All Hallows Evening Worship for Wednesday (December 14, 2022) Is Now Online.

 

Evening Worship for this Wednesday is adapted from the service provided in A New Zealand Prayer Book (2020) for those occasions of public worship for which there is a need for a Service of the Word. The service is loosely modeled on Morning and Evening Prayer from The Book of Common Prayer.

The Scripture reading is Isaiah 39.

The message is “An Instrument of God’s Grace”

The link to this service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/12/all-hallows-evening-worship-for_13.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May these services be a blessing to you.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Why Our Church Is Having Christmas Day Services' And More

Why Our Church Is Having Christmas Day Services

To understand why we go to church on Christmas, we have to understand why we go to church in the first place.

Shopping for a new church? Your politics may determine which pew fits
A new study examines the role that politics plays in how Americans choose a new church.

Pastoring LGBTQ-Identifying People in Your Church With Grace and Truth
As the landscape of American cultural beliefs continues to shift away from the biblical parameters of marriage and sexuality, pastors are coming to grips with the reality that an increasing number of people in the pews not only disagree with their church’s teachings on sexuality, but actually personally identify as LGBTQ.

Dumb & Dumber Mistakes Pastors Often Make<br/> Charles Stones shares some of the dumbest mistakes that he has made.

4 Reasons to Make Sure Singing is Part of Your Christmas
Michael Kelley explain why he believes we should make sure singing is part of our Christmas this year.

One Billion Lost Sheep
Greg Stier shares something that stopped him in his tracks.

Monday's Catch: 'Make Christianity Beautiful Again' And More

Make Christianity Beautiful Again

Christians have a serious image problem and it is their own fault!

George MacDonald and the Christian Imagination
Saturday was the anniversary of the birth of a man regarded as the father of modern fantasy literature, someone who profoundly influenced writers such as G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis.

Is it wrong to laugh at 'bad worship' videos on YouTube?
Denying dignity to someone for a poor performance—particularly someone who is making an effort to worship God—is not just unkind, it erodes our humanity and respect for each other. Frequently dipping into bad worship videos could produce a harvest of hard-heartedness, unkindness, and a less-tender consideration for other image bearers

What does “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” mean?
Kevin Halloran unpacks this passage from James for us.

The Crushing Wheel: Shifting Missions Engagement From Transactional to Transformational
Why our churches should ask deeper questions about the root causes of grinding poverty and systemic violence.

Only half of UK Christians think it is important to share their faith with others
British Christians, like American ones, have a serious faith-sharing problem too.

All Hallows Morning and Evening Worship for Sunday (December 11, 2022) Is Now Online

 

This Sunday's Morning and Evening Worship is adapted from the service provided in A New Zealand Prayer Book (2020) for those occasions of public worship for which there is a need for a Service of the Word. The service is loosely modeled on Morning and Evening Prayer from The Book of Common Prayer.

Morning Worship begins at the top of the page. Scroll down the page for the beginning of Evening Worship.

Morning Readings: Isaiah 35:1–10 and Matthew 11:2–11

Morning Message: “Jesus, Our Savior and Our Judge”

Evening Reading: James 5: 7-10

Evening Message: "How to Wait for Our Lord’s Return"

The link to this Sunday’s Morning and Evening Worship is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/12/all-hallows-morning-and-evening-worship_10.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May these services be a blessing to you.

Children’s Sermon Guidelines: 4 Tips for a Great Message

By Mark Pierce

How do you feel about children’s sermon at your church? If you’re on the fence about the effectiveness of kids messages, keep reading…

A mom approached me after a recent Sunday evening worship service. “I wasn’t going to come tonight,” she said. “I worked all day and was tired. So I came home and just wanted to crash. But Anna would have none of it. She said, ‘Mom, I want to go to church!'”

Typically, fewer than 60 people attend our Sunday evening services. Yet our fastest-growing demographic is children younger than 10. Why? Because we make our services child-friendly, with a meaningful children’s sermon.

This year, we added a children’s sermon to each service. We invite elementary children to come up front with me. Usually, I sit on the platform and have them sit around me. These talks typically last 7 to 10 minutes.

What is it about these short talks that makes a child ask to come to church? Read More

See Also: 

Bible Lessons and Sermons4Kids

Ideas for Children’s Church: 10 Bible-Based Topics to Explore

Children’s Church or Big Church: Where Should Children Worship?

Friday's Catch: '10 Easy Outreach Ideas for Your Church This Christmas' And More

10 Easy Outreach Ideas for Your Church This Christmas

This season may be the best opportunity to impact the lost community around you. Here are ten outreach ideas for your church this Christmas.

