Advent is defined as “arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)”:

“How sweet the day when Hope appears
The One who frees us from our fears
He comes to break the power of sin
And give us power to live for him

How sweet the day when Christ returns
We’ll see the One for whom we yearn
Then we’ll look full upon his face
Our hearts will burst with songs of praise

O sing for joy, lift up your voice
Sing for joy, the whole earth rejoice
Sing for joy to the Son
For Jesus, our Saviour, will come”

As we enter this Advent season we remember that the long-anticipated arrival of the Messiah brought “The Promise of Better Days” and reflect on passages from Jeremiah, Malachi, Zephaniah and Micah as we prepare our own hearts for the Christmas celebration of Christ’s birth. Look for songs of longing, anticipation, confession and, yes, joy!

Come, Lord Jesus…

Confess Your Sins to Each Other - Janmes 5:13-20

Guest Speaker: Mary-Lee Bouma

We welcome Mary-Lee Bouma, a Christian Reformed missionay to downtown Vancouver.

Click here to listen

Advent is defined as “arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous).” As we enter this Advent season we remember that the long-anticipated arrival of the Messiah brought “The Promise of Better Days” and reflect on passages from Jeremiah, Malachi, Zephaniah and Micah as we prepare our own hearts for the Christmas celebration of Christ’s birth. Join us Sundays at 10:00am, November 29th to December 20th.

The Acts Challenge: Where Will it End? - Acts 26 & 28:17-31

Speaker: Ken Boonstra

Paul makes his defense in front of Agrippa. He is sent to Rome and keeps right on preaching about Jesus.

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Welcome
Gathering Song: Because of Your Love
Call to Worship: Based on Psalm 103
Song of Praise: O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing
Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16
Songs of Response:
Your Grace is Enough; Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone
Prayers of the People
Offering/Offertory: Everything We Need
Scripture: James 5:13-20
Message: Confess Your Sins to Each Other
Reflection
Blessing
Song of Praise: Unchanging

What do you think Willoughby Church could do to be a more loving community of forgiven sinners?

As we reflect on this question, we begin our worship by acknowledging “…because of your love we’re forgiven; because of your love our hearts our clean”. With words from Psalm 103 we remember all the good things God does for us and respond with a song of praise for his great love and grace: “…O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise; the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace”. Hebrews 4 reminds us we can approach this throne of grace with confidence because of what Jesus has done for us. We acknowledge: “…your grace is enough for me; my chains are gone, I’ve been set free – amazing grace!”

Guest speaker Mary-Lee Bouma directs our reflection on the above question with a message from James 5.

We receive God’s blessing and close (as we began) remembering God’s love and grace (…”great is your faithfulness; wide is your love and grace; you never change, you never fail, O God”) and “…so we raise up holy hands to praise the Holy One, who was and is and is to come!” Amen.