Calvin University
Summer Camps at Calvin - Make the most of summer! Calvin University offers a variety of camps for kids and youth, ages 4-18, designed to help bridge the gap between school years -- while learning and having fun! Choose from camps themed on chemistry, health, music, nature, and sports. Learn more and register at calvin.edu/offices-services/camps/
Knollcrest Music Camp - Knollcrest Music Camps, designed for students in grades 7-8 or 9-12, inspire personalized artistic development through formative, practical opportunities within an enriching, inclusive community. Students will refine their musicianship and enjoy the opportunity to play great music together. Find more information at calvin.edu/offices-services/camps/
Other
Libertas Male Choir Concerts - Join us for upcoming concerts at Elora Knox Presbyterian Church (51 Church St E, Elora, ON) on Thursday, May 30 at 7.30 PM; Knox Presbyterian Church (59 Riddell St, Woodstock, ON) on Friday, May 31 at 7.30 PM; or Mountainview CRC (290 Main St East, Grimsby, ON) on Saturday, June 1 at 7.30 PM. Tickets: Adult $25, Youth (10-14) $10. Child under 10: Free. E transfer: [email protected]. Email info: [email protected]. or Call: 905 522 0001 or 905 745 5609. Tickets at the door: Cash only. Learn more at www.libertasvoices.com. Libertas Male Choir is directed by Martin Mans and accompanied by organist Martin Zonnenberg and pianist Joyce Postmus.
The Diary of Anne Frank - TDChristian High School presents "The Diary of Anne Frank." This is a poignant stage play adapted from Anne Frank's diary, depicting her family's life in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Join us for a performance from May 22-25. Get full details and tickets at linktr.ee/tdchristian
Missionary Support Dinner & Presentation with Hannah van der Kamp - Join us for a Missionary Support Dinner and Presentation with Hannah van der Kamp, missionary in Lesvos, Greece. Friday, May 24 from 6-8 p.m. at Fleetwood CRC in Surrey. To reserve a place at the table ($25), go to crc1life.ca
Thrive
Including Thrive in Your Estate Plans - Have you considered leaving an estate gift to Thrive in your will? Visit crcna.org/HeritageFund To learn more.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - In Whistling in the Dark, Frederick Buechner writes, “‘Thy kingdom come . . . on earth’ is what we are saying. . . . To speak those words is to invite the tiger out of the cage, to unleash a power that makes atomic power look like a warm breeze.” What are we asking when we pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth? Learn more at crcna.org/FaithPracticesProject
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - The Lord’s Prayer: An Intergenerational Event and Worship Experience is a downloadable free resource with which children, teens, and adults can gather to learn about and/or deepen their understanding of the Lord’s Prayer. Try it in your church! Find it at tinyurl.com/intergenprayer. Learn more at crcna.org/FaithPracticesProject
Hiring! Thrive Administrate Coordinator Grand Rapids, MI - The successful candidate in this position will provide administrative coordination for Thrive as it supports congregations and local ministry leaders.
This is a hybrid position with the successful candidate residing in Grand Rapids Michigan or the surrounding area. Learn more and apply at https://rb.gy/cm4lbk
World Renew
Celebrate Women Worldwide on Mother's Day - Next week, we celebrate women in our communities of faith near and far. Women who are supported physically, mentally, and spiritually are better equipped to support their own families and communities. On Mother’s Day, please consider giving a gift to celebrate a special woman in your life through World Renew. Your gift will honor your loved one – and support other women to flourish fully as well, as God intends for them. For more information or to give online, go to worldrenew.net/womenofhope
Happy Mother's Day! - Today we celebrate the special women in our lives. Women who are healthy – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually – become Women of Hope. Your gifts to World Renew today can help shape capable, confident women who help to build strong families and communities that flourish and have hope for the future. For more information or to give online, go to worldrenew.net/womenofhope
Please Help Reduce the Global Maternal and Newborn Death Rate - Maternal and newborn deaths in the Global South are often a result of preventable causes, including unsafe practices and unclean birthing conditions that are dismissed as “the way things have always been done.” World Renew works with local partners to provide training in proper health and nutrition practices to volunteers who share their knowledge through home visits to the homes of new and expectant mothers. Next week, join World Renew for Women of Hope Sunday and through your gift you can help provide crucial training and support to help reduce maternal and newborn deaths. For more information go to: worldrenew.ca/womenofhope
Celebrate Women of Hope Sunday with World Renew - A Woman of Hope blesses her family and community with her resilience, strength, and faith. But in too many communities where World Renew works, women are denied opportunities that allow them to live up to their full potential. Your gift today to World Renew’s Maternal and Child Health Program helps equip new mothers and pregnant women with the training and support they need to protect the health of their families. And healthy families help build thriving communities. Through your gift, you help share Christ’s hope with a vulnerable mother, her family, and her community! To donate, call 1-888-WRLD-RNW or go online to: worldrenew.ca/womenofhope
Thank You for Your Women of Hope Offering - Thank you for joining World Renew for Women of Hope Sunday and generously supporting our Maternal and Child Health Program. Your gift helps us provide vulnerable mothers with the training and resources they need to protect the health of their families. And World Renew believes that healthy families help build thriving communities. Thank you for sharing Christ’s hope with mothers, their families, and communities. To learn more about World Renew's community health programs, please visit: worldrenew.ca/community-health
Thank you for supporting Women of Hope - Thank you for your generous gifts for women worldwide through World Renew on Mother’s Day. Your support for our Women of Hope offering is equipping women with lifelong strength and health. As a result, you are helping their families and communities fulfill God’s desire to see all people flourish. For more information or to give, go to worldrenew.net/womenofhope.
