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians is packed with the apostle’s teachings. In this evening message we take a look at one of his teachings and how it applies to every Christian.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 3: 1-22

Message: Planting and Watering

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/01/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_15.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.

Thursday's Catch: 'Public Trust in Pastors Continues Steep Decline' And More

Public Trust in Pastors Continues Steep Decline
Trust in pastors continues to fall with only 30% of U.S. adults saying clergy members have high or very high levels of honesty and ethics.

Changes to Title IV in 2025
In this article Lynn Carter-Edmands draws attention to a number of chages in the Episcopal Church's disciplinary canons that will be effective in 2025.

The Simple Sermon Outline That Helps Me Preach Better
Brandon Hilgemann explains a simple three-part sermon outline that has helped him structure his preaching and keep him focused on what a sermon is intended to accomplish.

Related article: 100 Sermon Topics

Talk to God in His Own Language: Learning to Pray the Bible
...most believers fall into varying sorts of routines in their prayers. This is quite normal, but there are both helpful and unhelpful prayer routines.

12 Spiritual Disciplines That Will Make Your Faith Strong
How does a Christian train for godliness? Brandon Hilgemann identifies what he believes are twelve primary spiritual activities that were practiced by Jesus and prescribed for all believers in the Bible.

The Quiet Time Kickstart
Rachel Jones has written a book that is meant to help new Christians—or long-term Christians who have never quite gotten going—to kick-start their quiet time.

Is Your Hospitality Christian?
...while Christians may know to show hospitality, we can be less clear on how to show distinctly Christian hospitality.

Spread God’s Love: Printable Acts of Kindness Checklists
As Christians, spreading God’s love through kindness aligns with the teachings of Jesus and helps to build a community of compassion and hope.

Wednesday's Catch: 'The Flow of Dinner Church: What Dinner Church looks like' And More

The Flow of Dinner Church: What Dinner Church looks like
“So what does this actually look like?”

Also See: Dinner Church Reading List and Hope Dinner Church

Ten Tips for Becoming a Productive Pastor
Pastors are ... expected to “run the race” constantly. But how can they keep up the pace in this marathon of ministry without burning out? How can they remain productive with such demands? Jess and Thom offer ten tips for becoming more productive pastors.

Physical Stewardship: Viewing Health as Worship for Pastors
Eating healthy often feels impossible. What if even in our busy ministry lives, we can approach our health in a way that glorifies God?

12 Tips for Preaching Online
Jim Tomberlin shares best practices for churches delivering digital sermons to their online audiences or satellite campuses. He highlights how simple adjustments to language and camera strategies can make those not in the room feel valued and included.

Bible Study Tips for Beginners: How to Use Cross-References in the Bible
What are cross-references? Why bother reading them? How should we read or use cross-references in personal Bible study?

Innovative Small Groups Strengthen Faith Connections
Here are just a few examples of innovative small groups to get your creative juices flowing! Each example comes from a small group that is working to keep things fun, fresh, and new.

Is Your Church Lying? 

When it comes to evangelism, a mission statement can turn from big black letters on a church marquee to a little white lie that the church is telling the community.

Tuesday's Catch: '5 Hidden Dangers of Consumerism in the Church' And More

5 Hidden Dangers of Consumerism in the Church

How prevalent is consumerism within the church? Unfortunately, church attendance and a consumeristic mindset are correlated.

At last, some good news for the Church of England
Just when the Church of England needs some good news ... the Royal Mail has issued a set of special stamps celebrating the UK's most popular cleric. Yes, the much-loved Vicar of Dibley is making a comeback to letterboxes across the country with eight new designs featuring episodes from the classic comedy series, shown by TV stations in the UK, US and across the world.

The Vicar of Dibley Theme (Original)
This is the actual original version of the theme used in the show. It is Howard Goodall's choral arrangement of Psalm 23, "The Lord Is My Shepherd."

Dealing With Negative People in Church
Ron Edmonson offers 7 ways to respod to negative people in the church.

Sermon Prep: Not How Long, But Where?
...many pastors are in danger of spending too much time in their office surrounded by books when they should be spending more time in the world and among people as part of their sermon preparation.

10 Commandments for Great Discussions
Over the past 30 years of ministry I have had the chance to facilitate hundreds of discussions in dozens of environments, and along the way I’ve picked up some principles for what works and what doesn’t; here are my top 10....

