Online Bulletin
October Special Offering: The local Langley Foodbank is the focus of our giving for October. The Langley Food Bank is a not-for-profit organization and is funded entirely through the support of local churches, organizations, and individuals. With the rise of inflation rates and increased cost of food, the food bank is being utilized more and more by families in need. You have a few options for giving: Food/grocery items; grocery bags with a list of food items to purchase (3 of an item, 2 of an item, and 1 of an item) for the Langley Food Bank are available in the church lobby. Return the filled grocery bags to either of our Thanksgiving weekend services or drop them by the church office at your convenience. As well you are also invited to donate through the offering plate on Sunday mornings or by clicking here to give through Tithley (Langley Food Bank). Please give generously to this great cause!
Guatemala Missions 2024: Once again, we hope 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 is a busy week of seeing the great things God is doing in this country! If you are interested in being involved with this team and for more information about costs, please email Al Vandenberg at al@scouttg.com. Dates are March 2 – 9, 2024.
Youth Group: Here is the upcoming schedule for October:
- October 1:Bible Study at Willoughby with Will & Joanna 7-8:30pm.
- October 8: NO Youth - Happy Thanksgiving!!!
- October 15: Bible Study at Willoughby with Will & Joanna 7-8:30 pm
- October 20: Friday Night Special Event - BC Lions Game!!
- October 22: Youth Dinner at Willoughby 5-7 pm
- October 29: Youth Pumpkin Carving at Willoughby 7-8:30 pm.
Thanks! The Youth Team - Amanda, Will & Joanna
Thanksgiving Service: On Monday, October 9 at 10:00 am please join us for our Thanksgiving Service here at Willoughby Church!
Thank You: We would like to thank all of you for your singing, and the beautiful card with all the birthday wishes, thoughts, and prayers for mom's 100th birthday. She was very grateful for it all! Johanna de Blieck and family.
Connect Course: We are pleased to be offering our Connect Course for new members here at Willoughby Church. There will be three sessions, on October 22, 29 & November 5. All three courses are in person and will be after the Sunday morning service in the Fireside Room. Lunch will be provided and we hope to see you all there. If you would like to register for the course, please click here! Any questions, please contact me or Pastor Jenna! Thanks, Tamara
Young Adults Hosting: The young adults would love to continue to have their weekly meetings at church member's households. If you would like to have (or have again) around 7-10 young adults meet at your house for dinner and devotions one Monday, please sign up this Sunday after the service using the form in the lobby or contact Jilise. Thank you again to all who have so graciously hosted previously!
Hope Community Church: Will be hosting an evening event All of Life with Pastor Mary-Lee Bouma join her for a conversation on sexuality and the Bible and what it looks like to follow Jesus with our bodies. Mary-Lee Bouma was one of the people who helped write the Human Sexuality Report, specifically how the Scriptures address same-sex relationships. The event is taking place on Friday, October 20. Doors open at 7:00 pm so we can enjoy charcuterie, wine, and music. The interview will begin at 7:30 pm.
Tickets are free, but registration is required. Please click here to register.
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.
Trauma Informed Response in the Church: Monday, Oct 23, 2023 @ Fleetwood CRC – 2 options – 12:30-3 pm OR 6:30-9 pm. On average 2 of 5 congregants have experienced trauma. Trauma is a wound of the heart and mind that causes suffering. Our churches can become safe places to process & heal from trauma when leaders are equipped to support those whom God puts in our paths and churches. Come learn about trauma, what the Bible says about trauma, recognize symptoms in self & others, gain an understanding of the 3 most common ways trauma presents itself, & respond in nonharmful/practical ways. Facilitated in partnership by Stacey Stolte (program lead-Bible based Trauma Healing - Canadian Bible Society) & Faye Martin (Abuse Prevention & Response Coordinator - BC CRC Safe Church Ministry) INFO & REGISTER FREE @ www.bcsafechurch.com
Telecare Crisis & Caring Line, a Christian ministry, is hosting Listen Up!, a workshop on supportive listening. October 14, 2023, 8:30-12:30, continental breakfast included, in Abbotsford. Go here to register. For church staff and volunteers working with youth, elders, care groups, and anywhere listening well counts.
