Offering for weeks 3 & 4 of May: This is the last Sunday to give to either offering for May!! The special offering for the last weeks of the month is for Campus Re/Formed Okanagan. This ministry is led by Chaplain Rev. Dr. Todd Statham at UBC Okanagan. As a university chaplain, Todd seeks to equip and encourage students, staff, and faculty to be lifelong disciples of Jesus and faithfully serve Christ through their studies and research. Dr. Statham is an ordained CRC pastor and has been serving as campus pastor since 2016. For anyone who would like to learn more about the Campus Re/Formed Okanagan click here.
* 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! *
Thank You:
Vandenberg: Dear Willoughby family, I would like to thank you for your prayers and support during Dick's illness, it was much appreciated. I greatly miss Dick, but am so thankful that he is safe in his eternal home. Winnie Vandenberg
van der Kamp: It has been a while, but I want to thank all of you for your warm welcome and time during your service on April 28 so that I could share a bit about my work in the refugee camp on the island of Lesvos in Greece and my need for support partners. On June 3 I will travel back to Greece, so for further information, email me at : hvanderkamp@crcnapartners.org or go to resonateglobalmission.org and check for my photo under Our Missionaries to make a donation if you feel led in this way. Thank you all once again! May you continue to be a blessing to your community and beyond! Thank you all so much! Hannah
Wednesday Bible Study: Bible Study meets weekly on Wednesday, on May 29 at 2pm, they will be studying Micah 7:14-21. This will be the last session till the fall!! Please contact Pat Storteboom for more info.
Youth Group: Here is the schedule for May/June:
- May 19 - Happy Long Weekend NO Youth.
- May 26 - Study with Will and Joanna 7 to 830.
- June 2 - Meet at Raving Gamer 630 to 830.
- June 9 - Youth Dinner 5 to 7.
- June 16 - No Youth- come to Church campout on June 15!
- June 23 - Wrap up Pool Party at Kleingeltinks details to come.
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 28th, we will be studying Ephesians.
Preteens: Preteens will be meeting Wednesday, May 29th @ 6:45pm! This will be a fun night as we wrap up our Ministry Year!!! If you want to know more about the program please contact Brooklyn at preteens@willoughbychurch.com.
Blood Donor Clinic: This month we will be hosting a Blood Donor Clinic on Tuesday, June 4th 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.
Date Change - Women's Connect Social: Come and join us for a morning of fun making a Herb Planter. Jane Traas will also be giving us tips on potted plants and hanging basket care, as well as a Q&A, so bring your questions!! 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, June 22 at 10am. The cost is $10 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 or Kim Purdy. Hope to see you all there!!!
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!
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.
Thriving Essentials Online Overview - May 30 - Thriving Essentials is a training course for elders, deacons, church staff, and any volunteer ministry leader. This one-hour webinar will give you an overview of what the full course involves including discussions on four key concepts of Mission, Discipleship, Discernment, and Leadership. Sign up to attend this preview on May 30 (2PM EDT) and discern if the full course is right for your church: crcna.org/Essentials
King's University 45th Anniversary Gathering! - Alumni, supporters, potential students and all those interested in The King's University are invited to attend a celebration in the barn at Swallowfield Farm in Langley on Saturday, June 8 from 6:30 - 8:30pm. Come meet old and new friends, enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks including stone-fired pizza, listen to some past and present stories and hear President Melanie Humphreys share about exciting new things happening at King's. Click here to RSVP today!
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.
The Coffee Break ministry would like to make note of the Summer Park Schedule. Each Tuesday morning at 9:30am we meet in parks around Langley! You are welcome to invite a friend and join those who meet each week. The upcoming Dates and Parks are below! Check with Denise for more info/questions at 778-386-4944
- May 28 Mcleod Athletic Park (playground) 5687 216 Street, Langley
- June 4 Williams Park (playground, trails) 238 Street & 68 Avenue, Langley
- June 11 Nicholas Park (playground, splash park, sport court) 5055 20A Street, Langley
- June 18 Linwood Park (playground) 201A Street & Michaud Crescent, Langley
- June 25 Penzer Action Park (playground, bike track) 4748 198C Street, Langley
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.
Hearts Exchanged - Hearts Exchanged is all about going beyond the headlines into deep work that wrestles with how our churches can become places of belonging and embrace God’s call to reconciliation with Indigenous neighbours. Virtual and in-person cohorts will take place this fall and now is a great time to learn more and sign up at: crcna.org/hearts-exchanged
Craving Indigenous Recipes? - What happens when two cultures exchange hearts (and culinary traditions)? We’ll find out when we commemorate National Indigenous People's Day on June 21 and our church celebrates Indigenous Ministries with a special Sunday offering on June 23! The CRC's Indigenous Ministries are delighted to offer a collection of authentic recipes to those who support this vital ministry. Visit bit.ly/NIPD2024 to find out more.
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
World Renew Nicaragua Young Adults Trip - Calling all young adults age 18-30! World Renew extends an invitation to join us in Nicaragua this summer from August 2-11! We are recruiting young adults to experience God in another culture, developing a perspective on poverty, missions, and community development. Bursaries are available. To learn more about this trip and to register, visit https://bit.ly/nicaraguaflyer
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.
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:
Worship: Bringing Leaders and Congregations Together Three congregations joined together for worship – an example of what can happen when church leaders connect.
Mercy & Justice: Reconciliation through Food As part of National Indigenous Peoples Day, Canadian Indigenous Ministries is offering five Indigenous recipes.
The Network: Synod Worship Preview 2024 Pause and reflect in your worship as Synod 2024 approaches.
Groundwork: The Cross of Jesus is the Only Way - As Galatians continues, Paul continues to emphasize that the cross of Jesus is the only way to salvation and he confronts Peter’s hypocritical behavior. Join our Groundwork conversation as we study Galatians 2 to explore the struggle the apostles faced as the Christian faith spread, and along the way find the courage to embody the truth of salvation in your relationships and daily life. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - When praying with children, try this kid-friendly version of the “ACTS” model, replacing Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication with these prompts: “God, you are . . . ” “I’m sorry for . . . ” “Thank you for . . . ” “Please . . . ” 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.
The Banner: The May 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
Banner Writing Contest for Young Adults: Peacemaking - Cash prizes and winners published; enter by June 23. For details visit thebanner.org.
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
