Epiphany — Weekly Christian ed lesson
Many children know the story of the three wise men journeying from afar to give gifts to the baby Jesus. In popular..
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2nd Sunday after Christmas — January 2, 2022
Second Sunday after Christmas John 1:1-18 Preachers say they don’t like preaching the Gospel of John for the same reasons people say..
2nd Sunday after Christmas — Family faith formation for January 2, 2022
Welcome Bring your family’s advent wreath to the center of your gathering. Make sure you have matches or a lighter. One: Our..
United Methodists join Boy Scouts in settlement proposal to aid sex abuse survivors
(RNS) — Leaders of the United Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts of America have reached an agreement tied to a proposed..
Welcome to the One Great Story: Tracing the Biblical Narrative from Genesis to Revelation
George B. Thompson, Jr. Wipf & Stock, 248 pages As a pastor, one response to the invitation to join a Bible study..
Smell, memory and Christmas
One whiff of anise seed transports me back to childhood Christmases in a little Iowa farmhouse… Every Christmas, my late grandmother made..
Churches’ ministry to those hurt by the pandemic shows ‘monumental’ growth, study says
(RNS) — More than half of Christian congregations say they have started a new ministry or expanded an existing one during the..
The co-founders of the Center for Jubilee Practice discuss how churches can enter into difficult conversations around reparations
(PNS) — Rick Ufford-Chase, a ruling elder and the Moderator of the 216th General Assembly (2004), and the Rev. Ashley DeTar Birt, who last..
Synod of Lakes & Prairies makes the case for a more equitable distribution of wealth
(PNS) — Don’t call it “reparations,” because that would require an act of Congress. The Synod of Lakes & Prairies refers to its Restorative..
Western Kentucky churches begin tornado recovery
MAYFIELD, Kentucky (PNS) — Davis Mills looked down at the painting in a box in the back parking lot of First Presbyterian..
A new glimpse of community: Offering aid after the tornadoes in Kentucky
The randomness of it: that’s the first thing we noticed. One stretch of road, the houses and yards and Christmas decorations were..
Locating Bethlehem — A poem
Full body search, and scan unlock intimidating gates toward the so-called Welcome Center of the Federal Maximum Security Facility, in a late..
My anti-Advent wreath
Our congregation has gotten in the habit of lighting the Advent wreath at the beginning of worship each Sunday in Advent. It’s..
Order of worship — December 26, 2021
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation. It is free for..
1st Sunday after Christmas — Family faith formation for December 26, 2021
Welcome Bring your family’s advent wreath to the center of your gathering. Make sure you have matches or a lighter. One: Our..
Christmas Eve — Family faith formation for December 24, 2021
Welcome Bring your family’s advent wreath to the center of your gathering. Make sure you have matches or a lighter. One: Our..
1st Sunday after Christmas — December 26, 2021
Colossians 3:12-17 Christmas 1C This will be the first Christmas in 23 years that I won’t lead worship. I always worked extra..
The Twelve Days of Christmas — Weekly Christian ed lesson
When I was young, my favorite Christmas carol was “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” I remember having a great sense of satisfaction..
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary partners with Westminster College to offer 3+3 program leading to MDiv
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Westminster College are pleased to announce a partnership designed to educate and equip students for ministry in the..
Childless at Christmas
(RNS) — My childhood Christmases were scenes straight off a Hallmark card. My family put up a real tree each year, usually..
Biden administration slaps sanctions on China over Uyghur Muslim persecution
(RNS) — The Biden administration is getting tough on China for persecuting Uyghur Muslims in the country’s western province of Xinjiang. On..
Can Pope Francis make real change for women? Vatican women leaders assess his chances
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — A panel of women who have attained leadership positions in the Catholic Church met on Thursday (Dec. 16)..
Louisville Seminary announces finalization of land sale to Olmsted Parks Conservancy
LOUISVILLE (PNS) — On Wednesday, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) finalized a highly anticipated sale of land to the Olmsted Parks Conservancy. The property..
Being church in a COVID world
(PNS) — What can you do with a photo of paper clips and a Zoom chat box? Quite a lot — and..
A congregational model for helping with refugee resettlement
(PNS) — In the spring Rich Copley introduced news service readers to the Amiri family: a mother, father and four children from..
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