Online Worship and Newsletter

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 

 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble 

with the comfort we ourselves receive from God  (2 Cor. 1:2-4)

Sunday is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.  It’s a day when the church worldwide is petitioned to stand in unity and prayer for brothers and sisters persecuted for their faith.  It’s estimated that at least 380 million Christians suffer daily for their faith at the hands of persecutors.   Yes, let’s stand firm in prayer for and with them! 

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Our  Sunday worship begins @ 10:30.  Sunday School is available for children ages 3 to grade 3 with childcare available for those younger.  All children will be dismissed partway through the service. 

The worship service streams on youtube beginning at 10:25  and can be watched later as a video at:    Bethlehem CRC – Thunder Bay – YouTube  

WORD & WORSHIP :    Become Like Jesus in Suffering  (Romans 5:1-5 & Luke 14:27)

An 8 week bible/book  study is planned to go along with this sermon series on Discipleship.  It will be led by Yvonne S. and you can sign up by speaking to her or signing the sheet in the front entry. 

NEWS, THANKS and PRAYERS:

• Scott will have a second round of chemo this coming week.   We continue to uphold Scott and Mari Lou with prayers for healing and peace. 
• Simon and Audrey have had some difficult weeks and are having increasing difficulty managing where they are.  Please keep them in prayer. 
• Murray L. continues to recover at home… we pray for renewed strength and healing. 
• Please pray for those struggling with addictions along with their loved ones that are deeply impacted. 

MEMORIAL SERVICE:    A Celebration of Life will be held this afternoon for Dale Miles. This is a time to gather to give thanks for his life as well as comfort each other in community.  It will begin at 3 pm here at Bethlehem with a reception following. 

DEACONS’ OFFERINGS: 

This Week: WR – World Hunger

Next Week: DMC – Global Fund

For e-transfer: giving@bethlehemcrc.ca

E-transfers can be used for the deacon’s offering, church budget, ministry shares, or work of the deacons (blessing/bread box).  Please make sure to indicate this in your e-transfer. You can also leave an offering in the collection plate.  Unless otherwise designated, it will go to the deacon’s offering for that particular Sunday.

DUTY LIST: 

If you’re not on the list and wish to be added contact Mari-Lou by emailing her at Office@bethlehemcrc.ca. If you’re on the duty list and do not plan on attending church at this time please find your replacement. 

UPDATED: Duty List Updated.xlsx

WEDNESDAY PRAISE AND PRAYER:   Join us for an hour of prayer as we gather to praise our God and to pray for our city, church, families and each other.   Wednesday @ 7pm. 

MONTHLY FINANCIAL UPDATE – OCTOBER: 2025.10 Monthly Financial Update for Bethlehem CRC.docx

COUNCIL MINI MINUTES: of October 14, 2025

-Christmas Fellowship Dinner planned for December 7

-committee of management looking into storm drainage in parking lot

-Deacon’s offering schedule for 2026 in development and benevolence policy almost completed

-Sunday school 3-9 attendees per Sunday, looking into flexibility of assistance

-Update of Classis meeting provided by Pastor Marg, CRCNA emphasis on church plants

-Next Classis meeting in March 2026 will trial video format (Zoom)

-three churches in Classis Superior [Canada] are without pastors (Transcona and Covenant in

Winnipeg and Emo)

-First CRC 75th Anniversary celebration being held on Nov 8., two representatives of Bethlehem

will attend

-reviewed covenant of office bearers, see Synod 2025 FAQ for clarification

(www.crcna.org/Synod2025FAQ)

-need more livestream and worship committee volunteers

-congregational agenda for November 25 being developed, will include update of Task Force for

Future Direction

-Growing the Church conference has about 30 registrants, being held on Oct 24-25

HEALING WITH JESUS PRAYER MINISTRY:  If you desire prayer, are struggling with unforgiveness, need healing in a relationship or healing from a hurt you’ve experienced, if you are finding it hard to know God’s love then please consider making a prayer appointment.   In this time, a team of people will pray with you as we look to Jesus who is the great physician. 

