Online Worship and Newsletter

Be still and know that I am God

I will be exalted among the nations’  Psalm 46:10 

What a comfort it is to know our God reigns!!  As we gather in worship may He be exalted!!    This Sunday we plan to celebrate communion together as a sacrament of Grace to nourish and strengthen us.  All who are baptized in Christ along with their children are welcome to join at the table. 

Our  Sunday worship begins @ 10:30.  Sunday School is starting 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 :   The Power of our Words  James 3:1-13

NEWS, THANKS and PRAYERS:

• The side effects from chemo have been very hard on Dale and he has been quite ill these past weeks.  Even though at this point there is no cancer, he appreciates your prayers for healing and renewed strength in this difficult time. 
• Scott J. has been diagnosed with metastatic cancer, requires surgery on his arm and additional testing.   Please keep him and Mari Lou in prayer in this time of uncertainty. 
• Ross S.’s only sister passed away suddenly last week.  May God grant you comfort in this time of grief. 
• Sharon & Lloyd’s grandson will have eye surgery this week in Toronto.  We pray for the family as they travel and for complete healing. 
• Classis Lake Superior (a collective of CRC churches in this region of North America) meets this week for 2 days.  Please pray for the deliberations, safe travel and the Spirit’s leading in the ministry of Classis.  
• Thanks to those who made last week’s Worship & Picnic a warm and wonderful time (Corinne, Greg & Sean and the fellowship committee). 

DEACONS’ OFFERINGS: 

This Week: The Gathering Place

Next Week:  Blessing Box

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

Monthly Financial Update for July – 2025.07 Monthly Financial Bethlehem CRC.docx

Monthly Financial Update for August – 2025.08 Monthly Financial Bethlehem CRC.docx

CHURCH  BUILDING USE :  Please note that an Al-Anon group has started using the fellowship room on Thursday evenings at 7:30 so that part of the building is not accessible on those evenings.  

DISTRICT ELDER LISTS:   Each member and regular attender at Bethlehem is part of a district and has an elder assigned to them.  This elder will contact you on a regular basis and is there to encourage you in faith, pray for you and listen to your concerns and joys.  A copy of the list is in the mail slots as well as on the church bulletin board.  If you would like your name added (or don’t have a mail slot), please contact one of the elders:  Bram D., Greg K., Corinne H., Sharon J or Pastor Marg. 

WEDNESDAY PRAISE AND PRAYER:  Every two weeks, a group meets to pray and to praise, bringing before God all that is on our hearts for his world, for the ministry of this church, for this city and for those we love.   Our first prayer time is Wednesday Sept. 24 at 7 pm.  Please come and join us!! 

GROWING THE CHURCH IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:   If you are longing for revival in the church and a renewed passion for this community of faith, then please come to this two day event.  It will be a time of teaching, worship, prayer and small group conversation, along with fellowship and encouragement.  The registration cost of $50 includes meals and books, with the event starting at 2 pm Friday and ending Saturday evening.  Please pick up a postcard in the front hall for more information or talk with Pastor Marg or Barb Cooper.   Hosted  by 

Dunamis Fellowship Canada: (https://www.dfcanada.org/event-details/growing-the-church-gtc )

TWICE AS NICE:

Twice as Nice is currently looking for part time help, 3 – 4 shifts per week.   We are looking for an energetic person to help with various duties, including cashier and acting as assistant to the manager. Come join our team and help support TBCS! 

Please bring a resume to the store, or email to twiceasnice@tbaytel.net. 

HEALING WITH JESUS:  is a  Prayer Ministry of the Thunder Bay CRCs.  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.  

“Praise the Lord! He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:1,3

CORPORATE PRAYER: Corporate Prayer is a powerful way for our church congregation and friends to connect with our Lord, The power of corporate prayer  is outlined in the bible in many ways and often, e,a, Matthew 18:19-20 in particular where it reads,” Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven,for where two or three are gathered in my name , I am among them”

We invite you  all to a bi-weekly ” Praise  Corporate Prayer meeting, starting  on September 24 at 7 PM .

NORTH OF 60: Save The Date:  North of 60 first lunch will be held on  October 16th at Hope CRc

TEEN CHALLENGE: I wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support to our ministry.  I also wanted to extend a warm invitation to our Fall Dinner Banquet coming up on October 30th at the Italian Cultural Centre. We would be honoured to have some of you attend our event. It would be a chance to enjoy a delicious meal, music and most importantly, have the opportunity to hear some of the testimonies of the clients in our program whom your donations have directly impacted.

Our Events – Adult & Teen Challenge Central Canada

GATHERING PLACE: 

TGP is Prayerfully Seeking…

What does sharing God’s love with others look like? Loving people where they are at…

The Gathering Place is seeking two individuals to join its team, loving our community as Christ loved us and helping us continue to be a safe place to meet Jesus. Both positions – deadline to apply: September 12th.

Executive Director – duties include ensuring the administrative and fiscal duties of TGP are met, and building up staff and volunteers as they use their gifts in the programs and activities of TGP.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R4cYrHNxIuT66KOs0V87M7D0cbG9dUkVKftxV32hROU/edit?usp=sharing

Community Engagement Coordinator – duties include communications and promotion for the Gathering Place, including social media and handouts, including design, lead our Hopefully Yours clothing program and be an integral part of our Drop In program and our Open Hands food bank program. Job Posting Community Engagement Coordinator

Please feel free to share.

Questions? Please reach out to Peggy Brekveld at thegatheringplacestaff@gmail.com

FIRST CHURCH: 

First CRC 75th Anniversary Celebration

is scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025  D.V. at the Ramada Inn –

4 p.m. Symposium, 5 p.m. dinner.  Program during and after dinner.

Ticket sales are underway and if you are interested in purchasing a ticket,

please contact Lorrie Dykstra-807-626-2765 or Audrey Grootenboer-807-935-1778.

Tickets are $60.  Cash is preferred but cheques made out to

First Christian Reformed Church will be accepted.

Please order tickets by September 14, 2025.

PRAYER CORNER:  

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

Beloved followers of Jesus, called to manifest His likeness to the world, learn that as forgiveness of your sins was one of the first things Jesus did for you, forgiveness of others is one of the first things that you can do for Him. And remember that to the new heart, there is a joy even sweeter than that of being forgiven, even the joy of forgiving others. (Andrew Murray, The Best of Andrew Murray [Baker, 1979])

Prayer is a response to the attributes and character of God. The more clearly we see Him, the more powerfully we can pray. We become like Him because we know Him intimately. There is one attribute of God that adjectives cannot adequately describe: the grace of God. It has been the theme of all the great preachers since the book of Acts. Men such as the apostle Paul, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, George Whitefield, and Charles Spurgeon have been motivated by this characteristic. Their ministries, lives, and prayers were revolutionized by a clear understanding of this attribute.

The true man or woman of prayer is one that intimately knows this part of God’s character. Prayer is coming into the presence of God. It is only by the grace of God that we can stand before a holy God. The throne in heaven is described as a throne of grace.

Our confidence in prayer is established in our hearts because He is full of grace. Grace is His favor given to us simply because He loves us. He receives us at His throne not because of our performance but because of His grace bestowed upon us through Jesus. Prayer starter: Father, forgive me for neglecting to trust Your grace in my own life, and for feeling far from You because of my own sinfulness. Help me to continually remember that there is nothing I have done or ever will do that can separate me from Your love when I am willing to repent before You. May I share this precious grace with others who struggle to fully comprehend the depth of Your grace-filled 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