RNS Morning Report: Christmas Edition

Good morning, Friend. With six days left in the year, readers like you have helped bring our nonprofit newsroom about two-thirds of the way toward our $60,000 year-end fundraising goal. In these final days, we’re sharing a few short notes from readers about why they chose to support this work, because their words say more than we ever could. Here’s one from Marsha in Missouri: “Your reporting helps me understand the beliefs and actions of others.” Support from readers like you helps RNS bring depth and context to stories about religion, belief, and public life. It also keeps this reporting free to read and share. With just a few days left, would you consider making a year-end gift to help us reach our goal? We’re deeply grateful for your support at this time of year, and every gift, no matter the amount, helps carry this work forward. With gratitude, the Religion News Service team Now, on to today’s Morning Report — our Christmas edition. Top Stories Churches deliver Christmas to immigrants detained, deported and in hiding (RNS) — Clergy, churches and other religious organizations wrestle with how to mark one of the most important Christian holidays while also serving an immigrant population in crisis. Photos of the Week: Christmas celebrations (RNS) — This week’s photo gallery includes Christmas celebrations and more. ‘There is no Christmas for separated families’: Pastors tend to immigrant families in crisis LOS ANGELES (RNS) — As Los Angeles pastors lead congregations and preach about the meaning of Christmas, they’re facing the emotional devastation of families struggling to cling to hope. Are you a Christmas-only Catholic? What you need to know before going back to church. (RNS) — 'The important thing,' said a Dominican friar, 'is to let your heart be engaged and let God love you sacramentally.' Santa Claus or the ‘red rabbi’? How Christmas lost its taboo for some Jews in Israel. JERUSALEM (RNS) — Being Jewish in the Diaspora at Christmastime is very different from being Jewish in Israel. Lobster Jesus: Sacrilege or the most New England Nativity ever? (RNS) — Inspired by Cape Cod cuisine and a beloved holiday movie, the Lobster Nativity portrays the characters of the Christmas story as crustaceans. Christmas celebrations return to Bethlehem after 2 years of war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — While a shaky ceasefire holds in Gaza, Palestinians hope the festivities are a step toward a more peaceful future in a region shaken by tragedy. Opinion Keep Christ in Christmas? First, keep Christ in Christian (RNS) — Empathy is not a soft substitute for holiness; it is the pulse of the Christian, and the Christmas, story. Born out of national division, ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ is a balm for Christmas (RNS) — A century and a half after Phillips Brooks wrote this haunting carol, there is much once again to lament, fear and grieve. Merry Jewish Christmas: How Chinese food and the movies became a time-honored tradition for American Jews (The Conversation) — What do you do on Dec. 25 if you don’t celebrate Christmas? For Jewish Americans, the answers range from takeout to filling a shift for Christian colleagues. Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

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Embodying Hospitality - Have you considered becoming a Church Patron?

Has Your Congregation Considered Becoming a Church Patron? As we near the end of the year, we are taking some time in each of our newsletters to talk about and demonstrate how Montreat Conference Center’s ministry is supported by gifts from individuals, families, churches, and other organizations. When a congregation decides to make a gift of $500 or more to the Montreat Fund annually, we honor their commitment to our mission by recognizing them as a Church Patron. This special giving tier unites churches as they help to ensure that Montreat remains a place of spiritual transformation and renewal for generations to come… READ THE FULL ARTICLE NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Plan a Trip to the Glen Rock Inn Set back from the road, shaded by mountain laurel and quieted by the nearby creek, Glen Rock Inn is perfect for medium to large groups. Accomodations include both single and double-occupancy rooms with connecting bathrooms, air-conditioning, and a fully-equipped kitchen. Enjoy gathering on the porch or in one of several communal spaces indoors. Learn more. Gather ‘Round the Campfire If you would like to have a campfire as part of your event, firepits may be pre-arranged for your group based on availability and local weather conditions. Setup includes a bundle of wood, firestarter, and matches, but guests are responsible for starting their own fire. Make sure to bring your own picnic blankets or camp chairs as table and chair setup is not included. Retreat Planning Tip! Start registration for your event early and close it at least 30 days prior to your arrival to ensure you have enough space for all who wish to attend. The sooner you contact us about adjustments, the more likely we are to have additional rooms available or, if it turns out you need fewer rooms than you originally anticipated, then this timeframe allows us to adjust your room numbers before your contractual deadlines. Start Planning Your Next Event Montreat hosts a variety of groups for retreats and other events from mid-August through mid-May. Are you interested in being one of them? Visit our new “Retreat at Montreat” webpage to learn more about what we offer or to reach out to a member of our team. RETREAT AT MONTREAT One of Montreat Conference Center’s core values, “embodying hospitality” refers to our belief that our witness is grounded in welcome and belonging and that all people are created in the image of God and possess great capacity for growth and transformation. You can learn more about Montreat’s mission and values by clicking here.

RNS Weekly Digest: Are you a Christmas-only Catholic? What you need to know before going back to church.

Are you a Christmas-only Catholic? What you need to know before going back to church.

If you’re one of 60& of Catholics who go to church rarely — or maybe never — but find yourself at Christmas Mass this year for family reasons or simply as an excuse to dress up and hear carols, rest assured that the familiar Nativity scene, Advent wreath with candles ablaze and priests in snow-white vestments will all be there, just as you remember them. But if it’s been a while since you’ve occupied a pew, stay alert, as some of what’s happening in the pews may be unexpected. Some Catholics have adopted a posture known as the Orans while saying the Our Father, raising their hands like the priest at the altar. A half-century after the U.S. bishops allowed Catholics to receive the Eucharist from the priest in their hand, some parishes have reinstalled Communion rails so the congregants can kneel together and take Communion directly on the tongue. You might also see your neighbor briefly bowing at every mention of Jesus’ name.  Religion & Politics 'There is no Christmas for separated families': Pastors tend to immigrant families in crisis Can evangelical faith in Israel survive MAGA and the Gaza war? Israel is betting millions on it New Jersey religious activists call for investigation after ICE detainee's death Photos of the Week: Christmas Celebrations Christians wearing Santa Claus costumes participate in a Christmas parade in Lahore, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary) In Opinion AI comes with a built-in worldview. Christians need to understand it. Who inherits the Seven Mountains Mandate after Charlie Kirk? The Eucharist is not about adoring Jesus And finally, Yoga, meditation classes taught in Spanish offer healing to stressed communities At the New York City yoga studios she frequented in the 2010s, Rosana Rodriguez sometimes found herself the only Latina in the room. “I felt really intimidated,” said the 58-year-old native New Yorker. Predominantly white studios and expensive monthly fees gave her and others in her community the impression that wellness spaces “weren’t for them.” But the practice of yoga itself, Rodriguez said, saved her life. It was a consistent stress-reduction technique after an abusive relationship and losing her job. During yoga nidra — or guided meditation in the Savasana posture, often at the end of class — Rodriguez caught herself translating what her teacher said into Spanish, sparking a “revelation.” “I wanted to bring this level of healing to my community,” she said. Support our responsible reporting on religion Forward this newsletter to a friend Make a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit newsroom here Or mail us a check: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205 Email membership@religionnews.com with a news tip or a comment Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Copyright © 2025 RNS, All rights reserved.