Online Bulletin
This is the last Sunday to give to either of the Special Offerings for November!!!
The special offering for the last weeks in November is for the Ministry to Seafarers which is a ministry dedicated to enhancing the lives of Seafarers regardless of race, religion, gender, or rank. Through ship visiting advocacy, hospitality showing and sharing Jesus's love by caring for their physical, emotional, spiritual, and justice needs. Their vision is to visit as many ships as possible which pass through the Port of Vancouver in order to share the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ with seafarers in Word and deed by providing literature and other resources. Gary Roosma is currently serving as the chaplain for the Port of Vancouver, which not only involves visiting cargo ships in port, but also serving seafarers in the ministry centres.
For more information about the good work Gary and the ministry does at the ports, click here to visit their website!
You are invited to donate to this worthy cause via the offering box or click here to give through the Tithley website. (Ministry to Seafarers)
Donation Request: Joe Tieyiri, he runs an NGO called TJTP (The Joseph Tieyiri Project) back in Ghana for the less endowed but brainy or talented kids in the society. He is looking for donations for school children in Grades 1-12, if you have any used clothes, shoes that you were going to donate to the thrift store, you can bring them by the church office for collection. School supplies, such as pens, exercise books, mathematical sets etc, are welcome as well.
Youth: Join us on Sunday's at 6:00pm for an evening of devotion and fun!!! Youth is for children in grades 8-12 and they meet every Sunday evening here at Willoughby. We welcome our new Youth Leaders, Brooklyn & Joshua, for this ministry year!! If you are interested in joining or want to know more about the program please contact Brooklyn at youth@willoughbychurch.com. Thanks!!
Kid's Ministry Event: This year we are bringing back 'Cookies for Kids,' which is connected to our November Special Offering for World Renew -- World Hunger. We are inviting everyone in the church to participate! Bring a dozen cookies on Sunday, November 30, for our Kids Ministry children to 'sell' after the service, and help us raise more support for World Renew. *Please no nuts or peanut butter in the cookies!
Congregational Meeting: There will be a Semi - Annual Congregational Meeting on Monday, December 1st at 7:00 pm to review the upcoming years budget. This is an in person meeting only, below is the link to the documents that will be discussed, including the agenda and budget. A package is available in your mailbox for review prior to the meeting. If there are any further questions for council, they can be sent to council@willoughbychurch.com or asked at the meeting. Hope to see you all there!!!!
Seniors: We will be meeting on Thursday, December 4 at 10am in the Fireside Room. Come join us for fellowship, refreshments & we will be sharing some of our early memories of Christmas and Sinterklaas, especially our experiences as children. We are counting on you to entertain us with your stories. Please think about it and prepare by taking some notes! Anyone is welcome! Hope to see you all there!!!!
Toy Drive: We would like to start off the Christmas season this year by having a toy drive for the Langley Christmas Bureau. This organization helps over 2,000 children in the Langley area receive a gift for Christmas. If you would like to give to this toy drive, please bring an unwrapped new toy or gift card on Sunday, December 7. The Bureau is looking for gifts for school age students, ages 5 through 16. Due to potential allergies, please do not buy stuffed animals. And please consider giving a gift card for those in their teenage years, as this is an area of need. Please bring your gift on Sunday December 7 and place it under the designated tree in the foyer.
Teach-It Tuesday: For our December Teach-It Tuesday, we're welcoming Pastor Steve Berkenpas from Living Hope CRC in Abbotsford. Steve has done extensive work on the topic of Dementia and will be walking us through:
1) The realities of dementia: What is it outside of a label? How does one experience dementia?
2) Scientific background for understanding dementia: What is the actual impact on the brain?
3) The implications for how we care: What is the missional and prophetic call in caring for those with dementia?
Join us on Tuesday, December 9. Dessert will start at 6:30pm, and Steve will start speaking at 7:00pm.
Women's Connect Christmas Event: Join us for a joyful morning as we celebrate the Christmas season together! Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025 Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm. We will be making a beautiful Christmas Greenery Swag, sipping on hot beverages, enjoying delicious treats, and most importantly, connecting with one another in the spirit of the season. Bring your friends and your family. Also, bring your pruners or wire cutters for the activity. There is no cost to attend. Sign up starts on Sunday, November 16 until Sunday, December 7. For event questions, contact: Evelyn Groeneveld (evelynhg@telus.net) or Kim Purdy (kim.purdy@outlook.com). We cannot wait to spend this special time with you! Women's Connect Team
You are all invited to attend the Community Christmas Craft & Bake Fair happening at Langley Immanuel Christian Reformed Church (21713-50th Avenue, Langley) on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Bring your friends and family to stop by between 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. We have over 45 vendors coming and we would love to see you there!
