Online Worship and Newsletter

‘Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, 

Knock and the door will be opened to you.’  

Jesus makes this promise in relation to prayer and going to him with our requests.  As we explore this promise from Luke 11, we encourage each other to pray with boldness and tenacity!! 

May our worship time be a blessing! 

Our  Sunday worship begins @ 10:30.  Sunday School is available 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 Parables of Luke:  Shameless Audacity  Luke 11:1-13

NEWS, THANKS and PRAYERS:

•  Please continue to uphold Simon and Audrey who are now at Roseview Manor.  Simon is having a very difficult time adjusting to this new place. 
• In these dark winter months, those who struggle with depression find it even more difficult…. And those who are lonely are often even more isolated.  Let’s keep encouraging, reaching out and praying for each other. 

DEACONS’ OFFERINGS: 

This Week:   Lifewater

Next Week:  Teen Challenge

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

BIBLE/BOOK SMALL GROUP – Practicing the Way:  This study group will begin meeting again next Sunday evening at 7 pm at the church.  Even if you haven’t come out yet, please feel free to join us… talk to Yvonne S. or Pastor Marg if you’d like to know more. 

WEDNESDAY PRAYER AND PRAISE:   Please join us @ 7pm in the sanctuary for this time of prayer and encouragement. 

MONTHLY FINANCIAL UPDATE FOR DECEMBER: 2025.12 Monthly Financial Update for Bethlehem CRC.docx

CANADIAN NATIONAL GATHERING:   Every three years CRC’s from Canada gather to explore God’s call for us as a community of churches in Canada.  The next gathering is May 28-31, 2026 at Redeemer University in Ancaster ON.  The theme is ‘Foundation to Future’ and will explore ways to support one another and move forward into a vibrant future. 

Expenses are covered through Classis and attendance is by application.  To apply and learn more check out:   https://www.crcna.org/canada/events/canadian-national-gathering

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.  

THUNDER BAY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: The Thunder Bay Christian School will be holding their elementary and high school registration day Monday, January 26th, during the school day and into the evening. Please watch for further details in next week’s bulletin and on social media platforms, or contact the school if you have any questions.

The Grade 8 class will be hosting the annual TBCS Pancake Breakfast Saturday, January 31st!  Please come out for a delicious breakfast and support the grade 8’s as they raise funds for their Toronto Trip. Bring your friends!

THE GATHERING PLACE: 

Job Opportunity – The Gathering Place Executive Director: The Gathering Place is looking to hire their next Executive Director! This is a key leadership role for the non-profit organization that has served some of Thunder Bay’s most challenged neighbourhoods over the past 40 years through food and clothing distribution, community building, personal support, and more. This is a full-time position (35 hours per week) at a wage of $30.00 per hour. A complete description of the role can be found on our website: https://www.thegatheringplacetbay.ca/volunteer-careers.

If you feel that God may be calling you to this position, apply by submitting a copy of your resume to the chair of The Gathering Place’s board of directors, Fred Rekman, at fmrekman@gmail.com. We would also appreciate your prayers during this search process, as well as your support in helping share this position opening with those who may be equipped for this role and encouraging them to consider applying. God has blessed this joint initiative of the Christian Reformed Churches of Thunder Bay for decades and we can’t wait to see what God has in store for The Gathering Place in the decades to come!

PRAYER CORNER:  

It is impossible to do what the Lord desires unless we take time to listen to Him. We can only do this by being still and ceasing our busy activity-filled lives. Sometimes all God wants to speak to us are words of love and affirmation. Many times He may require nothing of you but to sit and enjoy His company. However, it is a very clear command from God that we are to listen to His Son: “Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!’” (Mark 9:7). It is implied that listening involves obeying. Truly hearing God is to be obedient to what He says: “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).

Jesus expressed confidence that those who will be still before Him will live lives that are filled with divine “doing” that is birthed out of divine “being”: “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28). Your children and/or grandchildren are watching how you live your life. Are they learning the lifestyle of Martha…or Mary? “…Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” prayer starter.Lord Jesus, I have so much in common with Martha, which is not such a bad thing! Yet, I do long to learn a lesson from her sister, who spent her time sitting at Your feet, simply learning and adoring! Out of the overflow of her devotion, she lived her life. Help me to be still, and to keep my eyes fixed upon Your blessed face so that I will not miss You in the midst of my busy life! Draw me close, Jesus, so that those who follow after me will learn to know that You are God!

    :Let me show them the love of Jesus, 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