Online Bulletin

The August Special Offering is for the Chaplain and Refugee Support Mobilizer ministry of Dena Nicolai. Through her work, Dena provides a ministry of presence to people who have arrived in Canada as refugees, and partners with supportive communities in extending practical and relational support to these newcomers. 

Nomination Process Update:  This Sunday, August 27th, we will completing the Nomination Process for this year by conducting the Affirmation Vote for Administrative Elders, Pastoral Elders and Deacons.  The ballots will be handed out by the Ushers prior to the service and collected after the service in the church foyer.

New Admin Elder Needed - 1

• Nominee - Christian Surniawan

New Deacon Needed - 1

• Nominee - Audrey Ravenek

New Pastoral Elders Needed - 2

• Nominees - Norm Groot & John Vanderzwaag

To view the Nomination Bios for this year, please click the link here! May God bless you as you discern on the nominees for these positions of leadership.  Thanks, The Nomination Team

Join Hearts Exchanged - Wondering how to personally move ahead on Indigenous reconciliation? Joining Hearts Exchanged might just be your next step. Hearts Exchanged, a project of the Christian Reformed Church, is designed for those who want to grow in understanding of and practices towards Indigenous people. Starting this fall, Liz Tolkamp is hosting an in-person Hearts Exchanged cohort just for Willoughby Church!  We will meet once a month for 7 - 8 months with individual self-guided online learning between cohort meetings. If you are interested in joining this cohort, contact Liz at liztolkamp@gmail.com 

Garden Sharing Table: If you have extra vegetables and fruit in your gardens, you are invited to bring them to our Garden Sharing Table located in the front hallway of the church. We will continue the sharing table through the summer months. 

Dear Brothers & Sisters of Willoughby Church: You are making a difference! On behalf of the ministries of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, thank you for your gifts to ministry shares. Your support enables congregations to do so much more to further God's Kingdom than any one church could do alone. Our denomination could not impact the world through missions, media, and church development without your incredible and faithful support. Thank you! To discover more visit crcna.org/ministryshares.

Thank You Bill!: We will be getting together as a church and community to say thank you to Pastor Bill Veenstra!! Please join us in the Fellowship Hall after the service on Sunday, August 27th for snacks and cake along with our coffee fellowship. This will be a time for fellowship and to thank Bill for being apart of our church community for all these months!! See you all there!

Umran Prayer Newsletter: We are happy to share this newsletter from our Ministry partner who we support through Resonate Global Missions.  Pursuing Spiritual and Social Transformation with the Middle Eastern Church.  Click Here to Read the Newsletter.

Re:Activate: Re:activate is a youth convention for the Reformed Churches in British Columbia, Canada and Washington, USA. TO UNITE AND INSPIRE REFORMED YOUTH TO LIVE OUT THE CALL THAT GOD HAS PLACED ON EACH OF THEM. Click Here to Read More & Register

Coffee Break:  Coffee Break, a Bible Study for women of all ages and stages of life and Story Hour and nursery care for children, ages 0-5, is ready to begin a new season! We are inviting YOU to come to our fellowship, refreshments and Registration morning at Langley Immanuel Church (21713-50 Avenue, Langley) on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Doors open at 9:15 a.m. We are beginning our study this season with a book, “Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Who We Are in Christ” Editor: Melissa Kruger “Who am I? It’s a question we all ask ourselves at some point. Depending on the season we focus our identity on our job performance, marital status, personality type, or social network, among other options. However, there’s a larger question to consider. Who does the Bible tell me I am in Christ? From the wisdom and perspective of insightful authors—including Jen Wilkin, Hannah Anderson, Trillia Newbell, and Jen Pollock Michel—we’ll seek to answer this question.” We look forward to meeting with YOU!

