Online Bulletin
ABBA Canada: The Special Offering for February is for ABBA Canada. ABBA Canada provides financial assistance and support to Canadian Christian families wanting to grow their family through domestic or international adoption. Although not every Christian will adopt, ABBA believes every Christian is called to play a part in caring for the orphan. By providing adoption grants, we help ease the economic burden so more children can be adopted into Christ-loving families. Since 2011, ABBA Canada has provided $650,000 in adoption grants to over 150 deserving Canadian Christian families. 100% of all donations to ABBA Canada help fund a Canadian family’s adoption without deducting administration costs. Our dream is for every believer to be engaged with helping these vulnerable children.
Have you been heard? Our congregation has a once-in-five-year opportunity to participate in the 2023 CRC denominational survey. This survey helps denominational leadership understand the concerns and needs of local congregations like ours. It is crucial that as many people from our congregation as possible participate. Please visit crcna.org/survey/1059 to answer the survey questions by March 31.
Today Devotional - We are excited to announce that Pastor Jenna Fabiano has written the devotionals for the month of February in the Today publications. Please pick up a copy in the lobby or you can go to the website by clicking here.
Umran Prayer Newsletter: We are happy to share this Newsletter from our Ministry partner Naji Umran who we support here at Willoughby through Resonate Global Missions. Pursuing Spiritual and Socail Transformation with the Middle Eastern Church. click here to read the newsletter.
Youth Group (Grades 8-12): Here is the February Youth Group Schedule!
- February 5 - Bible Study with Will & Joanna @ Willoughby - 7pm
- February 12 - 20:20 @ Immanuel - Noon - 2pm
- February 19 - NO YOUTH GROUP - Family Day Weekend
- February 26 - Youth Dinner @ Willoughby - 5-7pm
Women's Reconnect Social - Come join us Saturday, February 25 9:30am- 12pm for some easy card making while enjoying connecting with each other. Invite a friend to join us too! Refreshments will be provided. Childcare will be available. Just let us know in advance. The sign up sheet will be in the foyer after the service or contact Marlene 604-312-4463 or Nancy (604) 418-4409.
Learning How to Grow Restorative Churches Mar 31 – April 1, 2023 8:30am – 4:30 pm Langley Willoughby CRC. This 2 day training will introduce participants to FaithCARE’s framework & vision for restorative congregations. Participants will learn how to design and facilitate proactive listening circles for a variety of topics and occasions, incorporate restorative practices into interpersonal relationships, ministry groups, congregational life & discernment, leadership meetings etc. Tools are given to help restore or make right where harm and wrong has occurred. The training supports churches to become restorative culture congregations which can help to both reduce & address conflict in healthy ways. More INFO & to REGISTER: Restorative Congregations BC Registration is limited to 25 people
Coffee Break: A Bible Study for women of all ages and stages of life and Story Hour for children, ages 3-5 continues at Langley Immanuel Church every Tuesday, with a study by Nancy Guthrie, “The Word of the Lord-Seeing Jesus in the Prophets”. Doors open at 9:15 a.m. You are welcome to come and join us for the first time! We look forward to seeing all of you again! For more details contact Elsa at coffeebreak@licrc.ca or Rose at coffeebreak@willoughbychurch.com
Music for a Winter's Night: Join Calvin Dyck and the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra on Saturday, February 25th at 7pm for “Music for a Winter’s Night” - a 75-minute concert featuring some of your favourites including Bach’s Air, a Vivaldi Concerto for Four Violins, and a recently discovered “Gloria” by Handel featuring Soprano Alison Nystrom. Concert will take place at Calvin Presbyterian Church (33911 Hazelwood Ave) in Abbotsford. Ticket prices are $22 (Adults); $20 (Seniors - 65+); $10 (Students) - plus tax/fee. Tickets available on Eventbrite only.