4 Questions for Evaluating Where Your Congregation Is at in Worship
How can we evaluate where our congregation is at as a worshiping community?

Fake Jesus: 10 Christ Figures We Should Stop Worshiping
Could you recognize a fake Jesus? Jesus is still very popular these days, even at a time when Christianity seems to be facing more social marginalization. From political and social movements to kitschy products to bumper stickers, we’ve appropriated Jesus as a mascot for our favorite causes. But we have to wonder, is this the real Jesus of the Bible or a Jesus of our own making?

7 Reasons Evangelism Has Declined in the Church
Why have we lost our evangelistic vigor in the last couple decades?

What’s Your Faith-Sharing Style?
How to identify and maximize your personal approach to evangelism.

All Hallows Evening Worship for Saturday (December 10, 2022) Is Now Online

 

Evening Worship for this Saturday is adapted from the service provided in A New Zealand Prayer Book (2020) for those occasions of public worship for which there is a need for a Service of the Word. The service is loosely modeled on Morning and Evening Prayer from The Book of Common Prayer.

The Scripture reading is Matthew 16: 1-12.

The message is “The Sign of Jonah”

The link to this service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/12/all-hallows-evening-worship-for_8.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May these services be a blessing to you.

Thursday's Catch: 'Connecting Cross-Generationally to Reach the Community' And More

Connecting Cross-Generationally to Reach the Community

For too long in the North American church, we have focused too much on how missions get done and not enough effort on who is doing missions.

Invite Your Church to Treasure the Christmas Story
Every church will find creative ways to tell the Christmas story. But here are some important things to keep front and center.

Advent: Gearing Up for All Twelve Days
No, the Christmas Season does not start on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. It begins on Christmas Eve and lasts until Twelfth Night.

Five Reasons Why Denial in Churches Is So Common
In a recent consultation with a church, Thom Rainer encountered such entrenched denial that it was not possible for the church to move forward. Why is denial so common and so deadly in many churches today? Mark Clifton and Thom Rainer examine five reasons.

Do We Have a Clear Picture of Spiritual Gifts Today?
For a good part of the last half of the twentieth century, spiritual gifts were a topic of intense interest in churches. Now it seems as if that interest has faded. Thom Rainer and Sam Rainer examine why the emphasis faded and why it’s important for churches to “rediscover” spiritual gifts.

Three Reasons Small Group Christmas Parties Fail

Small Group Christmas Parties happen once a year. The annual Christmas party is the optimal time to create memories that bonds a group forever. We don’t want to waste the moment so it’s important that we avoid anything that makes it a failure. Below you’ll find a few things that cause a Small Group Christmas party to fail. Avoid them if at all possible.

The Most Impactful Tech Shift Your Church Can Make
To address the spiritual wellbeing of scattered members, almost every church provided some type of online video alternative at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. To address the financial wellbeing of the church, however, fewer added online giving. Those that did saw a significant impact.

Wednesday's Catch: 'Come Thou Long Expected Judgment' And More

Come Thou Long Expected Judgment

Advent prepares us for the Incarnation, but also for the gift of God's final justice.

Five Important Demographics Churches Fail to Know About Their Communities
Pastors and church leaders often miss the basic demographics of their communities. Why?

12 Questions for the Would-Be Universalist
If we compare universalism to a house for sale, we should admit the house has curb appeal. But would any of us buy a house we’d only seen from the outside?

But Contemporary Worship Brings People to Jesus! … Right? 

For one thing, music doesn’t bring people to Jesus. Jesus does that work admirably enough through the Holy Spirit, certainly better than a brush with David Crowder’s beard. But there’s an even deeper flaw in our thinking. Worship is not an evangelistic tool.

Longest Night
One of the greatest acts of pastoral care in the Advent season is to offer a service known as a Service of the Longest Night. It’s a worship service scheduled around the winter solstice (the longest night of the calendar year) and it just happens to fall on or around December 21st every year.

Will Your Church Meet on Christmas Day?
Here are three ways to approach Christmas this year when it comes to your slate of Sunday services, along with some pros and cons of each.

Real Men Don’t Sing: A Lie Some Guys Believe
Singing badly is not an excuse not to sing. Refusing to publicly proclaim God’s praises through singing because of our lack of musical ability is pride.

12 Ideas for a Life-Changing Small Group Christmas
What is your small group’s plan for this Christmas season?

Anglican church informs parishioners of sex offender attendee after three years
Church of the Resurrection informed congregants in an email on Friday that a registered sex offender has been attending the church since 2019.

All Hallows Evening Worship for Wednesday (December 7, 2022) Is Now Online.