Baptism Promises and Foxholes
“No one will give you a medal for bringing your baby to worship, for getting two or three small children dressed and out the door for church with a little nourishment in their tummies in time to get to the nine o’clock service,” I said. “But it will make an immeasurable difference in their lives...."

Motivate Volunteers: 5 Ways To Maintain Excitement
...when it comes to igniting passion, you need multiple methods. What works to motivate some of your volunteers may not work for all.

Monday's Catch: 'Making Change in an Older Church (Without Running Over the Old Guard)' And More

Making Change in an Older Church (Without Running Over the Old Guard) It can be particularly challenging for a pastor to lead change in an older church when the primary decision makers (or most of the members) have been in the church for several years, sometimes a few decades. Thom and Sam look at four developments that often take place when leading change is successful. They reviewed over 20 successful churches.

Vatican approves document allowing gay men to become priests in Italy
A new document by the Italian bishops’ conference states that being openly gay no longer bars candidates from diPreparing and Preaching Gospel-Centred Sermonsscerning the priesthood.

California fires have destroyed at least a dozen houses of worship
A bell tower is all that remains of Altadena Baptist Church, founded by a Swedish congregation in the 1920s and now a racially diverse faith community.

The Shocking Rise of Bully Pastors
Have you ever wondered why some churches experience rapid growth while others struggle to fill their pews? The answer may lie in the leadership style of the pastor. In this thought-provoking video, Carey Nieuwhof discusses the rise of bully pastors and the devastating impact they have on their congregations.

Preparing and Preaching Gospel-Centred Sermons
What are gospel-centred sermons? How do we prepare them and why do they matter so much for the preacher and the church?

8 Preachable Marks Of A Transformed Life
Philip Nation offers preaching tips for pastors guiding a congregation to and through the life transformed in Christ.

6 Reasons Worship Attendees Aren’t Group Participants
According to the State of Groups research, the average church sees 44% of worship attendees attend ongoing Bible study groups.

2 Pseudo-Christian Religions That Claim to Be Christian
Can religions that claim to be “Christian” change biblical truths about Christ and God? Or are these religions simply pseudo-Christian?

Saturday Lagniappe: "Anglican Church of Canada's Bounce Back Didn't Reverse Decline" And More

Anglican Church of Canada's Bounce Back Didn't Reverse Decline
According to data available so far, attendance at Anglican Church of Canada Easter and Christmas services rose by 41 and 50 per cent respectively in 2023, even while average Sunday attendance fell by nine per cent over the same period—substantially faster than the decline of about 2.5 per cent per year before the pandemic, says the church’s statistics officer, Canon Neil Elliot.

5 Top Priorities For Increasing Your Church
Whether you’re in a church of 20 or 20,000, these principles will help you to invest the talents God has given to your church.

Non-Denominationalism Is the Strongest Force in American Religion
...and maybe in American society, too.

8 Signs of a Dangerous Pastor Who Will Destroy Your Church
You’re on your church’s pastor search committee? Good for you. It’s a difficult task, one that can make or break your church for a long time to come. But this can be one of the finest services you render for the Lord and His church, especially if you help your church see signs of a dangerous pastor.

3 Warning Signs You Might Not Be Taking Your Calling Seriously
Like Samson, we too have received a calling. Though there are many places in Scripture that talk about this call, here is a particularly vivid passage from 1 Peter 2....

42 Church Snacks That Will Feed Any Hungry Crowd
Church snacks may not be the main event on Sundays. But they never hurt! Whether you’re planning coffee-hour fellowship for adults, Sunday school or VBS for children, or gatherings for youth, families or small groups, yummy church snacks are always a hit.

Image Credit: St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Florence, Ontario

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, January 12, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is the First Sunday after the Epiphany. It also is the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, in which we recall that particular event in salvation history. It is one of the Sundays on which some churches traditionally administer the ordinance or sacrament of baptism or if there are no candidates for baptism, the baptized renew their baptismal vows or are otherwise reminded of their own baptism. It is a Sunday on which the Apostles’ Creed, an early creed associated with baptism, may be recited or sung as a part of the celebration.

In this Sunday’s message we unpack four texts from the New Testament that have contributed to the Christian Church’s understanding of baptism.

