The Banner

The Hip Hop Nutcracker is more than a beautiful performance. It is a cultural tribute to a music and dance style that has often been dismissed or overlooked.

In the last 15 years, Christian Reformed congregations in Edmonton, Alta., have been springing up, supported by the roots of those who came before. On November 4 the community came together to be encouraged and give thanks.

Ida Kaastra-Mutoigo, director of World Renew Canada, was elected to the governing board of international ecumenical aid coalition ACT Alliance at its recent general assembly.

Rooted is a ministry for young adults to keep them connected to God’s Word and God’s people. Currently meeting in Allendale, Mich., it is focused on growth and equipping its own young leaders.

We celebrate a God whose love became incarnate in a manger 2,000 years ago and who continues to sustain us today as a stream sustains a tree.

Barbara Kingsolver’s new novel explores the human need to find shelter: to be loved and cared for, and to find meaning and a place in community.

Shad’s latest album explores our culture of fear and the illusions it creates.

This piece is a reflection of the story of Joseph and Mary, specifically their journey to Bethlehem.

Mary’s willingness to risk everything allowed all of us to gain so much more.

Online commenting is the latest and most efficient way we allow ourselves to be set up against each other.

God took the raw material of David’s brilliant and sinful humanity—our humanity—and fused it in Mary’s womb with his own divine Son to create a new humanity.

With support from a network of Christian Reformed churches in Denver, Col., Cascade of Hope Community Resource Center reaches out to build a multicultural, multigenerational body.

Indwell, a Christian charity that creates affordable housing in three Ontario cities, made good use of one of its community center kitchens in October, hosting its first-ever Soup Series on Wednesday afternoons.

Songs of praise often celebrate God taking us from our hurts; songs of lament recognize God with us in our hurts.

Philip Koning, a member of First Christian Reformed Church in Edmonton, Alta., was one of 31 Albertans to receive the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers on Oct. 15.

The youth group of  Ireton (Iowa) Christian Reformed Church held a program to honor both veterans and currently serving military members, marking the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day November 11.

Powerful acting rescues a feel-good film that garners a few too many laughs from the racism it attempts to decry.

A winsome tale of a boy who misses his grandfather and meets him again in his imagination.

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

In February 2017, the Christian Reformed Church in North America launched a new initiative, known as the Financial Shalom Project, to support and sustain pastors for ministry.

We always love hearing from our readers! Patricia Ramsden sent in this review of a new Christmas picture book.

Emma Thompson gives an excellent performance as Fiona Maye, a family court judge dealing with unexpected consequences from visiting the child at issue in a case over which she presides.

Church Worldwide: November 9 marked the 20th anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act. Sam Brownback, U.S. ambassador for religious freedom, spoke at an event hosted by the Religious Freedom Institute and Baylor University in Washington D.C.