 

Evening Worship for this Wednesday is adapted from the service provided in A New Zealand Prayer Book (2020) for those occasions of public worship for which there is a need for a Service of the Word. The service is loosely modeled on Morning and Evening Prayer from The Book of Common Prayer.

The Scripture reading is Matthew 15:1-20.

The message is “What Jesus Teaches Us about Purity”

The link to this service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/12/all-hallows-evening-worship-for.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May these services be a blessing to you.

Tuesday's Catch: 'Why Americans are leaving their churches' And More

Why Americans are leaving their churches
For sociologist Stephen Bullivant, the question is why it took so long for the religious exodus to happen.

Ed Stetzer: A Look in the Mirror
The North American church needs to learn from our global brothers and sisters how to engage a culture unfamiliar with and even perhaps hostile to the gospel.

Churches See Cash Giving Decrease, But Remain Optimistic for 2023
The 2022 State of Giving report evaluates cash giving to churches in 2021 and offers insights into inflation and perspective for 2023.

7 Risks Every Leader Should Take
The more you practice overcoming your fears, the more fear you overcome.

Knowing Your Child’s Current Niche & Why It Matters
As parents, what matters to our kids ought to matter to us....

Is Islam the World’s Fastest-Growing Religion?
The growing number of Muslims is mainly due to higher birth rates in Muslim families, not new converts to Islam.

Monday's Catch: 'Five Lessons We Learned from Deceased Churches' And More

Five Lessons We Learned from Deceased Churches

Church Answers has continued to talk with church members and leaders whose churches closed or those that were on the precipice of death. While the original information in Autopsy of a Deceased Church is still relevant, there is more information we’ve gleaned since then. We will release that information in a major new resource in January 2023. For now, let us share with you five updated lessons from churches that closed.

In This Big US City, 1 Out of 4 People Have Food Insecurity
Food insecurity is not confined to large cities. It is widespread across the United States. Inflation and rising food prices have added to the problem.

Dealing with Difficult Decembers
We spend so much time enjoying the nativity and celebrating the miracle of our Saviour’s birth, that we often forget to get excited and expectant once again for our Lord to come back.

15 Great Christmas Sermon Tips Every Preacher Needs
There’s no shortage of advice for a Christmas sermon — and we need all the help we can get! Peter Mead of BiblicalPreaching.net offers 15 practical suggestions for your Christmas sermon. One or two are sure to fit your needs.

Connecting With Kids: 7 Children’s Ministry Tips for Breaking the Ice
...anyone who leads and serves in children’s ministry needs to be connecting with kids. Do it early (as soon as they walk in) and often (in different situations and ways). More articles can be found at https://childrensministryleader.com/blog/

You Become Like What You “Like”
Tony Reinke looks at the different ways our smart phones are changing us.

To Be Free, You Need Self Control
On the surface, self-control seems limiting, even stifling. But a life without limits is a life without freedom.

6 Simple Ways to Love Your Neighbors This Holiday Season
Here are a few ideas to get you thinking about ways to connect these next couple of months in the holiday season.

5 Simple Ways to Share Christ This Christmas
Christmas is one of the holidays where engaging others in a Gospel conversation can be easier and more natural. It is a time of sharing laughter, food and, of course, gifts.And there is no better gift to be shared than the Good News of Jesus. He truly is the reason for the season! Here are 5 simple ways to share Christ this Christmas....

Most Americans Believe in Karma, over 25% Believe in Reincarnation, Astrology: Survey
Nearly nine out of 10 Americans say they believe in at least one belief that falls under the loosely defined umbrella of new-age spiritualism, while about a quarter believes in reincarnation, parallel realities and telepathy, a new poll suggests.

All Hallows Morning and Evening Worship for Sunday (December 4, 2022) Is Now Online

 

This Sunday's Morning and Evening Worship is adapted from the service provided in A New Zealand Prayer Book (2020) for those occasions of public worship for which there is a need for a Service of the Word. The service is loosely modeled on Morning and Evening Prayer from The Book of Common Prayer.

Morning Worship begins at the top of the page. Scroll down the page for the beginning of Evening Worship.

Morning Readings: Isaiah 11:1–10 and Matthew 3:1–12

Morning Message: “How to Put the Advent Season to Good Use”

Evening Reading: Romans 15:4–13

Evening Message: "Imitating God as God’s Dear Children."

The link to this Sunday’s Morning and Evening Worship is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/12/all-hallows-morning-and-evening-worship.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May these services be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: '4 Tips for Connecting With Seekers' And More

4 Tips for Connecting With Seekers
It often feels like a shot in the dark, and some strategies end up being more effective than others.

