Online Worship and Newsletter

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High  will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)

In a week filled with pain, sorrow and hard things,  we go to God for comfort and strength. In trusting him we find rest under the shadow of his wing. 

Our  Sunday worship begins @ 10:30.  This Sunday we celebrate Communion together at the table of the Lord.  All who are baptized, who believe in Jesus as their Saviour, including children, are invited to partake. 

 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 :   Practicing the Way:  Become Like Jesus 

NEWS, THANKS and PRAYERS:

• Our love and prayers go out to Andrew & Lori, and all the family  in the loss of Andrew’s son Richard after a battle with ALS.   May God’s comfort surround you. 
• Dale M. is palliative and his remaining hours are few.  He is at peace knowing his Saviour and Lord.  We pray for Dale, as well as his partner Helen and best friend Walter. 
• Murray L. spent the week in the hospital after a bad fall last week. He was able to go home Friday and we pray for complete healing and strength. 
• Scott finished radiation this week and will begin chemo on Monday.  We pray for healing and for the comfort of God’s strength in each day 

DEACONS’ OFFERINGS: 

This Week: Rachel’s Vineyard Thunder Bay

Next Week:  The Gathering 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.

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

FINANCIAL UPDATE – SEPTEMBER: m  m 2025.09 Monthly Financial Update Bethlehem CRC.docx

BETHLEHEM FAMILY NEWS:

Lori and Andrew have moved.

Temporary address – until approximately Nov 30 – 243 Dublin Avenue Thunder Bay, P7B 5A1

New Permanent address: 200 Oasis Lane – Unit 215, Thunder Bay P7B 0C2

GROWING THE CHURCH:  October 24 & 25 at Hope CRC:   Teaching, worship, prayer, fellowship and encouragement are all on the schedule as we seek a renewed passion and the Spirit’s leading to grow the church.  The cost is $50 which covers catered meals and books.  

Tomorrow is the last day to register and can be done online at   https://www.dfcanada.org/event-details/growing-the-church-gtc 

Questions?  Ask Pastor Marg or Barb C. 

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.  

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.

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.

Beyond Hunger Gala & Auction – TICKETS ON SALE! 

The Beyond Hunger Gala & Auction is being held on November 7th, 2025 at the Best Western Nor’Wester Hotel. Symposium at 6:30 PM, Dinner at 7:00 PM. Join us for a prime rib dinner, silent and live auctions, in support of the Thunder Bay Community Growing Project. Tickets are $80/person or tables of 8 for $600. Tickets can be purchased at www.thunderbaygrowingproject.com or call Vicki at 807-632-3844. Deadline to purchase tickets is October 24th, 2025. 

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

PRAYER CORNER:  

Giving Thanks Brings Peace.

Phill 4:4-7   ” Rejoice in the Lord always………with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God;  and the peace of God ……. will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus:

Have you ever thought about the word ” thanksgiving” ? It’s made up of two words: thanks and giving, so it involves more than just feelings of gratitude ; Thanksgiving is expressing it !

In Philippians 4:4 .Paul mentions thanksgiving ,  and he also mentions another word: rejoice. This word is similar to thanksgiving because it also involves action. When you rejoice ,you do more than feel happy or joyful. You express  that joy in an outward way.

So what Paul was really teaching was this: express the joy you have because of Jesus, your gratitude for what He’s done, and pray for the things you need. When you do these  three, you’ll have peace that can’t be shaken.

People who worry and complain all the time can’t experience this peace. Their minds are troubled with things that make them anxious and irritated ,  and this stops them from sensing God’s guidance. You see, one of the ways God leads us is by a sense of peace. When you feel peace about a direction or decision , you can be sure that you’re going the right way. But if , in general, you NEVER feel at peace, you can’t rely on this leading to take you into God’s best for your life.

If you have lost touch with this deep sense of peace that I’m talking about, it’s time to express joy and gratitude  again. We all face problems, but we also have many reasons to be grateful. IT’S TIME TO COUNT THOSE BLESSINGS TODAY.   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