Online Bulletin
December Special Offering: The December special offering is for the 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 World Renew’s best-seller bundles( pg 16 in the gift catalog). One bundle, worth $4,290.00, contains 1 goat, 1 chicken, goats and quackers, the whole barnyard, a friendship pack, a family-sized water filter, the herd, 1 bicycle, 10 bars of soap, 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.
Holiday Office Hours: Willoughby Church Family, here are the church office hours during the holiday season:
- December 22nd - 9am - 4pm
- December 23rd - 9am - 4pm
- December 24th - 9am - 12pm
- December 25th & 26th - Closed
The following week for New Years, it's regular office hours, though the office will be closed on January 1st, for New Years Day.
Merry Christmas to you and your family from the staff at Willoughby Church!!
Blood Donor Clinic: For the month of December we will be hosting another Blood Donor Clinic, on Wednesday, December 24th at 9am. If you are able, please join in saving lives together by donating blood. Appointments are necessary and can be booked at blood.ca.
New Members: Lunch & Orientation - Sunday, January 11, 2026
Are you interested in know more about becoming a member of Willoughby Christian Reformed Church? Who We Are and What We Believe?
Please join us for a New Member Lunch & Orientation after the church service at noon on Sunday January 11th! We look forward to having you learn more about membership.
Sign up here!!! *Childcare will be provided by me!!
Teach-It Tuesday: The End of Western Civilization - Tuesday, January 13, 2026
In January we'll be welcoming Pastor Erik Delange from Cornerstone Christian Reformed Church in Chilliwack to talk to us about "The End of Western Civilization"!
Erik writes this:
"Western Civiliation is largely defined by 4 terms: Modern, Liberal, Capitalist, and Democracy. What has been happening in the past number of years is that these realities are shifting and changing or perhaps being undermined completely. We are in a Post-Modern, Post-Liberal, Post-Capitalist, and possibly even Post-Democracy society and that is understandably rattling, as it seems to shift the ground that we stand on.
"But as Christians our faith is not in the West, but in Jesus Christ, and modernity already sowed the seeds of it's own demise right from the Start. By looking back in time to the Gospels and thinkers like Plato, it is my hope we will be able to reclaim an enchanted view of the world that will help us to withstand even the toughest of storms in our Modern Western World."
Consider coming out to join us on Tuesday, January 13, for dinner and discussion on this important topic! Click the link here to sign up for the event.
Watoto Children' Choir: We're so excited to welcome all the way from Uganda, East Africa, the Watoto Children’s Choir, performing songs from their brand-new album, “Better Days—There Is Hope”. Come join us on January 18, 2026 at 10:00am for this vibrant celebration of God’s love.
Don’t miss out on this uniquely immersive worship experience through song, dance and video story-telling!
We are looking for Volunteers for the Day of the event, if you would like to help out, click here to register your name!
Thanks, The Staff at Willoughby Church
Host Families Needed: We will be hosting the Watoto Children's at Willoughby Christian Reformed Church on Sunday, January 18, 2025 at 10:00am. (Hosting the children will be for one night, Saturday, January 17th.)
A note from the Choir: Thank you for opening you home and hearts to Watoto. Your hospitality is greatly appreciated!
Hosting Needs:
- 10 homes and 2 hotel rooms (one for the choir team leader and one for the bus driver) for one night, Saturday, January 17th! The choir will be leaving after the service Sunday morning for another concert that evening!
Requested Housing Breakdown:
- 5 homes with 1 boy and one male chaperone each
- 1 home with 2 boys and one male chaperone
- 1 home with 1 girl and one female chaperone each
- 3 homes with 2 girls and one female chaperone each
If you are able to host the choir, please click the link here or contact Tamara at tamara@willoughbychurch.com!!
Truth, Reconciliation, and Exchanging Hearts - Calvin Theological Seminary’s Truth, Reconciliation, & Exchanging Hearts course offers a focused look at Canada’s Indigenous history and practical guidance for ministry leaders pursuing reconciliation. Deadline to apply is January 30. Learn more: https://loom.ly/I4i8muI
Christmas Concert & Sing-along: Join the Langley Ukulele Association as they present 2 Christas concerts on Saturday, December 20th!!