Leading Bible Discovery Workshop: Are you leading a Coffee Break or other Bible study group, or interested in becoming a leader? The Bible Discovery Workshop focuses on a conversational style of Bible study, asking questions to help participants discover what the Bible says and means. Discover Your Bible resources have been used by Coffee Break groups and others, and are helpful for seekers as well as seasoned Christians. Marian Lensink of Global Coffee Break will be leading an online workshop for all small group and Bible study leaders on Thurs. Feb. 16 & Thurs. Feb. 23, 7:00pm - 9:00pm. Cost $30/person, materials included. Registration is required to receive your materials and the zoom link. Please register at https://globalcoffeebreak.org/events
1Life February Newsletter: 1Life exists to curate a curriculum of resources that equips individuals and congregations to become increasingly whole-hearted, vibrant communities of Christian worship, discipling & mission. Click here for the February newsletter.
Do Justice - Justice Prayers: Do Justice is a conversation space for justice in the Christian Reformed Church, from the Office of Social Justice. Justice Prayers is a weekly post addressing justice issues from around the world. Click here to pray and read more!
Biblical Study Tour to Italy (May 22 - June 2, 2023): Visit the Vatican with its Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Cathedral; the impressive monuments of ancient Rome; Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius; Assisi (home of St. Francis); Florence; Ravenna; and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. Join Jeff Weima, professor at Calvin Theological Seminary and leading biblical scholar, for this inspirational tour. Contact Dr. Weima at weimje@calvinseminary.edu or 616-328-3110.
CRC NEWS:
1. Earthquake Rocks Türkiye and Syria: In the early hours of Feb. 6 a magnitude 7.8 earthquake rocked Türkiye and Syria. World Renew is responding. Click here for the full article.
2. 2023 Denominational Survey Opens: Members of the CRCNA are invited to participate in the annual denominational survey, which is now open. Click here for the full article.
3. Church Explores Worship Planning: Clinton (Ont.) CRC recently held a meeting to explore how they plan worship and what could be done to improve it. Click here for the full article.
Groundwork: Seeing Jesus Christ in Heaven - The Bible’s final book of Revelation has long been a source of mystery to Christians across the ages. Join our Groundwork conversation as we study Revelation 1 to examine the opening images of John’s heavenly vision and discuss the comfort it offers believers still today. Listen now at Groundworkonline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
At-Home Family Faith Formation Tip - Rain For Roots is a collective of songwriters that includes Sandra McCracken, Katy Bowser, Ellie Holcomb, and Flo Paris. They came together around a single vision: to make new Scripture songs for children, centered around the poetry of Sally Lloyd-Jones (author of The Jesus Storybook Bible). Inspired by traditional folk melodies, Rain for Roots makes new, timeless songs about the old gospel Story. Check them out at RainforRoots.com. (Tip from Faith Formation; bit.ly/CRCFaithFormation)
Position Opening: Director of Advancement (Canada) - Join the CRCNA staff team to provide leadership in strategic planning for the ministry share program, church and donor engagement, grants and planned giving, and other means of supporting the dynamic ministries of the Christian Reformed Church. This full-time position can be remote within Canada. For details and to apply, go to https://crcna.pinpointhq.com/en/jobs/81800
Share Christ’s Hope with Syria/Türkiye Earthquake Survivors - On Monday, February 6, 2023, two major earthquakes rocked Syria and Türkiye (Turkey) killing at least 11,000 people and leaving thousands more injured. And as rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings, the death toll is expected to rise. In hard-hit northern Syria, a region heavily populated by refugee families who had already been struggling with food insecurity, an ongoing cholera outbreak, and the challenges of sub-zero winter weather, there is an urgent need for humanitarian aid. Through your gifts to World Renew, you can help provide emergency food and essentials and share Christ’s hope with the most vulnerable people impacted by this disaster. Please give generously today at worldrenew.ca/syria-earthquake or call 888-975-3769.
The Banner: The February 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
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