Readings: Isaiah 43: 1-7; Acts 8: 14-17; and Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22

Message: Turning Point

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/01/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-january.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: "‘Cloistering’ is not the answer to America’s great divide, Burge says" And More

‘Cloistering’ is not the answer to America’s great divide, Burge says
U.S. society will continue to fragment into ever-shrinking political and religious clusters as long as Americans continue to shun those with different perspectives, sociologist of religion Ryan Burge said in a Denver Seminary podcast.

Discerning Our Greatest Fear
Ending a ministry or closing a church is arguably one of the most difficult decisions a pastor or congregation can face but is one that is one that is becoming a reality more and more often...There are several indicators that it might be time to consider closing a church or ending a ministry....

7 Trends Impacting Church Leadership for 2025
As the landscape of ministry continues to shift, the Lewis Center sees congregations adapting in creative new ways. Jessica Anschutz, Ann Michel, and Doug Powe of the Lewis Center staff identify seven trends impacting churches and how they pursue their missions in 2025.

11 Characteristics of Effective Smaller Churches
What are the qualities of effective smaller churches? David Ray explores eleven key qualities of dynamic and faithful smaller churches that he observed across 21 communities. Effective smaller churches prioritize worship, embrace their size, foster a community spirit, have fun, commit to mission, find a niche, support pastoral leadership, empower laity, deploy resources wisely, thrive with vitality, and nurture passionate faith.

Why People Are Leaving the Church
In this breakout session from TGCW24, Jim Davis and Michael Graham, authors of The Great Dechurching, unpack four types of people who’ve left evangelical churches, why they left, and why more than half of them are willing to return.

Churches must preach the truth on vaccines
One simple way churches could proclaim truth in an era of Trumpian disinformation is to speak plainly about the importance of vaccines.

How Gnosticism Shaped Early Christian Beliefs
In the early Christian church, Gnosticism posed a significant theological challenge. Many Gnostic ideas conflicted with the foundational teachings of Christianity, particularly the belief in the goodness of creation, the incarnation of Jesus, and the bodily resurrection.

5 Barriers to Listening
Listening is hard work! It tests the mind, the heart, the will, and the body. Below are five barriers to listening and ways to overcome them from Kairos Care: A Process for Pastoral Counseling in the Office and in Everyday Encounters, written by Aaron Perry, PhD, Associate Prof. of Pastoral Theology and Leadership at Wesley Seminary.

Thursday's Catch: 'Episcopal bishop mourns ‘losses too great to bear’ as So. Calif. suffers historic wildfires' And More

Episcopal bishop mourns ‘losses too great to bear’ as So. Calif. suffers historic wildfires
John H. Taylor, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, mourned “losses too great to bear” as wildfires in Greater Los Angeles ravaged scores of churches and homes of parishioners among the more than 2,000 buildings destroyed in a historic blaze that has left at least five people dead and sent thousands more fleeing to safety.

Related Articles: Fires Destroy a Church, Prompt Parishes to Offer Shelter; 'Sadness' as churches and Christian school succumb to LA wildfires; and California congregations vow to help neighbors even as their buildings are lost to fires

Discipleship in the Reformed World
The Reformed church has many obvious strengths. We prize robust theology, confessions, and historic Christianity. We are committed to church discipline and the regulative principle of worship. We deeply care about how we approach and think about God. These are all to be commended. But we should also be willing to acknowledge our weaknesses and to seek to correct and address them. One of these areas of weakness is discipleship, especially when it comes to those who are new to the faith or less cultured and refined in their mannerisms or bearings.

Discipleship is also an area of weakness in churches not in the Reformed tradition.

Preaching Transformation: The Change We Need
Ed Stetzer discusses the importance of transformation in the life of a Christian and offers points to assist the preacher in helping their congregation see it through.

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

DISCOVER the Truth About High Conversion Growth Churches
Joby Martin and Mike Housholder both lead high-conversion-growth churches. That means their growth isn't coming from transfer growth. How are they doing it? As the 2025 Church Trends series continues, they share their secrets to reaching unchurched people, how to speak to insiders and outsiders at the same time, and the keys to evangelism in today's culture.

