Online Bulletin
November Special Offering: World Renew - World Hunger: Due to conflict, climate change, and current economic crises, as many as 828 million people do not know where their next meal will come from. While the scale of the current global hunger crisis feels enormous, your gifts will help hungry families to plant, grow, and harvest enough food. Help World Renew change the story of hunger for good.
When you give to end world hunger, you are giving families around the world access to essential tools and in-depth training in sustainable, climate-adaptive farming. With your gift, you not only provide families with nourishment—but also with the opportunity to educate their children, start new businesses, and save for the future. With enough food, families can thrive.
Together let our hunger for good inspire action. And today, let the action start with you. You are invited to donate to this worthy cause via the offering or click here to give through the Tithley website. (World Renew - World Hunger)
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 schedule for the end of October & November:
- October 29: Youth Pumpkin Carving at Willoughby 7 to 830 pm.
- Nov 5: Study with Will & Joanna 7 to 830 pm.
- Nov 12: No Youth - Remembrance Day Weekend
- Nov 19: Youth Dinner 5 to 7 pm at Willoughby
- Nov 26: Ice Skating! Meet at the George Preston Arena at 415 (pre-registration required)
Thanks! The Youth Team - Amanda, Will & Joanna
URGENT NEED: Covenant Kids Christian Daycare (CKCD) is in urgent need of a staff member who is also able to drive the (24-passenger) bus before and after school. We are looking for someone with an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) certificate who also has a Class 4 Driver's License. If you know of anyone who may be interested in this position, you are encouraged to pass this information on. Joni Garratt, the CKCD Director, can be contacted at 604-530-5619 or at joni@willoughbychurch.com. Anyone with a Class 4 Driver's License who doesn't have an ECE Certificate and is interested in a part-time small bus driving position, is also encouraged to apply.
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
Women's Connect Social: Will be having an event on Saturday, November 18 at 10:00 am. The Christmas Season is coming upon us! Invite someone to join us and help us get into the festivities! Cost to get in? A wrapped unused item in good condition that you have at home and no longer need. (We don’t want you to go out and purchase something) Remember it must be wrapped! We are looking forward to a morning of fun as we enjoy each other’s company. The sign-up table will be in the foyer. Contact Marlene DeRover or Kim Purdy if you have questions.
Guess Who's Coming to Lunch: Sunday, November 19 following the worship service. To sign up, you can pick up a card in the foyer after the services on November 5 & 12. Guests bring the dessert and Hosts prepare the lunch. Please fill it out and hand it to Rose or Tamara by November 12. You will receive an email before November 19, with the address where you will have lunch or how many you will be hosting! Hope you all join in to build our community here at the church and make new friends!!
Church Network for Refugee Welcome: Join Dena Nicolai (Chaplain and Refugee Support Mobilizer) and others involved in welcoming refugees on Saturday, November 4 from 9:30 am - 11:30 am at Tenth Church (11 W 10th Ave, Vancouver) to learn, listen, share, and collaborate with those currently working alongside refugees resettling in Canada or those looking to get involved. This event is free but we ask you to register so we have a sense of numbers. You can do so by clicking here.
Langley First Capital Chorus: Welcome to our Remembrance Day Tribute, honoring our heroes, remembering their achievements, their courage, and their dedication. The theme for this year is "It's Been a Long, Long, Time", hearkening memories of the emotions when forces returned home from the field of duty. This is our Thank You to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces. This year, we are excited to include the Langley Ukulele Ensemble as our featured guest, on Thursday, November 9 at 7 pm at Willoughby Christian Reformed Church. Tickets are $25.00 and available on Eventbrite - click here to purchase!
Church Disability and Accessibility Training: November 18, 2023 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (Pacific) via Zoom FREE Virtual Event hosted by Thrive and Disability Concerns RCA. Join us for this informative and interactive Zoom workshop led by Lindsay Wieland Capel, Thrive's Disability Consultant. The workshop will provide an overview of the disability words and concepts you should know and provide ideas to help your church be more welcoming and accessible for people with disabilities. Join us as we discuss essential insights for all churches, pastors, and ministry leaders as we seek to live into our motto: "Everybody Belongs, Everybody Serves!" Click here for more information and to register.
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 am to 1 pm 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.
