Online Worship and Newsletter

From the rising of the Sun to the setting of the same, 

the name of the Lord is to be praised! 

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory over all the heavens. (Ps. 113)

Indeed, may the name of the Lord be praised as we gather in worship.  This Sunday,  we have a video sermon preached by Pastor Kevin DeRaaf of Resonate missions. Pastor Marg and Fred are enjoying a vacation break.

Our worship  service begins at 10:30.  While Sunday school is finished for the summer months, for  young children ages 0-4 nursery care is available.  

Pastor Marg and Fred have some holiday time in the coming weeks.  In her absence please contact an elder or council chair, Erica Snippe-Juurakko.  

WORD & WORSHIP :   Acts 1:1-8 ‘Scattered to Samaria’

NEWS, THANKS and PRAYERS:

• We are so very thankful that Kallie was able to receive a kidney transplant!!  Please keep praying for healing as she regains strength in the coming weeks.  
• Hank M had heart tests this week, pray for assuring news

DEACONS’ OFFERINGS: 

This Week:  Gathering Place

Next Week:  CPJ (CRC annual day of justice)

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

GROWING THE CHURCH IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:   If you are longing for revival in the church and a renewed passion for this community of faith, then please come to this two day event.  It will be a time of teaching, worship, prayer and small group conversation, along with fellowship and encouragement.  The registration cost of $50 includes meals and books, with the event starting at 2 pm Friday and ending Saturday evening.  Please pick up a postcard in the front hall for more information or talk with Pastor Marg or Barb Cooper.   Hosted  by 

Dunamis Fellowship Canada: (https://www.dfcanada.org/event-details/growing-the-church-gtc )

THE BREAD BOX: An Update from the Bread Box

In the first half of 2025, the Bread Box distributed over 800 hampers!  Each hamper contains enough food for one or two people for a few days. This means that an average of 100 people are supplied each Bread Box Wednesday with a variety of nutritious foods- fresh, frozen and canned. Because of the recent donations, we are able to continue to provide feminine hygiene supplies, which are truly appreciated. 

Thank you for your support- through your prayer, your time and energy, and your donations, we are able to bless our neighbours in their time of need.

THUNDER BAY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL:

Job Opportunity: Thunder Bay Christian School (TBCS) is currently accepting applications for the position of Teacher’s Assistant. The Teacher’s Assistant dutifully and confidentially assists teachers in the classroom setting. 

To Apply for this position please refer to our website www.tbcs.school

or Contact Jolene Makkinga @ 807-630-3495.

The “About Us” link has a tab for “Employment” opportunities. On the Employment page, please reference the “Staff Application Package” for detailed information and application instructions.

Deadline to apply: Wednesday August 13th, 2025.

TWICE AS NICE:

Twice as Nice is currently looking for part time help, 3 – 4 shifts per week.   We are looking for an energetic person to help with various duties, including cashier and acting as assistant to the manager. Come join our team and help support TBCS! 

Please bring a resume to the store, or email to twiceasnice@tbaytel.net. 

GATHERING PLACE: 

Thank You for Your Incredible Continued Support!

The Gathering Place exists because of God’s grace and donations from people like you.

Lately, we have been blown away by the incredible outpouring of donations for our

“Hope”fully Yours Free Clothing Depot—so much so that our shelves of household

items are fully stocked! Because of your support, we are able to offer more variety and

choice than usual to those we serve. It has been such a joy to see people find exactly

what they need and leave with a smile! We are also especially thankful for the generous

contributions to our Open Hands Food Program, particularly donations of bars of soap

and feminine hygiene products. These personal care items are often overlooked but are

so important and appreciated by those who receive them.

Whether you have volunteered your time, dropped off clothing or household goods,

shared food, given financially, or offered a word of encouragement or a prayer: THANK

YOU. Your generosity allows us to continue being a light in our city and a place of

refuge for those facing hard times. Please know how truly grateful we are for your

continued partnership in this work.

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:  

HYMN SINGING at JASPER PLACE on Wednesday,  August 13,  2025 at 2:00 p.m. Please come and share the love of the Lord to the shut-ins.  Hope to see you there.

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 or any Anniversary Committee Member.  Cash is preferred but cheques made out to First Christian Reformed Church will be accepted. Also, a Commemorative 75th Anniversary Book will be available for purchase.  Final cost has not been confirmed, estimated cost $40 dollars. If you would like to secure a copy please contact Michelle Tempelman- 807- 621 7551 or any Anniversary Committee Member

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:  

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

Intercessory prayer is hard work. It involves communion with the King and compassion for the multitudes. It is understanding the passion of Christ for souls. It is waiting on God to endue us with power from on high in order that we might lead those souls into the kingdom.

Those that have been most useful in reaping a harvest have always been men and women of intercessory prayer. They cry to the Lord for the multitudes. They have no confidence in themselves to build the kingdom of God; they live in absolute dependence upon God.

If we are to reach this generation for Christ, there must be men and women in every nation whose hearts hurt for their countrymen. Jesus had compassion for the multitudes two thousand years ago. Although the multitudes are greater today, He loves, cares for, and wants to save every individual. We need to look at the masses of humanity through the eyes of Jesus. We will see people—real people, hurting people. Too many of us see people only as objects. We need a fresh touch from God. We need to feel the heart of the compassionate King.

Perhaps some Christians will say, “I know that I should have a burden to pray for the world. But it is just not there. I am so busy with my own life and problems that I don’t have time to pray for some people in a distant country that I will never meet.” We must first recognize that we must be delivered from such self-centeredness. The goal of every Christian should be conformity unto the image of Jesus. And the heart of Jesus is for the world. We must confess our apathy as sin and repent of it.  Prayer starter:

Oh God, I do need a fresh touch from You so that I am able to feel Your heart beat for those who are perishing. Deliver me from my self-absorbed self, and heal my arrogant spirit. I repent of my disobedience and desire to be used for Your purposes in the world. Heal me from my own self-righteousness and allow me to embrace the hurting, the homeless, the weak, the widow and the orphan. Ruin me for anything that is not of You!  I pray 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