Online Worship and Newsletter

 Sing to the Lord a new song;  sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;   proclaim his salvation day after day.(Ps 96:1)

The Psalms and in fact, the whole bible is full of words of praise for our great God!!   And we are called into worship to express our praise, thanks and adoration because of who he is, all he has done and the depth of his love and majesty.  For His is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever, Amen. 

Please join us for Sunday worship at 10:30.  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 :    The ‘amen’ of the Lord’s Prayer   HC QA 127 & 128, Psalm 96. 

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!

NEWS, THANKS and PRAYERS:

• We pray that in God’s perfect timing, a kidney becomes available for transplant for Callie. 
• Dale has three more chemo treatments to go, things are looking positive for him.  May God’s peace and strength continue to sustain him. 
• Please keep Simon and Audrey, and Alice V. in prayer as aging makes it increasingly difficult for them. We miss having them worship with us and pray for God’s presence and peace. 

DEACONS’ OFFERINGS: 

This Week: Blessing Box

Next Week:  TBCS

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

Outdoor Service and Brunch/Lunch Potluck – July 6th

On July 6th there will be an outdoor service held on the church grounds followed by a potluck brunch/lunch.  The fellowship committee asks that you bring a food item that requires no warming or heating.  Some examples could be salads, veggies, fruit, muffins, cheese, meat, buns or appetizers.  The fellowship committee will provide ice cream sandwiches for dessert.   Also we ask that you bring along a lawn chair. 

DEACONS – Give a Girl a Break!

The Deacons will be collecting feminine hygiene supplies for clients of the Bread Box for the month of June.  Please place your donations in the large grey bin in the front entryway under the coat rack.

The Bread Box clients and the Bread Box Committee  thank you for your generous donations! 

COUNCIL –  Mini Minutes June 10,2025

 Received letter from Classis Lake Superior, acknowledging the current geo-political

issues by USA administration and desire to validate the blessings and benefits of

Canadian CRC within this bi-national classis

 AA group enquiring re possibility of Bethlehem CRC as a site for their weekly meetings

 Revised district elder list distributed

 Management Committee is looking into a) pavement sealing quotes b) constructing an

“offering” slot in vestibule c) new parking lot sign in place d)swale/gully along property

line of Lutheran and Bethlehem Churches is being addressed

 Outdoor service planned for July 6 and Aug 3, picnic planned for September

 Thank you card from The Gathering Place received

 New Council Roles/Committee Membership

– Chair:Erica S, Vice: Bram D, Clerk: Greg K. (minutes by Pastor Marg/Sharon),

– Management: Greg K.

– Worship: Corinne H.

-The Gathering Place Rep: Mikaela H.

– Fellowship: Lori L.

-Education: Mark H.

– Prayer Coordinator: Pastor Marg

– Bread Box: Lori L.

 Pastor Marg has planned vacation for weeks of Aug 10, 17, 24,

Terms of Reference for Task Force for Future Direction of Bethlehem CRC was accepted,

Sharon J. and Bram D will be council reps, 1-2 congregation members at large will be

requested to comprise committee. Pastor Marg will serve in consulting role.

Next meeting July 8

THREE FOLD MINISTRIES – ThreeFold Ministries, a NotForProfit that was formerly working in Nicaragua is now engaging in short term mission projects but hopes to build a long term mission in Belize, Central America.  The ministry that was thriving in Nicaragua was seized by the Ortega government along with some 5000+ other NotForProfits and Non-Government Organizations.  

ThreeFold is presently engaged in a building project to construct a Christian high school in Sarteneja, Belize.  They are seeking to assemble a crew of volunteers for a building project in the fall.  

The meet and greet took place on June 26th, if you missed out, you can still find out more information and direct your questions to Brian Schenk,  schenkbrianpeter1@gmail.com

807-627-2657

THUNDER BAY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: 

Thunder Bay Christian School is a school community passionate about Christian education.  We strive to make TBCS a place where all children feel welcome and have a sense of belonging.

To apply for a position please complete the “Staff Application Package” which will include detailed information and application instructions. You may also email admin@tbcs.school for further information.

Application Package

Junior Intermediate Teaching Position (One Full Time Maternity Leave Position)

Junior Intermediate Teaching Position 

Primary Teaching Position (Part Time .4/Maternity Leave Position)

Primary Teaching Position

Part Time/Full Time Teacher’s Assistant/ Early Childhood Educator- Deadline July 11, 2025  

For more information, please contact admin@tbcs.school. 

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

FIRST CRC SPORTS CAMP 2025 VOLUNTEERS UPDATE!  

God has heard our prayers!  Posters were distributed to our local high schools, and several students have emailed in volunteer applications for our July 14-18 camp.  Thank you for your prayers!

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:  

You will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 4:29).

The costliness of trusting is multi-faceted. It is found in the discipline required to train the mind and heart to rely solely upon God, instead of devising deliverances or engineering solutions on our own. It is found in being still—even when others misinterpret our waiting on God for a lack of initiative. Müller’s model sometimes requires the self-binding of one’s own hand or mouth or influence in order to allow God the freedom to work in His way and time.. The focus shifts when prayer is not centered as much upon what we do but, rather, who we are.

Throughout the history of the Christian church, men and women of faith have walked this often-solitary path of deep intimacy with God. It should come as no surprise to us that others have found this possible, for God has promised that “You will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 4:29). Müller’s life teaches us today that if we long to experience a life of passionate prayer, we must take the first costly step . . . and then the next . . . and then another in careful, intentional response to the Holy God’s transformation of us. Passionate prayer will become the supernatural characteristic of such a walk with Him. Prayer starter, Holy God, how often I seek my own wisdom, and focus on what I can do to move Your hand rather than waiting upon You! Transform my prayer life by changing my focus from what I do to who I am. I am willing to take the costly steps that yield my heart and my will to Your plans and purposes. Draw me near and fill me with a passionate desire to be all You have called me to be! I ask 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: Sharon Jaspers  clerk@bethlehemcrc.ca

Elders:  Corinne Hoogsteen, Sharon Jaspers, Abraham Drost and Greg Kok

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