HEALTHCARE & THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: FREE WEBINAR AND Q&A Thursday, November 23, 2023
11 am – 12 pm. What features define human life? How do individuals and communities understand and withstand suffering and pain? What is good about dying? In our time, these essential human questions are often viewed primarily as bioethics issues. In reality, these are not exclusively medical or bioethical inquiries. Rather, they are questions that all human individuals and societies ultimately wrestle with. Dr. Quentin Genuis is an Emergency Physician at St. Paul's Hospital and a Physician Ethicist for Providence Health Care. Join us on Zoom for a one-hour webinar as Quentin introduces these topics and previews his upcoming course, Healthcare & the Christian Life.
The Gloria Dei Chorale, under the direction of Rob Workman, is pleased to present “CELEBRATE the MUSIC of LIFE” on Saturday, November 25 at 7:00 pm at New Westminster Christian Reformed Church, 8255 – 13th Ave, Burnaby, BC. Tickets: $25, 11 and Under Free, available from members, at the door and on Eventbrite.ca. Contact Tina at 604-588-6377 or Elaine at 604-271-0283 for more information.
With the Fall season comes preparations for Christmas at Sea. This year the Ministry to Seafarers will again be delivering Christmas gifts for seafarers. Your donations for this project can be made by cheque payable to Ministry to Seafarers, and mailed to 401 E Waterfront Rd, Vancouver, BC V6A 4G9. You can also make donations online via our website, ministrytoseafarers.com. Please designate gifts for "Christmas at Sea." Thank You! For more information or to view our Fall Newsletter, please click here!
All Saints Community Church: Their Christian family is on a mission to save the last existing church in Cresent Beach, Surrey. Christians have been worshipping there since 1946. The building needs repairs, so if you are interested in helping out this community. Please visit www.allsaintswhiterock.com for more details.
Paul’s Missionary Journeys in Greece (May 31 - June 11, 2024): Travel by motor coach (7 days) and cruise ship (3 days) to sites connected with Paul’s second and third missionary journeys, as well as visit other major sites of biblical, archaeological, and cultural interest. Jeff Weima, professor at Calvin Theological Seminary and leading Pauline scholar, hosts this inspirational tour. For more information, contact Dr. Weima at 616-328-3110 or weimje@calvinseminary.edu.
Let’s Answer God’s Call to Feed the Hungry - Around the world, human conflict and extreme weather are pushing more and more families into a food crisis. There is an urgency to answer God’s call to feed the hungry, now more than ever. Today, World Hunger Sunday, through our gifts and offerings, we can walk alongside World Renew to equip communities with the training and tools they need to achieve food security. To learn more, go to: www.worldrenew.ca/worldhunger
1Life November 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 November 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:
The Network: You Quiet My Soul - Sometimes we need to move away from the bustle of the world to better hear God’s voice. Click here to read the full article.
Servant Leadership: Generation Spark - Mentors and mentees came together for three days of storytelling, training, and discussion on how best to create friendships between generations. Click here to read the full article.
Groundwork: The Spirit in Us - The power of the gospel is life-changing and the apostle Paul wants believers to understand that truth. Join Groundwork as we study Paul’s teaching in Romans 8 to gain a better understanding of what it means for us to be IN CHRIST, be encouraged that we’re not alone in this new life but have the help of the Holy Spirit, and receive the assurance that nothing can separate us from Jesus Christ. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - A grateful heart overflows in generosity. How might your gratitude for God’s good gifts overflow to bless your neighbor? If you’re grateful for the gift of good food, for example, how might that spur you on to help make sure your community is fed? If you’re grateful for your family, how might you extend a sense of love and belonging to others? Learn more at crcna.org/FaithPracticesProject
Job Postings:
Job Opening: Abuse Prevention and Response Coordinator: Classis BCSE & BCNW Safe Church Team Ministry (SCT) supports the important ministry work done by the Christian Reformed churches in BC. The SCT is in the process of succession planning and is looking for someone to succeed our current Abuse Prevention and Response Coordinator who is looking ahead to retirement. 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 and have related work experience & education. The start date is flexible & training for the position will be provided. For more information/ job description, please see this job posting, and email the SCT executive chairperson – Andrew Van der Leek - avdleek@gmail.com.
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