May Special Offering Weeks 1&2: Advokate/Hope for Women: The special offering for this month is for Advokate Life and Education Services, bringing HOPE to women and families. Advokate brings action to these women through pregnancy counselling and resources, baby supplies, postpartum support, community education and so much more. Their mission is to create educated communities where families thrive, and babies’ lives are valued and welcomed. They do this by putting hope in action for vulnerable women and families facing unplanned pregnancy, offering them compassionate, tangible support that empowers them to thrive. Your donation will help change lives.
You are invited to donate through the offering plate or click here to give through Tithley (Advokate - Hope for Women)
* The Deacons do two Special Offerings per month, Advokate - Hope for Women will run for the first two weeks, with Missionary Support - Naji & Hanna 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! *
Youth: Join us on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm for faith, devotion and fun!!! Youth is for children in grades 8-12 and they meet every Wednesday evening here at Willoughby. Here is the activities for the end of April & into May:
If you are interested in joining or want to know more about the program please contact Christian at Christian@willoughbychurch.com.
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 May:
If you are interested in joining or want to know more about the program please contact Christian at Christian@willoughbychurch.com.
Monday's Bible Study: The bible study group meets on Mondays at 7:30pm in the prayer room! Come join us on Monday, May 12th to read and reflect on Psalm 112. All are welcome! For any questions, call or email Pat.
Seniors: We will be meeting on Thursday May 15th at 10am in the Fellowship Hall. Come join us for fellowship, refreshments and some shared activities. We will also be welcoming back, Len Batterink who will share the third and final part about the missionary trips of the Apostle Paul. Anyone is welcome! Hope to see you all there!!!!
Garden Sharing Table 2025: If your vegetable or flower garden is producing more than you can use, why not share the abundance? Starting this Sunday, you're invited to bring your extras to our Garden Sharing Table, located in the church’s front lobby. Whether you have a handful of herbs or a bumper crop of rhubarb, all contributions are welcome. Let’s bless others with the bounty and enjoy the gifts of the season together. The table will be available every Sunday throughout the summer. Happy harvesting—and happy sharing!
Hoytink Service: Dear Congregation, The service for Marion Hoytink will be on Saturday, May 10th at 1:00pm, here at Willoughby Church. For those that are unable to attend the service, please use this link to watch via live stream. Blessings
Potluck Lunch: We will be getting together as a church and community for a potluck lunch on Sunday, May 25th after the church service. It will be a time to break bread together and meet new friends!! The theme for our potluck is "Soup, Buns & Salad". Please bring your favorite Soup or Buns or Salad to share!!! Dessert, coffee & juice will be provided by the Church. See you all there! Any questions, please reach out to Tamara at tamara@willoughbychurch.com
10th Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation – Friday, May 30 – Sunday, June 1. This walk, in response to the TRC Canada, was created by a group of Christians in Langley to lament and walk in solidarity with First Nations People, remembering the harm done by the Residential School system. This year, we mark 10 years since the TRC with a series of walks and events designed to raise awareness and promote reconciliation. You can choose a self-guided walk, join a group walk, and/or participate in any or all events. All are welcome! See Walk in the Spirit for more information and to register.
Leadership Workshop: Wednesday, June 4, 7:00 pm @ Fleetwood CRC w/ Angela Reitsma Bick, author of Blessed are the Undone & Christian Courier editor-in-chief. Join in an engaging discussion about how Christian faith is changing in Canada and what promotes resilient faith for the long haul. Register at: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/events/undonesurrey
Coffee Break Closing Social: On Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Please bring a brunch item to share with the group. Our theme is a refreshing one: Fun with lemons or the colour yellow. We’d love to incorporate this into our brunch items. And if possible, wear something yellow or spring like. For more info please contact Elsa at CoffeeBreak@licrc.ca or Rose at coffeebreak@willoughbychurch.com.
Campus Ministry Update - Okanagan - May 2025: Here is a brief update for the congregations of Classis BCSE, from our campus chaplain at UBCO in Kelowna, Rev Dr.Todd Statham. Click here to read the Newsletter!
40 Days of Prayer for Synod 2025 - It's not too late! Pray-ers from around the denomination and the world began praying for Synod 2025 on May 4, but new pray-ers are always welcome. With prayers contributed by a wide variety of CRC writers, join us as we seek God's guidance and presence for this year's synod. Learn more and sign up for either daily Scripture and prayers OR a week’s worth of Scripture and prayers that will be emailed to you. crcna.org/synod/prayer
Finding Hope in Hospitality: A Faith-Based Conversation on Welcoming the Stranger - On May 15, from 7:30–9:00 PM EST, we invite you to a cross-border virtual gathering. In a time when refugee resettlement and immigration spark complex emotions and conversations across North America, Thrive, the Centre for Public Dialogue, Exodus World Service, and World Renew’s Canadian Refugee Sponsorship and Resettlement Team invite you to a different kind of gathering—one rooted in hope, hospitality, and faith. Learn more and register today! network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/refugees/finding-hope-hospitality-faith-based-conversation
You're invited to join us for an exciting summer tradition: Regent's Evening Public Lecture (EPL) series. Hear from Summer Programs faculty as they discuss everything from groundbreaking research to insights gleaned from a lifetime of ministry. Summer EPLs are thought-provoking, spirit-enriching, and completely free! Join us in Regent's newly renovated Chapel to experience Summer Programs vibes, ask questions, and chat with other members of the Regent community. EPLs are also livestreamed at rgnt.net/live. Whether you attend onsite or online, we hope you'll invite a friend along and tune in to this year's EPLs. Our first EPL is:
Giving Voice to Brokenness: a theology of joy and lament, Monday, May 12 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm.
