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February Special Offering: GCM: Great Commission Media Ministries believes in sending the Gospel to unreached millions world-wide. Many people are unaware that less than 2% of missionaries visit unreached regions of the world. That means, there are approximately 2 billion people across the globe who have little to no chance of hearing the Good News of the Gospel. Most groups of unreached people live in closed countries located in the Middle East, Asia and North Africa. Our approach is to use the power of Christian media through daily satellite TV broadcasting, Arabic websites, and YouTube channels to impact unreached countries with the Gospel. Our teams produce thousands of mother-tongue broadcasts for every age group — each delivered in languages such as Arabic, Farsi, Amharic and more. 18 satellites air Christian programs to millions of people throughout the Middle East. Each broadcast is done in partnership with local churches and underground missionaries. But when you partner with our ministry, you can help hundreds of thousands know and experience new hope, meaning and purpose.   * 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/March:

  • Feb 18: No Youth - Family Day Weekend 
  • Feb 25: Youth Dinner 5 to 7pm
  • Mar 3: Study with Joanna and Will 7 to 830
  • Mar 10: Pizza and Games night at church 630 to 830
  • No Youth for Spring Break & Easter - see you all in April!!!

Thanks!  The Youth Team - Amanda, Will & Joanna

Youth Families: Hi YOUTH families! Would you like to join us for a Vancouver Canadians Baseball game on April 14 at 1pm? Please RSVP # of tickets to Amanda Storteboom before March 10. 

Women's Bible Study: Women's Bible Study meets weekly on Fridays, from 2-3 pm in the Fireside Room. On March 1, they will be studying Ephesians 6. All are welcome! 

Seniors: The Senior's are meeting on Thursday, February 29th at 10am, for a time of fellowship, refreshments and the fun of playing games together.  Please bring your favourite board games you'd like to play!  Please join us, everyone is welcome!

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!

Coffee Break: Coffee Break and Story Hour at Langley Immanuel Church will be taking a three week break for the Spring/Easter Break from March 19 to April 2, 2024. We will be wrapping up our study on James in the next four weeks, returning on April 9, 2024 with a new study to be announced soon. More details to come. Please contact Elsa for more info at CoffeeBreak@licrc.ca Or Rose at coffeebreak@willoughbychurch.com

All of Life - Thank God for Science: Ever wonder if/how faith and science fit together? If so, you're invited to join us for this conversation with Dr. Arnold Sikkema on Thursday, Feb 29 at 7pm. Dr. Sikkema is a professor of Physics at Trinity Western University and the Executive Director of The Canadian Scientific & Christian Affiliation. His current research interests are in theoretical biophysics and in the Christian philosophy of science, particularly in the relationship between physics and biology. This event will be held at Hope Community Church cosponsored by The Canadian Scientific & Christian Affiliation. Doors open at 7pm for wine and charcuterie. Tickets are free, but registration is required. Registration Link: https://hcc-ca.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2159627

CAN SCIENCE SHOW US THE GOOD? | PUBLIC LECTURE, FEB 29 The Houston Centre for Humanity and the Common Good is pleased to welcome philosopher Paul Nedelisky to speak on the question, "Can Science Show Us the Good?" In his lecture, Nedelisky will survey the history of attempts to find a scientific basis for morality, explain the failure of these attempts, and explore the right use of science in the moral imagination. Regent's David Robinson will offer a response. Join us in the Chapel or online at 7 pm on Thursday, Feb. 29.

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.

CHRISTIAN RACIAL RECONCILIATION: March 5–7, 2024 Regent College Chapel. You are warmly invited to join the Regent College community for the 2024 Laing Lectures. This year’s speaker is Dr. George Yancey, Professor of Sociology at Baylor University and the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion. He will speak on the subject of Christian Racial Reconciliation. Hosted by President Jeffrey Greenman, this year’s Laing Lectures will consist of three evening lectures and a lunchtime interview and Q&A session. All events are free of charge, and no registration is required. Please join us at Regent College or at rgnt.net/live. For full details, including lecture descriptions, click here or visit rgnt.net/laing. 