April Tornadoes Cross the Midwest - World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS) is coordinating with other organizations to respond to damage caused by 88 confirmed tornadoes from Texas to Iowa on April 26-30, 2024. DRS will initially offer volunteer clean-up services including removing debris and tarping roofs to survivors while plans are made for long-term recovery. Please help families who have lost homes and loved ones in the April storms. Donate at worldrenew.net/springstorms2024, call 1-800-552-7972, or send your check made out to World Renew DRS, with “DRS Spring Storms 2024” in the memo line to: World Renew, 8970 Byron Commerce Dr. SW, Byron Center, MI 49315.
ReFrame Ministries
Kids Corner: The Unhurried Jesus - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. Jesus knew that quiet time with God is special in a busy world. Sometimes, when all the activity stops and our bodies slow down, we feel bored. Instead of searching for a way to fill the quiet with extra activities, try this: Talk to God! Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like the KC Bible Story Podcasts.
Kids Corner: A Mom's Love: Mother's Day - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net. Pay attention to your mom’s love for you. Maybe it’s your grandmother, a female family member, or perhaps a teacher. Know that her love for you reflects God’s love for you: always watching and caring for you while you find your place in this world. Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like the KC Bible Story Podcasts.
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.
Groundwork: Spiritual Priorities in Haggai and Zechariah - In good times and bad, life is full of struggles and challenges. Even when God answers our prayers, the way forward isn’t always straight. Join Groundwork as we study Haggai 1-2 and Zechariah 1-14 to glean biblical wisdom for navigating and enduring our own spiritual and physical challenges today and find courage to continue trusting God. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Groundwork: Spiritual Apathy and Justice in Malachi - Back in their homeland, the Israelites were finally comfortable again and spiritual apathy began to settle in their hearts. Join Groundwork as we study Malachi 1-4 to witness how out-of-sync life can get when we go through the motions of faith without investing our hearts and learn from Malachi’s warnings against spiritual apathy and his encouragement to examine our hearts. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
CRC Communications
Please pray for Synod 2024! - We need everyone to be involved. The theme for synod worship and prayer is God With Us. You can sign up to pray on your own, with your church or small group, or at Calvin University in June. Check out the many opportunities at crcna.org/synod/prayer and join us in humble prayer for God's will to be done in the CRC. Email [email protected] with your questions or comments.
Student Position Opening: Accounting Assistant - The Burlington office of the Christian Reformed Church in North America has a seasonal position opening for an Accounting Assistant. This position is full time for May through August 2024. Learn more and apply at https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/jobsearch/jobpostingcsj/40851572?source=searchresults. The Government of Canada funded this job through the Canada Summer Jobs program. You must be aged between 15 and 30 and be legally entitled to work in Canada.
The Banner
The Banner’s Counting On You! - Please support the award-winning, journalistic ministry of the CRC by donating online today. $500,000 is needed every year to keep The Banner going. The more funds we are able to raise, the less we need to draw on ministry shares, releasing money to other ministries of the CRCNA. Give now at: TheBanner.org/Give
The Banner Needs You! - The Banner is the CRC’s award-winning monthly magazine. It is delivered free in print and online to every household in the CRC, and their annual donation appeal makes it possible. Please support this journalistic ministry and keep the community conversation going. You can give online now at: TheBanner.org/Give
Diaconal Ministries Canada
NewGround - Last Sunday (May 5) was designated as NewGround Sunday by Diaconal Ministries Canada. For almost 50 years, NewGround (formerly called Operation Manna) has helped churches across Canada love their community by getting them connected to local ministries. NewGround has helped support youth centres, children’s camps and after-school programs, counseling agencies, community dinners, and more! Your generous gifts will help even more churches bless their communities in Jesus’ name. All Canadian CRCs have received a brochure which has more information about NewGround. Will you make a one-time donation or become a monthly partner so we can help even more churches roll up their sleeves and join God where is already at work? Donate on our website: diaconalministries.com/donate-now/ or via e-transfer to [email protected], or you can mail in your cheque to: "Diaconal Ministries Canada, P.O. Box 5070, STN LCD 1, Burlington, ON, L7R 3Y8, ATTENTION: NEWGROUND". Every dollar raised will help make a difference in the life of someone who needs the love of Jesus!
NewGround - Thanks to our supporters' prayers and generosity, NewGround has been cultivating community impact across Canada for almost 50 years! Last year, Diaconal Ministries received applications to the program totalling over $90,000. Because Christian Reformed Churches held offerings and individual donors gave generously, we were able to say "Yes!" to more churches longing to share God's love in their local community. Thank you for your prayers and support! You are helping us and our partners make a difference. Together we can continue to help transform communities for God's glory! To donate once or monthly, visit our website (diaconalministries.com/donate), send an e-transfer to [email protected] OR donate through your CRC church. Questions? Visit diaconalministries.com/newground and/or email our fundraising coordinator, Kathrin, at [email protected].