Pray for People Impacted by Wildfires in Canada - In the last week, wildfires have forced thousands of people from their homes in Kelowna, British Columbia and Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories (NWT) and residents of the First Nations communities of N'Dilo and Dettah. World Renew Disaster Response Services is currently monitoring the situation and response. Please pray for people who are affected by these fires and other fires that have ravaged the Canadian landscape this year: pray for the safety of families evacuating danger zones; pray for those affected by smoke inhalation; pray for weary people trying to stay safe. Pray too for military personnel and emergency crews working to stop the fires; pray for wisdom and swift action among authorities and leaders in the worst fire season on record in Canada. To help World Renew respond to disasters like this, please go to worldrenew.ca/drs to support our Disaster Response Services programs.

PUBLIC LECTURE & RESPONSE: Thursday, Sept 14 • 7–9 pm (PT) Regent College Chapel & Online - Fr John Behr, Houston Centre Fellow and Regius Professor of Humanity at the University of Aberdeen, has published the first English-language translation of Gregory of Nyssa’s classic text On the Human Image of God (De hominis opificio) since the 1800s. In this public lecture, Fr John will expound St Gregory’s anthropology and its ongoing relevance for the central question of what it means to be human. This event will take place at Regent College and will also be streamed live. Click here for full event details.

GLORIA DEI CHORALE, a Christian Community Mixed Voice Choir under the direction of Rob Workman, is excited to start singing again on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. We welcome new and former members to join the choir this fall.  If you love to sing, you've come to the right place! Rehearsals are at 7:30 pm on Wednesday nights at New Westminster Christian Reformed Church:  8255 - 13th Ave, Burnaby.  Contact Tina 604-588-6377 or Marilyn 604-290-5454 for more information.  http://www.gloriadeichorale.com/ 

Blood Donor Clinic: This month we will be hosting a Blood Donor Clinic on Tuesday, August 29th starting at 1pm. If you are able, please join in saving lives together by donating blood.  Appointments are necessary and can be booked at blood.ca.

1Life August 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 August 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:

When Love and Brokenness Collide: It’s eviction day, and the neighbors are celebrating.  Click here to read the full article.

Discerning and Desiring God's Will: To really desire God’s will requires a conversion of our hearts. Click here to read the full article.

How Does Belonging Work?: What enduring loves have held the CRC together more often than not over the past century and a half? Click here to read the full article.

Groundwork: Love: The Guiding Principle For Christian Living. - The struggle for unity is not unique to the modern church. The Apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthian Christians to make Christ-like love their guiding principle and he taught them about spiritual gifts. Join Groundwork as we study 1 Corinthians 11-13 for guidance as we too seek to worship and live well together in community. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Moving to Campus this Fall? - We’d love to help you get connected to a campus ministry community! There are over 35 CRC ministries on university and college campuses across North America, gathering students, faculty, and staff to grow together in faith as they engage God’s world. To find out if there’s a CRC ministry at your campus, please check resonateglobalmission.org/campus-ministry/partner-campus-ministries. If there’s no CRC ministry at your school, you can locate a nearby CRC here: crcna.org/church-finder. For more information about our ministries, or other info about how to grow in faith while you’re on campus, please contact us at campusministry@crcna.org

Job Postings:

Classis BCSE & BCNW Safe Church Team Ministry (SCT) supports the important ministry work done by the Christian Reformed churches in BC.  The SCT is looking to fill the position of Abuse Prevention and Response Coordinator.  This position would require on average approximately 20 hrs per week, with certain months having increased hours.  The work includes providing abuse prevention and response education and requires travel to the Christian Reformed churches in BC.  Applicants must be knowledgeable about the subject of abuse, have related work experience & education.  Start date is flexible & training for the position will be provided.  For more information/ job description, please email the SCT executive chairperson – Andrew Vanderleek - avdleek@gmail.com.

M2W2: Are you a CGA or CPA? Are you looking for part-time employment? M2W2 is seeking a part-time Financial Controller to oversee its financial record keeping and planning. If you are qualified and interested, please contact M2W2 Board Chair William Veenstra at 604-702-8564 or frogcrossing27@gmail.com

Based in Abbotsford, BC, M2W2 serves people affected by incarceration by providing opportunities for mentoring, work experience, and post-prison support. Visit m2w2.com to learn more

The Banner: The July/August 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