Online Bulletin

April Special Offering:  *This is the last Sunday to give to the Special Offering* The special offering for April is the Willoughby Church Refugee Sponsorship Fund.  Willoughby has successfully helped to settle 11 families over the past 10 years. We are expecting 2 newcomers this year who will be co-sponsored by their families. And we are looking forward to welcoming 2 new families in the next few years. Over the upcoming weeks, we will hear from our Refugee Sponsorship Team, celebrating past sponsored newcomers and presenting information about upcoming individuals and families. As always, we are grateful for the generous support that the Willoughby church community has provided for refugees who are seeking a new, safe home country and pray for continued generosity. 

Volunteers Needed: Do you want to serve??  We need volunteers for all areas of the church. If you are interested in being involved in any way including on tech teams, greeting, or in hospitality.  Please see Tamara or email tamara@willoughbychurch.com, thanks!!

Youth Group (Grades 8-12):  Here is the April Youth Group Schedule! 

• April 2 -  Bible Study at Willoughby from 7 pm to 8:30 pm with Will & Joanna
• April 9 -  Easter Sunday - No Youth
• April 16 - Lazer Tag 7 to 830 - bring $10 & a water bottle!
• April 23 -  Bible Study at Willoughby from 7 to 8:30pm with Will & Joanna
• April 30 -  Youth Dinner 5 pm to 7 pm at Willoughby

Women's Bible Study: The following are all the sessions offered at the church for Women's Bible Study, please feel free to join any session at any time.  All are welcome!

• Friday, May 5, at 2:00pm, studying Daniel 5. (Time has changed for this Friday only!)

Guess Who's Coming to Lunch: This Sunday, April 30th following the worship service. You will receive an email prior to April 30, with the address where you will have lunch or how many you will be hosting!  Hope you all enjoy your lunch and building community!  If you have signed up and haven't received an email by Friday, please contact Rose at rose.scholtens@gmail.com.

Hearts Exchanged Cohort: Hearts Exchanged cohort meets on Sunday, April 30, from 5:00 - 6:30 pm. This month we will discuss Session 6: Turning to Right Relationships. In this session, we will continue learning about the long history of prophetic self-determination for Indigenous rights, how to live well together, and reflect on treaties as a sacred foundation for shared sovereignty and mutual respect. 

Langley Ukulele Spring Concert: On Saturday, May 6th the Langley Ukulele Association is presenting their Spring Concert here at Willoughby Church, concert starts at 7:00pm.  Come support Ryan Scott as he plays in the Ensemble!!  Tickets are $8.00 and they are available at the door or from Tracy or Ryan Scott. 

Community Meal Share Program: Are you tired of meal prep? Or have extras to give? The community meal share is a way for each of us to bless and be blessed by our community on a regular basis with culinary delights. On Sundays, and throughout the week, during office hours the church will be open for meals to be dropped off or taken home whenever is convenient for you. This is not charity, it's just community. Grab a meal for no other reason than you want to, or you're having a busy week. Bring a meal just because you had leftovers! Swap a meal if you're dropping off and another meal looks good! Labels to provide the date and any common allergens will be provided, and there will be a space in the freezer for the meals. 

Coffee Break, a Bible Study for women of all ages along with Story Hour and nursery care for children, ages 0-5 meeting at Langley Immanuel Church will continue meeting Tuesdays with some relaxed morning fellowship/studies until May 9, 2023 our closing social morning for this season. We invite everyone who attended this past season to join us, bring a friend and/or neighbour to these sessions as we look forward to another Coffee Break season in the fall.   For more details please connect with Elsa at coffeebreak@licrc.ca or Rose at coffeebreak@willoughbychurch.com 

1Life Learning Hub Conference w/ Andrew Root - Join us Friday, May 12 through Sunday, May 14 for a 1Life Learning Hub Conference w/ Andrew Root, Will there be Faith? Following Christ in a secular age. Author & cultural critic Andrew Root (Luther Seminary) and jazz musician Mark Glanville (Regent College) will unpack Jesus’ big question at the first-ever 1Life Foundations conference at Fleetwood CRC in Surrey. For more info or to sign up, see crc1life.ca. Sign up for the whole conference or for single events.

CLAYBURN COLLECTIVE | SPRING ARTISAN MARKET Mark your calendars for Mother’s Day weekend as Living Hope CRC is hosting a Spring Artisan Market! Dates: Friday, May 12 | 5pm-9pm & Saturday, May 13 | 10am-2pm  Location: 34631 Old Clayburn Road, Abbotsford 

SUMMER HOMESTAY OPPORTUNITY ~ Langley Christian School is excited to be welcoming Grade 9/10 students from Japan to our community this summer and we are looking for families to host students in their home. Here are the details for this summer’s program:

Dates: August 2-14

Activities: Mon - Fri. students will be on-campus from approximately 8:45 am to 4:30 or 5:00 pm. ELL classes generally take place in the morning and the afternoons are reserved for sightseeing. Host families are encouraged to take opportunities outside those times to introduce their student(s) to Canadian culture.

