Online Bulletin
February Special Offering: ABBA Canada: Provides financial assistance and support to Canadian Christian families wanting to grow their family through domestic or international adoption. Although not every Christian will adopt, ABBA believes every Christian is called to play a part in caring for the orphan. ABBA Canada was born as a response to seeing Christian families who desired to bring a child in need into their family, but not pursue adoption because of the overwhelming process and financial hurdles. Since 2011, ABBA Canada has provided $700,000 in adoption grants to over 170 deserving Canadian Christian families. 100% of all donations to ABBA Canada help fund a Canadian family’s adoption without deducting administration costs. Our dream is for every believer to be engaged with helping these vulnerable children. * The Deacons we will now be doing two Special Offerings per month, ABBA Canada will run for the first two weeks, with GCM - Great Commission Media Ministries for weeks 3&4. You are invited to give to either or both offerings as they will both be available on tithley for the whole month of February! *
Youth Group: Here is the schedule for February:
- Feb 4: Study with Joanna and Will 7 to 830pm
- Feb 10: Saturday - Learn to Curl at George Preston Arena: 3 to 5pm $20/person. We will be renting ice and learning from a coach. Please pay & RSVP to Amanda Storteboom by Sunday, Feb 4.
- Feb 18: No Youth - Family Day Weekend
- Feb 25: Youth Dinner 5 to 7pm
Thanks! The Youth Team - Amanda, Will & Joanna
Women's Bible Study: Women's Bible Study meets weekly on Fridays, from 2-3 pm in the Fireside Room. On February 16th, they will be studying Ephesians 5: 21-33. All are welcome!
Funeral Service: Henk Van Eyk's funeral service will be on Saturday, February 10th at 11:00am in the Oasis building at Elim. If you are unable to attend you can watch the livestream by clicking here.
Blood Donor Clinic: This month we will be hosting a Blood Donor Clinic on Tuesday, February 13 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.
Ash Wednesday Service: Wednesday, February 14 @ 7:00pm - Join us for an Ash Wednesday Service to mark the beginning of the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday begins the period of Lent, a time of deepening reflection and renewal and an opportunity to renew our commitment to Christ as we journey toward Easter.
Games Night: We will be having a Games Night on Saturday, Feb 17th at the church from 5:00-9:00 pm. Bring your board games, cards and/or puzzles, for a fun night of fellowship!!! Open to all ages. We will begin at 5:00pm, break for supper at 6:30 and then play some more. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided. Please e-mail Helen Vandenberg at helenjvdb@gmail.com so that we know how many will be attending for the food. There will also be a sign up sheet available at church on Feb 4 & Feb 11 after the service. Hope to see you all there!!!
Lent Devontionals: During this season of Lent, we are offering a few options for devotions to help you seek the Lord through prayer and scripture. One is from Union Gospel Missions - copies of the devotional will be available in the church lobby after the service for the next few weeks. The other is a digital resource offered by St. Andrews Hall (a Presbyterian school on UBC’s campus) which invited Pastor Jenna to be one of the contributors. You can access the digital copy by clicking here!
Women's Connect Social: Come and join us for a morning of fun making connections. If you know someone who might enjoy meeting some new people, invite them. The more the merrier. Light refreshments will be provided. Saturday, March 2 at 10am. There will be a sign up sheet in the foyer after the service! Any questions, contact- Marlene Derover (604) 312-4463 or Kim Purdy (604) 928-0307.
WCRC Library: Did you know Willoughby Church has a library? Find the 'Willoughby Faith Formation Library' through the offices or look online on our website! Whether you are looking for a devotional or a book on reflection, there are books available for all ages. This resource is open during office hours and after the Sunday service. For inquiries, email Natalie at natalie@willoughbychurch.com.
Accomodation Requests: Home hosts needed for Dordt University’s choir students for just one evening on March 7, 2024 after their concert, including pick-up and bringing them back the next morning. If you could host 2 or more students, please contact Esther DeWolde | jed@telus.net | call/text 604-309-3340 | You are also invited to enjoy the beautiful music of the Dordt Concert Choir during their Abbotsford appearance on Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. | Abbotsford, B.C. | Living Hope Christian Reformed Church.
