Church

• Libyan authorities exhume bodies of 34 Ethiopian Christian martyrs

  The bodies of 34 Ethiopian Christians executed in Libya by Islamic State (IS) in 2015 have been exhumed from a mass grave, Libyan authorities said on Monday.

• Pilgrims converge on Bethlehem to celebrate Jesus' birth

  The Palestinian town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is enjoying its busiest Christmas in years, with hotels nearly fully booked and the security situation relatively calm.

• Hong Kong Christians wear black to protest China church closures

  Christians in Hong Kong are coming to church dressed all in black as a protest against mainland China's crackdown on prominent congregations.

• What has Isaiah's Immanuel prophecy got to do with the birth of Jesus?

  What's gone before is a picture of muddle and confusion, fear, politics, war, destruction and hunger. We skip all that and go straight to the nice bit.

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  Dissent in the Church of England over new guidance on transgender services

  A member of the Archbishops' Council has pleaded with the leadership of the Church of England to stop being 'hijacked' by 'very small special interest groups'.

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  Christmas traditions 'create a sense of stability', says Bishop of London

  The Bishop of London is encouraging people to escape the Brexit chaos by indulging in a panto, nativity play or other time-honoured Christmas traditions.

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  No need to edit 'Virgin's womb' out of 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing', say CofE bishops

  The Bishop of Crediton said there was no need to be 'squeamish' about references to the Virgin Mary's womb.

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  Archbishop of Canterbury pays tribute to Paddy Ashdown

  Former leader of the Liberal Democrats Paddy Ashdown died on Saturday at the age of 77 after being treated for bladder cancer.

• Pope urges predator priests to turn themselves in

  Vatican sources believed it was the first time the pope had made such a direct appeal.

• O come, all ye faithful: 5 reasons to sing Christmas carols

  From Australia to Argentina to Anchorage, the message of Jesus will resonate from the mouths of his people in the same melodies and lyrics that his people have been singing for centuries.

• John's Gospel: Christmas on a cosmic scale

  It's all too easy over the Christmas season to swap the important stuff for the big, shiny festive stuff and end up disappointed.

• After church split, Ukraine may force Moscow loyalists to badge themselves 'Russian'

  Ukraine on Saturday created a new Orthodox church independent from Moscow, which leaders have lobbied for since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

• Fresh arrests see more Early Rain church members held, US watchdogs denounce crackdown

  The move against the Early Rain church follows the arrest of 100 church members and leaders last week including its pastor Wang Yi and his wife Jiang Rong.

• Vandalism forces cathedral to install security cameras

  The dean of Peel Cathedral in the Isle of Man said it had no other option after vandals sprayed grafitti and damaged furniture.

• Living Advent Calendar is a hit with Hertfordshire village

  The village of Redbourn in Hertfordshire has taken the idea of marking each day of Advent by opening a new door to a new level.