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34+ min ago (1330+ words) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomed the Christmas season with the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional on Sunday. As the concluding speaker for the Sunday evening broadcast, President Henry B. Erying, first counselor in the First Presidency, bore witness of both the Savior's love and hope and encouraged listeners to share that love and hope with loved ones this Christmas season through simple acts of kindness. "As we are kind and serve each other as the Savior would, even in the smallest of ways, we can become a channel of God's grace to help those in our circle of influence feel the Savior's love and hope," President Eyring said. Church President Dallin H. Oaks and President D. Todd Christofferson, second counselor in the First Presidency, attended but didn't speak during the Christmas broadcast. The devotional marked the new First Presidency's first…...

45+ min ago (272+ words) In an interview with yle.fi, Archbishop Elia of Helsinki and all Finland said that the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has created deep divisions within the Orthodox Church of Finland. He stated that he is in regular contact with Finland's Security and Intelligence Service, Supo, regarding "Russia's attempts at influence and the broader geopolitical situation," though he declined to give details. The Archbishop emphasized that the Church must not be na've in the face of these challenges. Archbishop Elia was elected head of the Orthodox Church of Finland in November last year. According to the report, the election at the New Valamo Monastery effectively became a referendum on the Church's stance toward Russia. Before the vote, the strongest candidates'aside from Elia'were Metropolitan Arseni (Jorma Heikkinen) and Bishop Sergei of Hamina (Jyrj" Rajapolvi). Arseni later withdrew his candidacy after his…...

1+ hour, 2+ min ago (296+ words) Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed Greece's Deputy Prime Minister, Kostis Hatzidakis, to the Archdiocese headquarters on December 7, 2025. During their open and sincere conversation, both expressed gratitude for the opportunity to reconnect after many years and agreed to expand their relationship for the benefit of Greece and the Greek diaspora. The Archbishop enthusiastically described [] Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed Greece's Deputy Prime Minister, Kostis Hatzidakis, to the Archdiocese headquarters on December 7, 2025. During their open and sincere conversation, both expressed gratitude for the opportunity to reconnect after many years and agreed to expand their relationship for the benefit of Greece and the Greek diaspora. The Archbishop enthusiastically described the depth of devotion Greek Americans'including young people'have towards their ancestral homeland. He highlighted the success of folk dance and choral ministries across the United States, noting that thousands of young participants strengthen their…...

1+ hour, 26+ min ago (807+ words) The House of Bishops said after a meeting in October that introducing the services would require two thirds majorities in all three houses of the General Synod, its parliamentary body, while changing Church law to allow clergy to enter into same-sex unions would require simple majorities. The announcement does not change current guidelines that permit the "Prayers of Love and Faith" to be used as part of existing services." The bishops reached their decision after reviewing detailed theological and legal advice which suggested that the Church of England would be open to legal challenge unless it followed due process on the matter." The House of Bishops will make a final decision on the future of standalone same-sex blessings when it meets again on December 16 but Bishop Philip Mounstephen said the theological and legal advice made clear that any changes will…...

1+ hour, 52+ min ago (165+ words) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him... "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." "Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me,…...

2+ hour, 20+ min ago (562+ words) When Ofcom reported that 96% of children aged 3 to 17 were online in 2024, it confirmed what most parents and youth leaders already knew: the digital world is no longer optional. It is the air our young people breathe. And while the internet offers extraordinary opportunities for connection, learning, and creativity, it also harbours dangers that disproportionately target girls and young women. The statistics are chilling. Three-quarters of girls and young women aged 7 to 21 report experiencing online harm. Reports of sextortion involving girls rose by a staggering 2,600% in 2024, with victims as young as 11. Some 81% of victims in over 7,000 offences of sexual communication with a child were girls." But there are things we can do " So, what is to be done? The simplistic advice to "just log off" doesn"t cut the mustard. For some young people, online engagement is not a luxury, but…...

2+ hour, 34+ min ago (130+ words) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew departed on Sunday afternoon, 7 December 2025, for Geneva, where he will serve as the keynote speaker at the 12th International Academic Meeting on Orthodoxy and Judaism, titled "Holiness of Place, Holiness of Space." The Patriarch is accompanied at this interfaith gathering by its co-chair, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, and Grand Archimandrite [] Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew departed on Sunday afternoon, 7 December 2025, for Geneva, where he will serve as the keynote speaker at the 12th International Academic Meeting on Orthodoxy and Judaism, titled "Holiness of Place, Holiness of Space." The Patriarch is accompanied at this interfaith gathering by its co-chair, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, and Grand Archimandrite Iakovos. Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi has been appointed as the Patriarch's locum tenens during his absence....

2+ hour, 35+ min ago (545+ words) Richard Duncan Turnbull was born in South Manchester on 17 October, 1960, the younger son of Alan Turnbull and his late wife, Kathleen, n'e Ormston. On arriving in London, Richard settled at Brandon Baptist Church in Camberwell. Here he would meet his future wife when, just a week after he arrived, Caroline Andrew, a new graduate from Leeds University joined the staff for a year as a careforce worker. Within a month Richard had been appointed as church treasurer." Richard's curacy was served at Highfield Church, Southampton (1994-1998), during which time he became the youngest-ever member of the Press Council. He then moved to be vicar of Christ Church, Chineham, near Basingstoke (1998-2005)." In 2005 the family moved to Oxford where Richard had been appointed Principal of Wycliffe Hall, to succeed Alister McGrath. That year, he received an honorary MA from the University of Oxford....

2+ hour, 44+ min ago (561+ words) A group of Christian volunteers have been honoured with The King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS. Choices is a community shop established by St John's Church in Carluke, South Lanarkshire. It is run by around 40 volunteers from different local churches. The shop sells a range of items, including good quality second-hand goods, however it also provides space for people to come and receive counselling, work experience, employment skills or simply someone to listen. Jack Battison, the treasurer of Choices, said that staff and volunteers at the shop "feel truly honoured and thrilled" to have their service recognised with the honour. He added that the project was a perfect example of what Christians from different churches can achieve when they "work together in a common purpose" in the name of Jesus Christ. The shop was established in 1993, at least in part…...

2+ hour, 45+ min ago (366+ words) On Sunday, 7 December 2025, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided at the Divine Liturgy in the Most Venerable Patriarchal Church, during which a Doxology was offered marking the 60th anniversary of the lifting of the 1054 Anathemas by the late Pope Paul VI of Rome and the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras on 7 December 1965. Concelebrating with the Patriarch were the Metropolitans Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Apostolos of Derkoi, Dimitrios of the Princes" Islands, Meliton of Philadelphia, Irenaios of Myriophyton and Peristasis, Theoliptos of Ikonion, Stefanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos, Athenagoras of Kydonies, Maximos of Selyvria, Ierotheos of Lemnos and Agios Efstratios, Ioakeim of Bursa, and Theodoros of Seleucia. In his address, the Ecumenical Patriarch reflected on the recent official visit of Pope Leo XIV to the Phanar and their joint pilgrimage to Nicaea, marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of 325. He continued: "In the same…...