Online Worship and Newsletter

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;

 where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.  (Psalm 65:8)

If all creation resounds with songs of joy, then how much more God’s people!!  Join us Sunday as we gather to worship and praise, as we gather at the Lord’s table of grace, and as we come to hear once again of God’s goodness and grace.  

The service begins at 10:30.  While Sunday school is finished for the summer months, for  young children ages 0-4 nursery care is available. The worship service streams live on You Tube, tune in at 10:25 to view our service.  Bethlehem CRC – Thunder Bay – YouTube  

WORD & WORSHIP :    Sticky Note #3:  Hebrews 12:1-2  Run, Run, Run.

For the summer months, Pastor Marg will be preaching on ‘Sticky Notes’…   your favorite bible verse or story, or a question you’ve wondered about.   Check out the bulletin board in the fellowship room to add your sticky note!

Please note that another outdoor service is planned for August 3 with ice cream to follow! 

NEWS, THANKS and PRAYERS:

• Please keep Dale in prayer as he continues with chemo treatments which are harder and harder for him to tolerate.  Please pray for healing. 
• May God’s presence and peace be with Audrey & Simon and Alice V. 

DEACONS’ OFFERINGS: 

This Week:  SIM Liberia Katie and Darryl Elliot 

Next Week:   WR Respond to Refugee 

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

Mini-Minutes Council Meeting July 8 2025

-First CRC is celebrating 75th anniversary on November 8, invitation to attend, notify by Aug 31

-Pastor Marg will be leading a  “Growing the Church in The Power of the Spirit” Conference here in Thunder Bay at Hope CRC Oct. 25-26.  Invitations to the congregation are forthcoming. 

-Reviewed Synod 2025 decisions

-Ray of Light Al-Anon group request to utilize church fellowship room every Thursday evening

starting Sept 2025 has been accepted

-Management Committee is looking into parking lot upgrades

-Barb C. has finished on the Worship Committee and thanks is given for all her work. 

-Gathering Place is planning a retreat in Fall 2025

-Education Committee plans to continue utilizing Dwell Curriculum, two additional teachers will

start in September- Yvonne S and Martha M. Sunday School over summer months has been

explored, but put on hold after consulting with parents.

-Task Force for Future Direction of Bethlehem  had its first meeting July 2. Will be meeting

monthly. Bram D., Sharon J., Yvonne S., and Fred W., comprise committee with Pastor Marg in

consulting role

-Pastor Marg on vacation August 4-25. Sunday, Aug 10, 17 and 24 will be covered either via video or guest pastor. 

-Bread Box and Blessing Box continues to run smoothly

GATHERING PLACE: Job Opportunity

Being a part of The Gathering Place’s staff team has brought joy and growth to all those

involved.

Our prayers currently include a new Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC),

starting in September. The role includes communication and promotion and involvement

in our free clothing, drop-in, and food programs. Approximately 20 hours/week.

Interested in talking to the staff team, including the current CEC? Reach out to us at

807-623-8184 or text Peggy at 807-707-2814. We would love to chat and pray for you!

FIRST CHURCH: 

First CRC – 75th Anniversary News:

Save the Date – Saturday, November 8, 2025

First CRC, Thunder Bay is celebrating their 75th Anniversary (DV)

Ramada Inn Airlane, 698 Arthur Street West, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 5R8

4 pm Symposium, 5 pm dinner.  Program during and after dinner.

Ticket Sales are open until August 31, 2025. 60 dollars per person.   Please contact Michelle Tempelman to purchase – 807 621 7551

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

PRAYER CORNER:  

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

There is a strange paradox with God’s power. When we turn our lives over to Christ to “come and die with him,” we discover that God can work through us in a remarkable way. He calls us to “disciple” ourselves and those we meet. We do, in fact, make use of our human resources—but only after the center of our existence has been rendered dead and buried, when it is completely reoriented and is utterly different. We do this at God’s command.

When we pray, “yours is the power,” we are saying “we have no power— we are powerless unless you raise us up!” We are declaring that God’s power is the best power, the most amazing power, the most humbling manifestation of grace we could ever know. We are committing our lives afresh to God flowing through our lives on God’s terms. Will you turn your power over to Him? prayer starter:

Lord Jesus, apart from You I can do nothing! You have called me out of darkness and into Your marvelous light! For this I am so grateful! Would You mold me into a committed disciple who will also disciple others to live the life of Jesus? Without Your power, this is impossible, but I know that in my weakness, You can do mighty things in and through me! This moment, I want to recommit myself to the life that flows only from You and through You! 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