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Church leaders from multiple denominations and bodies are calling on Christians to pray for King Charles III as he battles an undisclosed form of cancer that was discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate.

King Charles, 75, has commenced a schedule of regular treatments and has postponed public-facing duties during this time, Buckingham Palace said.His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual, the statement said.

King Charles chose to make his diagnosis public in order to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer, the statement said.

Faith leaders throughout the United Kingdom and the world called on Christians to lift King Charles up in prayer.

Im praying for the King and his family — for Gods comfort and strength in the weeks and months to come. I wish His Majesty a swift and full recovery, said Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury and the senior bishop of the Church of England.

Im praying for the King and his family – for Gods comfort and strength in the weeks and months to come. I wish His Majesty a swift and full recovery. Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) February 6, 2024

Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, echoed Welbys thoughts.

Please join me in praying for His Majesty the King and all the Royal Family, Cottrell said. May he and all who suffer with cancer know the healing presence of Gods love.

The Evangelical Alliance in the United Kingdom posted a prayer for King Charles on its website.

Gracious God, we pray for King Charles, the Evangelical Alliance prayer said. In this time of sadness and sorrow, we pray that he might know your presence with him. Grant to him time to reflect and rest, and may he know your peace. We thank you for him and we ask that as you were with his mother, so might you lead and bless him. We thank you for the gifts you have given him and the years of public service he has already given.

May he have wisdom in his decision-making; enable him to lead well and give him advisors of insight and integrity. Give him the energy he needs and may he be a voice for hope and justice. May he run the race well and point others to the love of God. Lord, bless King Charles. In Jesus name, Amen.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster of the Catholic Church, said he was saddened to learn that His Majesty King Charles is now facing a time of treatment for cancer.

On behalf of the entire Catholic Community in England and Wales, I offer His Majesty our warmest wishes and assurance of steadfast prayers for his full and speedy recovery, the cardinal said. God bless the King.

The Buckingham Palace statement said King Charles had commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.

The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure, the statement said. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

Image credit: Getty Images/Dan Kitwood / Staff

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

This article is part of our Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.

Serenity Prayer
The Lords Prayer
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Prayer for Healing
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MLB: Iassogna crew chief, plate umpire for ASG

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MLB: Iassogna crew chief, plate umpire for ASG

NEW YORK — Dan Iassogna will be the umpire crew chief and work the plate during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Atlanta’s Truist Park.

His crew will include Marvin Hudson at first, Chris Segal at second, Jansen Visconti at third, Jeremie Rehak in left and Erich Bacchus in right, Major League Baseball said Thursday.

Iassogna, 56, will work his second All-Star Game. He was at third base for the 2011 game at Arizona.

He worked his first big league game in 1999, was hired to the major league staff in 2004 and appointed a crew chief ahead of the 2020 season. Iassogna umpired the World Series in 2012, ’17 and ’22 along with eight League Championship Series and seven Division Series.

Segal, Visconti, Rehak and Bacchus will work their first All-Star Games and Hudson his second after being in left field in 2004 at Houston.

Tony Randazzo will be the replay umpire in New York.

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A’s Rooker joins list of HR Derby participants

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A's Rooker joins list of HR Derby participants

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is adding his name to the list of Home Run Derby participants.

Rooker announced Thursday that he’s participating in the event, which takes place Monday in Atlanta. He will become the first Athletics player in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021.

“Competing in the Home Run Derby has always been a dream of mine,” Rooker said in an Instagram post. “Can’t wait to make it happen next week in Atlanta! See ya there!”

Rooker, 30, entered Thursday with a .270 batting average, 19 homers and 50 RBIs, putting him on pace for a third straight season of at least 30 homers. He went deep 30 times in 2023 and had 39 homers in 2024.

His 58 homers since the start of the 2024 season rank him third among all American League players.

The only A’s to win the Derby were Mark McGwire in 1992 and Yoenis Céspedes in 2013 and 2014.

Other announced participants include Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Washington’s James Wood.

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O’s trade reliever Baker to Rays for draft pick

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O's trade reliever Baker to Rays for draft pick

BALTIMORE — The Orioles traded right-handed reliever Bryan Baker to AL East rival Tampa Bay on Thursday in exchange for the 37th overall pick in the 2025 MLB amateur draft, a sign that one of baseball’s most disappointing clubs could be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias wouldn’t completely commit to that idea. Speaking to reporters before Thursday’s split doubleheader against the New York Mets, he cited the 2024 Detroit Tigers, who traded players off their major league roster but held on to ace Tarik Skubal and then surged into a playoff spot.

Elias did, however, acknowledge the possibility of selling on a day that began with last-place Baltimore (40-50) sitting 12½ games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays and seven out of the final AL wild-card spot.

“I think it’s a step in that direction,” said Elias three weeks before the July 31 deadline. “There’s no way around that. The timing of the draft, and when you have draft picks involved in the trades, kind of front-loads these decisions, and it’s earlier than my comfort level. But we thought it was a really good return and a good trade for everyone. So, we did it.”

The draft begins Sunday. In a corresponding move, the Orioles selected the contract of catcher David Bañuelos from Triple-A Norfolk.

After a dreadful start that brought the May dismissal of manager Brandon Hyde, the Orioles have steadied under interim skipper Tony Mansolino, playing to a 21-14 record since a loss to St. Louis on May 28.

Baker was a solid part of that, posting a 3.52 ERA, striking out 49 batters and posting a 1.096 WHIP in 38⅓ innings as the setup man for closer Felix Bautista.

“This is a team that is moving in the right direction, and we still have a lot of time left before the deadline, but this was a trade with the draft coming up in a couple days that we had to make a decision on,” Elias said. “We didn’t want to pass up on the opportunity. Hopefully, we can use the pick wisely, bring a lot of value back, and Bryan’s going to a good place.”

Mansolino is also hoping his team will get replenishments in the form of players eventually returning from the injured list. That sizable group includes several possible starting pitchers: Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder), Albert Suarez (shoulder), Tyler Wells (elbow) and Kyle Bradish (Tommy John surgery).

Meanwhile, Baltimore will now have four of the first 37 and seven of the first 93 draft picks.

“All the drafts are important, but when you have this amount of picks, it becomes more important, there’s no question about it,” Elias said. “There’s just a much bigger opportunity ahead of us, and the draft is a lifeblood for our franchise.”

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