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The September Special Offering is for the Indigenous Ministry CRC which is made up of a national committee (Canadian Indigenous Ministry Committee), three Urban Indigenous Ministries, and a Senior Leader for Indigenous Justice, each using their strengths to support healing and reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous people in Canada. It is rooted in a recognition of our Creator’s love for all creation and in the understanding that we all have gifts to offer one another.  

Fall Sermon Series - Lessons in Jeremiah: Finding God in the Wilderness -  As a part of Israel’s Scriptures, the book of Jeremiah is a trove of treasures when it comes to learning about God’s character amid trial and grief.  Having just watched his people being sent into exile, Jeremiah was tasked with hearing, obeying, and speaking God’s words when no one wanted to listen.  He had to obey God while dealing with his grief and suffering.  He had to hear God amid the chaos around him.  He had to find God in the wilderness.

What might Jeremiah have to say to us today?  Join us on Sunday mornings as we step into the Old Testament and glean some prophetic wisdom for our own lives.

Guatemala Missions 2024: Once more we are hoping once again to have a team of 14 heading down to Guatemala to be involved with house building, wheelchair distribution, and visiting homes to get to know the people. It’s a busy week of seeing the great things God is doing in this country! If you are interested in being involved with this team, please email Al Vandenberg at al@scouttg.com  for more information about costs. Dates are Mar.2 – Mar.9th, 2024.

Youth Group: It's that time of year again and the Youth Ministry is back!! Here is the upcoming schedule for September:

  • Sept 8-10:  Re:Activate at Immanuel CRC. If you aren't registered for the whole weekend you're encouraged to join the worship on Friday & Saturday evenings! 
  • Sept 17: Welcome back! Bring your favorite snack to share with the group. Games and chat from 7-830pm.
  • Sept 24: Youth Dinner from 5-7 p.m.

Thanks! The Youth Team - Amanda, Will & Joanna

Preteens:  Preteens Youth Night is back! The new ministry year has begun and we are excited to have the children in grades 4-7 at Willoughby, meet at the Church every second Wednesday at 7:00 pm. The group is led by Brooklyn, with Jamie-Lynn & Josiah as other leaders. Their first event is on Saturday, September 23rd at the Aldergrove Waterpark from 4:00 pm-6:30 pm swim session. Preteens will be required to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the session and bring a swimsuit towel and/or anything else they would want for a day at the pool. The first official meeting is on Wednesday, October 4th at 7:00 pm. If you are interested in joining or want to know more about the program please contact Brooklyn at preteens@willoughbychurch.com.

Seniors: Come and join us on Thursday, September 14th at 10 am for a Picnic here at Willoughby Church to kick off the new ministry year! Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a time of food, fellowship, and community. Guests are always welcome! 

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 

Retirement celebration for Pastor Liz!: On Sunday, September 17 we will celebrate Pastor Liz’s 22 years of pastoral ministry at Willoughby Church. Following the service, you are invited to join in an ethnic/international potluck lunch in the fellowship hall. Bring your favorite international/ethnic dish that you love to cook, enjoy, or reminds you of your childhood. See you there!

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. 

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!

EVERY BRILLIANT THING plays Sept 6-17 at Langley’s Bez Arts 

Burnt Thicket Theatre's astonishing comedy about depression and cultivating joy is back! "You’re 7 years old. Mum’s in hospital. She finds it hard to be happy. You start making a list of everything worth living for. You leave it on her pillow. You know she’s read it because she’s corrected your spelling." 20 years and thousands of things later, the list takes on a life of its own, exploring the lengths we go to for those we love. It features Sarah Robertson, playing Sept 6-17 at Bez Arts Hub in Langley, Tickets & details are at www.bezartshub.com/events. "One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see.” —The Guardian.

Regent College: ALUMNI ELECTION RESULTS ARE IN: Congratulations to Jenna Fabiano (MDiv ’17) and Vincent Kong (DipCS ’05, MATS ’07). The two Regent alumni were recently elected and confirmed to the College's Board of Governors. "Jenna and Vincent bring important experience and valuable perspective to our shared work of pursuing the mission of Regent," says President Jeff Greenman. Read about Jenna and Vincent and the new election process that allows Regent degree-holders to recruit two new Board members every three years. Click here for the news story!

Regent College: BIBLE SATURDAY WITH RIKK WATTS • SEP 9 at 9:30 AM – 11:45 AM - While often appreciated, Ephesians tends to play "second fiddle" to Romans and Galatians. Many even question its authenticity. Join us for the first Bible Saturday of the Fall term to hear Professor Rikk Watts teach on "Ephesians: The Heart of Paul and God's Purpose for His People," and learn how it alone captures Paul's cosmic vision of what God intended through his Christ. Learn More

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 on 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 p.m. on Wednesday nights at New Westminster Christian Reformed Church:  8255 - 13th Ave, Burnaby.  Contact Tina at 604-588-6377 or Marilyn at 604-290-5454 for more information.  http://www.gloriadeichorale.com/ 

M2W2 - GALA DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION - October 2: Join us for our annual fundraiser! We’ll gather together, enjoy a delicious meal, bid on amazing silent auction items, and hear stories about how M2W2 walks with people as they overcome challenges related to incarceration. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! WWW.M2W2.COM/FUNDRAISER

Listen Up! A workshop in active empathetic listening for real-world support: Join Telecare Crisis & Caring Line on Saturday, October 14, 2023, for an engaging workshop at Columbia Bible College. Registration begins at 8:30 AM, session starts at 9:00 AM. Continental breakfast included. Cost: $40 for Early Bird Registration through Sept 22, 2023. $50 for registrations from Sept 23 through October 14, 2023, and at the event site. Early registration is encouraged. Students: $25 for Early Bird Registration through Sept 22, 2023. $30 for registrations from Sept 23 through October 14, 2023, and at the event site. This event is for staff and volunteers in churches who use relational listening skills to build up the body of Christ in various contexts. Eventbrite Registration here

Tour the Biblical Lands of Israel - February 26 – March 8, 2024. Experience a refreshing renewal of your faith, and gain a deeper understanding of the Bible, as you tour the biblical lands with teaching host, Pastor Peter Tuininga, and Sindbad Tours of Israel. See many of the biblical places (Jerusalem, Galilee, Caesarea, Jericho, and much more), and gain spiritual and historical insights that will make the Bible come alive for you. For complete information, cost, and registration, go to the website: toursofisrael.wordpress.com or call Peter Tuininga: 1 289 877-8433 or e-mail: peter.tuininga@gmail.com

1Life September Newsletter: 1Life exists to curate a curriculum of resources that equips individuals and congregations to become increasingly whole-hearted, vibrant communities of Christian worship, discipline & mission. Click here for the September 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:

Building to Be Sold: The U.S. ministry board of the CRCNA voted this week to put the denominational office building at 1700 28th Street SE in Grand Rapids, Mich., up for sale.   Click here to read the full article.

Not Every Decision Requires Separating: After the discernment and decision-making, plan to announce the decision in a way that helps people stay engaged.  Click here to read the full article.

Groundwork: When Our Faith Defines Our Character - Daniel knew what it was like to live in a cultural context that was not welcoming to his faith practice. Join Groundwork as we study Daniel 1. Together we’ll discuss the challenges he faced and witness what God can do when we let our faith and not our context define our character. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

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 hours 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 and have related work experience & education.  The 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.

The Banner: The September 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 donating. 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