Online Bulletin
December Special Offering: This is the last Sunday to give to this Special Offering!!! For the month of December the special offering is for World Renew - Gift Catalogue, to help people who live in extreme poverty experience more of the fullness of life God intends for them. We are striving to raise funds for three of World Renew’s best-seller bundles (p.17 in the gift catalog). One bundle, worth $3,878, contains goats and quackers, the herd, 10 bars of soap, the whole barnyard, a family-sized water filter, 1 bicycle, and “where needed most”. You are also invited to visit the Christmas Giving Tree in the church lobby and ‘buy’ an ornament(s). Each ornament is a unique gift that can make a difference for people in need around the world. Complete the information on the ornament card and mail it directly to World Renew. You can also browse or purchase the giving ornaments online with the World Renew Gift Catalogue.
Youth: Join us on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm for faith, devotion and fun!!! Youth is for children in grades 8-12 and they meet every Sunday evening here at Willoughby.
Here are the activities for the rest of December & January:
- December 29th - Christmas Break - No Youth
- January 5th - New Year's Break - No Youth
- January 12th - Bible Study
- January 19th - Cooking Night with Tamara - 5-7pm
- January 26th - Bible Study
Thanks, Christian & Joanna
Preteens: Join us on Thursday evenings for faith, activities, bible study, games and a whole lot of fun!!! Preteens is for children in grades 4-7 and they meet on the first and third Thursday's of every month at 6:30pm.
Here is the upcoming schedule for January:
- January 9th - Bible Study at Willoughby
- January 23rd - Bible Study at Willoughby
If you are interested in joining or want to know more about the program please contact Christian at Christian@willoughbychurch.com.
Potluck Lunch: On Sunday, December 29th we are blessed to be having a combined Sunday morning service with Living Word Church. We will be celebrating the new year with a potluck lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the service. Please bring the required dish based on your last name, A-H: Salads, I-P: Desserts or Sweet, Q-Z: Hot or Cold Appetizer. Please join us in worship and building community as we get ready for the coming of the New Year. Hope to see you all there!!
Coffee Break: Bible Study, fellowship and refreshments for women of all ages, With Story Hour and nursery care for children, ages 0-5. Every Tuesday morning at Langley Immanuel Church (21713-50 Avenue, Langley) Doors open at 9:15 a.m. Coffee Break and Story Hour will resume on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 We will begin a new study on the Book of Mark by Pastor Tim Keller. For more info please contact Elsa at CoffeeBreak@licrc.ca or Rose at coffeebreak@willoughbychurch.com.
An Advent Greeting from the CRCNA - As we prepare for Christmas, the ministries of the Christian Reformed Church in North America wish to share with you the Christmas story and find comfort in God's faithfulness. Watch this short video at youtube.com/watch?v=gLDlg-9DLKY Have a blessed Christmas!
Giving Thanks at Christmas - Thank you for sharing God’s love with people in need through the World Renew offering this season. Your gift is providing help and hope for families who are facing poverty, disaster, and injustice today. Thank you for sharing the Good News at Christmas! As we enter a New Year, join us in continuing to help share the love of Christ with those living with poverty, disaster, and injustice. Learn more at worldrenew.ca.
Happy New Year - Diaconal Ministries Canada has been supporting Canadian deacons for over 20 years. CRC deacons are on the frontlines of ministry and our resources and workshops help them bring lasting transformation to their churches and communities. We couldn't do any of our work without the financial and prayerful support of churches and individual donors. So thank you! May God bless you richly in this coming year as you bring his light and love to those around you!
Christian Stewardship Services: Is there a charity close to your heart that you would love to see thrive for years to come? Christian Stewardship Services is hosting open Q&A sessions every week this winter to answer all of your questions on charitable giving and estate planning, Explore the topics and register on our website at : https://csservices.ca/winter-conversations-2025/ Each session will have a 10 minute introduction, then an interactive Q&A on any charitable giving and estate planning questions. The first four topics are: Multiplying your Gift, Pets, Life Insurance, adding a Charity Child, and Cryptocurrency. These are conversations you do not want to miss!
Telecare Crisis & Caring Line: Be the Lifeline Someone Needs - Do you have a heart for helping others? Telecare Crisis & Caring Line invites you to join our Call Responder Training Program, starting January 22, 2024. This 8-week program equips you with skills to provide compassionate support, including:
- Active listening and crisis intervention techniques
- Tools to assist with mental health, grief, and more
- Support strategies for phone and chat
Training Details:
- When: Wednesdays, 7-9 PM PST (Jan 22 – Mar 12, 2024)
- Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: $100 (includes materials and mentoring) - Click here to Register
Regent College - J-term 2025: Special Invitation for Church Groups What's better than taking a great course? Saving on a great course while you learn with members of your community! When you register as part of a group of 3 to 10 people from your church, you'll each get 25% off the cost of tuition for your course. The Church Group Benefit is great for small groups, Sunday school classes, ministry teams, or any group that wants to learn together. Questions? Get in touch! Email registration@regent-college.edu, and our team will be happy to answer any questions and help you walk through the process.
The January Series - The January Series of Calvin University returns January 20 through January 31. From Paralympians to historians, adventurers, and innovators, we have a topic for you to deepen your curiosity. Join us in the Covenant Fine Arts Center on the campus of Calvin University or online. More information can be found at www.calvin.edu/january-series
Stories & Strategies: Strengthening the CRC in Canada - Are you interested in learning more about ministry happening in CRC churches? Join the Canadian Ministry Board for stories (and best practice learnings from those experiences) and how they might be applicable to your local church context. We look forward to discussing these ideas with you alongside other church members & leaders. Join us virtually on January 25, 2025 (11am-1pm ET / 8-10am PT). More at crcna.org/Canada
Journey with World Renew in 2025! - World Renew offers global engagement journeys to educate and equip Canadians about the story of poverty. Plan to join us in the new year to experience World Renew firsthand. Opportunities include Discovery Tours to Honduras, Uganda, and Cambodia, as well as the Guatemala Christian Leaders Tour and Nicaragua Young Adults Trip. Visit worldrenew.ca/volunteer for trip dates and register today!
1Life December 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 December 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:
DENOMINATION: Comfort and Hope This Christmas If there is one thread running through all of Scripture, it is this: God is faithful, and he will do it (see 1 Thessalonians 5:24).
The Network: Advent Week 4: Taking a Moment to Love May our hearts be filled with gratitude for the gift of God’s presence and the call to share His love with others.
The Banner: Community Presence at Christmas Here are a few ways Christian Reformed congregations are embracing their communities this season.
Groundwork: Your Questions about Scripture and Hope - Join Groundwork as we study Matthew 6:9-13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 11:13-16, Revelation 20:1-6, John 15:18-25, and Psalm 46 to look at some of the questions you asked this year in response to our discussions on the Lord’s Prayer, Joshua, and Revelation; then we’ll talk about the issues that feel most pressing for our faith right now and where we can find the hope and encouragement to keep living faithfully each day. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - As we come to the end of a calendar year, this is a fitting time to look back. At a mealtime this week, share with someone else one thing that you’re grateful for, one thing you’re sad about, and one way you’ve seen God working in the past year. Read Psalm 90 together as a reminder that God directs our days, months, and years. Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
Year End Support for The Banner! - Help The Banner reach its annual goal of raising $500,000 by giving before December 31. Your gift will enable The Banner to continue reaching North Americans with inspiring and insightful Christian content for another full year. Please donate 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