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 November & December:
- Nov 12: No Youth - Remembrance Day Weekend
- Nov 19: Youth Dinner 5 to 7pm at Willoughby
- Nov 26: Ice Skating! Meet at George Preston Arena at 4:15pm (pre-registration required)
- Dec 3: Study with Will & Joanna 7 to 83pm at Willoughby
- Dec 10: Cookie Decorating with Young Adults 3 to 5pm (@ Ravensbergen's 20945 50a Ave)
- Dec 17: Christmas Party at the Scott's 6 to 830pm. (5028 200B st) Please let your leaders know what appy you can bring! Also bring a wrapped $15 gift for a gift exchange.
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.
Thank You: Willie and the Vanderhoek family extend a thank you to all who attended and helped at Ted's funeral. They are very grateful for all the beautiful cards, flowers and support received by the Willoughby Church Family & Langley Community.
Preteens: Preteens are meeting Wednesday, November 15 @ 7:00pm! Preteens is for children in grades 4-7 they meet at the Church every second Wednesday at 7:00pm. The group is lead by Brooklyn, with Jamie-Lynn & Josiah as other leaders! 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 November 16 at 10 am, we will be getting together for a time of fellowship and refreshments as well as enjoying a guest speaker. Evert Van Steenbergen will be sharing about his 24 years in China and the challenges for Chinese Christians today. Despite much opposition, the church in China is thriving. Evert returned to Canada last year and works for Far East Broadcasting, a media ministry that brings the gospel to places around the world where missionaries cannot go. Everyone is welcome!
Women's Bible Study: The Friday Women's Bible Study meet weekly on Friday's, from 2-3 pm in the Fireside Room. This time we will study Ephesians 2:1-10. All are welcome!
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!!
Blood Donor Clinic: This month we will be hosting a Blood Donor Clinic on Tuesday, November 21 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.
Peter Fish: Help fill our Peter Fish with coins! The Sonlife kids are hosting a "Cookies for Kids" to support World Renew on Sunday, November 26, following the worship service. Bring your loose coins and trade them for delicious cookies brought by the children. All proceeds will go to the World Renew campaign to fight world hunger. Blessings, Sonlife Children!
Congregational Meeting: There will be a Semi - Annual Congregational Meeting on Monday, November 27 at 7:00 pm to review the upcoming years (2024) budget. This is an in person meeting only, and a package will be available in your mailbox for review prior to the meeting. If there are any further questions for council, they can be sent to council@willoughbychurch.com.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Do Justice: Looking Beyond Needs - If there’s one thing Christians want to do, it is to help. But what if the help we provide is actually causing more harm than good overall? Click here to read the full article.
The Network: Is It Well with Their Souls? - How can we become trauma-informed worshipers? Click here to read the full article.
The Banner: Give Us Our Daily Bread - Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” It can be hard to grasp the depth of that prayer when many of us are insulated from the precariousness of life. Click here to read the full article.
Groundwork: In His Mercy, God Chose You - When someone we love doesn’t share our belief in Jesus, we often experience grief and heartache. Join Groundwork as we study Paul’s lament for his fellow Jews in Romans 9-11. Together we’ll learn about God’s sovereign choice and our free will and we’ll discover comfort in the truth that God, in his mercy, has chosen us. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - End-of-year giving opportunities abound at this time of year, so be intentional about your giving. Consider doing some research to discover a new local ministry or organization that supports a cause you care about deeply, and then give generously of your time, talents, and treasure to help it flourish. 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.
Position Opening: Administrative Coordinator (Thrive) - The successful candidate for this position will provide administrative coordination for Thrive as it supports congregations and local ministry leaders. Tasks will include event logistics in collaboration with Thrive staff; fostering communications and relationships with church leaders and members; preparing presentations, reports, invoices, cheque requests, and expense reports; and other administrative support to Thrive staff. This position offers a flexible work schedule, attractive benefits package, including Group RRSP program and generous paid time off policies. The successful applicant will be able to work either at our Burlington office, hybrid, or remotely in Canada.
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