More than $689,000 raised for small churches at risk of closure during COVID-19
(RNS) — Although the relief fund will end at the end of the month, the initiative will transition to regional, city and state-based ‘Churches Helping Churches’ efforts.
From Illinois to Puerto Rico, Latino Muslims navigate faith and quarantine among their non-Muslim families
(RNS) — While COVID-19 has disrupted in-person worship services for all people of faith, it has further impacted Latino Muslim converts whose religious community can be exclusively outside their households.
Four young people of different faiths move into a home together, then a pandemic happens
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Hadar Cohen, Ala’ Khan, Maya Mansour and Jonathan Simcosky were selected to move into the Abrahamic House, a co-living and co-creating space in the Koreatown neighborhood of LA.
Christian leaders push for Pentecost reopening in California
(RNS) — The church leaders are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to bump religious services to stage two, which the state began moving into on Friday (May 8).
Pandemic leads churches to celebrate motherhood creatively this Sunday
(RNS) — In the wake of COVID-19, houses of worship are finding creative ways to honor motherhood this Sunday at a time when many churches cannot yet publicly gather.
New report finds nonreligious people face stigma and discrimination
(RNS) — A new study finds that nonreligious people face discrimination and stigma, conceal their nonreligious identities and largely see themselves as atheists and humanists.
On LA’s Skid Row, Catholic Worker’s ‘Hippie Kitchen’ adjusts to COVID-19
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Volunteers at the Los Angeles Catholic Worker soup kitchen are improvising to continue services while preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
More than $400,000 so far raised for small churches at risk during COVID-19
(RNS) — Through the relief fund, 109 churches have been earmarked for funding. More than 1,010 applications for funding have been submitted.
At virtual Family Chapel, the 'spiritual but not religious' find community during pandemic
(RNS) — Traditional houses of worship have moved worship for their members online. For seekers and those unaffiliated with any faith, there is Family Chapel.
This LA megachurch has served 350,000 free meals during pandemic
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — The Dream Center, the nonprofit of the Pentecostal megachurch Angelus Temple, doesn’t appear to plan on stopping.
Some California churches call in-person services essential despite pandemic
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — One pastor in Riverside said he’s required by Scripture to baptize people, something that can’t be done through an online service.
Mexican American religious life will be preserved in UCLA archive collection
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — By acknowledging these nuances of religion, ‘you end up with a much more complex understanding of people,’ said Chon Noriega, director of the Chicano Studies Research Center.
Christians across traditions call for a Good Friday fast in response to pandemic
(RNS) — Catholics normally fast on the last Friday before Easter. This year Presbyterians, Latter-day Saints, Jews and others are planning to join them.
Larger churches urged to help smaller ones survive during pandemic
(RNS) — An application process opened Monday (April 6) for small churches to apply for $3,000 grants.
During pandemic, small and aging churches face obstacles to adapt
(RNS) — With social-distancing guidelines in place to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, small churches with less income and older parishioners may struggle with declining weekly tithes and adapting to virtual services.