The Comfort Commission vs the Great Commission
Is your church quietly drifting from the Great Commission to what we call "The Comfortable Commission"? In this episode, Scott and A.J. explore how well-intentioned churches can gradually shift from mission-focused to comfort-focused ministry - often without realizing it.

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, January 9, 2024) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

The Season that follows the Feast of the Epiphany and the Season that follows Trinity Sunday or the Feast of Pentecost, depending upon what liturgical calendar a church uses are called the “green seasons.” They are so called because green is the primary liturgical color used during these seasons. The use of liturgical colors to mark the seasons of the church year in the Western church became a common practice in the fourth century. However, the history of liturgical colors is far older.

Liturgical colors are considered “adiaphora,” things that are indifferent to salvation and are not commanded or forbidden by Scripture. They serve as a reminder of the particular season or occasion a church is celebrating, a way of setting that season or occasion apart from other seasons and occasions.

In this evening’s message we unpack a key passage from the First Letter of John, a passage about the relationship between loving God and loving people.

Reading: 1 John 4: 7-21

Message: Inseparable

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/01/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows_9.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: 'What's Behind Gen Z's Embrace of Confession and Revival?' And More

What's Behind Gen Z's Embrace of Confession and Revival?
J.P. Pokluda and Jennie Allen join Carey to share their experiences with the college revival happening across the United States. As the 2025 Church Trends series continues, they discuss Gen Z's embrace of confession and deliverance and whether the revival can jump the river to churches.

Face mask mandates make a comeback in US amid fears of quad-demic
Face mask mandates appear to be making a quiet comeback in hospitals across the US amid growing concerns over what experts are calling a 'quad-emic.' Four viral infections — flu, Covid, the cold-like virus RSV and norovirus — are rising, reaching around 15million cases and 30,000 deaths so far this winter.

Also See: 'Get real!': Americans react as mask mandates threatened in eight states; Fearing another pandemic, people are prepping for bird flu. Should you?; Experts urge China to reveal crucial details of HPMV outbreak; and Massive country re-introduces strict Covid rules as mystery new Chinese virus spreads

As someone who worked in a public health related field, I believe that it is wise to keep an eye on outbreaks of infectious diseases that can affect the life of a community and the ministries of its churches and not minimize or dismiss their seriousness.

Preaching When The News Intrudes
When natural disasters, terrorist attacks, celebrity deaths, and political intrigue dominate the news, should pastors talk about them? And if so, how?

Ideas for Children’s Church Lessons: 10 Bible Topics To Explore
No matter if you’re teaching preschoolers, conducting ministry to youth, or holding virtual classes for homebound church members, many ideas for children’s church lessons work well for all learners. With Bible lessons for kids, keep in mind children’s ages, developmental stages, and attention levels.

Also See: Kids Ministry Names: 24 Ideas for Your Children’s Program

How To Study the Bible for Teens: 8 Key Reading Tips
As kids start reading and studying God’s Word, Jen Weaver recommends 8 tips to keep in mind (and in heart).

Also See: Youth Activities for Spiritual Growth: 15 Ways To Boost Faith Fitness

If Jesus got angry, can I?
In this article Callie Clayton unpacks what the Bible teaches us about anger.

How To Be an Advocate: 10 Ways
...perhaps you’ve found yourself wondering — what does it mean to be an advocate? Or, how can I be an advocate in my community?

The content of this article may be helpful to anyone wishing to become a advocate in their community.

American Religions: The Rise of Mormons an Jehovah Witnesses
Many American Christians live among Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, but perhaps few understand what distinguishes them from historic Christianity. The origins of these groups in the religious ferment of nineteenth-century America illumines both their trajectories and the doctrines they came to embrace that place them outside the bounds of orthodox Christianity.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Is The Sea of Faith Coming Back In? Or is it a Spiritual Tsunami?' And More

Is The Sea of Faith Coming Back In? Or is it a Spiritual Tsunami?
...here’s the rub: the returning sea is not so much an even-spread, metronomically moving clear ocean of Christian creeds and confessions, a return to evangelism the old way, and a wide-eyed curiosity about two ways to live. No, the returning sea is more of a tsunami, a crashing, rushing, tangled mess of spiritual flotsam and jetsam, churned along and dragged into the early 21st century shore as a result of seismic changes in our culture, our ideologies and our failed attempts to create a vision of life that is worth loving sans God.

