Online Worship and Newsletter

I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?

              My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.   ~Ps. 121

Indeed, our help in all things comes from the Lord our God who is faithful and loving beyond compare.  Join us as He gathers us this Sunday in worship and word, as well as being fed at his table of grace.   All who are baptized and  believe in Jesus as Lord are welcome to participate at the table. 

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 :    Sunday marks the beginning of Advent, a time in the church year when we wait with expectant hope for Christ’s coming.   This year the theme is ‘Called to Dream’ and we’ll reflect on the question of ‘What does it mean to have a prophetic voice in this day and age?’       This Sunday:  Isaiah 2:1-5  ‘Called to be Prophets of Hope’

NEWS, THANKS and PRAYERS:

• Our prayers for God’s comfort go out to Mari Lou and her family as they grieve.  May they be covered with peace and the rest of Jesus. 
• Please continue to pray for Alice V., along with Simon & Audrey as managing becomes more and more difficult. 
• Sandra L. (and Pat) appreciate and need your ongoing prayers as she copes with Parkinson’s. 

DEACONS’ OFFERINGS: 

This Week: 

Next Week: Grace Place

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.

PRACTICING THE WAY:   Join this bible study Sunday evenings @ 7 pm at church.  Questions? Talk with Pastor Marg or Yvonne Schenk.

WEDNESDAY PRAISE AND PRAYER:  Come join us @ 7 for a time of praying together in praise and petition  for our city, church and community.  

THE SUMMIT:  As mentioned at the congregational meeting, Pastor Marg recently attended a conference in Waterloo.   Shiao Chong, the former editor of the Banner, was one of the keynote speakers.  His address ‘God with Us: A Christianity Canada Needs’ is well worth a listen. 

Here is a link, his address begins at minute 38 (after worship) :  The Summit: Shiao Chong

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

BETHLEHEM CHRISTMAS DINNER: Save the date –  the annual  Bethlehem Friends and Family Christmas Dinner will be held on Sunday, December 7.  Doors open at 4:30 with dinner at 5.

The main course will be provided by the Fellowship Committee with dessert provided by the Deacons.  Please bring a side dish to share and plates and cutlery if you are able.

We are planning some fun activities, carols and a children’s activity as we prepare to celebrate Our Saviour’s birth.  Hope to see you there!

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.  

HOPE CHURCH: Save the Date: Grab your broom and get ready to slide into some fun!  We’re hosting a Bonspiel on Saturday, December 27th at 6:00 PM at Kakabeka Curling Club to raise funds for The Gathering Place, and we’d love for you to be a part of it! More details to come next week!

THUNDER BAY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: TBCS Christmas Program:  The Christmas Program will take place at First CRC on December 18th at 7:00 PM. It will be led by our students in Grades 7-12 with all grades involved. Everyone is invited to attend, please join us!

WORLD RENEW:  The 2025 Gift Catalogue is Available

As we enter the Christmas season, World Renew’s Gift Catalog offers a meaningful way to share Christ’s love with those in need. From a goat to disaster recovery supplies, each gift brings hope and lasting change for families around the world. Explore the catalog at worldrenew.net/gift-catalog.

THE GATHERING PLACE: The Gathering Place Bonspiel

Get ready to rock the ice and sweep up some good times while supporting The Gathering Place. 

Date: Saturday, December 27th

Location: Kakabeka Curling Club

Cost per Team: $260 (includes dinner)

Dinner Only: $25 

To register your team or to secure your spot for dinner, email Stacey at staceycollie@gmail.com

A Christmas Party Invitation and a Big THANK YOU – An Update from The Gathering Place: The board of The Gathering Place would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the congregations of First, Hope, and Bethlehem CRC for another year of incredible support for TGP. Through financial gifts, food donations, countless volunteer hours and constant prayers you continue to make this joint initiative a place of love, hope, and support for those that we have the privilege to serve, and we could not be more grateful. 

We would like to invite you all to join us at The Gathering Place for our Christmas party on December 19, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 PM for a time of coffee, cookies, conversation, and games! We are also looking for several volunteers to help assist our board and staff in facilitating this event; if you are able to volunteer on this date (or are interested in other TGP volunteer opportunities!) please email Fred Rekman (fmrekman@gmail.com) or speak to any of your church’s board representatives.

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