Concert #1 - 12pm to 2pm - Enjoy the performances from Junior, intermediate and Senior B ensembles plus a Christmas sing/strum along!
Concert #2 - 6pm to 8pm - Enjoy a concert featuring the Langley Ukulele Ensembles with performances from the Junior, Intermediate and Senior B ensembles and a featured performance by the Senior A ensemble!
Tickets are $10 for Concert #1 and $15 for Concert #2.
Click here for ticket to Concert #1 & Click here for tickets to Concert #2!
Christmas Pipe Organ Concert with Audience Singing with organist, Frank Ezinga, (Langley)
Seasonal sacred music by Asma / Bach / Bedard / Mulder / ZwartHeritage Pipe Organ (1912)
Cancelled in case of snow.
Celebrating the Greatest Gift - As we exchange gifts at Christmas, we celebrate Jesus, God’s great gift to us. Will you add a child or family living in poverty to your Christmas giving today? Your donation to World Renew helps people around the world improve their lives and find home in their heart for Jesus. Please give generously during today’s offering for World Renew or online at worldrenew.ca/gifts
Merry Christmas from World Renew! - As we approach Christmas, Advent invites us to a time of waiting, longing, and hope. We remember that Jesus came into a world marked by hardship, injustice, and uncertainty, and that His coming was good news precisely because of those realities. Emmanuel—God with us—meets us in the midst of what feels fragile and unfinished and breathes new life into places that feel weary. Thank you for walking alongside us in this work and for being part of the hope of Christmas together. We invite you to watch and share this Christmas Thank You Video from World Renew country offices. May this season be filled with the peace, hope, joy, and love of Christ for you and your church community.
Merry Christmas from Diaconal Ministries! - As this year draws to a close, we pause with deep gratitude for the ways churches and individuals have supported Diaconal Ministries Canada. Your generosity, prayers, and encouragement have been a steady sign of God’s presence at work through His people. Our work with deacons and churches across Canada is deliberate, relational, and Spirit-led—and it is only possible through faithful partners like you. You can read more about our work and the impact it's having on our website: https://diaconalministries.com. We also invite you to give a year-end donation - through your church or via our website. Together, may we enter the new year with expectation, believing that what we already have is enough for God to do immeasurably more. Merry Christmas from all of us at Diaconal Ministries Canada!
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:
The Network: Advent Waiting What does it mean to lean into the spiritual discipline of waiting?
The Banner: Editorial: Mary’s Birth Story Ever since my harrowing, whirlwind birth experience years ago, I have felt a strange kinship with Mary.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - It’s almost Christmas Day! How many different ways can you think of to say “Merry Christmas!” to people who know the story of Christmas and to people who don’t know the story? And how might you say “Merry Christmas!” to God this week in a way that reflects love back to our Creator? Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
Groundwork: The Light of the World Among Us - Together, let’s explore the moment Isaiah’s anticipation of light turns to the reality of the light of the world among us. Join Groundwork as we study Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20, John 8:12, Ephesians 5:8-9, and Revelation 22:5 to discuss Jesus Christ’s birth, life, and the hope he brings, uncovering the profound meaning of Christ’s light shining in our world and how we live as children of light. GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Job Opportunity:
Position Opening: Director of Justice and Peace - The Director of Justice and Peace position at World Renew is now live. This is a full-time, leadership role open to candidates in Canada and the United States. The director will provide vision and strategic leadership for World Renew’s Justice and Peace Program, guiding staff, projects, partnerships, resource development, and external engagement. This position will strengthen World Renew’s capacity in Justice and Peace initiatives, ensuring programming is rooted in biblical principles and aligned with our global strategy. The director will collaborate across teams to deliver transformational, community-driven projects, advocate for systemic change, and engage with external partners to amplify our impact worldwide. Learn more and apply at worldrenew.ca/careers by January 2.
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
Act Now! Help The Banner Meet Its Year-End Goal - Please help The Banner magazine 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 Reformed content for another year. 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