Christmas Concert: Please join us for a Christmas choral celebration of the birth of our Savior. The Gloria Dei Chorale, under the direction of Cathrie Yuen, is pleased to present their Christmas Worship service, featuring choral selections, readings, and congregational songs, on Saturday, December 13 at 3:00 pm in the Oasis at Elim Village, 9025 160 Street, Surrey, BC and on Sunday, December 14 at 7:00 pm at the New Westminster Christian Reformed Church, 8255 – 13th Ave, Burnaby, BC. Contact Tina 604-588-6377 or Elaine at 604-271-0283 for more information. A free-will offering will be received.
Christmas Gifts is coming to town on December 12 & 13, 2025. Songs Strings & Steps Events presents this must-see Christmas concert which is bursting with festive cheer featuring a full symphony orchestra directed by Calvin Dyck, incredible vocalists, dazzling dancers, gifts, and a sleigh-full of surprises. It is a joyful celebration that brings the whole community together–and you would not want to miss a moment!
Location: Central Heights Church, Abbotsford
Friday Dec 12th 7pm concert
Saturday Dec 13th 2pm and 7pm concerts
Looking for the perfect gift?
Why not check off your Christmas list early with tickets to "Christmas Gifts"?
Tickets are going fast – grab yours today! www.calvindyck.com/concerts
Join the National Conversation - It’s not a conference, it’s a national conversation. At the Canadian National Gathering in May 2026, CRC leaders from across Canada will worship, pray, and discern where God is calling our churches next. Your gift is a way to participate and support this renewal: crcna.org/canada/giving-tuesday
Wisdom in the Age of AI - Mark your calendars for the "Wisdom in the Age of AI" conference to be hosted at Calvin University from October 8-10, 2026. The conference will include as keynotes Paolo Benanti (Artificial Intelligence (AI) advisor at the Vatican), Rosalind Picard (MIT Media Lab), and author and speaker Andy Crouch (Praxis), and six tracks exploring the role of AI in education, church, business, healthcare, the arts, and STEM. Learn more: calvin.edu/faith-and-technology/faith-and-ai-conference
Let's End Hunger Together on Giving Tuesday - Right now, families in Sudan and South Sudan are facing a severe hunger crisis due to conflict and displacement. Will you join World Renew to help end hunger and turn crisis into hope? Every dollar you give on Tuesday can be matched up to 5X—thanks to challenge gifts and matching funds from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank—providing emergency food and showing God’s love to families in Sudan and South Sudan. Learn more and give generously on December 2 at worldrenew.ca/givingtuesday.
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:
Ecumenical Relations: Relationship with Alliance Formalized The Alliance of Reformed Churches is now a “church in communion” with the CRCNA.
The Banner: Rediscovering the Sacred in a Hurried World Slowing down deepens our ministry, allowing us to lead from a place of renewal rather than exhaustion.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - Today is the first Sunday in the season of Advent, a time when we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus. There are many different ways we can get ready for Christmas—such as listening to music, reading Christmas stories, and lighting Advent candles. How will you practice getting your heart ready? Check out the Advent page of Thrive’s Family Faith Formation toolkit for some ideas: crcna.org/advent-tools. Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
Groundwork: Waiting for the Light of the World. - Advent is a season of waiting. We’re waiting for Jesus, the Light of the World. Join Groundwork as we study Genesis 1:1-5, Psalm 18:27-28, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 11:1-3, and Romans 13:11-14 to explore the Bible’s theme of light and gain a fuller understanding of what we’re waiting for as we begin to prepare our hearts for the arrival of Jesus at his birth at Christmas. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Job Opportunity:
Hiring! Temporary Communications Specialist - Resonate Global Mission is seeking a temporary content writer & editor to support our storytelling and donor communications during a 3-month parental leave. This role is ideal for a creative, detail-oriented communicator with strong writing skills and a passion for global mission. This is a part-time, hybrid or remote position based in Burlington, Ont.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; or elsewhere in North America. Learn more and apply before December 8, 2025 at crcna.pinpointhq.com
The Banner: The November 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