Author, theologian and mental health nurse John Swinton will speak about lament as a necessary practice for spiritual health. Facilitator: John Swinton In-person (Regent College Chapel) Target Audience: pastors, prayer groups and prayer group leaders, worship leaders, anyone suffering or who knows someone who is suffering
Gallery 7 Theatre proudly presents The Play That Goes Wrong, A Farcical Comedy of Mishaps, by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer & Henry Shields.A hysterical mad-cap comedy about everything going wrong during the opening night performance of The Murder at Haversham Manor, produced by the well-intentioned members of the Cornley University Drama Society. Running May 9 & 10, 13 – 17, 20 – 24, 2025 @ 7:30 PM with Matinees on May 10, 17 & 24, 2025 @ 2:00 PM at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, 32315 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford. Tickets and info: www.gallery7theatre.com or call 604-504-5940. Group rates available!
"Ministry to Seafarers" announces its 55th anniversary Port Tour Cruise planned June 28, 6-9 PM. Join us for a beautiful cruise, including light snacks and a narrated port tour. Cost is $100/person. Payment by e-transfer to finance@ministrytoseafarers.com, or by cheque to: Ministry to Seafarers Vancouver, 401 E Waterfront Rd, Vancouver, BC V6A 4G9. Contact Gary at crcvanportchaplain@gmail.com for more information.
Celebrate Women of Hope Sunday with World Renew - Today, on Women of Hope Sunday, as we celebrate the women in our lives who inspire, support, and guide us, let us join World Renew and learn how our gifts can help support vulnerable women to become Women of Hope. World Renew’s Maternal and Child Health Program helps equip new mothers and pregnant women with the training and support they need to help their families become healthy and more resilient. To give a gift of hope, call 1-888-WRLD-RNW or go online to: worldrenew.ca/womenofhope
Cascade Family Bible Camp – July 3-7 at Warm Beach Camp, Stanwood, WA: Join us for a summer of faith, fellowship, and fun! Whether you're single, a couple, a family, or a senior, this retreat offers a refreshing time of worship and connection in a beautiful setting. Enjoy inspiring speakers, engaging programs for kids (preschool through post-high), and a variety of activities—including swimming, mini golf, tennis, basketball, volleyball, bocce, a ropes course, rocket launching, and new this year – a ZipLine and Laser Tag! Choose to camp with your tent or RV, or opt for comfortable lodging with meals included. First-time attendee? Discounts are available! Register online: https://cascadefamilybiblecamp.org/registration-info For questions, contact rona718@hotmail.com or dean@lithocraft.com.
CASCADE CHRISTIAN COUNSELLING – Our nine counsellors have been very busy this year meeting the great demand of individuals, couples and families seeking counselling. We have two Cascade offices, one in Surrey and one in Abbotsford. We also have counsellors available in Chilliwack. All therapists offer online counselling options as well. Feel free to read through their bio’s on our website to gain a sense of which one might be the best fit for you. Cascade is committed to removing the financial barrier for Christ-like, professional support services. The sliding scale is from $90.00-$130.00. For more information or to book an appointment, go to www.cascadechristiancounselling.com or call our office at 604-585-1411.
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 Network: Prodigal Children Your child is now old enough to make their own decisions. And there's nothing you can do about it.
The Banner: Synod 2025: What to Watch The annual general assembly of the CRC will gather in Ontario in June. Here are some of the important agenda items.
Groundwork: Adopt the Mindset of Christ - As Christians, many of us long to make the world a better place. Join our Groundwork conversation as we study Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 22:15-45, 1 Peter 2:21-23, and Matthew 20:24-28 to study the servant mindset Jesus modeled. Together we’ll glean biblical wisdom for discerning the relationship between faith and power and we’ll discuss the importance of developing Christlikeness. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - Mother’s Day - While Mother’s Day is not part of the church calendar, it provides a great opportunity to give thanks to God for the people in our lives—whether they be mothers, siblings, aunts, grandmothers, or friends—who nurture, support, love, and encourage us to be all that God created us to be. Consider who has functioned in this way in your life, and take time this week to thank them. Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
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
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