Trump Bible gets special editions, and you’re invited to pay to pray
The God Bless the USA Bible now comes in three special editions, including one commemorating Donald Trump’s second inauguration as president of the United States. Another special edition of the leather-bound KJV Bible is sold as “The Day God Intervened” edition commemorating Trump surviving an assassination attempt. Yet another special edition, priced at $1,000, features Trump’s signature inside.

Also See: Trump Bible gets new 'Inauguration Day Edition' just in time for Jan. 6

Is Eastern Orthodoxy the Next Big Thing for Young Men?
Is there a massive movement of young men to Eastern Orthodoxy? The New York Post seems to think so. A viral article by Rikki Schlott last fall painted a dramatic picture of young men converting to Orthodox Christianity “in droves.”

The story of George Fox and why you should know about him
2024 marked the 400th anniversary of the birth of George Fox in 1624. It was George Fox's ideas and writings which led to the emergence of the Society of Friends, popularly known as the Quakers. This is the story....

Who Might Be the Next Archbishop of Canterbury?
Seemingly within moments of Welby resigning, many articles began identifying potential successors. Two names are common to almost all the lists, and so I shall start with them.

Five Predictions We Got Wrong about the Future of the Church
This time of year, many commentators and researchers prognosticate about the future of the church. Thom and Sam take a different approach in this episode. While many of their predictions from previous decades have turned out to be correct, not all of them did. They look back and evaluate a few predictions they got wrong from years ago.

Why Preaching Requires a Human Touch
’m not a guy who sits in the middle of nowhere wearing a tinfoil hat warning that we’re being taken over by aliens, but I am wondering if in this age of AI some have lost their understanding of the weight and seriousness of preaching God’s Word.

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

Three Errors to Avoid With Your Bible Reading Plan
...around about this time of year, a lot of Bible reading plans are just getting started, and round about this time next month, a lot of Bible reading plans will go up in flames. Hearing from God is incredibly important, so I hate to see someone become discouraged in their attempt to start reading the Bible. To help out, I want to give three errors that I commonly see when folks start their Bible reading plan.

Is Your Technology Use Hurting Your Church?
There are countless articles and statistics online showing how technology use can help churches with administration, worship, and communication. We write about it a lot here at Capterra. But are there downsides to all of this technology? Is it possible that while it may be aiding worship in some ways, it could be hindering it in others?

Monday's Catch: 'Gentiles and the Glory of God' And More

Gentiles and the Glory of God
When we celebrate Epiphany as a season, we speak of the revelation of the glory of God in Jesus. When we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, the story turns more specific: we celebrate the salvation of God for the Gentiles. We read the story of the Magi who come to pay homage to the newly born king of the Jews, and of their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. While these gifts are a revelation of Jesus and the foreshadowing of the trifold nature of his life and ministry (king, and God, and sacrifice), they do not necessarily answer two questions: How are these two ideas connected? How does the salvation of the Gentiles reveal the glory of God?

Justin Welby marks last day as Archbishop of Canterbury after resignation over John Smyth scandal
Justin Welby's tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury ends at midnight on Monday two months after his resignation over safeguarding failures in the Church of England. Welby took up the post in 2013 but announced his resignation last November following the publication of the Makin Review which held him partly responsible for failures in the handling of the John Smyth case.

Why does the Church of England have two archbishops?
The Church of England has been much in the news in recent months. Among the many issues that have dominated the headlines has been the role and responsibilities of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This was Justin Welby until his recent resignation over safeguarding issues. As the established church in England prepares to replace him as its overall leader, the spotlight is falling on how the Church of England is structured and governed. And this raises some fascinating questions regarding how early medieval history lies behind the authority structure of the twenty-first century Church of England.

Does a lack of faith lead to suicide? One study says yes. Scholars of secularism say no.
A new study by a Christian scholar found higher rates of suicide and campus sexual assault in states where more nonbelievers live. But others who study secularism say correlation doesn't prove the case.

New Credo Magazine: 1700 Years after Nicaea
Without the doctrine of the Trinity we have no Christianity. So, something is fundamentally wrong when countless churchgoers and churches today never say the Nicene Creed together on a Sunday morning. In fact, some have never heard of the Nicene Creed at all. The year 2025 is the anniversary of the Nicene Creed, meaning this year is a strategic opportunity for pastors everywhere to put the creed back in the church where it belongs. In this new issue of Credo Magazine, we explain why the creed should not only inform the doctrine of the church but its worship, pervading its liturgy. No longer can the church afford to go without that creed which brings us into fellowship with the communion of the saints and summons us into communion with the holy Trinity.

