Online Bulletin

Offering for weeks 3 & 4 of June: The second special offering for this month is for The CRC Indigenous Ministry, which is made up of a national committee (Canadian Indigenous Ministry Committee), three Urban Indigenous Ministry Centers (Winnipeg, Regina, and Edmonton) and a Senior Leader for Indigenous Justice (Adrian Jacobs). The Canadian CRC Indigenous Ministry cares deeply about the relationships between Indigenous peoples and non-indigenous Canadians. It works to help churches learn to live as reconciled people by raising awareness of the shared history and of the present lived reality of Indigenous people in Canada.

* The Deacons will 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 tithe.ly for the whole month of June! *

Youth Group: Here is the schedule for June:

• June 23 - Wrap up Pool Party at Kleingeltinks (8782 272 street ) 5 to 730pm. Hot dogs are provided! Please bring fruit/veggies/drinks or chips. Please sign up with Joanna or Will.

Thanks!  The Youth Team - Amanda, Will & Joanna

Garden Sharing Table: Summer 2024 - This is the time of year when home vegetable gardens are beginning to produce vegetables ready for picking. Many of us tend gardens that produce more than we can eat ourselves. If you have extras, you are invited to bring them on Sundays to our Garden Sharing Table located in the front hallway of the church. We will continue the sharing table through the summer months.

New Directory 2024: The new directory is completed and ready for print!! - Last Chance - Please email Tamara at tamara@willoughbychurch.com if you would like a printed copy of the directory. A copy will be in your mailbox, for pickup on Sunday, June 30th. Please note that we are still having issues with updating addresses on the website, so even though the directory is updated as well online, there may be some addresses that still need to be updated.  The printed copy will have all the correct information! Thanks!

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 10 am. 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 year's financials.  This is an in-person meeting only, click here for the documents that will be discussed, including the agenda and financials.  A package is available in your mailbox for review before the meeting. If there are any questions, they can be sent to council@willoughbychurch.com.

Living Word - Canada Day Celebration: Living Word is inviting us to their Canada Day Celebration on Saturday, June 29th from 11-3 pm.  There will be Food & Drinks, Music & Songs, as well as Fun & Games. Food coupons cost $1-$2 each and can be purchased on a cash basis during the event. Come on out and celebrate with them!!!

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!

Blood Donor Clinic: This month we will be hosting a Blood Donor Clinic on Tuesday, July 2nd 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.

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.

Henri Nouwen Society: Spend time every day being encouraged to grow spiritually.  Sign up today to receive free daily meditation emails from the Henri Nouwen Society: www.henrinouwen.org. 

Start your crafting!!: On Saturday, November 9, from 10 am-4 pm 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. Every Tuesday at 9:30 am 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 18 Linwood Park (playground) 201A Street & Michaud Crescent, Langley
• June 25 Penzer Action Park (playground, bike track) 4748 198C Street, Langley
• July 2 James Hill Park (playground, sport court) 22144 Old Yale Rd, Langley
• July 9 Nicholas Park (playground, splash park, sport court) 5055 209A 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.

Hannah van der Kamp - Resonate: My dear friends, There was a wonderful gift waiting for me upon returning to the island of Lesvos. The student from Syria you met in in my video, Khalid, was baptized in the Aegean sea on Sunday morning after the church service!  He had connected with the rest of the team and had begun attending a bible study. He was amazed to receive a full bible in Arabic. He will soon leave the island as he has been granted asylum. Thanks be to God!

Thriving Essentials 1-Hour Overview (June 27th) - 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. Attend this online preview on June 27 (1 pm EDT) to see if the full course is right for your church. Register now at crcna.org/essentials

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

Join us for fellowship, and 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. Gather aims 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 our 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 by all participants through the generous support of Gather sponsors.

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 neighbors. 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: Synod 2024 Begins Highlights from the first few days of Synod 2024.

The Network: How Can We Be More Present This Summer? Life is complex. How can we cultivate an awareness of now?

The Banner: The Comeback King Two thousand years ago, on the island of Patmos, the apostle John had a vision of the greatest comeback of all time.

Groundwork: Christian Engagement in Societal Issues - Together, let’s delve into the complexities of Christian engagement in societal issues. Join our Groundwork conversation as we study Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17, Romans 3:10-12, and James 2:1-9 to discover practical insights and biblical wisdom to help us discern what it means to faithfully engage and embrace our role in shaping a more just and God-honoring society. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Thrive Faith Formation Tip - Take a strong magnifying glass with you on a walk, and look at how the tiniest details of nature point to the Creator of the universe. You’ll be amazed by what you see! Learn more at crcna.org/FaithPracticesProject

Job Posting:

Open Position: Stated Clerk, Classis BC South-East
Later this year Classis BC South-East will need a new state 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 classes and denominations. 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. 

Position Opening - Resonate Global Mission is hiring! We seek a full-time Leadership Developer - E Asia Region. The successful candidate will work in collaboration with local partners to plant a diverse, locally-rooted, and globally connected congregation among the diaspora and Japanese people to faithfully proclaim and live out the good news of Jesus. The focus from the beginning will also be to walk with and develop local leaders who collaborate in creating the faith community. Learn more and apply at https://crcna.pinpointhq.com/

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