Welcome to Sunday at All Hallows.
The Anglican Church is heir to two church music traditions. One was choral and flourished in its cathedrals and college chapel. It was the music of professional singers and musicians. The other was congregational and was comprised of metrical versions of the psalms and canticles and the Lord’ Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles’ Creed and later on hymns. It flourished in the parish churches and was the music of the people. The music of this Sunday’ service is an example of the latter tradition.
The topic of this Sunday’ message is the need for repentance.
Readings: Isaiah 5:16-24; Luke 13:1-9
Message: The Need for Repentance
Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/08/sundays-at-all-hallows-august-17-2025.html
Please feel free to share this link with anyone who may be interested.
If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows, you may find these directions helpful:
-It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.
-When you open the link to a video in a new tab, check auto-play to make sure it is in the off position. Otherwise, a second video with a different song will follow the first.
-If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.
-If a song begins partway through the video, click pause, move the slider to the beginning, and then click play.
-An ad may follow a song so as soon as the song is finished, close the tab.
May Sundays at All Hallows be a blessing to you.
The Attractional Church Model is Failing
In this video, I’ll show you why the attractional church model worked well for a season, but is now mostly outdated and failing. Best yet, I’ll share what you should be doing instead to see your church grow.
Remaking the English Church
A movement in the Church of England away from a broadly Calvinist hegemony started in the 1590s, hit obstacles in the reign of James VI and I, but then flourished during the Personal Rule of Charles I. This movement had several key figures. Some historians have argued it began with subtle shifts in the thought of Richard Hooker and continued in the innovative work of Lancelot Andrewes.
The Burge Report: Do Churchgoers Want More or Less Politics in the Pulpit?
Studies on the content of sermons exist, and most indicate that pastors include some political topics in their sermons. But which topics? Ryan, Thom, and Sam reveal the answer. When asked about politics and the pulpit, few congregants say their pastors often speak about political issues. But is that really the case?
Also See: VOICES: Even if IRS OKs churches to endorse political candidates, should they?
D.C. Church Homeless Ministry Leaders Bewail Federal Takeover
In a statement, a group of faith leaders from various traditions, including Bishop Marian Edgar Budde of Washington and the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith of the Washington National Cathedral, condemned both the takeover and the president’s pronouncements.
“Such sweeping language is both inaccurate and dehumanizing, increasing the risk of indiscriminate arrests and the use of excessive force,” they said. “From the White House, the president sees a lawless wasteland. We beg to differ. We see fellow human beings—neighbors, workers, friends, and family—each made in the image of God.”
'There really is no escape': Faith leaders help immigrants face court as ICE arrests rise
Clergy are accompanying immigrants to court appointments to provide comfort and information and, in cases where their worst fears are realized, to pick up the pieces of a shattered American dream.
Rising seas could put Easter Island's moai at risk by 2080, study warns
The findings show waves could reach Ahu Tongariki, the largest ceremonial platform on the island, as early as 2080.
Also See: A country being lost to rising sea levels - documentary; How to move a whole country: Tuvalu’s plan to flee rising sea levels
6 people dead after a truck crashed into a van carrying members of an Amish group in Michigan The crash occurred Tuesday afternoon in Tuscola County's Gilford Township, 100 miles (161 kilometers) north of Detroit.
The Amish also live and farm in western Kentucky. This past week a tanker truck crashed into a Amish horse and buggy at an intersection in the town where I live. The horse was injured but not seriously.
One Pentecost Was Enough
Recently, Jesus Culture—a well-known worship group connected to Bethel Church in California—posted a clip on X of a song they released today. The lyrics repeatedly declare, “We need another Pentecost.”
This simple refrain raises an important theological question: Is this how we should think about Pentecost? Should Christians be praying for another one? Or has God already given us what we’re asking for? Before I explain why I believe this line is biblically and theologically misguided, let me offer a few disclaimers.
7 Tips on How to Enjoy Reading the Bible
I’ll never forget the day a young college-aged girl told me recently that she didn’t enjoy reading the Bible and asked if there was an alternative book. At first, I didn’t know what to say. Then I realized she was very serious. “Well … no!” I thought but didn’t say. The best answer is to help Christians learn how to enjoy reading the Bible.
Schools launch 'out of sight' ban to crack down on students' cellphone use
As students return to school, many are finding one rule change that's not to their liking.
Numerous school districts throughout the country are instituting policies prohibiting the use of cellphones and other electronic devices.
Gateway Fellowship Church: Building Community
Sometimes in order to grow larger, one must focus on getting smaller. That’s precisely what the folks at Gateway Fellowship Church in San Antonio do. They encourage everyone within the church family to join a small group that meets throughout the month.
Putting their energy into growing small groups and small group ministries ensures authentic connectivity. When folks share their physical, spiritual and emotional challenges with a few trusted friends, that’s when accountability and vulnerability flourish.
What does it mean to be a green church during a climate crisis?
It’s a way of life. But it starts small.
Environmentalist McKibben Says the Sun Can Save Earth from Climate Disaster
Environmentalist Bill McKibben considers himself a big fan of “Brother Sun,” as his ecological spiritual ancestor, Saint Francis, termed Earth’s star in his famous canticle.
Often considered the godfather of the contemporary environmental movement, McKibben’s new book, Here Comes the Sun: A Last Change for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization, argues that solar power is no longer an “alternative fuel” but has outpaced fossil fuels as the cheapest and most efficient way to generate power for humanity’s needs.
