Offering for weeks 1 & 2 of May: Advokate - Baby Bottle Campaign: This month we're joining Advokate Life and Education Services in their Annual Baby Bottle Campaign to support their hope for women pregnancy services initiative. All funds raised go directly to supporting vulnerable women and families facing unplanned pregnancy. Thanks to services including pregnancy counseling, ultrasounds, postpartum support, they've seen countless lives saved and changed. Let's help make a difference in these young lives.
* The Deacons we will now be doing two Special Offerings per month, Advokate - Baby Bottle Campaign will run for the first two weeks, with Christian Reformed Campus Ministries Okanagan 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 May! *
Church Visitor Meeting: During the Council meeting on May 21st we will be joined by church visitors from classis BC Southeast (the regional gathering of Christian Reformed Churches we belong to). The church visitors come to hear stories of our shared ministry and mission at Willoughby CRC, to listen to how God is at work among us, and to discern together how God is calling us all to greater faith and faithfulness. The meeting with church visitors is open to members of Willoughby CRC and you may request time with the church visitors by contacting council. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact council at joanna@devco.ca or Rev. Chris deWinter (our lead church visitor) at pastorchris@licrc.ca
Wednesday Bible Study: Bible Study meets weekly on Wednesday, on May 15th at 2pm. We will be studying from Micah 6. Everyone welcome! Please contact Pat Storteboom for more info.
Youth Group: Here is the schedule for May:
- May 5 - Study with Will and Joanna 7 to 830pm
- May 12 - Disc Golf meet at 630pm at Passive Park
- May 19 - Happy Long Weekend - NO youth
- May 26 - Youth Dinner 5 to 7pm
Thanks! The Youth Team - Amanda, Will & Joanna
Women’s Bible Study: You are welcome to join a Women’s Bible Study that meets at church every other Tuesday at 9:30 am. Please contact Grace Groot at ngroot@shaw.ca if you plan to attend. On May 14th, we will be studying Ephesians.
Preteens: Preteens will be meeting Wednesday, May 15th @ 6:45pm! If you are interested in joining or want to know more about the program please contact Brooklyn at preteens@willoughbychurch.com.
Women's Connect Social: Come and join us for a morning of fun making a Herb Planter. If you know someone who might enjoy making a planter and meeting some new people, invite them. The more the merrier! Light refreshments will be provided. Saturday, May 25 at 10am. The cost is $15 per person to help cover the cost of materials. There will be a sign up sheet in the foyer before and after the service! Any questions, contact- Marlene Derover (604) 312-4463 or Kim Purdy (604) 928-0307.
Children's Ministry Volunteers: Our Children's Ministry is looking for volunteers on Sunday morning!! To ensure we have a safe environment for the children upstairs, especially the Nursery, we need a few more adults to look after the kids. If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Christian at christian@willoughbychurch.com.Thanks!!
Looking for Accomodation: Young Christian Professional is looking for a one bedroom suite in Langley or Surrey area. Has just graduated from BCIT and is preparing to begin working again starting in May. Please contact konrad.balzer@outloook.com for any opportunities.
SAVE THE DATE!!!!! Willoughby Church BBQ, Campout & Pancake Breakfast Event: We will be having another campout and BBQ on Saturday, June 15th!!! Come out and enjoy the afternoon and evening together here at the church, with games, BBQ, sing-along & campfire!! Games start at 3:00pm with the BBQ and sing along after, if you aren't camping with us, then please come by anytime to share in the activities or just pop by to say hi!!! There will also be pancake breakfast before the church service on Sunday morning, so come hungry!
Coffee Break at Langley Immanuel Church: We are wrapping up our Coffee Break/Story Hour season with our Closing Social Brunch on Tuesday, May 14. We invite all those who have attended this year, whether regularly or only once to come. We only ask you to bring along a small brunch item to share. Anyone who is interested in joining Coffee Break next season please feel welcome to come as well. Enjoy the fellowship! Doors open at 9:15 a.m. Check with Elsa for more info at CoffeeBreak@licrc.ca
Send in your poems! We want to do a worship series during the summer where we include a poem every week in our liturgy. So if there is a worship-appropriate poem that you know and love, or that you yourself have written, please send it in! Our hope is to have poems from many different cultures, influences, and languages included. Every poem will be reviewed by staff to see where it might fit and if it is appropriate to include in a worship service. Please direct any questions to our worship coordinator, Jamie-Lynn Ravensbergen, and send all poems to worship@willoughbychurch.com.