MATT MAHER IN CONCERT • OCT 18: You're invited to an unforgettable evening of live music at The Centre for the Performing Arts in Vancouver with Grammy-nominated artist Matt Maher and special guests Jon and Valerie Guerra. Presented by Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, this event will feature original music and selections from the new album by The Porter's Gate, Sanctuary Songs. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about and support the vital work of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. For Info & Tickets click here.
Trends in Youth and Emerging Adults Ministry: On Saturday, November 18, a workshop addressing the topic of Faith Formation Trends in Youth and Emerging Adults Ministry will be held at Gateway CRC in Abbotsford from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lunch is included. All Youth Pastors, Youth Leaders, Parents, Elders, Pastors, and, honestly, anyone interested in this topic is welcome to come out! It will be led by Ron DeVries (Youth and Emerging Adult Ministry Consultant for the CRCNA) and Kevin Lobert (longtime Youth Pastor at Langley Immanuel CRC and member of the Classis BCSE Youth Ministry Task Force). This workshop will focus on current trends happening in youth/emerging adult culture, and how the church can best learn, serve, and minister to this demographic in our congregations. Cost is $20 per person. Please click here to register.
Advocate Life & Education Services invites you to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hope for Women at the 9th Annual Celebrate Life Gala on Thursday, November 2nd at 7 pm. We are thrilled to welcome David Bereit, founder of the global 40 Days for Life movement that has saved 14,643 children’s lives and mobilized 750,000 volunteers in 700+ cities. We’ve got 161 reasons to celebrate! Sponsor a table or reserve your spot for FREE in General Seating. Visit celebratelifegala.ca or call 604-852-4623 x26.
Nurturing Belonging: Exploring Hospitality, Disability, and Theology - We believe that all people are created in the image of God and that each person is essential. Yet, when it comes to hospitality and belonging for people with disabilities, our congregations often don’t reflect what we believe. Join us online on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, from 1:30 to 6 p.m. (Eastern) to learn about how to nurture belonging. This event is virtual and free of charge. To register go to: https://www.crcna.org/disability/events
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
Saturday, October 21st, 7:00 pm. Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, Abbotsford. YOUNG ARTISTS concert features talented youth from the Fraser Valley accompanied by a professional orchestra along with members of the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra. Calvin Dyck, Conductor. Tickets are online (calvindyck.com or Eventbrite).
Giving Thanks with our Offerings - As we give thanks to God this weekend, we are grateful for mothers in the village of Ka Chi in Laos who are receiving medical support through World Renew from community health volunteers for prenatal check-ups, nutritional training, and preventative care. With your support in today’s offering, more families will be able to participate in the Free A Family® program and receive the training and tools they need to journey away from poverty. For more information, visit worldrenew.ca/FreeAFamily.
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
Fill a vital role with World Renew DRS! - Want to escape to some warmer weather in the upcoming months? Fill a vital role with World Renew Disaster Response Services! Join an Unmet Needs Assessment in Fort Myers, Florida, from October 14 - 28, or volunteer on a reconstruction team in Boutte, Louisiana, from November 25 - December 16, and throughout the spring! Contact Diana at dmarquez@worldrenew.net to get started.
1Life October 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 October 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:
Orchid Theology: God himself is beauty, and God creates beautiful things. Click here to read the full article.
Connecting and Resourcing for Safer Churches: Carolyn, Natasha, and Abby are starting their roles as class-safe church coordinators by connecting to churches. Click here to read the full article.
Groundwork: Trusting God When Evil Abounds - Unfair realities are part of life. But when those circumstances threaten our way of life, it can be tempting to compromise our beliefs and values to preserve ourselves. Join Groundwork as we study the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den in Daniel 6 to give us the courage to trust God even when evil seems to be winning. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Revelation: A Comfort for Believers - Groundwork has a new Bible study ebook and podcast, called “Revelation: A Comfort for Believers.” It’s a six-episode series that answers some of our biggest questions about the Book of Revelation. It's great for personal or group study. Get it when you subscribe to Groundwork at groundworkonline.com/revelation.
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 - at avdleek@gmail.com.
Resonate Global Mission - Position Openings - The Christian Reformed Church in North America has the following agency/ministry position openings in the US and/or Canada: Part-time (20hrs/wk) Administrative Specialist in Grand Rapids, MI; and two ( 2) Full-time Mission Team Leader for South & South East Asia and East Asia. For details, deadlines or to apply visit www.crcna.org/jobs.
The Banner: The October 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