A Christmas Without Family & Community
Advent and Christmas remind us God can still surprise us, surprise us with mystery, and surprise us with love. Advent and Christmas are an invitation into the surprise mystery that is God.
A New Pastor Who Couldn’t Meet Members of Her Church Found a Way to Celebrate Christmas with Them
Katie Day’s church is among hundreds of thousands of congregations nationwide whose worship has been radically changed by the pandemic. Read full piece
Despite COVID-19 & Economic Downturns, Religious Charities Working Overseas Keep the Faith
After focusing on COVID-19 for nearly a year, international aid groups are bracing for what happens as the world comes out of lockdown. With declining numbers of volunteers and donors, global faith-based aid organizations are looking beyond their traditional sources of support.
From a Long Ago Sermon, a Joyful Message for This Troubled Season
That sermon, as I recall (having failed to locate the cut sheets of newsprint containing the actual words), was about his friend Phil, an American priest who was serving in Guatemala. While the bulk of the story is no longer with me, the memorable line came after
‘No Man is an Island,’ Wrote John Donne on a Grim Christmas Amid a Pandemic
This year more than others there could be an understandable tendency to seek distraction. But as further spikes are driven by observance of the holiday season itself, our choice is whether to look away or to face death as an inevitable part of the 2020
Unwrapping Christmas
Columnist Heather Feeler says she made a list of the things she loves about Christmas and the things she just trudges through because, well, it’s “tradition.” And this year she is only going to do the love list.
A Vaccine Could Save Prisoners’ Lives. Christians Can Help.
Advocating for prisoner vaccinations is a political issue, but it doesn’t have to be a partisan one. Read full piece
Christmas Trees Are the Hot New Pandemic Item
Christmas will look a little different this year, but everyone is still jonesing for a tree all their own. Read full piece
Christians in Israel Face Bleak Christmas Season Due to COVID-19
Like most Holy Land Christians, Hagop Karakashian’s ceramic shop in the Old City here has always relied heavily on the presence of Christian pilgrims, especially in December. But the narrow alleyways of his shop’s ancient neighborhood are painfully empty this year.
After Turbulent 2020, Faith in America Faces More Big Issues
With Joe Biden replacing Donald Trump as president, and with vaccines eventually expected to ease the threat of COVID-19, the challenges for faith leaders in 2021 will shift. Here’s a look at some important storylines to keep an eye on in the coming year for