Online Bulletin

Offering for weeks 1 & 2 of June: This month our Special Offering is for The King’s University, located in Edmonton, Alberta. It offers exceptional liberal arts education from a Christian perspective and serves students from across Canada and around the world.  They believe that the world is studied best from the knowledge that it was created and belongs to God.  Being founded in the Christian faith, they try to reflect Christ’s love and grace to all members of their community, leaving students prepared for a future of bringing renewal and reconciliation in every walk of life. 

* The Deacons we will now be doing two Special Offerings per month, The King's University will run for the first two weeks, with Indigenous Ministry CRC 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 June! *

Youth Group: Here is the schedule for June:

• 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 (8782 272 street ) 5 to 730pm. Hot dogs provided! Please bring fruit/veggies/drinks or chips. Please sign up with Joanna or Will.

Thanks!  The Youth Team - Amanda, Will & Joanna

Women’s Bible Study: This Tuesday, June 11, will be our final session for this season. We will meet at 9:30 to work through chapter 12 of the Ephesians study. Following that, we will meet together at Adrian’s for an early lunch. Please let Grace know if you plan to attend.

New Directory 2024: The new diretory is completed and ready for print!! - Please email Tamara at tamara@willoughbychurch.com by Friday, June 14th if you would like a printed copy of the directory. A copy will be in your mailbox, for pickup on Sunday, June 16th. Please note that we are still having issues with updating addresses on the website, so even though the directory is updated as well online, their maybe some addresses that still need to be updated.  The printed copy will have all the correct information! Thanks!

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!

Young Adults: Immanuel CRC in Langley is hosting a Kickball Tournament on Sunday, June 9th at 1:00pm! 

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!

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!!!

Congregational Meeting - SAVE THE DATE!!!!! - There will be a Congregational Meeting on Monday, June 24th at 7:00 pm to approve last years financials.  This is an in person meeting only, the financials will be available for review next week prior to the meeting!

We Need You: Re:Activate Volunteer Sign Up 2024 - This year Re:Activate will be hosted by Langley Immanuel CRC from Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 8, 2024. This event takes a lot of hands to make it happen and if you are interested in volunteering, please click here to sign up!  Thanks!

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.

Naji & Anne's Reconnect Visit: Naji from Resonate will be in BC in June and then back with the family in August, and is looking for help with logostics!! He could still use help filling some holes in  accommodation, and transportation... so:

• Please let him know if you have a place where he would be able to stay from June 11-20, or 24-26, by himself, or for the family (Naji, Anne, Emmanuel, and Alex) in August; 
• AND if you know of anyone who can lend him/them their car, for use for a couple of days or longer parts of August.  

Any help for accommodations or transportation is most welcome! If you are able to help you can reach out to Naji at numran@crcna.org, thanks!!!

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

• June 11 Nicholas Park (playground, splash park, sport court) 5055 200A Street, Langley
• June 18 Linwood Park (playground) 201A Street & Michaud Crescent, Langley
• June 25 Penzer Action Park (playground, bike track) 4748 198C Street, Langley

Campus Ministry Update - Okanagan: Click here for a Campus Ministry update for the congregations of Classis BCSE, from our campus chaplain, Todd Statham in Kelowna at UBCO.

BOOK LAUNCH: THE RICHES OF YOUR GRACE, BY JULIE LANE-GAY - Join us at Regent College Chapel on Monday, June 17, 7–8:30 pm, for the launch of Julie Lane-Gay's much-anticipated book, The Riches of Your Grace: Living in the Book of Common Prayer. The evening will include an introduction from Julie herself, a short reading, and an interview of Julie conducted by current student Eunice Sunmie Derksen. There will be a book signing at the Regent Bookstore following the event.

Let’s Answer God’s Call to Welcome Strangers - Most refugees who flee conflict, persecution, or violence in their homelands leave with the heartache and hardship, with fear of the unknown, but also with hope—the hope they will find safety; the hope they will find welcome; and the hope for an opportunity to rebuild their lives. Next week, learn how through your gift in support of the World Renew Refugee Sponsorship and Resettlement Program, you can answer God’s call to welcome strangers and help a refugee family realize their hopes here in Canada. For more information go to: worldrenew.ca/refugees

Come and See What God Is Doing! You are invited to Gather in Calgary on September 23-25, 2024

Join us for fellowship, worship, and to celebrate the wonderful ways God is working in your community. Over the next twelve months, we’re bringing together five Christian Reformed classes at a time to strengthen our faith and mission by learning from each other. Classes Alberta South / Saskatchewan, British Columbia Southeast, Central California, Ko-Am and North Cascades - we are thrilled to invite YOU to participate in our next event in beautiful Calgary, Alberta.

Sometimes what we see happening in our congregations can leave us feeling discouraged and isolated – but we’re not alone. The aim of Gather is to come together, form new relationships, and recognize where God is already at work among us. We’ll talk about our challenges, but we will also seek God, share how we’re fostering disciples in our churches, and discern where God is leading us in renewed mission.

We hope that you will leave this event feeling equally encouraged in your journey. Our goal is for everyone to encounter God through the text, prayer, worship, and fellowship; to name unmet expectations about their church; to tell and hear stories of God at work; to identify themes of how God is at work in CRC churches; to celebrate our common desire to follow Jesus together; and to leave prepared to share these stories with people in their congregations and communities. Check this link: https://www.crcna.org/gather for more information!! Interested in Attending? Those interested in attending a Gather event should indicate their interest to the stated clerk or other leadership of their classis. Each classis will be asked to select a delegation of 10 people. Travel costs, food, registration and accommodation will be paid for all participants through the generous support of Gather sponsors.

Banner Writing Contest for Young Adults: Peacemaking - Cash prizes and winners published; enter by June 23. For details visit thebanner.org.

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

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:

Synod 2024: Interim Associate Director of Synodical Services Rev. Joel Vande Werken anticipates synod as “a time to witness to God’s grace and trust that he will lead and guide us.”

Synod 2024: Online Opening Sparse, Prayerful Synod 2024 started with a reminder that God is with us as it drew delegates together in a video-based session.

Global Mission: Rediscovering a Piece of Chinese History Christian-themed Chinese posters from 80-100 years ago help to reveal a rich heritage of teaching and evangelism media.

Groundwork: How to Live in Christ - Keeping laws and customs won’t benefit our salvation at all, but that doesn’t mean our actions don’t matter. Join Groundwork as we study Galatians 5-6 to examine Paul’s description of how we should live in Christ. Together we’ll discuss the Fruits of the Spirit and what grateful Christian living looks like as we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Thrive Faith Formation Tip - William Brown, author of Sacred Sense: Discovering the Wonder of God’s Word and World, observed, “Wonder and wisdom fit hand in glove. Without a sense of wonder, faith and practice become routine, lukewarm, trivial.” 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