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Offering for weeks 3 & 4 of August: This is the last Sunday to give to either of the Special Offerings!

One of our special offerings this month is for ReFrame Ministries which is the global media ministry of the CRCNA. More than 85 years ago, CRC churches recognized they would be stronger together by forming a shared media ministry that could carry the gospel farther than any one congregation alone. That ministry became ReFrame Ministries. Through this united effort, we produce resources like the Today Daily Devotional, Groundwork, and Kids Corner. The ministry works with international partners to share the good news in ten major languages. Through ReFrame, people all around the world are hearing the gospel and finding life-giving hope of the good news of Jesus Christ.  

To learn more or support this ministry, please visit ReFrame's website.

* The Deacons do two Special Offerings per month, Raphael House will run for the first two weeks, with ReFrame Ministries 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 August! *

Next Month: For the first two weeks of September, we will be doing our Special Offering for Samaritan's Purse supporting the wildfires in BC. More information to come next week!

Nominations 2026:  Willoughby Church Council is continuing with the process for selecting new persons to serve in the office of elder and deacon beginning September 2026. After meeting with potential nominees, we would like to put forth this list of candidates based on the needs for new Office Bearers:  

New Admin Elders:

New Deacon:

New Pastoral Elders:

The Affirmation Vote for Administrative Elders, Pastoral Elders and Deacon will be September 13th, 2026. May God bless you as you discern on the nominees for these positions of leadership, if there are any concerns as to why these nominees should not serve, please contact Joanna Devries or any Council Member. 

Thanks, Willoughby Church Council

Ministry Announcement: North of 60 is the new name for Willoughby’s Seniors group. Any older adults 60+ is welcome to come and try it out. There’s an invitation in your mailbox with more info.
If you have any questions ask Alice Voogt or Mabel Roukema

Potluck Lunch: It's time again for us to share the table! We will be getting together as a church and community to launch a new ministry year and have a potluck lunch, on Sunday, September 13th after the church service. For this Sunday's potluck, we'll be doing the theme of Soup & Buns! Please make sure you bring enough to share, sign up is available through this link!!

Dessert, coffee & juice will be provided by the Church!

See you all there!

Any questions, please reach out to Tamara at tamara@willoughbychurch.com

Short Term Community Groups: Sign up this Fall to be a part of a short-term community group!  These groups will meet every other Wednesday evening, starting on September 16.  For 8 weeks (until the end of December), the group(s) will be studying the gospel of Mark together.

These groups are intentionally meant to be self-driven.  Once we have all the registrants, Pastor Jenna will organize the groups, give you the resources you need to do a deep dive into Mark's gospel, and then away you go!  Click here to sign up!

Digging Deeper: Scripture Study Nights: Join us in the Fall as we study the story of Scripture and seek to find ourselves in it! Starting on September 23 we will meet every other Wednesday for 20 weeks (until the end of June) to dig ourselves deeper into the narrative of the Bible.  We will be studying the books of the New Testament, looking at one or two books each week.  We will discuss the authors, dating, and context of each book, learn some of the historical background, and engage with the text itself to discover more about the Person of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit's work in our lives.  Each week we will study, pray, and offer our questions and ideas within the safety of one another's company.  There is no 'homework' required ahead of time, but there will be suggestions for follow-up Bible reading.

Click here to sign up, which will help determine the approximate size of the group for planning.  Each week Pastor Jenna will be sending an email to the whole group to offer the topics for the evening and other ways to help you prepare.

Although there is no expectation to come every week -- and anyone can join at any time -- please be aware that the more you invest into this, the more you will get out of it.  

Garden Sharing Table: Are your vegetable or flower gardens, fruit trees or bushes producing more than you can use? Why not share the abundance? Bring your extras to our Sunday morning Garden Sharing Table, located in the church’s front lobby. Let’s share the bounty of our gardens and enjoy the gifts of the season together. Everyone is welcome to take home items from the table to enjoy! The table will be available every Sunday throughout the summer. 

Blood Donor Clinic: For September we will be hosting two more Blood Donor Clinics on Wednesday, September 9th at 1pm and Thursday, September 10th at 10am. If you are able, please join in saving lives together by donating blood. Appointments are necessary and can be booked at blood.ca.

Naji & Anne's News & Notes: We are happy to share this newsletter from our Ministry partner who we support through Resonate Global Missions.  Pursuing Spiritual and Social Transformation with the Middle Eastern Church. Click here to read their August Newsletter!

