Bulletin Announcements

The Banner

Get the Denomination's Award-winning Magazine for FREE - The Banner, the magazine of the Christian Reformed Church, is free! Sign up for free print delivery and a weekly e-newsletter by visiting thebanner.org/signup. Given the Award of Excellence (2020) for best denominational magazine by the Evangelical Press Association, The Banner offers CRC news; thoughtful articles; and reviews of books, movies, and music. TheBanner.org/signup

Get The Banner Straight to Your Inbox - The Banner, the magazine of the CRC, will send you news, features, and columns straight to your email inbox! Sign up for the weekly e-newsletter by visiting thebanner.org/signup. While you're there, you can sign up to receive The Banner print magazine straight to your door as well! TheBanner.org/signup

ReFrame Ministries

Doing My Father's Work - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. How was the twelve-year-old Jesus like us? We are also God’s children, and God has some important plans for each of us. Listen now at kidscorner.net and subscribe to KC’s weekly emails for all the new content.

Groundwork: You Shall Not Commit Adultery - The seventh commandment helps us live rightly in sacred marriage relationships. Join Groundwork as we study Exodus 20:14 and other scriptures to better understand why God cares and how we find the hope and grace to help us commit and, when necessary, receive forgiveness and re-commit to keeping this commandment. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Groundwork: You Shall Not Steal - Stealing of any kind reveals a lack of trust in God’s provision. Join Groundwork as we study Exodus 20:15 and dig into scriptures that help us better understand the damage stealing causes in our relationships and what attitudes of the heart we can cultivate to help curb any temptation to steal something for our own benefit. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Groundwork: You Shall Not Give False Testimony - Twisting someone’s words or leaving out vital information that skews the truth, and keeping silent when we should speak up can be just as damaging to another person as a lie. Join Groundwork as we study Exodus 20:16, and other scriptures to learn more about what it means to bear false testimony or witness and the importance of truth. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Groundwork: You Shall Not Covet - The desire to possess what God gave someone else reveals insufficient trust that God provides enough. Join our Groundwork conversation as we study Exodus 20:17 so that we understand the spiritual and relational implications of coveting and learn how we can combat covetousness and enhance gratitude in our lives. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Family Fire - FAMILY FIRE is an online community exploring Spirit-led family, marriage, parenting, in-laws, blended families, and intimacy. Find encouraging articles and devotions at familyfire.com. Subscribe for regular email updates and connect with our Family Fire community on Facebook.

Spending Time with Jesus - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. If you were going to spend time with Jesus, what would you want to do? Would you play with him? Would you ask him questions and talk about stuff? Listen now at kidscorner.net and subscribe to KC’s weekly emails for all the new content.

Zacchaeus and Jesus - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. How would you describe the character of Zacchaeus from the Bible story? Which words would you choose: wealthy, curious, or a man of faith? Listen now at kidscorner.net and subscribe to KC’s weekly emails for all the new content.

The Lord's Prayer - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. This week’s devotion looks at what Jesus taught them. Listen now at kidscorner.net and subscribe to KC’s weekly emails for all the new content.

How Do You Pray? - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. When you pray to God, what do you say to him? In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus said to his disciples, “You should pray like this…” Listen now at kidscorner.net and subscribe to KC’s weekly emails for all the new content.

Faith Formation Ministries

Faith Practice Reflection Tip - Reflection and Discussion Starter—the Practice of Sabbath: Read Luke 6:6-11 and ponder or discuss the following questions: In what areas of your life do you need healing and restoration? How might celebrating sabbath help you open your heart to letting Jesus “completely restore” and heal you? (For more on faith practices from Faith Formation Ministries, visit bit.ly/FaithPracticesProject)

Faith Practice Reflection Tip - Reflection and Discussion Starter—the Practice of Sabbath: Read Psalm 23 and ponder or discuss the following questions: Reflect on the words “I shall not want” (or, as The Message puts it, “I don’t need a thing.” How often do those words describe you? How have you experienced God’s “goodness and mercy”? How might you be an agent of goodness and mercy to your neighbor or to your “enemies”? (For more on faith practices from Faith Formation Ministries, visit bit.ly/FaithPracticesProject)

