RNS Morning Report: As COVID-19 shutdown lifts, Mecca’s pilgrims bring Islam’s holiest city back to life

Quote of the Day “Passover is the time we tell the story of how the people left slavery in Egypt, and made their way across the desert, and here we are in the desert, having Passover.” – rapper Kosha Dillz, who hosted a 10-minute Passover Seder at Coachella Top Stories World Council of Churches urges Patriarch Kirill to lobby for Easter cease-fire (RNS) — The letter to the Russian patriarch comes amid calls to expel him and the Russian Orthodox Church from the WCC.   As COVID-19 shutdown lifts, Mecca’s pilgrims bring Islam’s holiest city back to life MECCA, Saudi Arabia (RNS) — Pandemic closures played havoc with the livelihoods of traders who depended on the pilgrims.   Why Vance Pitman, megachurch pastor, resigned as top leader at his Las Vegas church (RNS) — The former megachurch pastor hopes to focus on helping church planters, especially in the American West.   At Coachella, Jewish rapper Kosha Dillz hosts mini-‘Seders’ for Passover (RNS) — At ‘matzahchella,’ the rapper offered boiled eggs and horseradish to concertgoers as part of a 10-minute Passover Seder. RNS Opinion What is good for the planet is good for national security and economy (RNS) — In the war to save our nation and the planet, we are not fighting back. ICYMI A transqueer Latinx theologian writes about reaching ‘A Path to Our Liberation’ (RNS) — 'It's important for me as a trans person, as Latinx, to take place and to bear witness that even someone like me can follow the ways of Jesus and maybe imagine another possible world.'   Weezer’s spiritual quartet of albums kicks off with beloved pagan chant (RNS) — Weezer also plans to inject a distinct spiritual flavor into each EP and a broader religious narrative into the entire series. In Other News Liberal Protestants and the polarization of the U.S. What to expect when the Mormons’ D.C. temple opens to the public Talk to Us We want your feedback on the RNS Morning Report — what you think we're doing right and what we should be doing differently. Send us an email at Comments@ReligionNews.com Subscribe to other RNS Newsletters. Forward this email to a friend. View the archive of past newsletters. Religion News Service is free to read, but it's not free to produce. If you value our reporting, please consider making a donation today. Yes, I support the work you're doing! Forward this email to a friend