Mother's Helper Needed: Perfect for a teen or young adult. We are looking for someone to come into our home and help with caring for our two small children (age 3.5 and almost 2) and a few things around the house. I (Lauren) would always be present. Weekly hours: about 5-10, possibly more when third baby arrives in April - hours are negotiable. Please email: laurenheinen@hotmail.com for more details. Located near Langley Costco.
The Virtuoso Organist Concert: Maranatha Canadian Reformed Church presents Loreto Aramendi, an international concert artist and main organist of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Coro in San Sebastian Spain. On Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 3:00pm, tickets are available at Maranatha2024.eventbrite.ca, Refreshments served following the concert. This is a rare opportunity to hear this extraordinarily talented musician perform in the might pipe organ at Maranatha, this is a concert not to be missed!
Reimagining Church Properties - Come to First CRC Vancouver on March 12 & 13 to engage with a theology of land on unceded territories, hear multiple short stories of creative land utilization and development, and equip you with a process to lead your own church or churches in your denomination through a critical analysis and decision making pathway. Learn more at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/reimagining-church-land-community-vancouver-2024-tickets-784585695937?aff=erelpanelorg
HOUSING HELP FOR REGENT STUDENTS: Regent College is a graduate school of theology located on the UBC campus. Regent students are in desperate need of high quality and affordable housing to continue in their calling to study theology and serve the body of Christ. If you have a rental suite, or know someone who does, will you consider advertising it to Regent students? Visit housing.regent-college.edu to sign-up. Thank you!
Food and Faith (webinar) Series: 6 Weeks - Join the 2024 Food and Faith 6-week series of discussions with leaders working in food justice and faith. Topics will include Food and Our Faith; Food, Faith and Farming; Food, Faith and Creating Just Food Systems; Food, Faith and Church Growing Projects; Food, Faith and Sharing with Community; and Food, Faith and Advocacy. Discussions will include congregations in the US who are responding in creative and caring ways because of their faith. Dates: February 8-March 14, Thursday PM (7:30 Eastern, 6:30 Central, 5:30 Mountain, 4:30 Pacific). Register at worldrenew.net/events. There will be a giveaway at each session, but you must be present online to win! Contact Jodi Koeman at jkoeman@worldrenew.net.
Help Renew Hope for Families in Food Crisis - Around the world, extreme weather has robbed farmers of their crops, families of their livelihoods, and communities of hope. In Madagascar, drought has claimed thousands of lives and left hundreds of thousands facing famine. You can help renew hope for families in food crisis. February 25 is Canadian Foodgrains Bank Sunday; your offering will help World Renew respond to the food needs of vulnerable Madagascans and people impacted by extreme weather, and other crises, in countries where we work around the world. Your gifts will be matched up to 4X by Canadian Foodgrains Bank. For more information go to: worldrenew.ca/food
Christian Stewardship Services: Conversations about your estate are always difficult. Christian Stewardship Services is hosting open Q& A sessions every other week this winter to answer all of your questions on charitable giving and estate planning, Explore the topics and register here . Don't miss the last three sessions! Our topics will be: joint accounts, choosing an Executor or Power of Attorney, and cryptocurrency. For more information, contact: info@csservices.ca.
1Life February 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 February 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:
Ministry in Canada: Churches Share Stories and Seek Strategies Canadian CRC members from coast to coast convened via video to share stories of renewal and strategies for the future.
The Network: The Importance of Listening Listening is a foundational practice of mission – here’s 5 tips to listen better.
The Banner: Chains of the Past “What message would you have us take off this island?” I asked. The answer: “That slavery happened, and that it must never happen again.”
Groundwork: Forgiveness - Most people would agree that true forgiveness can be quite difficult and often takes a lot of time and work. Join Groundwork as we study Colossians 3:13, Matthew 6:9-15, Matthew 18:21-22, and Ephesians 4:31-32 to better understand what it means to forgive, why we forgive, the importance of recognizing forgiveness as a process, and useful steps for cultivating the virtue of forgiveness in our lives. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - Practicing justice and mercy is a powerful way to bless others—and to become more like Jesus. If there are kids in your home, check out 5 Ways to Practice Justice with Kids (tinyurl.com/5waysjustice). Learn more at crcna.org/FaithPracticesProject
Job Postings:
Abuse Prevention and Response Coordinator (APRC) 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, have related work experience & education. 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 January 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