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As We Light the Advent Candles…..

One of my favorite childhood memories of Christmas was of my mom turning the lights low in the dining room on Sunday night and lighting another advent candle each Sunday leading up to Christmas. While I could do without the rush of Christmas, I love coming together as a family and spending valuable time together. The holy quiet we held as my mom lit the candles has left a lasting impression on my life. This year, more than other years, pausing for advent seems incredibly important. The candles of Advent represent important concepts in our faith today: hope, love, joy and peace. While we continue to live through a period of social isolation and loss, how do we find hope? How do we experience love, joy or peace? This year we are all called to turn inward, to reflect on the space that we hold for Christ in our lives, to acknowledge that it is only through our relationship with Him can we truly find the answer to these questions.

—Becky Jones, Editor

Have you considered writing for Breaking Barriers?

Breaking Barriers newsletter has a circulation of about 80,000 copies per quarter to Christian Reformed and Reformed Church in America churches. Here’s what we are planning for the next two issues, and we’d love to have your contributions.

Spring 2021—Race and disability. Among others, Daniel Prude and Walter Wallace Jr. might still be alive if they had not been black or disabled. If you are Black, Indigenous, or a person of color and live with a disability, please tell us your story (400 words) by January 29, 2021. 

A Year in Review

Disability Concerns: How 2020 Challenged Us - And Changed Us

The year of 2020 is coming to a close. While it is easy to point to the many losses throughout 2020, let’s pause to see the many ways we have overcome and realized growth as a ministry.

Read Full Review


Breaking Barriers - Fall 2020

Traveling with a Disability

We recently released our fall issue of Breaking Barriers. The theme for this issue is focused on traveling with a disability. Traveling with a disability can be challenging, and the memories of those adventures can be instructive, hurtful, hilarious, and more. Check out this issue of Breaking Barriers to hear the vivid experience people with various disabilities share their travel experiences.

Access the Resources

Join our Disability Concerns Book Clubs!

Disability Concerns Book Clubs Announced!

Looking for a good book club to join during the long winter months ahead? We have one for you! In February we will be journeying through the newest book by John Swinton: Finding Jesus in the Storm. This book club will take place every Tuesday evening at 7pm for 6 weeks from February 2 to March 9th, 2021. Join us! Sign up today!

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Walking through grief and loss this holiday season

Blue Christmas and Blue Holiday Worship Services

While the media often portrays Christmas as exciting, joyful and full of cheer, for many of us this is far from reality – especially this year. For many people, Christmas is already a time where loss and grief is accentuated. In addition, as we live through the pandemic, we are a part of  a global community expressing lament for a year of great loss. As believers, how do we journey through a season such as this? This resource offers prayers, worship and lament for us during this holiday season.

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Supporting Disability Concerns Ministry

Let’s Talk About (COVID Induced) Depression

Disability Concerns is able to continue to grow and develop throughout the Christian Reformed Church because of your ongoing support. As we come to the end of another year in ministry, we wanted some stories of what your donations have meant to our ministry. Read one story about how a study series Disability Concerns produced helped one congregation break the silence surrounding mental illness. And please consider donating to continue the work of Disability Concerns today!

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This mostly monthly e-newsletter is a ministry of Christian Reformed Church in North America and Reformed Church in America Disability Concerns ministries.

Christian Reformed Church in North America
1700 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508-1407
3475 Mainway, Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8

Reformed Church of America
4500 60th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512

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