The key now, he says, is to propel the rising solar power movement forward despite massive resistance from the fossil-fuel industry and its political enablers.
Also See: Spain Achieves Historic Milestone: First Weekday with 100% Renewable Power on the National Grid; Trump’s war on windmills started in Scotland. Now he’s taking it global
For a small Charlotte church, selling some land has meant finding its soul
Newell Presbyterian is part of a growing trend of declining congregations with underutilized space, excess land or deteriorating buildings that are selling or leasing some of their land for affordable housing.
New Jersey church drops effort to open shelter for unhoused people
The leaders of Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River, New Jersey, will not fight the town’s refusal to grant them a zoning variance to open a 17-bed overnight shelter on its campus.
These rural radio stations are a lifeline for their communities. Trump’s cuts threaten their future
Since Republicans last month slashed over $1bn in funds designated for public broadcasting, non-commercial TV and radio stations around the country have been reeling.
Public radio and TV have been a part of my life for more than 70 odd years--Morning Edition, the local news, classical music, Thistle & Shamrock, Fiona Richie, Garrison Keeler and the Prairie Home Companion, Nature, Nova, Wild Kingdom, Masterpiece Theater, Dr. Who, Hercule Periot, Miss Marple, Lord Peter Whimsey.
One of the Most Important Conflict Management Lessons I’ve Ever Learned I don’t like conflict. And, I can so fret about conflict that I let it consume me and rob me of sleep. It’s as if I simply can’t let it go, even though I try my best to leave it with the Lord. I know better, but it’s still hard. I know better because I can point back to conflict after conflict and talk about several truths that I’ve learned over the years.
Flourishing Through the Word: Why Bible Engagement is Essential
How can pastors and church leaders help the people in their congregations flourish through discipleship that’s rooted in the Bible?
Reading the Bible for the Ten Thousandth Time
By instinct we know that first-time readers of the Bible need guidance. But long-time readers need help too. In this article we’ll explore some of the ways to combat boredom and lethargy for experienced Bible readers.
The Least Attended Church Gathering
...it is a sad reality of the church in the Western world that the prayer meeting is "the least attended church gathering."
Youth and Ministry: Why This Combination Packs a Punch
Why are youth and ministry such a powerful combination? Read on to learn why teenagers are well-equipped to serve—and how.
Don’t Miss It: The One Thing That Changes Everything in Youth Ministry
Putting evangelism at the center of your disciple-making strategy is the game-changer. When you and your leaders live out a Gospel Advancing lifestyle and disciple your teenagers to do the same — training them to model Gospel Advancing with their friends — your ministry will begin to thrive in ways you’ve only hoped for.
Children’s Ministry Ideas for Small Churches Make a Big Impact on Kids
Children’s ministry ideas for small churches fill a big need. Most Christian congregations are smaller and have limited resources. But that doesn’t mean small churches can’t have a big impact on faith development.
According to Lifeway Research, 57% of Protestant churches draw 100 or fewer adults per Sunday. Only a fraction—less than 2%—have 1,000 or more worshipers weekly. So while many Christians attend large churches, most church bodies are small. Most kidmin programs operate in smaller settings, too.
Passion Church: Doughnuts and Disciples
It’s not very often that a craving for doughnut holes turns into a holy mandate, but that’s what Lead Pastor Brian Royer of Passion Church in Parrish, Florida, says happened one Monday evening while out with his wife.
Should You Share the Gospel with Your Catholic Friends?
It t is a question that seems to arise time and again and year after year: How should Protestants relate to Roman Catholics?
Witness When the Vibe Shifts
Have you heard the vibe has shifted? Whether you call it a quiet revival, the surprising rebirth in belief in God, or something more modest, it appears there is a new sense of openness towards Christianity. Christians may have felt increasingly sidelined in the recent past, but now, at least in some circles, we are being given a hearing where we weren’t before. Something of this phenomenon has been reflected in my own local experience. There has been a steady trickle of young people who are seeking answers to big questions and are willing to listen to what their Christian friends have to say. Perhaps you have seen the same in your own context. That raises the question, how should we conduct ourselves when we feel we are finally given a hearing?
7 Ways to Build Momentum This Fall
With the change of seasons and school starting back up, fall is a time when so many people reset and create their new schedules. So this is a great opportunity for your church to connect (and reconnect) people with Jesus.
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
In Kentucky children have already returned to school and the commonwealth’s universities are about to start a new semester. Churches across the commonwealth are asking their attendees to pray for the young people in the church and in the community, for their teachers and instructors, and the schools and institutions of higher learning that they attend.
A worthwhile topic for this time of year is prayer, the subject of this evening’s message.
Reading: James 4:1-12
Message: Three Pointers on Prayer from the Letter of James
Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/08/thursday-evenings-at-all-hallows-august.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.
How Holy Trinity Brompton Is Revitalizing
“Our vision is to reverse the decline in the Church of England,” says Sarah Jackson. “We don’t want our denomination to close one more church without first offering it to us to send a team to revitalize it.”
Should I Plant a Church?
Bob Thune proposes a litmus test for those asking, "Should I plant a church?"
3 Deadly Mindsets that Kill Volunteer Recruiting
Every pastor and ministry leader will tell you that volunteer recruitment is essential. They will also admit, with a degree of perplexity, that there are times when volunteer recruitment does not seem to be happening. Why is this the case?
There may be various factors at play.
Is Divorce the Next Front in the Culture War?