Ministry of Seafarer's Spring 2024 Newsletter: Please check out the good work Rev. Gary Roosma and his team are doing at Roberts Bank and the Waterfront Center. Providing ministry to all the seafarers that dock here in Vancouver. To read the newsletter, click here!
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.
Start your crafting!!: On Saturday November 9, from 10am-4pm Immanuel CRC will host a Christmas Craft and Bake Fair. We invite all crafters to reserve a spot. The cost is $50 for one 8x6 area. For information, please contact Miriam deWinter at mbdewinter@gmail.com.
Missionary Support Dinner & Presentation with Hannah van der Kamp - Join us for a Missionary Support Dinner and Presentation with Hannah van der Kamp, missionary in Lesvos, Greece. Friday, May 24 from 6-8 p.m. at Fleetwood CRC in Surrey. To reserve a place at the table ($25), go to crc1life.ca.
The Gospel, Discipleship & Cultural Engagement: Free Online Workshop with Dr. Walter Kim, Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | 11 am–12 pm. What does it look like to expand our understanding of discipleship beyond personal spirituality and ethics? Our understanding of culture, God’s grace, and human flourishing shapes our responses to the challenges we face in society, and discipleship should encompass how we navigate public life. Join Walter Kim, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, as he begins to unpack how the gospel and our discipleship can shape our response to the world with the good and beautiful truth of God. Register Here
Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation: Join us for the 9th annual Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation! Friday May 24th to Sunday, May 26th - We walk on this beautiful land between Fort Langley and Mission, on the unceded territory of the Stó:lō peoples, specifically the Katzie, Kwantlen, Leq’amel, Matsqui, Semiahmoo and Whonnock First Nations. We hope you will join us for any/all of the days, or do a solidarity walk in your own community, as we walk in solidarity and lament of the First Nations brothers and sisters, remembering the traumatic harm done by residential schools for so many generations. As anyone of our human family have been affected, we are all affected. Find details at www.reconciliationwalk.com or to register, click here.
Thriving Essentials: Thriving Essentials is a new way to get all the ministry leaders in your church (Elders, Deacons, volunteers and staff, newbies and old-timers) aligned on key concepts about Mission, Discipleship, Discernment, and Leadership. These special 2-hour online sessions (2x) offer refreshing insights and can serve as a springboard to deeper conversations about ministry in your local context. Here's the latest one: Two Wednesday evenings - May 22 & 29 at 6:30pm - 8:30 (PST) <<Zoom registration link here>> Please join us for these preliminary learning sessions as we establish a learning cohort with one another. For questions or comments about Thriving Essentials, please contact Elaine May (Facilitator and Thriving Essentials Curriculum Developer): emay@crcna.org For more information about Thriving Essentials: https://www.crcna.org/thrive/course-overview
Cascade Family Bible Camp – July 4-8 Join us at Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, WA, for a rejuvenating experience! Embrace fellowship, worship, and camping or lodging in a stunning environment, perfect for revitalizing your daily walk. Engage with thought-provoking speakers, relish in programs tailored for kids of all ages, and indulge in a variety of activities including swimming, mini golf, tennis & basketball courts, volleyball, bocce, climbing wall, rockets, family games, a carnival and more! Secure your spot by registering online today at https://cascadefamilybiblecamp.org/registration-info
Please pray for Synod 2024! - We need everyone to be involved. The theme for synod worship and prayer is God With Us. You can sign up to pray on your own, with your church or small group, or at Calvin University in June. Check out the many opportunities at crcna.org/synod/prayer and join us in humble prayer for God's will to be done in the CRC. Email SynodPrayer@crcna.org with your questions or comments.