Many Episcopalians and other Anglicans recite the Nicene Creed every Sunday but how many of them understand and believe what it affirms?

Battered by Moses? Why We Still Need to Preach the Law
Even as believers, we need to hear the weight of God’s holy demands to see the gravity of our sin.

Never Too Busy to Pray
The Gospels offer only a few glimpses into the routines of Jesus’s life outside his normal ministry. They show him traveling often. They show him eating at many different tables. They sometimes show him resting. But perhaps above all, they show him praying.

Be the Kind of Person the World Needs
...there’s another goal that I would encourage us all to pursue. One that isn’t overtly quantifiable but matters now more than ever. A goal that feeds and fuels everything else we pursue. That goal? To be the kind of person the world needs.

The Remedy for Envy
If to envy means to wish we owned something another person now possesses and only that, few of us would be guilty. But that’s far too thin an interpretation of this obese transgression. Here then are several observations on envy, what I’m calling “the sneakiest” of the seven deadly sins.

Your Breath Stinks
Do you engage in corrupting talk? Do you speak to people in such a way that you deflate or discourage them, or even worse, that you insult or belittle them? Do you say things that may be factual but are unwise, or unnecessary, or unsuitable to the current context? In other words, when you speak to others, is it more like the smell of baking bread or the stench of rotting flesh? Does it satisfy people or revolt them, help them or hurt them, bless them or curse them?

Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, January 5, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows

Monday, January 6, is the Feast of the Epiphany. However, the feast may be celebrated on a Sunday that falls between January 2 and January 8. This Sunday, the last Sunday of the Christmas Season, falls on January 5 so we are celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany on this Sunday, using the propers, prayers and readings, for the Feast of Epiphany instead of those for the Second Sunday after Christmas. We are also using the order of service for a Service of the Word found in the Additional Direction on pages 406-408 of The Book of Common Prayer (1979). The service begins with the Penitential Rite and concludes with the Grace or the Peace, depending upon how many people are present.

This Sunday’s message takes a look at a choice facing Christians in the New Year, in the reminder of the decade, and beyond.

Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; and Matthew 2: 1-15; 19-23

Message: The Choice Christians Face

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/01/sundays-at-all-hallows-sunday-january-5.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: '10 Trends for Ministry in 2025' And More

10 Trends for Ministry in 2025
As you think about ministering to your congregation and community in 2025, here are 10 key trends to keep in mind.

Beyond Numerical Growth
Why were some churches so much more successful than others in bringing people to faith? What was the “secret sauce” of growing high-conversion rate (HCR) churches?

5 Disruptive Church Trends That Will Rule 2025
Carey Nieuwhof shares the top 5 church trends leaders must consider in 2025. Carey discusses how Gen Z is in revival and retreat at the same time. Plus, research shows that evangelism in our churches is on life support, church closures are outpacing church plants 3-1, and the state of pastoral mental health is not getting any better.

Canadian evangelicals concerned about possible removal of charitable status from religious, pro-life groups
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has raised concerns about recommendations presented to the Canadian government calling for the removal of charitable status to religious charities and anti-abortion organizations. The potential negative impact not only on the religious sector but the many people it serves would be immense, the group warns.

Leadership And Church Size Dynamics
Tim Keller explores one of the most talked-about church issues: the relationship of size to church health and culture.

The people and stories that shaped hymns
Too often in the euphoria of singing together we don't really think very much about the words. That's regrettable. It's also regrettable that hardly ever do we think about the life of the authors of hymns and why they wrote what they did.

Don’t Turn Off the Christmas Music
There’s never a time we don’t need to remember the incarnation.

Reading the Bible to Meet God
Reading to meet God sounds like a great idea and the ideal for a Christian, but how do we actually do it? How can we change our mind-sets to view Scripture as a living, rich revelation instead of a religious tome of instructions and history? Here are seven ways.