Concert Announcement: The Dordt University Concert Choir from Sioux Center, Iowa, invites you to a concert on Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 PM at the Living Hope Christian Reformed Church in Abbotsford. This free concert is part of a spring tour with performances scheduled in Montana, Washington, British Columbia, Idaho, and South Dakota.  Directed by Dr. Ryan Smit, the Dordt University Concert Choir will perform a wide variety of music including hymn arrangements; spirituals; songs from other cultures; standards of the choral repertoire by Sweelinck and Hassler; and newer modern works. The concert is free, with a freewill offering received to help defray tour expenses. 

Saturday April 20 2024: Called to Lead: stewardship, leadership & the generosity of God, a 1Life Foundations conference at Fleetwood CRC in Surrey. Goal: Equipping leaders in our BC CRCs to strengthen & embody a culture of generosity in the church. Presenters: Maynard Wiersma (Christian Stewardship Services) & Wilma van der Leek (curator, 1Life learning hub). Registration fees $35 per person, $30 per person for a group of 3 or more. For more info go to crc1life.ca. Registration opens March 1. 

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 

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!

Festival of Faith And Writing - The Calvin Center for Faith and Writing invites you to attend the Festival of Faith & Writing, April 11-13, on the campus of Calvin University. The Festival features over 70 speakers, including plenary speakers Anthony Doerr, Yaa Gyasi, and Tracy K. Smith. Visit our website to see our full roster of fabulous speakers, purchase tickets, or to learn more. Questions? Reach out to ccfw@calvin.edu.

Please join World Renew for Canadian Foodgrains Bank Sunday - Conflict and changing climate are driving forces behind world hunger. But for a mother watching her child struggle with malnutrition and the pains of hunger, why is not as important as how she will feed her child. You can share Christ’s hope with that mother. Today is Canadian Foodgrains Bank Sunday and your offering will help support World Renew’s food security programs focused on addressing the emergency food needs of vulnerable families and providing communities with the training they need to sustainably overcome hunger. Your gifts will be matched up to 4X by Canadian Foodgrains Bank. To donate, call 1-888-WRLD-RNW or go online to: worldrenew.ca/food

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:

Global Mission: A Leader for ‘Such aTime as This’   Gaur works with Momentum Campus Ministries to witness to the growing Indian population on campus.

The Network: How Do You Engage College Students?   There is a plethora of resources for under-18s; how do you serve older youth?

The Banner: What’s in a Name?  Complementarianism, egalitarianism, and the CRC’s stance on women’s ecclesiastical roles.

Groundwork: The Curse Of The Cross - We were rightly cursed by God for our failure to keep his covenant. Join our Groundwork conversation as we study Deuteronomy 28:1-19, Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Galatians 3:10-14, 2 Corinthians 5:21, and Isaiah 53:4-11 to better understand the cursed nature of the cross and discuss the implications of this curse and Jesus’ death under it for our lives of faith today. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Thrive Faith Formation Tip - Cornel West said, “Justice is what love looks like in public.” How might you share the love of Jesus by practicing justice in public this week in your workplace, your neighborhood, or your city? Learn more at crcna.org/FaithPracticesProject

Job Postings:

Open Position: Stated Clerk, Classis BC South-East Later this year Classis BC South-East will need a new stated clerk. The current clerk will complete his term in October and will not continue in the role. The position involves preparation of agendas for classis and the Classis Ministry Committee, taking minutes at the meetings, record keeping, as well as communications with churches and denominational offices in Burlington and Grand Rapids. It's a high traffic position with ties to gifted people across the classis and denomination. If you have an interest, feel free to contact the current clerk Len Batterink (statedclerk.bcse@gmail.com) for more information. If needed, a transitional training period is available. 

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 February 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