The Power of Storytelling and Reigniting Your people on Mission
Our church celebrated our 100 year anniversary and as an initiative for our centennial year we had the goal of having 100 women share their stories of God’s grace, redemption, and healing. To be honest it seemed in the beginning like a great way to creatively highlight women in our church, but what I didn’t expect was the deep encouragement, joint mission, and growth that would come from the simple ask of “Tell me your story.”

Why It Can Take at Least 5 Years to See Revitalization Fruit
Leading a church in revitalization requires not only tactical patience but strategic patience as well. In this podcast Thom Rainer and Mark Clifton describe strategic patience and why it the fruit of revitalization may not be evident for five years.

5 Types of Low-hanging Fruit to Grow Your Church
In the previous episode, Thom and Mark addressed the issue of strategic patience in a revitalization, meaning that revitalization fruit may not be long-standing until five years have elapsed. But . . . the church can experience some encouraging moves forward with the concept called low-hanging fruit.

Why Many Churches Are Becoming Mini-Seminaries
More churches are providing ministry and theological training for their staff and lay leaders. Thom Rainer and Sam Rainer look at the reasons for this major development. They also interview two pastors, Tyrone Barnette and Matt McCraw, who have built ministry training centers at their own churches.

The Value of Repeated Bible Reading
How repeated Bible reading can help you grow in your understanding of God's word.

Time to Rethink your Church Website?
Our website is our most easily accessed 24/7 communication face to the world. Are we being wise in our use of it?

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (December 3, 2022) Is Now Online

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

The Advent Season, the four Sundays before Christmas Eve and the beginning of the Christmas Season and the week following each Sunday of the Advent Season  is a time not just to prepare for the celebration of our Lord’s birth on Christmas Eve and throughout the Christmas Season, but also for his second appearing. Jesus told his disciples that he would return and until then they should watch and pray so that when he did come again, he would not find them unprepared.

The Advent Season is an annual reminder for us to be prepared for his second appearing. When Jesus comes again in glory, he will come to be the judge of the living and the dead. All of us will have to give an account to him for everything we did and said. The Advent Season is a particularly appropriate time for self-examination, repentance, and turning to God.

Due to the influence of merchants and retailers we are apt to treat the days before Christmas Eve as if they are the Christmas Season, but they are not. The Christmas Season lasts from Christmas Eve to Twelfth Night, the evening before the Feast of the Epiphany. When we celebrate Christmas before Christmas Eve, the real Christmas Season can be a letdown. The Twelve Days of Christmas is plenty of time to sing Christmas carols and to otherwise celebrate Christ’s birth. We do not need to get ahead of ourselves.

The readings for this Saturday evening are Isaiah 29: 15-24 A Message about Jerusalem and Matthew 13: 44-52 Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl; Parable of the Fishing Net.

The homily is titled “Making Sense of Three Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven.”

The link to this Saturday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/12/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Friday's Catch: "Fulfilling the Great Commission in Every Generation' And More

Fulfilling the Great Commission in Every Generation
Making disciples involves crossing generational barriers. To realize the Great Commission, disciples must engage every generation around them.

From the Rise of the ‘Nones’ to the Indifference of the ‘Never Weres’
A sociologist observes the changing tides of American antireligion.

Why Church Autopsies Are Important
Mark Clifton and Thom Rainer delve into the painful issue of examining why churches died. They do so that future deaths might be prevented. They also show how churches today can move to health rather than death.

8 Reasons Why God Calls Us to Wait
I must admit the waiting is difficult for me too.

Spiritual Formation for Faltering Faith
Wendy Alsip reviews Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren.

Episcopal Church loses nearly 60,000 members, sees drop in worship attendance: report
In a local church increased giving is not an uncommon reaction to declining attendance and a shrinking congregation. It is not a sign of church health.

I was involved in church planting in the Episcopal Church in 1980s and the early 2000s. Among the observations that I made during that time is that Episcopal churches tend to grow with the community if they are engaged in the community and reflect the demographic make-up of the community. What happened to the two church plants in the early 2000s was that the denomination embraced a level of diversity far greater than the level of diversity embraced by communities in which the two new works were located. This damaged the public image of the two congregations. One was forced to shut down completely; other survived for several years as a shadow of its former self. Existing churches such as my former parish which I had helped to plant were also impacted. In the region in which I presently live the two churches that were thriving before the COVID-19 pandemic were located in communities where there was substantial diversity in the community due to its size or to the presence of a university in the community.

Thursday's Catch: 'Generational Shifts in Evangelism: Addressing Our Evangelistic Lull' And More

Generational Shifts in Evangelism: Addressing Our Evangelistic Lull

The times have changed… yet evangelism still matters.

7 reasons most churches aren’t reaching the lost in their own backyards
The situation has gotten worse since this article was written.

