CRC Communications
Giving Tuesday: Meet Blair - Our Giving Tuesday journey has now brought us to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where we visited the Indigenous Family Centre and met Blair. His story is one of many beautiful examples of how these local expressions of the gospel are promoting reconciliation and healing within communities historically hurt by the church. Help put fuel in the tank at: crcna.org/canada/giving-tuesday
Give a Gift Giving Tuesday - Giving Tuesday is on December 3rd! Your support on this day and beyond can help the CRCNA to equip CRC churches to grow gifts of spiritual disciplines, empower a new generation of leaders, foster hospitality among diverse groups of people, and share the gospel all across our country. Your gifts give extra horsepower to areas where God is already at work. Donate now: crcna.org/canada/giving-tuesday
ReFrame Ministries
Kids Corner: Beatitude 8: Following God (Even When It's Hard) - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. In Matthew 5:10, Jesus explained that his friends would be persecuted or punished for following him. Today, people will make fun of us, be mean, or even hurt us, and there are many countries in the world where being a Christian is tough. Jesus told us we would face problems because of our faith, but we can stay joyful because Jesus is king over everything. Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like the Bible Story Podcast The Story of Paul’s Conversion.
Groundwork: Your Questions about Christmas - Did the Christmas story really happen? Wasn’t Christmas originally a pagan holiday? Why do some churches celebrate Advent? Join Groundwork as we study Luke 2:1-7, John 1:5, Isaiah 53:4-6, and Psalm 78:1-6 to let Scripture guide our discussion answering questions we’ve received about Christmas and Advent. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Kids Corner: Advent Week 1: The Prophecy - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. During this Advent season, we can remember God’s faithfulness and our hope in Jesus, our Lord. Think of the names of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. How do these names bring us hope? How do they express God’s faithfulness? Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like the Bible Story Podcast The Story of the Prophets.
Kids Corner: Advent Week 2: The Servant - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. This week, read the story of Mary in Luke 1:26-45. God had an important role for Mary. She responded, “I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said." Whatever God has for us to do, let our reply be the same as Mary's. No matter how young or old we are, God will give us everything we need to be a faithful servant. Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like the Bible Story Podcast The Birth of Jesus.
Kids Corner: Advent Week 3: The Baby - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. In Luke 2:11-14, the long-awaited Messiah has come. The prophecy from the prophet Isaiah has happened. On that blessed night, the hope God promised so many years ago was born into the world. He came as a baby - not just any baby - he was the Son of God. Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like the Bible Story Podcast The Journey of the Wise Men.
Kids Corner: Advent Week 4: The Blessing - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. We cannot repay God for his love. What we can do is give his love to others and bless those around us the same way God blesses us. Christ is the ultimate blessing, and when we receive him, it’s not something we keep to ourselves. As God's children, he wants us to share the good news of Jesus's birth, death, and resurrection with others. Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like the Bible Story Podcast The Story of the Shepherds.
Other
2000 Candles - TDChristian High School presents "2000 Candles." This a TDChristian original play which is a playful, thoughtful, and moving journey through two millennia of celebrating God’s presence among us. Join us for a performance from December 11-14. Get full details and tickets at linktr.ee/tdchristian
Shop With Purpose at our Christmas Extravaganza Sale - Everyone is welcome at our GEMS Global Office at 1847 RW Berends Dr SW, Wyoming, Mich., 49519, on December 3, 4, and 5 from 9 am to 4 pm for our Christmas Extravaganza Sale. With 25% off all merchandise (excludes curriculum), you’ll find unique and meaningful gifts for daughters, moms, GEMS girls, nieces, teachers, and GEMS leaders. And the best part? Every purchase helps support our mission of bringing more girls into a dynamic, living relationship with Jesus Christ. Shop with purpose and spread the joy this season! Email any questions to [email protected].