Remuneration: Students are housed 2 per household (required). They can share ONE bedroom with two beds or be placed in separate bedrooms. The fee for hosting two students is $1320.00 for the duration of the visit. Host families are responsible for providing daily transportation to and from school, three nutritious meals per day (and snacks) as well as a comfortable bedroom with a bed, dresser/closet, desk and a working window.

The Homestay Application Form can be found on the International Program page (found in Programs tab) of the Langley Christian School website or by following this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfa08MYBs3D0NlHlYgGa_dZF0XSfSm7HTvhej9DMxF5pjCwJA/viewform

We look forward to hearing from you!

Pray for Synod 2023 - Join believers across the denomination for 40 days of prayer in preparation for Synod 2023. Beginning on April 30 and concluding on June 8, 2023, each day readers will receive a Bible text, a prayer, and some suggested questions for reflection or conversation. All of the prayers are intended to reflect the theme of Synod 2023: Longing to be Like Christ, which is based on Philippians 2:1-11, summarized by verse 5: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” Learn more and sign up at www.crcna.org/longing-to-be-like-christ

Student Fund Committee Classis BCSE: Students intending to go into ordained ministry in the Christian Reformed Church may apply for financial support after their undergraduate studies are completed and they qualify for entry at Calvin Seminary or a comparable institution recognized by Classis. Applicants need to receive an endorsement of their home church. Contact licrc.pvanhuizen@shaw.ca for an application form and funding criteria. (Deadline May 31, 2023) 

1Life May 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 May 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!

CRC NEWS:

Hurricane Response Ends: After 5 ½ years, including delays caused by COVID-19, World Renew has wrapped up its response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.  Click here for the full article.

Providing a Lifeline to Hurting Churches: Specialized transitional ministers met recently to support each other in their work of serving congregations facing challenges.  Click here for the full article.

Hope and Heartbreak at the US-Mexico Border: I won’t sugarcoat it; this is a humanitarian crisis. Click here for the full article.

Groundwork: Believe: Jesus and the Disciples - Studying Jesus’ first appearance to his disciples and later his appearance to Thomas offers us encouragement for our faith even when believing in Jesus isn’t easy. Join our Groundwork conversation as we study John 20:19-31 to learn why belief in Jesus is a lifestyle, not a one time event, and why Jesus’ promises to his disciples give us hope yet today. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Donation Opportunities:

NewGround Sunday - It's NewGround Sunday next week! NewGround is a program of Diaconal Ministries that helps churches love their communities and the people in them. (Some may remember it as Operation Manna!) For the last 40 years, NewGround has helped over 100 churches establish or grow community ministries right in their own backyard - to grow deep roots into their cities and neighbourhoods. What sets this program apart is that it aims to create healthy, sustainable ministries that will be around for years to come. Will you help us help even more churches grow God's kingdom in new and exciting ways? Learn more about this program and donate today by visiting Diaconal Ministries Canada’s website: diaconalministries.com/newground

Help End the Injustices that Prevent Women from Flourishing - In two weeks, churches across Canada will celebrate the amazing women in our lives who help our families and communities flourish. Around the world, women and girls are often denied basic rights. Many are not allowed to attend school or pursue employment. Others are subjected to early childhood marriage or to mental or physical abuse. World Renew asks you to join us in supporting vulnerable women by donating gifts to the Women of Hope offering on Sunday, May 14th, 2023. To download our church resources, visit: worldrenew.ca/womenofhope

The Banner’s Counting On You! - Please support the award-winning, journalistic ministry of the CRC by donating online today. $500,000 is needed every year to keep The Banner going. The more money we are able to raise, the less we need to draw on ministry shares, releasing those funds for other ministries in the CRCNA. Give now at: TheBanner.org/Give

Your Gift to Resonate Will Go Twice as Far - As we celebrate our Savior who is the Resurrection and the Life, let’s go out with joy in our hearts to join God’s mission! This Easter, you can help Christian Reformed church planters, missionaries, and campus ministers live out the good news by making a gift to Resonate while your gift will go twice as far! Find out how at www.resonateglobalmission.org/Double!

Job Postings:

Campus Chaplain Position:   The Campus Ministry in Prince George BC has an opening. If you have an interest, information is available at: https://network.crcna.org/job/campus-minister-unbc-prince-george-british-columbia-0 

Love horses, camp ministry and want a change of scene? Camp Homewood located on 200 acres of stunning property on Quadra Island is looking for a year round Barn and Horse Manager. More details can be found here. 

Camp Homewood is also looking for a Red Seal Chef to join the team onsite, year round as a Food Service Manager. Besides the stunning location and  great staff we have a brand new dining room and state of the art professional kitchen! More details can be found here. 

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

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