Life
Why celebrating Christmas is good for your mental health
There's plenty of evidence to suggest that entering wholeheartedly into the spirit of the season â while keeping to 2020's limitations â will be very good for our mental health. After a tough year, this might be exactly what we need.
Joseph took second place and that's striking in a culture where men were normally in charge
Joseph was a man who, at least on the surface, finds himself in a supporting role and there is much we can learn from that.
Star of Bethlehem to return?
A cosmic phenomenon will be occurring in the skies tonight, the likes of which may provide a scientific answer to the Star of Bethlehem.
Pandemic has made us kinder - Christian Aid survey
It's been a year most people would like to forget but research by Christian Aid finds there may have been a few positives in the crisis.
Bethlehem and beyond: how Christianity's earliest sites were identified
many people travel to the Holy Land throughout the year to visit places of religious importance â whether in Jerusalem, Nazareth or around the Sea of Galilee. But when did Christians start to consider places as holy and begin travelling to them on pilgrimage?
The rise of the 'nones' shows no signs of stopping
The number of young people with no religious affiliation is continuing to grow, according to a new survey.
After a turbulent year, Church leaders to see in 2021 with week of prayer
'Declaration' coincides with what is traditionally significant time in the black majority Church, when churches would normally come together to ring in the New Year with prayer, worship and celebration followed by a week of corporate prayer and fasting.
Christmas markets: their long history and changing future
Wooden huts with twinkling fairy lights, festive hubbub, and the aromas of roasted chestnuts and glühwein â this picture-postcard setting is recreated annually across UK towns and cities in December. This year, however, most Christmas markets have been cancelled, meaning that 2020 will be a year without urban festive cheer.
A Christian marrying a non-Christian is 'incomprehensible', says John Piper
Desiring God author John Piper is baffled by Christians who marry non-believers.
Frequent churchgoers have had better mental health during pandemic - poll
A new study has found that mental health remained stable for people who attended church frequently this year.
Johann Sebastian Bach and music as worship
Bach wasn't only a remarkable composer; he was also a man who saw music as a gift of God.
Meeting the real, living Jesus this Advent
For many people, 2020 will be remembered as a year like no other. Penelope Wilcock is hoping that her new book, 'Into the Heart of Advent', will speak into the challenges of this year by bringing people closer to Jesus.
Christians more likely to invite people to in-person service than online
When it comes to inviting friends and family to a service, it appears Christians find it easier to make the invitation to a physical one rather than digital.
Templeton Prize winner Francis Collins says churches should stick to virtual services for now
Respected Christian geneticist Dr Francis Collins thinks churches should put off in-person services until summer 2021.
The power of a shoebox at Christmas
Ann-Marie was 8-years-old when she received a Christmas shoebox in her native Zambia filled with gifts from a stranger. She writes here about the impact that shoebox had on her as a child and why it compels her to do the same for other children today.
Churches are 'one of the safest places' to be, says Church leader
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he will be at church on Christmas Day and is encouraging others to do the same, whether online or in person.