Online Bulletin
Offering for weeks 1 & 2 of April:
The special offering for the first and second week in April is for the Willoughby Church Refugee Sponsorship Fund. This comes at a very opportune time, as we just received news from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that the Al Haj Murie family of six will arrive in late May or June! They are Syrian refugees who have been waiting in Lebanon for years. This will be the 14th family that Willoughby Church has successfully helped settle over the past 13 years.
Next Sunday, the Refugee Sponsorship Team will present information about the sponsored individuals and families. As always, we are grateful for the generous support Willoughby Church has provided for refugees who are seeking a new, safe home country, and we pray for continued generosity.
Garage Sale: There will be a garage sale at the church on Saturday, May 9 from 9:00am -1:00pm. If you would like a table or more information please contact Yvonne Vandyk 604-710-9786 or Helen Vandenberg 604-807-3706. This is not a fundraiser, you'll be able to bring and sell your own items in the church parking lot!
Seniors: We will be meeting on Thursday, April 9th at 10am. Come join us for fellowship, refreshments and some shared activities. Len Battering will show us another video of the Missionary Travels of one of the Apostles. Hope to see you all there!!!!
Blood Donor Clinic: For the month of April we will be hosting two Blood Donor Clinics on Thursday, April 2 at 10am and Friday, April 3rd at 12pm. If you are able, please join in saving lives together by donating blood. Appointments are necessary and can be booked at blood.ca.
Mercy Canada - Discipleship Study: Keys to Freedom is an eight-week discipleship study designed to help individuals recognize God’s voice, heal from life’s hurts, and discover their identity and freedom in Christ. We are offering this study here at Willoughby starting on April 15 at 7pm. Across eight weeks, with five 20-minute daily readings each week, this devotional-style self-study will educate, equip, and empower your relationship with God as you explore: Hearing God’s Voice; Committing and Connecting to Christ; Renewing Your Mind; Healing Life’s Hurts; Choosing to Forgive; Breaking Generational Patterns; Using Your Authority in Christ; & Maintaining Lifelong Freedom.
Using biblical teaching, practical application, and reflective questions, every participant will gain the opportunity to draw closer to God and discover greater freedom in their life.
If you are interested in this study, a sign up sheet is available in the lobby after the service!!
Invitation to discuss the future of refugee welcome in BC: As you may remember, in 2016 the CRC's of BC collectively contributed to creating the position of "Chaplain and Refugee Support Mobilizer" (CRSM), a position designed to offer a ministry of presence and support for newly-arrived refugees in Vancouver/the lower mainland and to help encourage and support the welcome of refugees in our churches. Dena Nicolai held this position for the last 10 years and has now stepped away from this role into a new opportunity with World Renew. As we look to the future of the ministry, the Advisory Committee of the CRSM would like to invite all of the CRCs in BC to an online gathering to present an exciting new opportunity for supporting churches across the province to continue to participate in welcome. During this gathering, we will be reviewing and celebrating the last 10 years of the CRSM's work and communally discussing its future. Anyone from your churches are welcome to attend, and we would particularly encourage involvement from deacons, outreach teams, and/or refugee support and sponsorship teams. We are hosting it virtually because we also deeply hope to see representatives from churches outside of the lower mainland as what we hope to present is equally applicable to churches across the province. The gathering is Thursday, April 9 at 7:30 pm by Zoom and you can register at this link.
Pacific Voices for O'Ahu: The Langley Ukulele Association presents the Pacific Voices Concert on Friday, April 17th at 7:00pm here at Willoughby Church. They are uniting voices across the Pacific in suppot of O'ahu's North Shore communities affected by the recent floods. Join them for this benefit concert, with all proceeds going to flood-relief efforts. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased by clicking here for tickets or at the door.
Re:activate Youth Conference 2026 - September 11 to 13
We are excited to announce that ReActivate 2026 registration opens on April 1st! Re:activate is an incredible weekend of worship, learning, experiencing God’s world, building new friendships, deepening relationships, and strengthening the bond we have as churches in BC.
This year's theme is Be Still and Know, from Psalm 46:10!
