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Offering for weeks 3&4 of September:

Our second special offering for the month of September is for Regent College, located in Vancouver. Founded in 1968, Regent College is an inter-denominational graduate school of theology that is well-known for its rigorous academics and solid evangelical teaching. Regent welcomes students from all over the globe—currently from over 40 countries and more than 30 denominations. 

As one of our local theological schools that is doing good work in training ministry and lay leaders alike—including many of our local CRC pastors—this is a wonderful opportunity to give back to an institution that has given so much to the Christian community in the greater Vancouver area.

If you have any questions about Regent College, please feel free to contact Pastor Jenna.  She is a Regent College graduate and currently sits on the Regent College Board of Directors.

Women's Connect: As we start our new ministry year, the first women's event is happening on Saturday, October 17th at 10:00am. Our theme for this event is ”Giving Back.” We will be partnering with Cedar Haven to create intake baskets of personal essential items. Stop by the foyer to sign up and choose an essential item to contribute!

North of 60: Old school roots with a modern twist! We invite anyone 60+ to come for a Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, October 8th. This is the churches way of saying Thank You for who you are and your involvement in our church. We'll start at 10 with coffee, devotion and games; with lunch being served at 11:30. Your neighbour or friends are more than welcome to join. We will need to know numbers of those coming, so please sign up before hand with the sign up sheets in the foyer.

Blood Donor Clinic: For the month of October we will be hosting a Blood Donor Clinic on Friday, October 9th 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.

Garden Sharing Table: As summer winds down, there's still time to share the abundance from your garden! The Garden Sharing Table will continue through the October Thanksgiving weekend. So if your late-season fruits and veggies are still producing, your contributions are welcome!  Bring your extras to the table in the church’s front lobby on Sunday morning. 

Let’s Talk about it: On-line Conversation Group. Neil & Virginia are ready to welcome new and returning Christian Courier readers back to thoughtful conversation, this time on the October issue with its theme of hospitality. What ideas/articles caught your attention and why? Join us on Monday, October 19. Learn more on crc1life.ca.

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. On Thursday, October 29 at 7:00pm, at the Coast Langley Hotel. Keynote speaker, Victoria Robinson, will share her own powerful testimony highlighting why missions like Advokate’s (Hope for Women) are so very important. If you are interested in attending and would like to join a table of 10 from the church, please contact Pastor Jenna or Tamara.

By God's Grace, Honouring our Past, Embracing our Future: First CRC of Vancouver is celebrating 100 years (1926 - 2026) as a congregation with a celebration service and reception on Sunday, October 18th at 10:30am. You are invited to join us in person or online (YouTube link on our website: firstvan.ca or search FIRST CRC Vancouver). Forward notes of congratulations to office@firstvan.ca or by mail to 2670 Victoria Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5N 4L2.

You’re Invited: Maple Ridge CRC 75th Anniversary Celebration 1951–2026 | Faithful Then. Faithful Now. Maple Ridge Christian Reformed Church is celebrating 75 years of God’s faithfulness, and we would love to invite our friends, neighbours, and fellow churches in the community to celebrate with us! Over the past 75 years, God has faithfully guided our church through generations of worship, ministry, fellowship, and service. During our anniversary celebration, we’ll take a look back through the decades and remember some of the people, stories, and moments that have shaped our church family. If you have connections to Maple Ridge CRC or have been part of our story over the years, we hope you’ll come celebrate this special milestone with us! Saturday, October 10 | 7:00 PM: Join us for a special 75th Anniversary Celebration Evening, as we journey through the history of MRCRC and celebrate God’s faithfulness. Refreshments and fellowship will follow. Sunday, October 11 | 10:00 AM: We will continue our anniversary celebration with a special 75th Anniversary Worship Service. Everyone is welcome, and we would be especially delighted to celebrate alongside our neighbours and friends from the community.