What Changes When Your Attendance Breaks 200?
According to Thom Rainer 50 to 100 i attendance is the new growth barrier.

We MUST Stop Creating Selfish Christianity!
What would happen in our churches if we focused on discipleship progress? What if we built a relational, incremental church model focused on movement, not moments?

Small Groups, Mental Health & A Few Good Men...

If you’re reading this, it’s very likely you serve as a group leader or group point person within your church or organization.

Truths which Satan uses to stop us from praying
Here are eight true statements Satan uses to put a stop to the most powerful force in the world, the prayers of God’s people....

Wednesday's Catch: 'Church Budgeting: 5 Ways to Take Care of Your Staff' And More

Church Budgeting: 5 Ways to Take Care of Your Staff
How can your church develop a solid budgeting plan that helps demonstrate your commitment to your pastor and staff?

How Much Money Should My Church Save?
We assume preaching, evangelism, and discipleship are truly spiritual activities while finances are an unfortunate necessity.

Ministry: Convenience or Calling?
God’s call gives us a task that is more than a role or a job. It involves our entire being, not just our gifting or talent in service to the Lord. So, it is a call to being as well as doing.

How to Be More Vulnerable Without Freaking Out Your Church
Vulnerability is a two-edged sword. Many appreciate the honesty of tender leaders revealing their secret struggles. Overshare anxieties, however, and you can disrupt the church with unnecessary angst.

Megan Hill on Why Church Is Good for Kids
Little kids can seem like a swarm, but each one is a unique person and it communicates a lot when adults take notice and simply say hi.

Why Do We Need a Small Group Agreement?
For whatever reason they joined or what they expect, the key to successful group life is a thoroughly-discussed and well-articulated group agreement.

Do You Have to Be Committed to a Local Church to Be a Christian?
The importance of the local church in the life of a Christian is powerfully clear and obvious in the New Testament. Today, however, many Christians minimize the role of local congregations. Sam Rainer asks ThomRainer several questions about this issue in light of Thom’s new book, “I Am a Christian.”

Christians are now a minority in England and Wales: census
For the first time since 1801, when the United Kingdom took its first census, less than half of the population identify as “Christian,” while the share of individuals who say they have no religion has swelled by millions, the latest data from their census show.

Christian population in England and Wales falls below half for first time
The results of the latest Census of England and Wales have been published today, showing a drop in the number of people identifying as Christian.

An All Hallows Advent Service of the Word for Wednesday (November 30, 2022) Is Now Online

 

The structure of this Service of the Word is adapted from ideas for similar services in the Church of England’s New Patterns of Worship (2008). The service begins with the lighting of the Advent wreath. The service is suitable for use in the evening or some other time during the day.

The Scripture readings are Deuteronomy 30: 11-14 The Choice of Life or Death and Romans 10: 5-17 Salvation Is for Everyone.

The message is “Messengers of the Good News.”

The link to this Service of the Word is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/11/an-all-hallows-advent-service-of-word.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May these services be a blessing to you.

Tuesday's Catch: An Advent Guide for Better Samaritans

An Advent Guide for Better Samaritans

Resources to help you do Advent differently this year (and beyond).

3 Warning Signs Your ‘Multisite Church’ Isn’t One
Are your multisite campuses truly one church in multiple locations?

Thom Rainer: This Is What Is Necessary for Churches To Survive
An interview with Thom Rainer, the founder and CEO of Church Answers, a popular speaker, professor, dean, and author. 

Eric Geiger: What the ‘Alarming’ State of Theology Report Means for the Church
An interview wth Eric Geiger, the senior pastor of Mariners Church in Irvine, California, former senior vice president of LifeWay, and author or co-author of several books, including the best-selling church leadership book, Simple Church.

Why 50 to 100 in Attendance Has Become the New Growth Barrier (But a Great Opportunity)
The common growth barrier for churches for over 50 years was 200 in average worship attendance. Thom Rainer and Mark Clifton argue that the new barrier is 50 to 100. But they not only tell you why it is the new growth barrier, they share how your church can burst through the barrier.

3 Benefits of Writing Your Prayers
Aaron Armstrong shares three benefits to writing your prayers if you want to give it a shot....

6 Surprising Ways Evangelism Helps Teenagers Mature
As a dad, Greg Stier has noticed six surprising ways evangelism helps teenagers mature.

Anglican Realignment Pioneer John Rodgers Dies at 92
The Rt. Rev. John H. Rodgers, Jr., an evangelical theologian and seminary dean whose controversial 2000 consecration in Singapore sparked the Anglican Realignment Movement, died November 23 at 92.