Is it too easy to dissolve a marriage right now?
10 Uncomfortable Truths About Christian Sexual Ethics
What the Bible has to say about sexual ethics is perhaps the most off-putting aspect of the Christian faith in today’s world. What makes a Christian sexual ethic so increasingly unpalatable is that it confronts and undermines core values in Western culture: autonomous identity, freedom, equality, authenticity....
Thousands of Americans advised to avoid drinking coffee
Thousands of Americans have been advised to avoid drinking coffee and alcohol amid concerns over dangerously hot weather.
Also See: Millions told to monitor unusual fatigue, palpitations
Scottish cathedral to provide weekly singing lessons to local school children
St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland, in August will become a partner in the Edinburgh Schools Singing Programme. It will provide weekly, curriculum-based singing lessons to students in state school primary classes, with hundreds of Edinburgh’s children receiving professional-standard vocal lessons throughout the school year.
How does your church encourage children and young people to develop their talents as singers and musicians?
Why is there a rooster on the steeple?
In the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century a cross on the steeple or tower and a red door marked a Church of England parish church as Anglo-Catholic while a rooster on the steeple or tower and a grey door marked it as Evangelical.
Goats Help Aldersgate UMC Be Better Stewards of Parsonage Yard
Sheep were at one time allowed to graze in English parish churches' churchyards. The sheep manure was collected, composted, and then spread on gardens and fields as fertilizer.
What Does It Take for Pastors to Stay in Ministry?
Resilient pastors fulfill their calling and finish their ministry well. Here are four marks of a pastor who’s on track to finish well.
10 Things You Should Know About Hands Lifted in Worship
Hands lifted in worship is part of worship in many churches. Worship involves our bodies as well as our hearts and minds. Our posture tells a story. It makes a statement to God and to others about the state of our souls and the affections and passions of our heart. is part of worship in many churches. Worship involves our bodies as well as our hearts and minds. Our posture tells a story. It makes a statement to God and to others about the state of our souls and the affections and passions of our heart.
Churched Kids: Conducting Preteen Youth Ministry with Cradle Christians
Reaching churched kids through your preteen youth ministry offers unexpected challenges and joys. You may have solid strategies for reaching unchurched kids. But how can you help kids fall in love when they’ve known about God their whole life? Learn from one leader’s experience....
Planning a Fall Festival: 4 Tips To Make Your Event a Treat
As school resumes, planning a fall festival comes into focus. Many churches enjoy hosting a harvest event for neighborhood families. It’s a great way to reach out to the community and connect with people who wouldn’t normally attend your church or ministry.
Planning a fall festival doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Here are four tips to make your preparation a treat.
The Missing Ingredient in the Mission of the Local Church
Something is missing in our churches today as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission. A key ingredient is often absent from our ministry philosophies and missions strategies. And we are reaping the consequences both at home and abroad.
So what is missing from our Great Commission strategies?
Embracing Creative Outreach in Your Ministry
I believe every church should embrace creativity to reach new people with the gospel. Any church can learn to do this if they live out these five principles.
8 Reasons Most Churches Do Not Do Outreach - Part 1
In this episode of The Church Answers Podcast, Thom and Jess Rainer begin a two-part discussion on the widespread neglect of outreach in local churches. They unpack the foundational barriers that keep churches from obeying the Great Commission.
Also See: 8 Reasons Most Churches Do Not Do Outreach - Part 2
Families need to create their own spiritual rhythms
Through our research and experience with churches and families, we have discovered faithful parents and caregivers want to engage children in the faith but often do not know how. Churches can help parents and caregivers by encouraging family spiritual practices and rhythms.
Most Churchgoers Aren’t Known By Their Pastor: Don’t Think It Doesn’t Matter
The lack of personal connection to the pastor has unintended negative consequences for the congregants, the pastor, and the church.
My Religion is "Something Else"
A growing number of Americans just don’t know what basic religious words mean.
UK churches to unite for National Week of Prayer amid growing spiritual awakening
From 6 to 14 September 2025, Christians across the UK will unite in prayer for national and spiritual renewal.
Inside Japanese Christian Church in Tokyo
Christians in Japan form a very tiny segment of the population.
Life with God in Kenya
This article consists of transcripts of “Daily Life with God in Kenya,” six radio meditations for Voice of Kenya Daily Service (April 3-8, 1989) delivered by Graham Kings during his tenure as Vice Principal of St Andrew’s Institute, Kabare, Kenya.
Donald Trump and the Deconstruction of America
Don’t let the daily outrages obscure the big picture.
With new Vatican ambassador, Trump sends culture-war message to American Catholics
The new US ambassador to the Holy See may faithfully represent the White House's conservative agenda, but his appointment's real purpose seems to be to sow more discord at home.
No matter how pervasive, resist a ‘new normal’ of cruelty
Cruelty has become a defining characteristic of our politics. It’s a shift that was troubling to many in the psychology community and began long before Donald Trump was elected president.
Faith leaders rally to support immigrants facing deportation in Southern California
Since early June, the Trump administration has significantly ramped up immigration arrests and raids, especially in Southern California, taking people into custody at businesses, farms and public spaces like parking lots.
World Vision wins sex discrimination case in appeals court
The ruling overturned a decision by a lower court where a plaintiff argued World Vision had discriminated against her marital status, sex and sexual orientation.
This article goes into more detail about the ruling and its ramifications than yesterday's article.