‘A Season of Hope’ Concert - Hope Canadian Male Choir will be presenting their Christmas concert Wednesday, Nov. 27, in the Rehoboth United Reformed Church (77 Glancaster Rd., Hamilton) at 7:30 pm. Directed by Martin Mans, with musical accompaniment by Martin Zonnenberg, both from the Netherlands. Guest appearances by Dutch tenors Johan Peterson and Pieter Baarssen (The Urker Mans Formatie). Additional concerts will be: Nov. 28 - First Reformed Church, St. Catherine’s at 7:30 pm; Nov. 29 - Knox Presbyterian Church, Woodstock at 7:30 pm; Nov. 30 - Central Presbyterian Church, Cambridge at 7:30 pm. Website info: www.hopecanadianmalechoir.com. Tickets may be reserved or purchased at [email protected]
Resonate Global Mission
A Unique Mission Trip for Teenagers - Join a group of teenagers from multiple countries on a trip across three Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala) to learn more about these countries' histories and learn how local ministry leaders are working to meet the needs of communities in difficult realities. This is a great opportunity to grow in your faith and understanding of mission! Learn more and apply online at www.resonateglobalmission.org/encounter
World Renew
Give Thanks with World Renew's Advent Giving Tree - Let’s help people who live in poverty to experience more of God’s love for them with a Christmas Giving Tree! Each ornament on our Christmas tree from World Renew’s 2024-2025 Gift Catalog represents a gift for people living in poverty worldwide. Just choose an ornament and bring it, along with your donation, for the World Renew offering on Christmas Day. If you’re not attending services with us on Christmas day, you can also go to worldrenew.net/gifts or call 800-552-7972 to give.
Thrive
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - This week try playing the alphabet game using the topic “Things I’m grateful for.” Prayers can take many forms, and naming things A-Z is a great way to remember that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17, NIV). Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
Consejo de Formación en la Fe de Thrive - Esta semana, intenta jugar al juego del alfabeto con el tema “Cosas por las que estoy agradecido”. Las oraciones pueden tomar muchas formas, y nombrar cosas de la A a la Z es una excelente manera de recordar que “toda buena dádiva y todo don perfecto desciende de lo alto, del Padre de las luces celestiales, que no cambia como sombras movibles” (Santiago 1:17, NVI). Presentado por Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive.
Thrive 신앙 훈련 팁 - 이번 주에는 “내가 감사하는 것들”을 주제로 알파벳 게임을 해보세요. 기도는 여러 가지 방식으로 할 수 있으며, A부터 Z까지 감사할 것들을 떠올리는 것은 “온갖 좋은 은사와 온전한 선물이 다 위로부터 빛들의 아버지께로부터 내려오나니”(약 1:17)라는 말씀을 기억하는 좋은 방법입니다. Thrive에서 제공하는 자료입니다: crcna.org/Thrive
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - Advent is a season of waiting. We wait expectantly for the birth of Christ, and we wait with hope for his coming again. Yet this season is often marked by hurried consumerism and overfilled calendars. How might you practice “waiting” in new ways this Advent season? Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
Consejo de Formación en la Fe de Thrive - El Adviento es una temporada de espera. Esperamos con expectación el nacimiento de Cristo, y esperamos con esperanza su regreso. Sin embargo, esta temporada a menudo está marcada por el consumismo apresurado y calendarios llenos de actividades. ¿Cómo podrías practicar la “espera” de nuevas maneras en esta temporada de Adviento? Presentado por Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive.
Thrive 신앙 훈련 팁 - 대림절은 기다림의 시간입니다. 우리는 그리스도의 탄생을 기대하며 기다리고, 그분의 다시 오심을 소망하며 기다립니다. 그러나 이 시기는 분주한 소비 생활과 바쁜 일정으로 채워지는 시기이기도 합니다. 이번 대림절에는 어떻게 “기다림”을 새로운 방식으로 실천할 수 있을까요? Thrive에서 제공하는 자료입니다: crcna.org/Thrive
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - “Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.” This refrain from the beloved Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” calls us to rejoice—not because of our immediate circumstances but because of the promises we have in Jesus Christ. Ponder a few things that cause you to rejoice. Offer them up to God in gratitude. Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
Consejo de Formación en la Fe de Thrive - “Alégrate, Alégrate! Emmanuel vendrá a ti, oh Israel”. Este estribillo del amado himno de Adviento “Oh Ven, Oh Ven, Emmanuel” nos llama a regocijarnos, no por nuestras circunstancias inmediatas, sino por las promesas que tenemos en Jesucristo. Reflexiona sobre algunas cosas que te hacen regocijarte. Ofrécelas a Dios con gratitud. Presentado por Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive.