Bethesda's Lend a Hand campaign raises funds to provide practical and much-needed support to people with diverse abilities and their families in communities across BC. Please consider a gift of partnership with Bethesda. You have three different ways of donating:
- mail your cheque made payable to Bethesda Christian Association to 2775 Emerson St, Abbotsford, V2T 4H8
- go on-line to BethesdaBC.com and click on Donate,
- or, if you live in the area, feel free to drop off your donation.
Watch our Why Donate video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRcA4T0-fB4
Visit our webpage at https://bethesdabc.com/lend-a-hand/ to learn more about the Lend a Hand campaign. If you have questions, please email life@BethesdaBC.com or phone us at 604-850-6604 (locally) or toll-free at 1-866-455-2231.
April 2024 World Renew Church update: This month we are looking ahead to “Women of Hope” Sunday, a World Renew offering to be held Sunday, May 12th. Women of Hope Sunday is focussed on community health with a particular emphasis on Women, maternal and newborn health.Please take a moment to watch this month’s video update here.
Celebrate Women of Hope Sunday with World Renew - A Woman of Hope blesses her family and community with her resilience, strength, and faith. But in too many communities where World Renew works, women are denied opportunities that allow them to live up to their full potential. Your gift today to World Renew’s Maternal and Child Health Program helps equip new mothers and pregnant women with the training and support they need to protect the health of their families. And healthy families help build thriving communities. Through your gift, you help share Christ’s hope with a vulnerable mother, her family, and her community! To donate, call 1-888-WRLD-RNW or go online to: worldrenew.ca/womenofhope
1Life May 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 May 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 Banner: CRC Members Urged to Pray for Synod As delegates make decisions on matters related to the CRCNA, they will be surrounded by and supported with prayer.
Global Mission: Sparking Ministryin the Maritimes People from across the Maritimes in Canada gathered in Truro, N.S., for a conference to explore joining God at work.
Mercy & Justice: Confronting the Elephants in the Room Season 8 of the Do Justice podcast explores the difficult side of our journey for justice.
Groundwork: Spiritual Apathy and Justice in Malachi - Back in their homeland, the Israelites were finally comfortable again and spiritual apathy began to settle in their hearts. Join Groundwork as we study Malachi 1-4 to witness how out-of-sync life can get when we go through the motions of faith without investing our hearts and learn from Malachi’s warnings against spiritual apathy and his encouragement to examine our hearts. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - The Lord’s Prayer: An Intergenerational Event and Worship Experience is a downloadable free resource with which children, teens, and adults can gather to learn about and/or deepen their understanding of the Lord’s Prayer. Try it in your church! Find it at tinyurl.com/intergenprayer. Learn more at crcna.org/FaithPracticesProject
Job Posting:
Director of Youth & Young Adults Ministries: Willoughby Christian Reformed Church in Langley is seeking to hire a Director of Youth & Young Adults for 30 hrs per week.
Position available – The Director of Youth & Young Adults at Willoughby Church is called to be an exemplar and spiritual leader who will help to inspire the WCRC young people to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Director of Youth & Young Adults will focus on nurturing the faith of our youth and young adult members (Grades 9-12, and ages 18-30), seeking to support them in developing their love for Jesus and for others.
To apply please contact info@willoughbychurch.com or (604) 530-5959 for more information. A full job description for this position is available by clicking here.
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.
Job Opening: 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.
Job Posting: Eguipping Children & Families Director - Cariboo Community Church in Williams Lake is looking for a fulltime Equipping Children & Families Director. The purpose of the Equipping Children & Families Director is to equip children and families to live missionally through discipleship, community, leadership development, outreach, and worship. For more information please visit their website!
The Banner: The April 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
The Banner Needs You! - The Banner is the CRC’s award-winning monthly magazine. It is delivered free in print and online to every household in the CRC, and their annual donation appeal makes it possible. Please support this journalistic ministry and keep the community conversation going. You can give online now at: TheBanner.org/Give
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