A Brief History of the 'Worship Leader'
Where did the role of "Worship Leader" come from? Pastor Adriel Sanchez shares the interesting history of the worship leader and worship band, and why churches should grapple with the fact that in the middle of the 20th-century, the contemporary church essentially created a new office in the church.
6 Ways to Lead Better Bible Study Discussions
Blake Glosson shares a handful of habits that he has observed, which help facilitate meaningful and enjoyable Bible-saturated conversations.
How ChMS Improvements Are Transforming Church Operations
In just past three years church management software (ChMS) has undergone a quiet but significant revolution.
How to Create a Welcoming Environment for a Small Group Visitor
Here are several practical ways to create a small group culture that helps every small group visitor feel welcomed, safe, and genuinely included.
Digital Evangelism: Threat or Opportunity?
Every day, billions of people spend billions of hours scrolling, swiping, and streaming their way through life. Yet many of those same people have never heard the gospel of Jesus in a way they can understand. But what if the same digital world that distracts could also be the very place revival begins?
Will the Church ignore the mission field that’s right in our hands, or will we step into it with courage, creativity, and conviction?
Celebrating 500 years since the first printed English New Testament
Celebrations for the quincentenary - 500th anniversary - of the English New Testament got underway in Antwerp in July. This is the story....
The Top Ten Worst Church Guest Experiences
These experiences shine a spotlight on what must change if we truly want to be welcoming communities of grace.
5 Ways to Truly Welcome First-time Visitors to Your Church
Here are five meaningful ways your church can truly welcome first-time visitors and help them feel like they’ve found a spiritual home.
Venture Church: Community for First-Timers
Pastor Di Beals explains how Venture Church helps people find their way in a big church.
Cultivating Generosity in Marginalized Communities: An In-depth Interview with Carlos Perkins
How can church leaders cultivate generosity in marginalized communities? In this interview, Jessica Anschutz speaks with Carlos Perkins who emphasizes that many Black, Latinx, and Hispanic congregations have been historically generous, despite limited resources. The conversation explores the importance of defining generosity, reflecting on personal beliefs about money, and how faith leaders can develop a theology of generosity. Perkins also highlights how past institutional traumas can affect a congregation’s generosity, and the need for leaders to address these issues to foster giving.
Douglas Wilson’s CNN Interview Highlights His Influence, Critics’ Concerns
Influential author and Pastor Douglas Wilson was in the spotlight this week, after CNN profiled the self-described Christian nationalist. CNN’s Pamela Brown visited Wilson in Moscow, Idaho, to ask about his beliefs, his movement, and his goals. The journalist was visibly surprised by some of Wilson’s responses, including his description of women as “the kind of people that people come out of.”
Also See: CNN interviews Doug Wilson, and Pete Hegseth likes it
Trump's ex-surgeon general slams RFK Jr.'s vaccine cuts: 'People are going to die' President Donald Trump's former surgeon general, Dr. Jerome Adams, has a stark warning about the potential ramifications of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceling funding for mRNA vaccine development.
"People are going to die because we're cutting short funding for this technology," Adams said in a CBS interview Aug. 10.
Keep federal budget cuts coming, say 100 Christian and conservative leaders
Elon Musk has left Washington, D.C., but a who’s who of secular and Christian conservative leaders says the Trump administration should continue making chainsaw-style cuts to federal departments and programs Congress previously approved.
“Conservatives are united behind the efforts of President Trump and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought in pursuing a robust strategy of pocket rescissions to cut spending and return accountability to the federal government,” said a statement approved by 100 leaders.
Trump’s Tax Bill Will Starve Public Schools. Kids are Next
Hunger in America's public schools is a real problem, and it is heartbreaking. As the head of the largest union of educators in the country, I hear stories almost daily of how kids struggle and how schools and teachers step up to fill the gaps. It’s the school community in Kentucky filling a Blessing Box with foods to help fellow students and families who don't have enough. It's the teacher in Rhode Island who started a food "recycling" program to ensure no food goes to waste and to give students access to healthy snacks like cheese sticks, apples, yogurt, and milk.
School meals are more than a budget line item. They are lifelines that help millions of students learn and grow. But as families across America prepare for the new school year, millions of children face the threat of returning to classrooms without access to school meals.
This unprecedented shift in unemployment suggests AI could strand white-collar knowledge workers in a jobless recovery after the next recession
Signs that artificial intelligence is weighing on the job market are continuing to creep into the data, offering clues on how AI could play a role the next time the economy slips into a downturn. Businesses have historically leaned on automation during recessions, and AI could hit white-collar knowledge workers especially hard, JPMorgan warned.
AI Centers consume tremendous amounts of electricity and water and monopolize these resources in the areas where these centers are located, negatively impacting farmers, small businesses, and residences. In manufacturing businesses are replacing human workers with robots and automated production lines. We may yet see a time in which a large part of the US population in unemployed. Mass unemployment in the past has led to civil unrest, political violence, and even revolution. What affects a community in turn affects its churches.
World Vision can pull job offer to a woman in same-sex marriage, 9th Circuit rules
The Evangelical humanitarian organization World Vision was within its rights to withdraw a customer service job offer from a woman in a lesbian marriage expecting a baby, a federal appeals court has ruled.
Progressive Christianity’s Barmen Mistake In recent months, I have heard many centrist and left-leaning Christians appeal to the Barmen Declaration as the model for the action that American Christianity, coopted by a perceived radical agenda of the current White House, needs today.