Historic Church in Tombstone, Arizona – ‘the town too tough to die’ – Gains New Life
In Tombstone, Arizona, the spirit of the Old West lives on, embodied in the costumed characters that stroll the dusty streets, the gunfight reenactments – and the Episcopal church that has stood at the corner of Third and Safford streets since 1882.

Monday's Catch: 'The New Very Large Church' And More

The New Very Large Church
It’s time to rethink church size.

5 Leadership Reminders from Launching 4 New Congregations
Eric Geiger shares five leadership reminders garned from his church's launching of four new congregations in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pros and Cons of Labeling Singles Ministry
Should churches have a specific singles ministry or integrate singles into the rhythms of the church? Here are pros and cons to consider.

9 Marks of a Healthy Worship Leader
Alex Duke shares a few thoughts has developed as he prayed through what his church is undertaking in calling a new worship leader and what your church may be going through right now.

25 Tiny Ways to Welcome Kids in Church
"The little things church members did when my kids were small taught them to expect to be included and valued every Sunday—no matter how old they get."

5 Must-Have Church Evangelism Strategies
Through the years of helping design missional initiatives and evangelism training, I have found five essentials that church evangelism strategies MUST have in order to work in your local culture.

Pajama drive brings Northwestern Pennsylvania community together to help children in need
There’s a good way to tell it’s November in Oil City, Pennsylvania: Sarah Margherio has 437 sets of pajamas gift-wrapped in a bedroom of her home, and she’s not done yet.

What unmet needs in your community might your church meet?

All Hallows Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer for Sunday (November 27, 2022) Is Now Online

The order of service for this Sunday's services of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer comes from The Church of England’s service book, Common Worship (2000). The morning readings are different from the evening reading, as are the songs and the homily.

The morning service begins at the top of the page at the Acclamation of Christ at the Dawning of the Day. Scroll down the page for the beginning of the evening service as the Blessing of the Light.

Morning Readings: Isaiah 2: 1-5 The Lord’s Future Reign and Matthew 24:36-44 Jesus Speaks about the Future.

Morning Homily: “How to Live with the Uncertainty of Not Knowing When Jesus Will Come Again as He promised”

Evening Reading: Romans 13: 8-14 Love Fulfills God’s Requirements.

Evening Homily: "Does How We Live as a Christian Make a Difference?"

The link to this Sunday’s services of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/11/all-hallows-morning-prayer-and-evening_26.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check autoplay 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.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May these services be a blessing to you.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Why Your Church Should Hang Christmas Lights This Year' And More

Why Your Church Should Hang Christmas Lights This Year
Here are the top three reasons why your church should hang Christmas lights this year, and why it’s worth the time and effort to do so.

A Lament for a Church Sign
This article was originally posted in 2019. Church attendance has plummeted since that time.

Who Should Follow Up With First-Time Guests?
Today...who actually follows up with your first-time guests? Is it a team? A person? A paid staffer? A freebie volunteer? Here’s the case … and the buts ... for each....

Stop Waiting For Someone Else To Solve Your Leadership Problem
The viral pandemic launched a plethora of secondary pandemics.

10 Little Tips That Can Make a Big Difference in Your Children's Ministry
Here are 10 little tips that can make a big difference in your children's ministry.

Pastors and Church Planters: Get On Campus!
Pastors and churches make two opposite mistakes when it comes to engaging with college students.

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (November 26, 2022) Is Now Online

All Hallows Evening Prayer is a service of worship in the evening for all pilgrims on the journey to the heavenly city.

This Sunday begins a new Christian year. While many families here in the United States have decorated their homes in anticipation of Christmas Day, this Sunday and the next three Sundays have traditionally been a time for Christians not only to prepare to celebrate the nativity of their Lord but also to look forward to his second coming.

The name of this season is Advent, taken from the Latin adventus, which means “coming, arrival.” The Season of Advent dates back as early as 567 AD. It has its own hymns, carols, and sacred songs as well as customs and traditions.

This Saturday evening is the eve of the First Sunday in Advent, also known as Advent Sunday. Traditionally Sundays and holy days begin at sundown on the evening before.

The reading for this Saturday evening is Matthew 11: 20-30 Judgment for the Unbelievers.

The homily is titled “Faith Makes the Difference.”

The link to this Saturday evening’s service is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/11/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_25.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

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

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May this service be a blessing to you.

Friday's Catch: "Many Religious 'Nones' Believe in God or a Higher Power, Study Finds" And More

Many Religious 'Nones' Believe in God or a Higher Power, Study Finds

Surveys of 'Nones" in the United States have found similar beliefs in this segment of the US population.

Catholic Woman in the United States
This groundbreaking study by Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, or CARA, confirms that more than 70% of young women in the United States were drifting away from the Catholic Church, a much higher rate than men.