Step In/Step Out: a one day conference to equip and energize you with a plan for how your church can step into the CRCNA church planting initiative. A wide and deep vision for becoming a denomination that multiplies was affirmed at Synod 2026. Every classis has been invited to mobilize toward this vision. This gathering is being offered to inspire CRC churches in BC to begin that mobilizing in prayerful, imaginative and practical ways. Join us on Saturday, November 7 at Tapestry Mundy Park.

1Life Book Conversation Cohort 2026-27. Thursday November 12 to Thursday June 10
Second Thursday of each month @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. No matter how familiar you are with the Bible, reading this book described as a fascinating, sprawling, love-song to the Bible is sure to give you fresh perspectives.To sign up for this year’s cohort or to have a cohort in church community, contact our 1Life facilitator, Wilma van der Leek: wilma@crc1life.ca

RESTORATIVE CONGREGATIONS  Learning How to Grow Restorative Churches: Training Opportunity:  Friday & Sat:  Oct 2 & 3 , 2026.   9am  – 4 pm, New Life CRC  35270 Delair Road, Abbotsford. This 2 day training will introduce participants to FaithCARE’s framework & vision for Restorative Congregations.  Participants will learn how to design and facilitate proactive listening circles for a variety of topics and occasions, incorporate restorative practices into interpersonal relationships, ministry groups, congregational life & discernment, leadership meetings etc. Tools are given to help restore or make right where harm and wrong has occurred. The training supports churches to become restorative culture congregations which can help to both reduce & address conflict in healthy ways. INFO: RESTORATIVE CONGREGATIONS TRAINING REGISTER ONLINE: Restorative Congregations Training CONTACT FOR INFO:  Faye Martin: sfmartin@telus.net COST: $100   Registration is limited to 25 people

"Keeping Kids Christian" webinar:  Join Thrive's faith formation consultant Rick Zomer for Lifelong Discipleship: A Conversation with author Cameron Shaffer on Tuesday, October 13, at 1:00 PM PST. This 45-minute webinar will feature a presentation from the author of the book Keeping Kids Christian, followed by an interactive Q&A session. You don’t need to have read Shaffer's book to benefit from the discussion, but all attendees will receive an exclusive discount to purchase a copy! Register here! More information at: Lifelong Discipleship Webinar 

Paul’s Missionary Journeys in Greece (April 2 - 12. 2027): Travel by motor coach (6 days) and cruise ship (3 days) to sites connected with Paul’s second and third missionary journeys, as well as visit other major sites of biblical, archaeological, and cultural interest. Jeff Weima, professor at Calvin Theological Seminary and leading Pauline scholar, hosts this inspirational tour. For more information, contact Dr. Weima at 616-328-3110 or weimje@calvinseminary.edu.

1Life October 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 October 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:

Church Renewal: Thrive Equips Leaders and Families for Lifelong Faith Formation Thrive is offering equipping events and practical discipleship resources.

NetWork: Shalom Happens Maybe Isaiah had a point when he prophesied: “... and a little child will lead them.”

The BANNER: Editorial: We Begin on Our Knees This 10-year multiplying plan calls us to recognize the need to get small through prayer and to honor God with big requests.

Thrive Faith Formation Tip - What faith practices shape your life and the lives of the people who share your home? “It’s easy for us to think that we create our habits, but our habits also create us. The faith-forming things that we do together deeply affect the way we think and act. Because of this, consistently committing to your faith practices as a family has a significant impact.” —from Dear Parent: A Guide for Family Faith Formation, by Laura Keeley and Robert J. Keeley, available at FaithAliveResources.org. This week ask your family or friends what faith practices have the most impact on their lives and engage in one of the practices shared. Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive

Groundwork: A Wise Perspective on Work - Much of our adult life revolves around work: work for our jobs, work on our houses and for our families, and work for the Lord. Join Groundwork as we study Ecclesiastes 4:4-8, 5:10-15, 9:7-10 to listen to the Teacher’s wisdom on what makes our work meaningful. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.

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