Online Worship and Newsletter

……do you love me more than these?” (John 21)

That was the question Jesus asked Peter… not just once but three times ‘do you love me?’.   In many ways, Jesus asks us the same question followed by the same command ‘follow me.’

This Sunday, Rob Freeman helps us to reflect on the healing found in these words.  

Our  Sunday worship begins @ 10:30.   Sunday School is available for children ages 4 to grade 4 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 :  John 21:1-19.    “The Restoration of Peter” 

NEWS, THANKS and PRAYERS:

• Please continue to uphold in prayer those in our congregation struggling with ongoing health concerns:   Hank, Darcy, Sandra, Audrey & Simon, Alice.  
• As we continue to seek leaders for Bethlehem, please pray for God’s provision and equipping. 
• Please also continue to pray for the Gathering Place in their search for staff… a summer intern student as well as full-time/part-time.  The Gathering place continues to be a place of tremendous blessing for those who come and we give thanks.  

DEACONS’ OFFERINGS: 

This Week:  Faye Peterson

Next Week:   Bread 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

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: Please note that there will be a brief congregational meeting after the service on Sunday, April 19, 2026. This meeting will be an opportunity for Council Executive to advise the congregation on a decision taken around the HSR, pursuant to the Task Force recommendations. Secondly, Council will update the congregation on the present Council nomination process and the streamlining of Council duties going forward.

COUNCIL UPDATE: Greg Kok has stepped down from his position as Elder, for health reasons. For the time being, please contact Pastor Marg or Bram Drost, if any needs arise.

Council is actively developing the candidate list for the upcoming Council changeover. We are looking to fill 3 elder positions and 1 deacon position. Council urgently requests you give prayerful consideration to your ability to serve. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to develop a full list of candidates and we pray for God’s leading in your decision making.

WEDNESDAY PRAISE AND PRAYER:  Come join us Wednesday at 7 pm as we gather to pray for our community, church and continue to lift our voices in thanks. 

SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY: Join us Sunday, April 12 to begin a study on the book of James. We will begin at 7:00pm at Yvonne’s house (807 John St.). 

Our dates and studies in the month of April are:

April 12: James 1:1-12 Trials Can Bear Fruit

April 19: James 1:12-27 Accepting the Word Planted in You

For more information, please contact Yvonne Schenk (807-631-8991).

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SHORT TERM MISSION PROJECTS? 

SOW-GOOD ministries, a charitable, not-for-profit ministry is looking to come alongside brothers and sisters in Belize, Central America. This fledging ministry is currently looking for individuals with construction skills to join ministry teams for one to two week projects. They hope to build infrastructure on property that has been acquired to begin faith based community ministry with the small communities in Belize.  Retired pastor Gary Robinson will be sharing the plans of SOW-GOOD to grow with small town communities in Belize with a variety of practical needs. Join us Saturday, April 18 at 10:00am at Bethlehem CRC, 75 Walkover St. to learn more about this amazing ministry opportunity. If interested, please contact James Collie (807-473-5176) or Brian Schenk (807-627-2657).

HOPE CHURCH: Job Opportunity

Hope Church is excited to share a new ministry opportunity as our congregation continues to grow. We are currently seeking a Family Ministry Pastor to join our team.

We invite you to view the full job description on our website and share this opportunity with anyone in your network who may feel called to this role: https://www.hopecrc.com/workwithus. Deadline to apply is May 15th .

GATHERING PLACE:  We’re looking for a summer intern for the months of May-August with a potential of up to 35 hours a week.  If you know of a college or university student looking for work, please speak with Fred Rekman or check the Gathering Place website for the posting. 

NORTH OF 60: We all will be home in time to serve another scrumptious lunch on Thursday April 16th at Hope CRC. Come a little early for coffee/tea and some great fellowship .  Everyone over the age of 60 are more than welcome

THUNDER BAY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: 

Thunder Bay Christian school will be hosting all Grandparents and Special Friends on April 24th at 1:15 in the school gymnasium. Come join us for coffee and goodies! We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Thunder Bay Christian School is currently seeking to hire for the 26/27 school year; one full-time intermediate/junior Teacher, one full-time primary Teacher, and two Teacher’s Assistants. More information and a staff application package can be found on the school website at tbcs.school under the “About Us” link. Please email resume to admin@tbcs.school or drop off at the school during school hours.

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.  

SENIORS LUNCH: The annual Seniors Lunch hosted by the Deacons of Hope, First, URC and Bethlehem will be held at Hope Christian Reformed Church on Saturday, April 11. 

All Seniors (65+) are invited to attend this time of fellowship, food and fun.  Doors open at 11:30 and lunch will be served at 12.  We hope to see you there.

FIRST CHURCH: HYMN SINGING at JASPER PLACE on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Please come and share the love of the Lord to the shut-ins.  Hope to see you there

DEW DROP IN: The Friends of Chippewa and the Dew Drop Inn are seeking vendors for a Celebrating Mothers Luncheon on Sunday, May 31st. All of the information for this fundraising event is on the poster included in this email.

Last but certainly not least The Dew Drop Inn is excited to team up with our friends at Roots Community Food Centre for another Trivia Night at the Columbus Center on Saturday, April 18th. 

PRAYER CORNER:            ” YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS”

” Don’t be alarmed ………..you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified . He has risen !!! He is not here.!!!! See the place where they laid him”     Mark 16-6.

The women who went to the tomb on Sunday were expecting to find a corpse. They went there to carry out the unpleasant task of anointing Jesus’s body with spices, even though they were not sure if they could get into the tomb.

I like how the book of Mark says they were on their way to the tomb “just after sunrise”

A new age was already beginning as the women made their way to the remarkable  discovery . Instead of a closed tomb with a dead body in it, the found the stone rolled away from the entrance and “a young man dressed in a white robe” ” And they were alarmed” 

I imagine they wondered if they were even at the right tomb. But the angel was quick  to assure them that they were at the right tomb and that he knew he knew they were looking for the crucified  Jesus. And the angel announced ,” He has risen”

This would have been far more than the visitors could process so quickly. So it’s no wonder they were confused and afraid after learning everything the angel had told them.

Later, Jesus appeared to his disciples  in the locked room where they were hiding. He invited them to touch him, to see that he was solid flesh and bone, and to examine  the nail scars in his hand and feet. For conclusive proof,  he ate a piece of fish in front of them, which would’ve simply passed through him and fallen to the floor if he were an apparition. Because of the resurrection, Jesus’ disciples  were transformed  from trembling in a locked room to boldly testifying about the Lord. They went out  proclaiming that Jesus was alive, that salvation was available through him, and they turned the world upside down with their message. There could be no doubt………. the Lord had risen indeed. Prayer starter: Risen Lord, the empty tomb is an indisputable fact of history. Countless people have experienced salvation through your name because of the miracle of your resurrection. Thank you for making a way and giving us courage to share this good news with those around us. In your glorious name we pray, 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:  clerk@bethlehemcrc.ca

Elders:  Corinne Hoogsteen, Sharon Jaspers, Abraham Drost 

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