Brochures are available in the church foyer that explains inner healing prayer and what happens at a prayer session.To make a prayer appointment, please connect with Pastor Marg

or send an email TBhealingprayer@gmail.com.  

CROSSROADS FOR PRISONERS: Crossroads For Prisoners Canada wishes to thank the Bethlehem CRC congregation for blessing us with your recent offering.  These funds will be used to offset printing and postal costs as we bless our many students across Canada.  We also wish to thank our faithful mentors from Bethlehem for their love and encouragement to those incarcerated.  Our ministry is growing rapidly and we are seeking more mentors to meet our growing need.  If you are so led, please contact us at info@crossroadscanada.ca or visit our website at www.crossroadscanada.ca.  May God continue to bless your ministry in Thunder Bay.

THE GATHERING PLACE: We are inviting your congregation to participate in our upcoming Toothbrush & Toothpaste Drive, beginning October 19. This initiative, organized by The Gathering Place for Open Hands Food Program, aims to provide essential oral hygiene items to individuals and families in need within our community.  Your support through donations or by helping us spread the word will make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

Job Opportunity – The Gathering Place Executive Director: The Gathering Place is looking to hire their next Executive Director! This is a key leadership role for the non-profit organization that has served some of Thunder Bay’s most challenged neighbourhoods over the past 40 years through food and clothing distribution, community building, personal supports, and more. This is a full-time position (35 hours per week) at a wage of $30.00 per hour. A complete description of the role can be found on our website: https://www.thegatheringplacetbay.ca/volunteer-careers.

If you feel that God may be calling you to this position, apply by submitting a copy of your resume to the chair of The Gathering Place’s board of directors, Fred Rekman, at fmrekman@gmail.com. We would also appreciate your prayers during this search process, as well as your support in helping share this position opening with those who may be equipped for this role and encouraging them to consider applying. God has blessed this joint initiative of the Christian Reformed Churches of Thunder Bay for decades and we can’t wait to see what God has in store for The Gathering Place in the decades to come!

PRAYER CORNER:  Faithful in the Small Things

It is important to spend time being quiet before the Lord. If we are doing all of the talking, we won’t be able to hear Him speak. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). I wonder how many instructions and promptings we miss because we don’t take the time to learn to distinguish the voice of the Shepherd! “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).

When you sense that you have a word from the Lord and it agrees with the Bible, act upon it. God is not going to give us more than we can handle, and He will likely start us out slowly. As you are faithful in the small things, He will trust you with bigger issues. Maybe He will impress upon your heart to write a note to someone, or to make an encouraging phone call. If you didn’t actually hear directly from the Lord, you are still doing something that is like the character of Jesus living within you. 

Prayer starter:

Lord Jesus, sometimes I long to do the big splashy deeds that make You known widely. But then, You quietly remind me that the smallest touch, a quiet encouragement, or act of mercy is living out faithful obedience within Your kingdom! Help me to be a servant that doesn’t need to live my life to be seen by men. Give me a listening heart to obey even the smallest task You choose to give me, to share a word or a call to some one that  you put on my heart, I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.             ~Hank

BETHLEHEM CONNECTIONS: 

Bulletin announcements or ‘Family News’: Please submit to Mari-Lou by Thursdays at 6:00 pm bulletin@bethlehemcrc.ca 

Pastor Marg welcomes your calls or visits.   Please reach out to her or stop by the office: 

pastor@bethlehemcrc.ca or (807) 767 3961.   

Clerk of Council: Greg Kok clerk@bethlehemcrc.ca

Elders:  Corinne Hoogsteen, Sharon Jaspers, Abraham Drost and Greg Kok

Deacons:  Erica Snippe-Juurakko, Lori Lawrence, Mark Heerema and Mikaela Hummel