African Christianity Thrived, Long Before White Men Arrived
Christianity was present in Africa 1000 years before the first European Colonialists arrived.

The Seed of Korean Christianity Grew in the Soil of Shamanism
An awareness of the spirit world was a crucial component in missionary efforts to spread the gospel.

4 Ways Churches Can Embrace Refugees
The annual ceiling for refugee admissions to America is likely to be raised. Are we ready to serve them?

In ‘Stealing My Religion,’ Liz Bucar takes on murky forms of appropriation
Bucar invites readers to 'interrogate the stance that we are entitled to take religious practices from others for our own needs.'

Thursday's Catch: '5 Places That Celebrated Thanksgiving before Plymouth Colony' And More

5 Places That Celebrated Thanksgiving before Plymouth Colony
In American popular culture, the “first Thanksgiving” is generally believed to have occurred at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts, featuring European settlers and the Wampanoag tribe sharing a harvest feast. There are multiple sites elsewhere in North America that claim to be the location of the first Thanksgiving, however, and will point to how their celebrations took place years before the celebration at Plymouth.

The Irony of Thanksgiving
Each year, people—Christian and non-Christian—sit around tables and take time to answer the question “What are you thankful for?” People from religious and secular backgrounds express their thankfulness for family, for health, for food, for jobs, for time to enjoy life together. But here’s the irony: to whom are they thankful?

The Spiritual Discipline of Thanksgiving
Nowhere does the Bible say thanking God is easy. But nowhere does the Bible say thanking God is optional. It’s not a practice reserved only for the good times. It’s a spiritual discipline necessary at all times.

12 Ways to Build Thanksgiving into Your Life
We have so much for which to be grateful today. I fear, though, that we too often limit our expressions of thanksgiving to only this day. Because the Apostle Paul tells us to “give thanks in everything” (1 Thess 5:18), we need to practice thanksgiving. Here are some practical ways to build thanksgiving into your leadership role.

10 Blessings That Will Enrich Your Thanksgiving
With the avalanche of anxiety-producing stories in the news, aren’t you glad we can pause this week and express gratitude to God for our manifold blessings? Let’s consider 10 areas often overlooked that can cultivate the attitude of gratitude we need personally and in our families.

7 Reasons Intentional Encouragement Matters
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I try hard to offer encouragement and hope to my readers, even when I address something difficult. Here are some reasons I believe encouragement matters....

You Need to Hear (and Share) These Life-Giving Truths
I once had a pastor say, “Ron, you’re a giant killer!” He encouraged me to kill giants for the Kingdom of God. It changed the trajectory of my life. I possibly wouldn’t be serving the church as I am today without those words. They came at just the right time in my life.

Four Tips for Having Good Conversations
Have you ever gotten into a conversation at Thanksgiving you didn’t want to be in? Do you avoid certain people at Christmas parties because you don’t want to talk with them? I’ve done both, but it doesn’t have to be this way. What if I told you it’s possible to have great conversations with almost anyone without wasting your time, getting bored, or even offending anyone? Here are four tips to help you do just that this holiday season.

Wednesday's Catch: '15 Things You Might Forget to Be Thankful For' And More

15 Things You Might Forget to Be Thankful For
How many ordinary things do we forget to be thankful for? God is still worthy of our thanksgiving in the mundane moments.

What I Learned from Being a Bi-vocational Pastor
Bi-vocational pastors serve outside the spotlight. Though estimates vary, at Church Answers, we estimate there are around one million part-time pastors and staff in North America. They are many, but they get only a fraction of the attention given to pastors of larger churches. They receive little recognition, but they are the workhorses of churches who do much of the heavy lifting.

Why Trust May Be the Most Important Trait of a Great Leader
For this generation, trust doesn't come easily....

Holidays offer special opportunities for love and care
John McCallum knows the pain of struggling with grief and loss during the holiday season. But rather than sinking in sorrow, he’s using it to serve others.

6 Sustaining Lifelines for Leaders
The path of leadership is never constant; there are always highs and lows, good days and bad days. The challenge is to remain consistent through it all. Consistency elevates people’s trust and confidence in your leadership.

Two Medieval Misconceptions
When it comes to the period right before the Reformation, I’ve always had certain notions about what the church was like. As I’ve read more, I’ve come to realize that some of those notions are generally true, while others are only occasionally true. Two of those notions have to do with church buildings and the mass.

4 Reasons NOT to Give Altar Calls
...there are situations and reasons where giving altar calls is not only wrong, it is dishonoring to God.

6 Must-Ask Questions to Help Find Your Personal Calling
This article about personal calling is an excerpt from The Catalyst Leader:8 Essentials to Becoming a Change Maker.