Friday's Catch: 'How to Encourage Church-Wide Evangelism' And More

How to Encourage Church-Wide Evangelism
Evangelism is a core mission of the church, reflecting the Lord’s command in Matthew 28:19-20 to “go and make disciples of all nations.” However, developing a church-wide evangelism requires intentionality, vision, and strategy. Here are several steps to engage the whole church in this vital ministry.

It’s 2025: Where’s our witness?
Our supposed Christian witness was mortally wounded by our own lack of Christian compassion.

Andy Stanley warns of religious leaders who prioritize politics over mission
Church leaders are resurrecting old barriers that we spent years tearing down, and they’re adding new barriers.

8 Danger Signs of a Bad Pastor
Pastors are called to be spiritual leaders, guiding their congregations in faith, wisdom, and love. They are entrusted with the spiritual well-being of their communities and play a pivotal role in shaping the direction of a church. But not all pastors live up to this calling.

How We Misunderstand Servant Leadership
Beyond leading by example, and far better than merely doing whatever the team wants, team leaders should focus on supporting their ministry team members to be better team members.

Cripping the Clergy: Embracing Disabled Leadership
It’s a vicious circle: future priests are radically unprepared to engage with disability, which means they are unable to teach their parishioners a way out of their unquestioned prejudices and assumptions, which means that when those same parishioners get together to imagine their next priest, it doesn’t occur to them that disability might be something more than an attribute to be overlooked. It will not occur to them that disability is an identity that adds value.

What is the Future of Worship Music?
Worship music has long been a central component of the Christian faith experience, acting as a conduit for spiritual connection and communal identity. In American churches, it has evolved over the years, shifting from traditional hymns to contemporary praise songs, and now, it faces a new era shaped by technology, cultural trends, and a desire for deeper, more authentic worship experiences. As the cultural landscape of continues to change, several key trends are emerging, which will likely define the future of worship music.

10 Benefits of Reading Your Bible Every Day in the New Year
As we step into a new year, many of us are thinking about ways to grow spiritually, strengthen our walk with Christ, and live with greater purpose. One of the most powerful habits you can cultivate is daily Bible reading. This simple discipline can transform your life. Most of us who are Christians have been encouraged to read our Bibles, maybe if you grew up in church your entire life; however, it is so easy to neglect – especially when we do not see the benefits of it. Here are 10 benefits of reading your Bible every day in the new year.

How to Get Started and Choose a Bible Reading Plan for the New Year
For many women, the new year is an opportunity to create meaningful habits, and one of the most transformative habits is time with God’s Word. The challenge for many women is how to start and then consistently read a Bible reading plan amidst the demands of family, work, and ministry. The key to getting started is beginning with intentionality and grace. Here are five practical steps to help you get started and choose a Bible reading plan that’s both realistic and impactful in spiritual growth.

You'll Have To Be Patient
The 4 layers of patience (and the two we ignore).

Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, January 2, 2025) Is Now Online

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

This Thursday, January 2, is the ninth day of Christmastide, the season of the liturgical year, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in most Christian churches. This coming Sunday, January 5, will be the second Sunday after Christmas and the first Sunday of the new civil year. It is also Twelfth Night.

In some countries Christians traditionally remove their Christmas decorations on Twelfth Night, the first eve of the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6; in other countries Christians uphold a tradition of removing them after Candlemas, February 2. Candlemas concludes the seasons of Christmas-Epiphany.

In this evening’s message we examine the relationship between the new birth and the place of holiness in the life of a Christian.

Reading: 1 Peter 1

Message: A Gracious Gift of God

Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/01/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows.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.

Thursday's Catch: 'What Is a True Movement?' And More

What Is a True Movement?
God changes the world through Spirit-led movements, but movements are paradoxical. On the one hand, movements come from God: We can’t manufacture them or simply declare something a movement and make it one. That’s why Jonathan Edwards called the Great Awakening “a surprising work of God.” On the other hand, movements don’t just happen: historical accounts show that movements happen through human intentionality, prayer, and action. God births movements in moments when people recognize a need and step forward in faith.

Nearly a third of Evangelicals didn't donate to church, charity in past year: study
The share of Evangelicals who have donated to their church has dropped in recent years, with nearly one-third saying they didn't donate to a church or charity within the prior 12 months, according to a survey.