But this is not our Barmen moment.
Ethical Boundaries (and Risks) of Using AI for Sermon Preparation
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people write, communicate, and learn. For pastors and ministry leaders, this technological shift raises important questions about the nature of sermon preparation. With tools like language models, content generators, and research assistants readily available online, it’s easier than ever to gather theological ideas, outline a message, or even generate entire drafts. But should pastors rely on these tools for sermon preparation? And if so, where should they draw the ethical line?
Is Worship Warfare or Witness?
In some corners of the modern church, the phrase worship warfare has gained momentum, sparking both enthusiasm and concern. While many believers find the language empowering, others question whether it risks conflating spiritual devotion with a kind of militant theology. In today’s polarized social and religious climate, this idea deserves careful scrutiny—not just emotional resonance.
The concept suggests that worship is not only an act of praise, but also a form of combat against spiritual darkness. But is this claim grounded in biblical teaching, or is it shaped more by contemporary rhetoric? The answer is not universally agreed upon, and its implications—both theological and cultural—warrant a closer look.
Audacious Prayer
Christians must be people who pray with audacity, not because we deserve an answer, but because God will give it.
Does Slow and Steady Win the Race in Group Ministry?
Will you and your group, or your church’s group ministry, be content to be the tortoise in the story, or might you move a little quicker?
Your Soccer Coach Has a Plan for Your Life
As another fall kicks off, your family is about to be ambushed by those who have strong convictions about where your family should spend its time. Well-meaning teachers, coaches, 4-H leaders, and drama and choir directors all want you to devote untold hours to their passion. And not a single one of those opportunities is bad. But they are dangerous.
How to protect our girls in a world that tells them they’re not pretty enough
I grew up in the early 2000s, a time when beauty was defined by what we saw on TV screens - flawless models and actresses held up as the ideal. As a teenager stepping into the world of social media, things only got worse. Influencers became the new standard of beauty, setting the bar not just high, but impossibly high.
My story isn’t unique. In fact, it's the norm.
Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.
This Sunday’s order of service follows that of A Service of the Word found in The Church of Ireland’s The Book of Common Prayer (2004). It is a pattern of worship included in a number of more recent Anglican service books. It provides congregations with a third option when the services of Holy Communion, Morning Prayer, and Evening Prayer do not meet their needs.
The topic of this Sunday’s message is faith.
Readings: Genesis 15: 1-6; Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16; and Luke 12: 32-40
Message: Faith
Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/08/sundays-at-all-hallow-sunday-august-10.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.
The new American shopping mall is less Macy's, more church, bowling, Barnes & Noble
The Dayton Mall has been a shopping staple for residents of Dayton, Ohio, since it opened in 1970. The once-prospering mall, like many, has faced hard times with increased vacancies, exacerbated by the closing of two anchors, Sears and Bon Ton, in 2018.
As a result, the mall was put into receivership, where it remains. But the 162,000-square-foot former Sears space was sold to a local church, Crossroads, which has transformed 90,000 square feet of the former store into a house of worship and community hub with a traditional indoor entrance to the rest of the mall.
"Nothing says dying mall like having a church move in," said Rebecca Maguire, marketing manager of the Dayton Mall. "But Crossroads has a huge following, and they are so community driven that I think any mall in the world would be lucky to have a partner like that."
Weekly Church Attendance Patterns by Generation: 2016 to 2024
In this episode, Sam and Matt McCraw unpack weekly church attendance trends from 2016 to 2024 across four generations. While Boomers slightly increased from 27% to 28%, Gen X dropped from 24% to 22%, Millennials from 26% to 22%, and Gen Z saw the sharpest decline—from 29% to 24%. What do these shifts mean for the future of church engagement, discipleship, and ministry strategy? We explore the implications for leadership, generational outreach, and the need for intentional connection points that resonate with each group.
Continuing Bishop Deposed in Calvin Robinson Flap
The Anglican Province of America, one of the largest continuing Anglican churches in North America has deposed one of its bishops in a dispute related to its discipline of firebrand priest Calvin Robinson last January.
Bishop Organ Case Reveals Canadian Church’s Weaknesses
In recent years, the Anglican Church of Canada has been wrestling with a series of scandals related to clergy misconduct.
What Leaders Need to Know about the Emerging Church
Susan Cox-Johnson shares insights about the Emerging Church and ways of connecting with postmodern generations.
Also See: An Emerging Church Primer; What Is the "Emerging Church"?
These three articles reflect two different view of the "emerging church."
‘We don’t hate, but they do,’ conservative Christian activists claim
When conservative Christian activist groups are called hateful or placed on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s hate map, they claim innocence and reverse the charge: “The real haters are those people who say we’re hateful.”
But can claims of hate be dismissed so easily? Here’s a look at some of the main issues.
Report reveals alarming surge in anti-Christian attacks across India in 2025
Christians are continuing to suffer for their faith in India, with hundreds of instances of discrimination recorded in a new study.
Also See: Outcry as Indian lawmaker calls for Christians to be attacked for money; India: state government revokes Scheduled Caste certificates for converts to Christianity
America Is Living in a Climate-Denial Fantasy
The United States and the rest of the planet are now in “completely separate worlds” in terms of legal understanding of climate responsibility, the human-rights attorney Lotte Leicht, who works as the advocacy director of the nonprofit Climate Rights International, told me. “I think almost nothing could have painted a starker picture,” Nikki Reisch, an attorney and the Climate and Energy Program director at the Center for International Environmental Law, agrees.