Can We Make Evangelism Enjoyable?
Let’s be honest; for a lot of Christians, evangelism is more like kale than comfort food. How can we create momentum for evangelism that will cause believers to engage?

Episcopal Church releases 2021 parochial report data, offering snapshot of pandemic disruption
The Episcopal Church on Nov. 22 released parochial report data for 2021. The summaries of churchwide membership, attendance and revenue figures offer the fullest statistical picture yet of the unprecedented disruption to parish life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attendance Plunges 35%, While Offerings Rise 3%
It will come as no surprise to hear that church attendance, after years of steady decline, has cratered during the pandemic.

When church attendance declines, it is not unusual for giving to increase. It is not an uncommon reaction of a struggling church to declining attendance.

Tuesday's Catch: 'This Giving Season, Offer the Poor a Pew' And More

This Giving Season, Offer the Poor a Pew

Church structures and schedules often make it hard for the working class to participate. Let's change that.

How to Care for Military Families in Your Church Around the Holidays
With all the sentimentality, family traditions, and memory-making, the holidays accentuate the needs a military family feels throughout the year.

Providing Pastoral Care in Growing Church Plants
When pastoral care must come from someone other than the pastor....

8 Texting Rules You Should Know -- Better Yet, Do!
I wish that I had known these rules earlier. Texting has its own etiquette which we ignore at our own peril!

What does “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” mean?
Kevin Halloran unpacks James 5:16b for us.

Are Kids Lonely at Your Church? 

Adults can be lonely at your church too.

Survey: The Powers and Pitfalls of Small Group Models
The purpose of this article is to give you a quick overview of the key models and then articulate the pivotal questions that you need to answer to shape a model that works for you.

4 Things To Remember When Trying To Reach Unchurched People
...here are four things for pastors and church leaders to remember as they seek to reach unchurched people.

Four Practical Ways to Cultivate Personal Evangelism
What are some practical ways we can all cultivate personal evangelism in our lives? Here are four.

An All Hallows Service of Thanksgiving Is Now Online

This coming Thursday, November 24, the fourth Thursday of November, is Thanksgiving here in the United States.

For those whose own church may not be offering a service of thanksgiving before, on, or after Thanksgiving or who are unable to attend their church’s service of thanksgiving, the All Hallows online ministry is offering a service of thanksgiving in place of its regular service of Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening.

Whether you live in Canada, the United States, or elsewhere in the world, please take advantage of this opportunity to give thanks to God not only for the fruits of the harvest but also for the numerous ways that God has shown grace and continues to show grace to you and those around you.

If you have already visited the All Hallows Murray blog spot, I have made one change in the service since I posted it earlier. I have replaced the hymn of praise with a different one.

The link to this service of thanksgiving is—

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2022/11/a-service-of-thanksgiving.html

Please feel free to share the link to the service with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check autoplay 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.

Previous services are online at

https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

May these services be a blessing to you.

Monday's Catch: 'Understanding the Differences between Mission, Vision, Strategy, and Tactics' And More

Understanding the Differences between Mission, Vision, Strategy, and Tactics

"As we anticipate releasing our new evangelism and outreach ministry in 2023 called The Hope Initiative, we have used these definitions to help churches reach beyond their walls."

Capitalize on Thanksgiving, the Hidden Christian Holiday
Thanksgiving can be a hidden Christian holiday for strengthening believers in the church and sharing with those outside of it.

Texas megachurch White’s Chapel departs UMC to anchor new Methodist ‘college’
'We want to work together, and we want to be a healing agent between all of Methodism,' said the Rev. John McKellar, co-pastor of White’s Chapel.

The Valley of Transition: 7 Lessons from 6 Months of Radical Change
What has happened within evangelicalism in the last few years has been an unveiling of our flaws and a reckoning with those on the fringe who are trying to find Christ in us. Much has been written about what’s going on within the evangelical movement.

Do You Underestimate the Impact of Being Kind?
Those who act with kindness often underestimate how much others appreciate their actions.

9 Ways to Build Prayer Into a Worship Service
"...if I were to attend only your church’s main worship service, would I think that your church is a house of prayer? If not, here are some options to build prayer into that service...."

Reading prayers on Sundays from a service book is no guarantee that your church is a praying church.

Preparing To Lead Intercessions In Church
If you are preparing to lead the intercessions in your church, you might find the following helpful. You could also use it to train others to lead the intercessions.

The Importance of Confidentiality
Before many of your members are going to share sensitive information, they need to know their information is protected from others finding out about it. They need assurances that they are in a safe environment. Confidentiality is extremely important. How can you set up a safe environment that incorporates confidentiality? Consider following these five tips