Being Refashioned in Christ
Ican be a grouser and complainer during the weeks leading up to Christmas. At no other time of year do I find my inner being quite so much at odds with what’s going on in the secular culture. But even I must admit that there is a certain mystique to it all. The “Christmas spirit,” however we think of it, does encourage us to look for the best in one another, which is remarkable precisely because most of the time we tend to see the worst in each other.

Keep Bible Reading from Being Rude
Don't ghost God. Respond in prayer.

The New Year’s Prayer Challenge
Happy New Year! Today, many of us are evaluating our routines, hoping to make improvements for 2025. A new year is an ideal time to take inventory of our prayer lives – both individually and corporately – which is why I want to encourage you with some ways to grow in prayer in this new year.

See also: Are you ‘Practising the Presence of God?’

How Has Technology Affected the Church?
Recent technological advancements have profoundly impacted virtually every aspect of life, including the American church. From online services to social media outreach, technology has created opportunities for connection and growth that previous generations could scarcely imagine. However, it has also introduced challenges that test the spiritual and relational health of congregations. The question remains: how has technology affected the church? Has it helped or hurt the American church? The answer is nuanced, revealing both benefits and pitfalls.

2025 Updates for AI and the Church
Can anyone really provide an update on AI? It is moving too fast for most of us. Jess and Thom try to keep local churches updated on the AI issues that could most affect them.

6 Ways to Use Your Pastor’s Sermons for Online Small Groups
Many of our Small Groups have experienced much change (and so quickly) in the recent weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some of you may have a love-hate relationship with technology, it sure is proving to be a blessing in these days and times. Our online Small Groups can connect and “see” one another virtually, using various online platforms. While there are many different studies available for online Small Groups to use, this is also a great opportunity for you to use your pastor’s sermon, and find ways incorporate it into your Online Small Groups.

Nurturing our relationship with God
In the same way that plants need the right conditions, such as water, sunlight and even a soil rich environment to grow, we too as Christians need the right environment.

A Primer on Roman Catholic Apologetics Targeting Evangelicals
n the late 19th century, liberal theology predicted the end of apologetics as the child of an entrenched, defensive, and doctrinaire faith. It was wrong. Apologetics is alive and well, especially on the web, where initiatives aimed at comparing different interpretations of the gospel (e.g. Roman Catholic, Orthodox, evangelical) flourish.

Wednesday's Catch: 'The best seats at church' And More

The best seats at church
The subject of seating doesn’t sound very spiritual. But Jesus tells us it is. He said the Pharisees desire the “best seats” in the synagogue (Matthew 23:6). With that comment, Jesus puts his finger on the spiritual nature of our seating arrangements at worship. Every Sunday that we walk into church, we face a spiritual decision. The later you arrive, the less choice you’ll have, but, when you have a choice, which seat will you pick and why?

What might 2025 bring?
It is a very brave/naïve/foolish person (select as applicable) who makes confident and precise predictions about what will happen in the next year. However, buoyed up by my recent track record – looking into the 2020s and predicting that SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (aka COVID-19) will be a serious issue in China, may spread into south-east Asia, but will not develop into a global pandemic, and Putin is a posturing bully who will not launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine – I make my predictions for 2025!

The Ministry of Presence A very important Bible passage that prioritizes the ministry of presence is Matthew 25:34-40, where Jesus teaches that when Christians show up to serve the physical vulnerabilities of the least of His people in greatest need they serve Jesus Himself. This text addresses all Christians and ministers. May we all “Have the Ministry of Presence of Body.”

What’s in a Name?
In Scripture...names do matter. So why is the name Jesus significant? On this Feast of the Holy Name, let’s explore why the name of Jesus is important.

6 Ways To Know If You’ve Been Called By God
How about you? How do you know if you’ve been called by God?

Why Trying to Craft Perfect Sermons Will Lead to Pastoral Burnout
More effort doesn’t always lead to better results.

Busy Bags for Church: A Guide for Children’s Ministry Leaders
Busy bags for church are simple yet powerful tools that let families worship together. They are a positive way to keep children engaged at church. Your congregation might provide coloring sheets, children’s bulletins, and crayons. But kid-friendly busy bags for church take that further.

How Healthy Is Your Soul? Six Questions for a New Year
...at the end of a new year, on the edge of another, let’s stop to take some spiritual vitals. How healthy is your soul?