The Banner

We don’t often think of Advent as looming. But here is a time of darkness, preceding the Redeemer’s birth into a dark and cold night.

Intricate and whimsical illustrations bring the familiar Christmas carol to life in this beautiful picture book.

As Homecoming leads viewers through the puzzle of its storyline, it raises thoughtful questions.

For 14 years and counting, First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Falls, S.D., has delivered grocery bags packed with the makings for Thanksgiving dinner to families in their community.

Through its Family Leadership Initiative, Lee Street Christian Reformed Church has built connections with its neighbors, providing shared meals and an atmosphere of support and encouragement for children and parents.

Twenty-five members of the Verhoog family, ages 8 to 87, gathered in Rolling Fork, Miss., to create a lasting legacy for Mississippi Christian Family Services in honor of Mary Verhoog.

During the training on Christian stewardship, Bitu read and discussed Scripture celebrating how God provides for people through land and material gifts. 

Choosing a school, major, or career can be overwhelming for many high schoolers. But what if this process was full of delightful anticipation about the good things in store for us? 

Banner reader and pastor Lou Wagenveld offers his review of a compilation of essays on the Holy Land.

In her sequel to Raymie Nightingale, DiCamillo peels away the layers to reveal Louisiana’s story and presents readers with a heartbreakingly tender, wise, humorous, and resilient protagonist.

Christian rocker Cleveland’s tenth solo album tells personal stories that are close to her heart.

The Heidelberg Catechism is the most popular, most loved catechism of many that emerged from the Reformation. But it is over 450 years old. Does it still speak to our churches—and to each of us—today?

I knew when I took this job that I could not please everybody. But I do take seriously what readers say. 

John Primus was remembered as a scholar, a dedicated teacher, and one who modeled Jesus Christ in humility and kindness. He died on November 5 at age 86. 

The Banner, the official magazine of the Christian Reformed Church, is free for the asking.

Ralph Breaks the Internet offers families an opportunity to discuss how the Internet can be both a tool that aids us and a place where we can lose ourselves.

Joe Gunn’s book doesn’t answer the question of how churches should deal with politics; instead, it tells stories of social justice work by Canadian churches.

If the Holy Spirit holds the cosmos together (every facet of every human being’s biological, relational, educational, social, and economic life), and if holding means nearness, then surely every time a human being wakes up to God, that moment is a remembering of a presence that’s always been there.

The Joyful Noise Children’s Choir recently celebrated its 40th anniversary at West End Christian Reformed Church in Edmonton, Alta.

Ministries to students at University of Colorado-Colorado Springs have new meeting and office space in the old parsonage of Cragmor CRC in Colorado Springs, Col.

Two or three times each year, Christian Reformed churches send representatives to their classis, a regional group of churches. Here are the highlights of classis meetings of the past few months.

Colin Watson, director of ministries and administration for the CRC, recently attended the general assembly of the WCRC’s Caribbean and North American Area Council in Georgetown, Guyana. He was elected to the council’s steering committee.

Moussa, a former Muslim from West Africa turned church planter in Brazil, knows firsthand the importance of reaching people in their heart language.