Trump's push for drilling, mining sharpens debate for Alaska Natives about land they view as sacred
When Alaska Natives debate proposals to drill, mine or otherwise develop the landscape of the nation’s largest state, it involves more than an environmental or economic question. It’s also a spiritual and cultural one.
Trump Is a Degrowther
In the past few weeks, Americans learned that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled half a billion dollars of government investment in the development of mRNA vaccines, Las Vegas saw a 7 percent drop in visitors, residential electricity prices shot up by an average of 6.5 percent, the number of housing permits issued hit their lowest point in half a decade, employers quit adding workers, the manufacturing sector shrank, and inflation rose.
These bleak figures depict an American economy slowing and its labor market weakening. A recession isn’t guaranteed, but it’s becoming much more likely and the stagflation that forecasters described as inevitable when President Donald Trump began prosecuting his global trade war is now a lot closer. Americans, now and in the future, will be paying more and buying less. Trump’s second-term economic ideology is not only one of protectionism, mercantilism, atavism, and cronyism. It is also one of degrowth.
What affect the US economy will also affect US churches.
West coast sees highest Covid-19 levels as cases rise across US, CDC data says
Several states in the western US are experiencing a surge in new Covid-19 infections, according to latest CDC data.
Also See: COVID levels rising in much of U.S., with highest in West, CDC says
On Calling an Organist
In Anglican liturgical theology, music is not simply ornament, it lifts us up into the living, pulsating story that is the base of all reality, the ground of our very being—the Gospel. The choir is not a backdrop, it is a praying body sacramentally embedded within time, place, and a gathered assembly. And the organist is not merely an accompanist, but a theological voice who joins Word and Sacrament in audible form. When a church finds itself in a season of transition and begins the search for a new Director of Music, Choirmaster, or Organist, it is not conducting a personnel search so much as entering a season of communal spiritual discernment.
The Case for Pew Bibles
...in this post-COVID, post-modern, post-literate, technological, consumer society, do pew Bibles matter? Does the connection between the Word and the form of accessing the Word matter? Is something lost when we depend on digital media for our Scripture consumption? Is projecting the Scripture passage onto the screen adequate for whole-person and whole-church discipleship and mission, or can a case be made that pew Bibles are an essential part of making God’s Word accessible for all?
In Defence of Silly Summers
There is an intrinsic goodness in silliness when it comes to parenting. Of course, there’s an extreme in being too silly. But if you’re like me, there’s a greater risk of devaluing summer fun.
How Forgiveness Displays the Gospel to Our Kids
As parents, we have the unique privilege to share God’s amazing love with our kids. Since God especially shows His love to us by forgiving our sin, we can reflect His love to our children as we exhibit similar mercy and grace (Eph. 2:4-5).
Why Christians Need More than Classrooms
Many churches define spiritual maturity in terms of biblical knowledge: quoting verses, knowing theology, and explaining doctrine. But that view is incomplete.
The Christian life isn’t just something to study—it’s something to live. True spiritual maturity comes through a variety of experiences that touch your mind, heart, hands, and relationships. God uses all five purposes of the church—worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism—to grow you into maturity.
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
This evening’s service has two readings—one from the First Book of Samuel and the other from the Gospel according to Luke. The evening’s message explains how these two readings are linked to each other and examines the implications for those who call themselves Christians.
Readings: 1 Samuel 12:1-25; Luke 22:47-62
Message: The Only One True King
Link: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2025/08/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.
Reaching Gen Alpha
In an age when bigger often equates to better, small churches across the U.S. hold untapped potential, particularly when it comes to reaching the next generation.
Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) is the most digitally immersed, diverse and globally aware generation yet. They are navigating a rapidly evolving cultural landscape filled with unprecedented opportunities—and challenges. As churches of every size strive to reach Gen Alpha with the gospel, small churches are uniquely positioned to meet this moment.
What Is the State of the Church and Why Should You Care?
Barna Group has studied the U.S. Church since 1984, tracking evergreen metrics—attendance, tithing, Bible reading—while expanding into discipleship, human flourishing, digital engagement, and evangelism. In 2020, they relaunched State of the Church with refined tools like ChurchPulse, and in October 2024 partnered with Gloo on State of the Church 2025, emphasizing monthly data, human flourishing (seven dimensions), and church thriving (15 dimensions). Here’s an overview of what State of the Church has revealed about the Church in America.
Church membership may be declining, but many churchgoers are double-dosing
Amid a collapse of loyalty to religious institutions, many churchgoers say they are attending multiple congregations on Sunday morning.
Growing Churches in Godless Places: What New England Teaches About Ministry in Post-Christian Contexts
Some of the most effective revitalization strategies in America are being developed in places where church attendance is viewed as a social stigma rather than a social benefit. In these areas, educated skeptics outnumber believers, and “spiritual but not religious” represents the majority’s worldview.
Welcome to New England, America’s laboratory for post-Christian ministry.
Can mainline liberals get their story back?
Why do 44% of mainline Protestants express a measure of doubt on the God question? Should this be taken as a symptom of malaise or even a spiritual sickness?
In her recently published Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump, Molly Worthen suggests mainline Protestant denominations have declined in recent decades because they “failed to tell a good story.”