Thrive 신앙 훈련 팁 - “기뻐하라 이스라엘! 곧 오시리 오 임마누엘”사랑받는 대림절 찬송가 “곧 오소서 임마누엘”의 이 후렴은 우리의 현재 상황 때문이 아니라 예수 그리스도 안에서 받은 약속들로 인해 기뻐하라고 말합니다. 당신을 기쁘게 하는 것들을 떠올리고, 하나님께 감사의 기도를 올려드리세요. Thrive에서 제공하는 자료입니다: crcna.org/Thrive
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - This coming week marks the winter solstice—the “longest night” of the year. For many, the Christmas season can be a particularly difficult time. How might God be calling you to minister to people who struggle? How might you remind them that the dark of night will gradually give way to the light of day? Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
Consejo de Formación en la Fe de Thrive - Esta semana que viene marca el solsticio de invierno, la “noche más larga” del año. Para muchos, la temporada navideña puede ser un tiempo particularmente difícil. ¿Cómo te está llamando Dios a ministrar a las personas que luchan? ¿Cómo podrías recordarles que la oscuridad de la noche gradualmente dará paso a la luz del día? Presentado por Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive.
Thrive 신앙 훈련 팁 - 이번 주는 “가장 긴 밤”인 동지입니다. 많은 사람들에게 크리스마스 시즌은 특히 힘든 시기일 수 있습니다. 하나님께서 어려움을 겪는 사람들에게 어떻게 다가가도록 당신을 부르고 계신가요? 그들에게 어두운 밤이 지나면 반드시 빛이 온다는 사실을 어떻게 전할 수 있을까요? Thrive에서 제공하는 자료입니다: crcna.org/Thrive
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - For you Jesus Christ came into the world:
for you he lived and showed God's love;
for you he suffered the darkness of Calvary and cried at the last, “It is finished”;
for you he triumphed over death and rose in newness of life;
for you he ascended to reign at God’s right hand.
All this he did for you, though you do not know it yet.
And so the word of Scripture is fulfilled: “We love because God loved us first.”
–Adapted from the French Reformed Church liturgy
During this week of Christmas, tell the familiar story of the birth of our Savior with the hope of hearing it in new and beautiful ways, remembering Christ’s incarnation and birth for YOU. Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
Consejo de Formación en la Fe de Thrive - Por ti Jesucristo vino al mundo;
por ti vivió y mostró el amor de Dios;
por ti sufrió la oscuridad del Calvario y clamó al final, “Todo está cumplido”;
por ti triunfó sobre la muerte y resucitó en novedad de vida;
por ti ascendió para reinar a la diestra de Dios.
Todo esto lo hizo por ti, aunque aún no lo sabes.
Y así se cumple la palabra de la Escritura: “Nosotros amamos porque Dios nos amó primero”.
–Adaptado de la liturgia de la Iglesia Reformada Francesa
Durante esta semana de Navidad, cuenta la familiar historia del nacimiento de nuestro Salvador con la esperanza de escucharla de nuevas y hermosas maneras, recordando la encarnación y el nacimiento de Cristo por TI. Presentado por Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive.
Thrive 신앙 훈련 팁- - 예수 그리스도께서 당신을 위해 이 세상에 오셨습니다.
당신을 위해 살아가시며 하나님의 사랑을 보여주셨습니다.
당신을 위해 갈보리에서 고난을 겪으시고, 마지막으로 “다 이루었다'”고 말씀하셨습니다.
당신을 위해 죽음을 이기시고 새로운 생명으로 부활하셨습니다.
당신을 위해 하나님 오른편에서 지금도 다스리고 계십니다.
아직 당신이 알지 못하더라도, 이 모든 것을 당신을 위해 행하셨습니다.
그래서 이 말씀을 이루셨습니다: “우리가 사랑하는 것은 하나님께서 먼저 우리를 사랑하셨기 때문입니다.”
– 프랑스 개혁교회 예전에서 발췌
이번 크리스마스 주간에는 익숙한 구세주의 탄생 이야기를 새로운 시각으로, 더 아름답게 들을 수 있기를 바라며 전해보세요. 그리고 그리스도의 성육신과 탄생이 바로 “당신”을 위한 것임을 기억하세요. Thrive에서 제공하는 자료입니다: crcna.org/Thrive
