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Church Potluck:  On Sunday May 22nd after the church service, we will be doing a Potluck to enjoy lunch and fellowship together.  On the May long weekend, the church would normally have been camping out in Vedder Campground and having the Saturday cookout.  This year due to COVID the group campsite was not available, though we still wanted to get together and share a meal.  Please bring a lunch item to share, and church will be supplying dessert, coffee & tea, and juice for the kids!   

Council Update: In prior communications, council promised an update after the May 10th meeting.  To see the current update addressing the topics reviewed by the council this month, please click here.  For any further questions, please email council@willoughbychurch.com

Living the Call:  You are invited to check out Living the Call, the ministry report to classis and councils on the work of the CRCNA. This informative report gives you a brief overview of the work that you are a part of as a congregation of the Christian Reformed Church.   In five issues each year, they focus on each of the five callings of the CRC: Faith Formation, Servant Leadership, Global Mission, Mercy & Justice, and Gospel Proclamation & Worship.

Willoughby Refugee Team: The Refugee Sponsorship Team is excited to announce that the AlRubaye family will be arriving on June 2!  We are so happy for them and we are looking forward to finally meeting them in person.  We are busy preparing for their arrival -- stay tuned for more details in the following weeks.  For now, we have heard that they love to ride bikes!  If you have one to donate, please let Evelyn Bouwman know.   bouplumb@telus.net or 604-910-8859. 

Summer Camp: Fleetwood CRC in Surrey is hosting three summer camps this year for a variety of interests and ages. NoteWorthy Music Camp, for ages 7-12, focuses on introducing young kids to music and teaching basic musical skills (June 27-30). Compassion Camp, our VBS for ages 5-10, tells the gospel through games, crafts, and stories (July 18-22). World’s Stage Theatre Camp, for high schoolers aged 12-18, is a week of writing, directing, and acting with a healthy amount of improv thrown in (August 1-5). Registration opens May 22nd. For more information, please visit fleetwoodcrc.org/SummerCamps2022 or email fcrc.interns@gmail.com.    

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth - Saturday, May 14, 8:30AM - 2:30PM PST - What is the right way to read the Bible? What are the guidelines that believers should follow in interpreting scripture? Can we know with confidence what God is saying? Join Dr. Jeffrey Weima for an informative and entertaining day on this important topic. Expect to change the way you read and understand God’s word! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3kkUpnp

Sustainable Investing Workshop: Christian investing is about empowering the businesses and endeavors that are good for people, culture, and the broader environment. So what should that look like in practice? We’re hosting a webinar on “Sustainable Investing: Your Money Matters” with Kurt Holzhueter of ClearView Investments. This webinar will be on May 26, 8-9 p.m. (EDT), and will consider the pathways available to churches, congregations, and individuals who are looking for ways to get started in sustainable investing. Register now to reserve your spot!

Holy Spirit Inspired Prayer:  The mission of Dunamis Fellowship Canada is to mobilize, equip and deploy Spirit- empowered witnesses for Jesus Christ to take part in fulfilling the great commission, to make disciples of all people in all nations. They fulfill that mission by offering courses and conferences on the person and work of the Holy Spirit based on Christ-centered, Biblical teaching from a Reformed perspective, and anchored in practical, experiential learning. Dunamis is coming to the Lower Mainland BC with a conference on Holy Spirit Inspired Prayer. It will be held at Nelson Ave Christian Reformed Church (5825 Nelson Ave., Burnaby, BC), on Friday, May 27–Saturday May 28. $20 at the door, with lunch and light refreshments provded. Register by May 25 by emailing Pastor Jo: jschouten@nacchurch.org  For more information click here: Brochure 

Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation:   Join us May 27, 28 and 29 for the 7th annual Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation! We walk on the land between Fort Langley and Mission in lament and solidarity of First Nationspeoples remembering the harm done by Indian Residential Schools. You can choose to do a self-guided walk with family & friends, attend a larger event and walk together as a big group, or do a solidarity walk in your own community. Maps are provided, receive a free t-shirt and read Indigenous stories and info posted online. Check out https://www.reconciliationwalk.com/walk and register today at: https://walkinthespirirtofreconciliation2022.eventbrite.com/. 

May 2022 Safe Church Webinar: Step 2 Making and Revising Policy - Join us May 18 at 12pm (Eastern) for Webinar 2 of our Safe Church Basics Series. In this webinar, Safe Church Ministry staff will highlight common myths hidden within many abuse prevention policies, share a new model policy, and hear from other leaders about ways they have navigated the tedious task of revising and making policies. Register at: https://bit.ly/SCwebinarMay22

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.   

Join us in Praying for Synod 2022 - Synodical delegates, church leaders, and CRCNA members across the continent are praying for Synod 2022. Please join us! Prayer gatherings for synodical delegates are scheduled for May 11 and May 25. We will post prayer guides on the Network each time so that you can pray with us at a time that works for you as families, individuals, church councils, small groups, and others. Need some prayer points to pray through now? Find the April 27 prayer guide at https://network.crcna.org/prayer/prayer-guide-synod-psalm-13

Paul’s Missionary Journeys in Greece (Oct 6-18, 2022):   Travel to biblical sites connected with Paul's missionary journeys in Greece: Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth as well as Meteora and Delphi. Included is a fabulous 3-day cruise to Mykenos, Ephesis, Patmos, Crete and Santorini. Contact Dr. Jeff Weima, Professor at Calvin Theological Seminary and leading biblical scholar at weimje@calvinseminary.edu or 616-328-3110.     