Registration opens April 1st and closes May 31st,
To register and for more information please go to: https://www.reactivatecrc.com/
Handel's Messiah: A Sacred Oratorio: Join the Trinity Western University and St John's Vancouver Choirs with the West Coast Chamber Orchestra, co-conducted by Calvin Dyck and Ben Ewert, for performances of this incredible work on April 11 at 2:00pm at Central Heights Church, Abbotsford and April 12 at 3:30pm at the Chandos Pattison Auditorium, Surrey. Tickets are available on Eventbrite for Abbotsford, April 11 (click here) and Surrey, April 12 (click here).
CASCADE CHRISTIAN COUNSELLING – Our ten 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-$138.00. For more information or to book an appointment, go to www.cascadechristiancounselling.com or call our office at 604-585-1411.
Pray for Synod 2026 - Starting May 3, and for 40 days leading up to Synod 2026, pray with CRC members, leaders, and friends for God’s presence and guidance for the CRC and this year’s synod gathering. Learn more and find prayer resources at network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/prayer/40-days-prayer-synod-2026, including a link to sign up to receive daily emails throughout the 40 days with prayers written by people from across the denomination.
Wisdom in the Age of AI Conference - Calvin University will host Wisdom in the Age of AI, October 8–10, 2026, a conference exploring how Christian faith can guide the wise and faithful use of artificial intelligence. With dynamic keynote speakers and a dedicated AI and Church track, the conference offers thoughtful conversation for pastors and lay leaders alike. The conference will be held in person at the Prince Conference Center on Calvin University's campus, with livestream available for people unable to attend in person. Learn more at calvin.edu/faith-and-technology
1Life April 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 April 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:
Calvin University: More than Dusty Boxes Explore how Heritage Hall protects the denomination’s archives to ensure history remains accessible for generations to come.
The BANNER: Confessional Corner: The Belgic Confession While much of the confession covers the basics of the faith, there are a number of places where the distinct ‘accent’ of Reformed thought comes through.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - Happy Easter! We now move from Lent into Eastertide, a season of extended celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. This week spend some time reading and reflecting on 2 Corinthians 5:14–21. What part of the passage connects with you the most? Create a reminder of Jesus’ death and resurrection by writing a few words from this passage, such as a prayer of gratitude to God, or by drawing a picture that reflects Jesus’ work on the cross. Place your reminder in plain site as a reminder throughout Eastertide to continue your Easter celebration. Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
Groundwork: Jesus' Death, Burial, and Resurrection - We’ve reached the pinnacle moments of salvation history in our Stations of the Cross journey. Join Groundwork as we study Mark 15:33-16:8, Luke 23:44-49, John 19:28-42, and Matthew 27:62-28:10 to witness the thirteenth and fourteenth Stations of the Cross, which invite us to remember Jesus’ suffering, death, and burial. Then linger at the tomb to witness the glory of his resurrection and celebrate his Easter victory over death. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Job Postings:
We're Hiring! Donor Relations Manager - ReFrame Ministries - The successful candidate will develop relationships and implement a strategy with existing and potential donors that will increase financial support and resources, and engage current constituents and cultivate potential donors in support of the ministry. This is a full time, hybrid or remote position based in Burlington, Ont. Learn more and apply by April 11 at crcna.pinpointhq.com
Position Opening: Planned Giving Manager at World Renew - The Planned Giving Manager position at World Renew is now live! This is a full‑time, exempt role within our Constituency Relations Team, reporting to the Donor Relations Director in Canada. The position is based in Burlington, ON, with hybrid work options available. The Planned Giving Manager will play a key role in nurturing relationships with members of World Renew’s legacy giving society, our Joseph Stewards, and in growing planned giving commitments across Canada. This role focuses on personalized donor cultivation, meaningful stewardship, and building a pipeline of future planned giving supporters. It also involves developing educational materials, coordinating with estate planning professionals, and supporting long‑term strategies for legacy giving growth. If you or someone in your network is committed to relationship‑based fundraising, legacy giving, and supporting World Renew’s mission, we encourage you to apply. https://worldrenew.ca/careers
The Annual Banner Appeal - The 2026 funding drive for The Banner, the CRC’s award-winning magazine, has started. The Banner is delivered free in print and online, and your giving to this annual donation appeal makes it possible. To help keep this community conversation going please give online now at: TheBanner.org/Give
The Banner: The January/February 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