The Johnson Amendment Reversal: Endorsing Political Candidates from the Pulpit
On this episode, Sam and Josh unpack a landmark development for churches: the Internal Revenue Service’s shift on the 1954 Johnson Amendment. In a joint court filing with two Texas churches and the National Religious Broadcasters, the IRS now affirms that clergy can endorse political candidates from the pulpit without risking their tax-exempt status. The IRS reframes such endorsements as comparable to a “private family discussion” within the congregation during worship—with statements made via usual church communication channels not qualifying as political intervention.
What Laypeople Taught Me About Preaching
When I graduated from seminary in the 1950s, I was sure that a good sermon should last for 20 minutes and contain three points with illustrations, but during 40 years in the pulpit, laypeople taught me some things about preaching that I did not learn in seminary.
Why Being Late to Church Matters
When we consistently arrive late to our worship services, what message are we sending about the nature and importance of what we’re gathering to do?
Help Your Small Group to Pray Outwardly
I believe small groups are critical to the health of a church. Not only are they the place where we learn, grow, and fellowship, but they also ought to be a place of intentional prayer. Much of our praying, though, is focused only on ourselves. We must also pray outwardly.
It’s Time for Some Red Zone Evangelism
When a football team has moved the ball down the field so that it is inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, close to the goal, it is described as being in the red zone. Every football team develops specific strategies or plays for the red zone so that they are effective in getting the ball across the goal line.
In evangelism, it is essential that believers have a specific game plan for seekers who are in the red zone. Seekers often have to travel a long spiritual journey before they come to Christ. Often they have objections, fears, hurts, bad experiences, or anger that they need to work through. When they finally come to a place where they are open to God, sense that something is missing in their lives, and wonder if Christ can help them, they have entered the “red zone” of their spiritual journey.
Make the Most of the School Year Start with Families
How can churches make the most of the beginning of a new school year? Jason Gant shares that churches have a unique opportunity to engage families adjusting to new routines and demands as the school year begins. By aligning church activities with school schedules, churches can support families in building spiritual rhythms. Matching the school calendar’s energy can help the church become an integral part of families’ lives.
10 Signs You’re Attending a Great Church
Of course there are no perfect churches, but there are many that are pressing toward the high water mark we see in Scripture.
Here are 10 signs you may be going to a great local church....
4 Ways to Make Easter Hospitality the Pattern for the Year
Lewis Center Director Doug Powe says special efforts to welcome visitors at Easter shouldn’t be set aside once the holiday is over. He outlines four ways the hospitality of the Easter season can be the launching pad for more intentional visitor welcome throughout the year.
As Gen Z Turns to the Occult, How Should We Respond?
What should Christians make of this newfound interest in ancient and dubious practices?
Ryan Burge joins the Danforth Center at Washington University
A political scientist and former small-church pastor, Burge has long studied the intersection of religion and politics.
Priest’s Daughter Released From ICE Detention
After five days, at least two prayer rallies, and one diocese’s persistent call to correct what it called an act of injustice, Yeonsoo Go—daughter of the Rev. Kyrie Kim of the Diocese of New York—was released from ICE custody on the night of August 4.
San Diego initiates Title IV proceeding against priest after allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego on Aug. 5 issued a statement saying it has begun a formal Title IV disciplinary proceeding against the Rev. Roger Haenke, rector of St. John’s in Chula Vista, California, after an Aug. 1 allegation on social media that he had engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor.
Man-made catastrophes devour possibility of ending hunger
A perfect storm of war, pestilence and budget cuts has dashed any hope of ending national and global hunger by 2030, anti-poverty advocates say.
White House orders NASA to deliberately destroy two important satellites monitoring climate change
NASA has been given orders by the White House to destroy two major satellites in space that are used by farmers, scientists, as well as oil and gas companies.
According to NPR, the data from the satellites provides detailed information about carbon dioxide and crop health. The outlet stated that the objects are the only two federally used satellites that provide information built to specifically monitor planet-warming greenhouse gases.
Trump wants to roll back $7 billion in grants for solar projects in low-income communities
The Trump administration is reportedly considering terminating a $7 billion grant program aimed at helping low- and moderate-income families install home solar panels, part of the White House’s larger campaign to claw back billions in Biden-era climate spending.
The Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of drafting termination letters to the 60 state agencies, nonprofit groups, and Native American tribes awarded the funding through the Solar for All initiative, part of the Biden administration’s landmark 2022 climate law.
Global outbreak fears surge as thousands of new virus cases in China prompt quarantines
Chinese officials announced Covid-like quarantines in some cities as cases of chikungunya virus continue to increase.
RFK Jr. makes major vaccine announcement The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will end funding and cancel contracts for a series of mRNA-based vaccines aimed at preventing major respiratory illnesses, department Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday....
The 22 projects are led by major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, and aim to develop vaccines against the flu, COVID-19 and H5N1. mRNA technology, which underpins these vaccines, is widely credited with helping slow the spread of the coronavirus during the 2020 pandemic.
Infectious-disease specialists have also warned that future pandemics will be harder to stop without the help of mRNA.
Also See: Is RFK Jr right to pull mRNA vaccine research funding?
Why the Church Needs Creeds and Confessions
Among Matthew Barrett’s criticisms of the Southern Baptist Convention, the new Anglican theologian noted that some Southern Baptists rejected adopting the Nicene Creed at the 2024 SBC annual convention by citing the slogan, “no creed but the Bible.” While some Baptists have held a “no creed but the Bible” position, the rejection of creeds has not been the predominant view among Baptists historically.