Safe Church Ministry

Safe Church October Webinar - Join us on Zoom October 6th, at 12pm Eastern for our October Safe Church webinar: Faith Leaders and a Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence. This webinar features a conversation with Rev. Michael Ten Haken (Pease CRC), Judy Pearson (Director of the Pearl Crisis Center), and Glenda Rittenour (Court Advocate), to discuss how they function as a Community Coordinated Response Team in Pease, Minnesota, in response to domestic abuse and with battering intervention programs. https://bit.ly/SCOctoberwebinar

Abuse Awareness Sunday - September 26 - In one week, the Safe Church ministry of the CRC invites congregations to imagine a more holistic approach to nurturing a safe and healthy church community where abuse itself becomes unthinkable and where survivors feel supported and safe. In preparation, learn more about Safe Church now at their website: crcna.org/SafeChurch. Consider donating to Safe Church at crcna.org/SafeChurch/donate

Other

Griefshare at Harderwyk Ministries - After the funeral, when the cards and flowers have stopped coming, most of the people around you return to their normal lives. But your grief continues and you feel alone. We invite you to join GriefShare, a caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life's most difficult experiences. In this 13-week class, we listen to others (video experts and testimonies); each other (in our weekly discussions), and God (guided by scriptures/workbook). Let us walk together through grief toward healing and hope for the future. Sign up at harderwyk.com or contact Pastor Mary ([email protected]) if you have any questions. We will meet Wednesdays from September 22 through December 15, 6:00 to 7:30pm.

Volunteer with L'Arche Hamilton - L’Arche Hamilton is excited to be taking on the project of operating a small café out of the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre! L’Arche is an organization whose mission is to make known the gifts of people with developmental disabilities through mutually transforming relationships. In this vein, we are looking for people who share this vision and are excited about operating our café alongside people with developmental disabilities. The café will be entirely operated by volunteers. We are starting out operating only one day per week. If you want to learn more about this opportunity, or would like to apply to be a volunteer with the café, please email [email protected]

Disability Concerns

Disability Concerns October Learning Series - Disability Concerns Ministry is excited to share our newest resource with you: Everybody Belongs, Serving Together (www.faithward.org/everybody-belongs-serving-together/). Join us this October, every Thursday evening at 8pm (EST) as we dive into this resource, inviting leaders in our community to speak on topics covered in this handbook. Visit our website to find out more and to register for this series: bit.ly/dcc2021series (Hosted by Disability Concerns Canada)

Resonate Global Mission

Resonate: International Position Openings - Resonate Global Mission has the following International position openings: Leadership Developer in Nepal; Urban Training Collaborative Coordinator & Family Life Coordinator in South Africa; and Transformational Network Coordinator in Uganda. For details and to apply visit www.crcna.org/jobs. These position will remain open until filled.

Check Out Go Local - Are you interested in learning more about connecting with your neighbors and living your faith outside of the four walls of your home or church? Resonate Global Mission's Go Local cohorts equip believers with postures and practices for joining God on mission in our neighborhoods. Want to get a feel for what Go Local is all about? Resonate ministry leaders are offering two Go Local: Preview experiences on Wednesday, September 29 from 1-:2:30 PM ET and 8-9:30 PM ET. Learn more and register at www.resonateglobalmission.org/preview

Join a Go Local Cohort! - Resonate Global Mission ministry leaders are starting new Go Local: Essentials cohorts at the end of September and beginning of October. Go Local cohorts equip believers with postures and practices for joining God at work outside of the four walls of a church building. Go Local cohorts are available for individuals, churches, and pastors and church staff. Learn more and find a cohort that works with your schedule at www.resonateglobalmission.org/essentials

CRC Communications

New Thriving Essentials Course - Be one of the first to experience and help shape a new course created for elders, deacons, church staff, and all lay leaders. Developed with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc, this online four-session course explores key paradigms about mission, discipleship, discernment, and leadership. Pilot testing begins this week, with 300 spots available over the fall. For details and to sign up, visit crcna.org/Thrive

Race Relations

All Nations Heritage Sunday - October 3 - In two weeks, we recognize All Nations Heritage Sunday and celebrate the multicultural church of Christ. In preparation, learn more about the CRC Office of Race Relations and its Scholarship Fund that provides financial assistance for university students of various ethnic minorities. Check out the website: crcna.org/AllNations