CRC NEWS:

Council of Delegates Meets: In its first in-person meeting since February 2020, the Council of Delegates (COD) made several decisions.  Click here for the full article.

Worship Ministries Releases New Video: Worship Ministries has just released the first of four professional videos under the tagline #ThisIsCRCWorship.   Click here for the full article.

Groundwork: Follow: Jesus on the Shore - The disciples’ story of meeting Jesus on the shore helps us recognize that Jesus is in the ordinary and that he’s willing to fellowship with us right where we’re at. Join Groundwork as we study John 21 to learn how keeping our focus on the resurrected Jesus and his simple command for us to follow him cultivates our faith. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Faith Practice Reflection Tip - Reflection and Discussion Starter—the Practice of Prayer: Read Psalm 130 and ponder or discuss the following questions. At what times in your life have you felt that you were in “the depths”? Were you able to pray during those times? Why or why not? The psalmist seems to experience despair and hope simultaneously. What role does hope play in our prayers—and in other parts of our faith formation? (For more on faith practices from Faith Formation Ministries, visit bit.ly/FaithPracticesProject)

Survey on Faith Formation in the Home - Faith Formation Ministries is partnering with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) on a study about how faith is being formed in homes across Canada. Their research will help our denominational ministries better serve families and churches to meet the discipleship needs and opportunities of children and youth. The survey is open through June 7, 2022. If you are a parent with children under 18 living at home, please consider participating in the EFC's parent survey: https://www.research.net/r/89XWFTB

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

Everything You Need for An Interactive Series on the Faith Practices - Want to try something new (and easy) at your church this summer? We’ve expanded the Faith Practices Project to include everything you need to plan a worship service, series, or gathering on a particular faith practice with people of all ages. Learn more at crcna.org/FaithFormation

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. Holy is the Lord
  2. God of Wonders
  3. We Fall Down
  4. Great Are You Lord
  5. Have Thine Own Way
  6. Still
  7. I Exalt Thee

Donation Requests:

NewGround - “God creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join Him in the work He does, the good work He has gotten ready for us to do - work we had better be doing” (Eph. 2:7-10, MSG). Over the years, the NewGround program of Diaconal Ministries Canada has helped over 100 churches in Canada love their communities! Yet there are still churches that don’t have the resources or expertise they need. Will you help? Your generous donations to NewGround will help even more churches discover God’s dreams for their local community and how they can join Him. We have also added a Youth Justice Project to empower the next generation of justice-seekers! Learn more about this program and donate today by visiting Diaconal Ministries Canada’s website: diaconalministries.com/newground

Bethesda’s Lend a Hand Campaign:  Is an opportunity to partner with us in this ministry. Your financial gift will help to offer families in-home support, funding assistance with special equipment & respite care, summer camps, and much more. If you would like help strengthen this ministry of service, you have three different ways of donating:

  1. mail your cheque to 2775 Emerson St, Abbotsford, V2T 4H8
  2. go line to www.BethesdaBC.com and click on Donate
  3. or, if you live in the area, feel free to drop off your donation.

Watch our Why Donate video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dqHAaCizbM

Visit our webpage at https://bethesdabc.com/lend-a-hand/ to learn more about the Lend a Hand campaign. If you have questions, please email life@BethesdaBC.com or phone us at 604-850-6604 (locally) or toll-free at 1-866-455-2231. 

Job Postings:

Now Hiring: COMMUNICATIONS & ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT (CANADA SUMMER JOBS – ABBOTSFORD, BC) – Bethesda. Join a welcoming and grace-filled office team that thrives by serving. You will be primarily contributing your creative and organizational skills to Bethesda’s communications and marketing team. Depending on your gifts and interests, you will assist with creating written and visual content, as well as coordinating organizational events and carrying out various administrative tasks. This is an 8-week summer placement at 40 hours/week from July 4 to August 26 with the potential of being extended as a casual, on-call position. Salary: $20.71/hr. *Please note that as per current provincial health orders, all Bethesda staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19*. Interested applicants may apply online at https://bethesdabc.com/careers or submit a resume, cover letter, and references to the Chief Human Resources Officer via email (careers@bethesdabc.com)  or mail (2775 Emerson Street, Abbotsford BC V2T 4H8). Applicants should reference posting #841. Deadline to apply is May 25, 2022. Full job description is available on Bethesda’s website

Now Hiring: HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER (ABBOTSFORD, BC) – Bethesda. As the human resources manager, you will join a team where the staff are dedicated to providing excellent service to the agency’s human resources. You will create a workplace that supports and empowers the human resources staff team to maintain administration systems that ensure effective and accountable operations. This is a full-time position available immediately. It is ideal for experienced leaders who have education in the field of human resources, a CPHR designation and/or significant experience in human resources with willingness to obtain additional education to qualify for the CPHR designation. Competitive salary range: $63,544 – $68,993.50. *Please note that as per current provincial health orders, all Bethesda staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19*. Interested applicants may apply online at https://bethesdabc.com/careers or submit a resume, cover letter, and references to the Chief Human Resources Officer via email (careers@bethesdabc.com)  or mail (2775 Emerson Street, Abbotsford BC V2T 4H8). Applicants should reference posting #838. Deadline to apply: until filled. Full job description is available on Bethesda’s website. 

The Banner: The May 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