7 Small Group Ministry Challenges And What to Do About Them
Small groups play a vital role in the health and growth of a church. They provide space for deeper relationships, Bible study, mutual encouragement, and spiritual transformation. But no small group ministry is immune to obstacles. Whether your church is launching new groups or maintaining long-standing ones, you’ve likely encountered some bumps in the road. The good news is that most small group ministry challenges can be addressed with prayerful planning, flexibility, and thoughtful leadership.
How to Guide Your Children Through the Digital Age
As I travel the country speaking on mental health and suicide, one thing has become clear. Technology is shaping what we believe about the world and how we view ourselves as individuals.
Technology is everywhere. There’s no escaping its influence—not only in our own lives but also in the lives of our children. Here are three powerful ways technology is shaping your children and how you can help them respond with wisdom and discernment.
Influencers invoked the Bible to promote spanking. What about its harmful effects?
Christians who believe God requires them to spank wave away ethical concerns and research that robustly demonstrates the harm.
Also See: This Is a Child's Brain on Spanking; The Science of Spanking; Does Any Good Come From Spanking Children?; Can a Parent Really Spank a Child "Out of Love"?
Families do not need another church program
When parents/caregivers are overwhelmed by church responsibilities, the last thing they need is another church program.
Five Ways Church Members Hold the Church as a Financial Hostage
Do you know any church members who have made demands based upon their financial giving to the church?
How Churches Can Best Address Facility Costs
Thom welcomes Tim Cool to The Church Answers Podcast. Tim is the founder and CEO of Smart Church Solutions, the developer of eSPACE software platform which includes Event Management, Work Order Management, Life Cycle Calculator, IoT Integrations, and other church facility management consulting services. He has assisted thousands of churches throughout the United States with their facility needs including facility planning, facility condition assessments, as well as life cycle planning and facility management.
Christian-majority countries are in decline - report
The number of countries with Christian majorities declined between 2010 and 2020, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center, highlighting a notable shift in global religious affiliation.
Third prosecutor appointed in ACNA trial of Bishop Ruch
'Bringing justice to victims is my sole interest in this case,' said Thomas Crapps, the new prosecutor.
Arcbishop of Sydney Responds to Election of New Church in Wales Primate
"The election of the Rt Rev Cherry Vann, a person in a same sex civil partnership, as Archbishop of Wales is a grievous departure from the teaching of the Bible, inconsistent with the understanding of marriage as expressed in the formularies of the Anglican Church, and a tragic rejection of the words of Jesus...."
Criminalizing humanity — turning Good Samaritans into lawbreakers
In a nation that often prides itself on Christian values, humanitarian outreach and freedom, an alarming trend is unfolding: Compassion is being criminalized.
Law enforcement officers would detail, arrest and/or take Jesus Christ and all his disciples to jail for doing what Jesus told them in spirit and in truth. If you are a Christian, then this is the read for you.
'This is domestic terror': Shaken by ICE raids, pastors rethink ministries
The fear of raids has pushed some congregations back to pandemic-era worship strategies.
New York Episcopal priest’s daughter released from ICE custody
Yeonsoo “Soo” Go was reunited with her mother, the Rev. Kyrie Kim, an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of New York, after being released from U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement custody on Aug. 4.
New York diocese calls for ICE’s release of Episcopalian from Peru detained after asylum hearing
On the same day the daughter of an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of New York was arrested and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements agents outside Federal Plaza in Manhattan, a parishioner of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in White Plains was also arrested in the same place and is now being detained in a facility in Louisiana.
Elizabeth “Ketty” De Los Santos, a 59-year-old grandmother from Peru, went to a routine asylum hearing on July 31 at Federal Plaza. She was arrested by ICE agents after leaving the hearing.
The Trump admin just gave Texas megachurch pastors more power than ever
Texas Rep. Nate Schatzline recently stood before a gathering of conservative activists just outside Fort Worth, recapping legislative wins and previewing what’s next at the Capitol. On this day, however, he was speaking not only as a lawmaker but also as a pastor.
Church of Nigeria Bans Politicians from Its Pulpits
The Church of Nigeria has banned politicians from using its pulpits as platforms for “promoting partisan views or spreading political propaganda,” after an attack-laden speech delivered by a regional governor at a July 6 service in Abuja, the national capital.
Billions in park funding at risk as Great American Outdoors Act expires
Let's recommit to caring for these special, incredible places where God’s handiwork is on display around every corner.
Protect Your Spirit from the Demands of Pastoral Ministry
Pastoral ministry can be hazardous to our spiritual health. But it doesn’t need to be.
Health officials warn of spread of Victorian-era disease... as cases hit new highs
The scourge of a preventable disease is roaring back after a pandemic lull, having already hit an annual milestone.
The most recent reliable data from the Pan American Health Organization as of May 31 reported more than 10,000 cases of vaccine-preventable pertussis in the US, otherwise known as whooping cough.
These are the fruits of the anti-vax movement and the misinformation, disinformation, fear, and ignorance that it spreads and perpetuates.
Churches Help Local Public Schools in a Variety of Ways
There are opportunities for churches to provide volunteer labor, help needy families or just thank those investing in their schools.
From the Archives: Four Ways to Serve Your Kids’ School This Year
One of the simplest ways to love a city is to serve its schools. Education, among other structures, is one of the main components on which a city thrives, creates culture, and builds the well-being of its population. Christians are called to seek the welfare of our city (Jer. 29:7), and we can do no better than to invest our time and energy into a local school.
