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Council Announcement:  Council is aware of the fact that the congregation has been left wondering and will have questions about Pastor Ed Gerber’s resignation. To date we have been working through the formal process required by Classis BCSE when a pastor resigns or leaves a church. We invite you to attend this special congregation meeting which will be held on Monday April 25, 2022, at Willoughby Church starting at 7:00 p.m. Your attendance is both desired and requested.  In Christ - Council WCRC  

ART SHOW and SYMPOSIUM – A CREATURE CHRONICLE: April 22  -  May 21, 2022. This art installation, created by artist Betty Spackman, former art instructor at TWU and Redeemer University, and hosted at Swallowfield Farm (J and D DeGroot) encourages visitors to ask questions of themselves and each other about what it is to be human. Deliberately handmade and personal, the agenda of the exhibition and the symposium is not to prove points but to open up different perspectives in order to see ourselves better and inspire true dialogue.  “It specifically addresses the Christian faith, “ says Spackman, “as this is the only tradition I can legitimately critique, and also one that has held perceived and real tensions with science. I hope this installation might increase curiosity, challenge complacency, and cause us all to celebrate creation in all its forms with wonder.” A CREATURE CHRONICLE is a 15-panel double-sided circular installation approx. 24 ft. in diameter and 8 ft. high. The symposium includes weekly lectures, presentations, talks and performances by guests from around the world. Click here for more information.   

Willoughby Church Refugee Update:  The Refugee Sponsorship Team continues to be grateful for your financial support (this month's special offering) for the families we have sponsored.  Your support makes it possible for us to meet our monthly budgeted commitment which covers rent, food, hydro, phone, internet, and transportation. As we are currently helping two small families settle, and awaiting another family of six, our immediate financial need is higher than usual. We are grateful for your partnership in welcoming and supporting these newcomers through their first year in Canada.  We are also currently looking for any leads on a good, used vehicle for one of our families. We are also seeking a 3 or 4 bedroom/ 2 bathroom house or large suite for our newest family, preferably close to downtown Langley. (We are hoping the family arrives within the next month or so).  Please email Evelyn Bouwman (bouplumb@telus.net) or Peter Roukema (phroukema@gmail.com) if you have any leads on either the car or the house/suite. Thank you in advance!   

Invitation for Seniors: The Senior Ministry of Willoughby Church is delighted to invite you to " A Prayer for Peace" presentation with George Van Beek on Thursday April 21 at 10am. After the presentation please join us for coffee. All are welcome!!! 

Spring Book Club - We will be offering a Spring Book Study for all Moms & Dads, though everyone is welcome.  The book club will begin sometime in May, please sign up by the end of April.  Mom's will be reading "Ragged" & Dad's will be reading "Being Dad" Once all interested parties have signed up the schedule will be worked out by the group for the best dates and times.  Register Here.

Theology of Parenting Conference, Saturday, May 7, 2022, 3-9pm - Come join us for a conference dedicated to modern Christian parenting in a digital age. There will be two workshops with dinner for $35 hosted by Rob Rhea of TWU & Greg Gerber of NYIT.  With a public evening lecture by Ivan Desilva of TWU.  Everyone is welcome to the lecture at 7:30pm. 

Boarder Request:  Grace is a 22 year old student from Iowa and is taking a 3 month internship at Cornwall Ridge Equestrian Barn in Langley. She needs a place to stay for the 3 month internship, starting on May 20th. She is studying for an equine management degree at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa.  She comes from a Christian family and her father is the hospital chaplain at the Iowa City Veterans Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. He has been a Christian pastor for 36 years and the family's hope is for her to boarder with a Christian family while she is here. Please contact Grace at grhal353@gmail.com if you are able to help secure living arragements for her this summer.

Cascade Christian Counselling E-Newsletter – Please find the link to our latest Spring 2022 E-Newsletter with articles that offer suggestions on how one can manage the stresses and anxiety that might surface from the series of challenging events happening to us on a local and global scale. Our counselors have shared some tools on how one can ensure self-care in these times. 

Thank You from World Renew - Thank you for extending God’s love to our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who have had to flee their homes because of conflict, persecution, or natural disaster. World Renew is grateful for your support that makes it possible for sponsorship groups to receive the support they need to assist refugee families to rebuild their lives in Canada. If you would like to learn more about how World Renew is answering God’s call for justice and mercy in our world, please visit: worldrenew.ca

CRC NEWS:

Another Step on the Canadian CRC Journey: Twenty Canadians worked to review the past and identify where the Canadian CRC should be in the next few years.  Click here for the full article.

Using Easter Traditions to Connect With Neighbors: Did you know that many are rooted in the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection?  Click here for the full article.

Letters from Prison: Letters coming from prisons across North America are telling the story of God’s work there. Click here for the full article.

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.

Groundwork: Crucified and Raise to Life with Christ - Good Friday and Easter mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Join Groundwork as we study Philippians 3:10-11, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:1-14, and 1 Corinthians 15:12-23 to examine what the Apostle Paul teaches us about this gift of salvation by faith and our participate in both Christ’s death and resurrection. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Faith Practice Reflection Tip - Read Revelation 7:9-13 and ponder or discuss the following questions. Easter Sunday is the most important celebration of the Christian year, and this passage paints the ultimate picture of Christian celebration. Have you ever imagined what that day will be like? Give it a try. (For more on faith practices from Faith Formation Ministries, visit bit.ly/FaithPracticesProject)

Get Inspired This Summer - Join us August 4-6 in Tinley Park, near Chicago for Inspire 2022. Be refreshed by three days of speakers, worship, workshops, prayer, and fellowship with CRC members from across the continent. Register now for the early bird rate, and gather five or more from one church to get the group rate! Learn more at crcna.org/inspire

Scriptoria: An Interfaith Writing Workshop - Morning workshops. Afternoon instruction. One-on-ones with editors. Deep faith conversations. Think boot camp for your writing—whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, or poetry—on June 20-24, 2022 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Scriptoria: An Interfaith Writing Workshop with Gary Schmidt, Hugh Cook, Patrice Gopo, L. S. Klatt, Robert Hudson, Nikki Grimes, Vinita Hampton Wright, and more. Visit scriptoriaworkshop.org

Here are the current song selections for this Sunday's service, please feel free to familiarize yourself with the music ahead of time by clicking on each song below. * Please note that adjustments may be made prior to Sunday morning.

  1. Forever (We Sing Hallelujah)
  2. Worthy Is The Lamb
  3. All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name
  4. Crown Him with Many Crowns
  5. Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed
  6. Christ the Lord is Risen Today
  7. He Is Exalted

Donation Requests:

Your Gift Will Go Twice As Far This Easter - He is risen! CRC churches traditionally take an offering for Resonate Global Mission on Easter Sunday. And this year, your offering will be matched dollar for dollar. As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, we are reminded that sharing the gospel is about more than telling—it’s about living out the good news! This Easter, you can help Christian Reformed church planters, missionaries, and campus ministers live out the good news: www.resonateglobalmission.org/MatchMyGift!

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

The Banner: The April edition of the Banner is now available at the church. You can also access a copy online at The Banner.  To support the Banner's ongoing journalistic ministry, consider making a donation.  www.theBanner.org/Donate

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. 

Today Devotion Books: The Today booklets are available at the church.

Contact for Online Bulletin: If you have anything to add to the bulletin, please email info@willoughbychurch.com 

Contact Council: If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email the council at council@willoughbychurch.com