You're Invited to Langley for On-the-Land Learning! - How do we listen to the stories of the land and practice being good neighbours? Come spend a day on Stó:lō territory with Adrian Jacobs (Senior Leader for Indigenous Justice & Reconciliation) and local Indigenous knowledge holders. Saturday, September 12, 2026 | Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Langley, BC. Learn more and register: https://crcna.regfox.com/langley-on-the-land-learning-september

Fun Family Event: You're invited to join churches from the Langley area for a Faith & Footy event with Vancouver FC. Cheer on the Eagles at the Willoughby Stadium on September 6th at 3pm for a discounted rate. There is also an opportunity to be a part of the pregame ceremonies and have a pizza lunch with a former VFC player who will share his inspiring faith & footy story (all ages welcome, spots are limited). Purchase your tickets and sign up for the special pregame experience by clicking here!

Invitation: The Langley First Capital Chorus is excited to invite you to join our Fall/Winter Session here at Willoughby Church. The program begins on September 10th, 2026 from 7 PM to 8:30 pm, and concludes with a special Finale called Christmas in Harmony, on December 12th, 2026 at 2:30 PM. You will be a part of all the songs we sing that evening. Whether you are an experienced singer or simply enjoy making music with others, this is a wonderful opportunity to help further develop your vocal skills, learn festive Christmas music, and share the joy of singing in a friendly and welcoming environment. Registration Fee: $60

We would love to have you join us for a season filled with music, friendship, learning, and Christmas Spirit. For more information or to register, please contact us. Dorothea at 604-308-8854

Equipped to Listen Well - Telecare Crisis & Caring Line is offering a 9-week, fully online supportive listening series beginning September 17, 2026. This training helps participants deepen their listening skills, reflect on their approach to care, and grow in confidence when supporting others through difficult struggles. Each week’s session will be 1.5–2 hours. Interested applicants can visit telecarebc.com/training or email admin@telecarebc.com to join.

Celebrate Life: You’re Invited to Advokate’s Celebrate Life Gala! Come celebrate the lives being saved, the
families being strengthened, and the hope being restored through Advokate’s work in our community.
Keynote speaker, Victoria Robinson, will share her own powerful testimony highlighting why missions like Advokate’s (Hope for Women) are so very important.
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Coast Langley City Hotel
RSVP: celebratelifegala.ca

Help Needed: The Mission Thrift Store (formerly Bible for Missions) is celebrating 35 years! We plan to celebrate this in December and are asking for help to find photos and documents from the early years. Do you have any or know someone who might have something? Please call or text Pat Storteboom 604-787-0256, or Arlene (Manager) 778-878-8694 or drop it off at the store anytime it’s open. Thank you so much!

2026 Cambodia Discovery Tour: World Renew invites you on a learning journey to explore Cambodia! Grow in your understanding of World Renew’s work from communities already leading change, while experiencing the history, traditions, and culture of Cambodia. Join us from November 6-16, 2026, and come discover what God is doing in Cambodia. Registration is limited. For more information you can contact Liz Tolkamp our World Renew Ambassador for the Church or to register, visit bit.ly/cambodia2026info

Reflecting a Lifetime of Blessings - As we look back on God’s faithfulness throughout our lives, we often feel a nudge to "pay it forward." A gift in your will is a beautiful way to honour the journey God has led you on. Whether you wish to support justice, global mission, or local leadership, we can help you tailor a gift that reflects your passions. Explore your options with a free consultation from our partners at Christian Stewardship Services at info@csservices.ca or 1-800-267-8890.

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:

 

Thrive Faith Formation Tip - The late United States congressman John Lewis believed in the nonviolent resistance techniques he learned from Martin Luther King, Jr., and others. He grew up with the gospel teaching that everyone is made in the image of God. To honor that image, we just need to slow down and see others through the lenses of grace and forgiveness. Humanizing people—even one’s enemy (Matt. 5:44-45)—according to Lewis, is the first step toward reconciliation and social change. Whom might God be asking you to forgive this week? How can you recognize and honor the image of God in everyone you encounter this week? Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive

Groundwork: Jesus' Sacrifice is Complete and Makes Us Holy - Guilt has weight; it becomes a burden to one who carries it. Join our Groundwork conversation as we study Hebrews 8:1-10:18 to see how the author of Hebrews offers reassurance to weary believers by showing how Israel’s covenant, tabernacle, and sacrificial system all dealt with guilt, but ultimately point to and find their fulfillment in Christ. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

Job Posting:

We're Hiring! Director of Communications - The successful candidate will provide leadership, strategy, planning, and oversight in the communications of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) and its ministries. The Director of Communications will ensure that communications and marketing across the denomination function within the established ecclesiastical and organizational frameworks in a way that supports and facilitates the ministry of the CRCNA and its institutions and agencies, in conformity with the denominational ministry plan. This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Burlington, Ont., or Grand Rapids, Mich. Apply at crcna.pinpointhq.com by August 29, 2026.

The Banner: The July/August 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