Online Worship and Newsletter

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

These final words in the book of Matthew bring great promise and comfort!!  May we know the presence of Jesus in our live and be his presence to others. 

This morning we welcome Peter Kranenberg who will bring God’s word. Peter is a candidate for ministry in the CRCNA. 

 Please join us Sunday @ 10:30  for worship and to look into the mirror of God’s word for what these words should reflect in our lives. 

Sunday School is available for children ages 4 to grade 4 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 :   Matthew 28:16-20

NEWS, THANKS and PRAYERS:

•   Please be in prayer for mothers and grandmothers today… especially single moms and those grandmothers who have sole care for their grandchildren.   

DEACONS’ OFFERINGS: 

This Week:  WR Mom’s of Hope

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.

WEDNESDAY PRAISE AND PRAYER:  takes place this Wednesday @ 7 as a time of prayer for our church and community. 

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

MONTHLY FINANCIAL UPDATE: 2026.04 Monthly Financial Update for Bethlehem CRC.docx

SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY:  You are invited to join our small group, currently studying the book of James. We will be meeting at Yvonne’s house at 7 pm on the following Sunday evenings:

April 26: James 2:1-26 Love and Faith, May 24: James 3:1-18 Taming the Tongue

May 31: James 4:1-17 Desires and Gifts, June 14: James 5:1-20 Patience and Faithfulness

Please call Yvonne (807-631-8991) for more information. 

BREAD BOX:  Reduce, REUSE, Recycle!

Don’t throw away your plastic dairy containers- the Bread Box can re-use them!

Please bring your washed yogurt, sour cream, and cottage cheese containers and lids. You can place them in the bin by the front entry.

Bread Box Offering for the months of May/June

DEACONS: Starting May 17 the Deacons will be collecting Sun Safety items for the Bread Box.  These items could include Sunscreen for adults and children, lip balm that includes sunscreen and hats with a wide brim – preferably that cover the ears.  Especially useful would be hats for children that include neck protection fabric.

We are starting this collection in mid-May so that we can place them in the hands of families starting at our Bread Box days June 3 and 17 in time for school field trips and summer holidays.

Many clients and families are struggling just now to pay basic food, rent and utility costs so sunscreen and sun protection items may be financially out of reach. 

Items can be placed in the bin under the coat rack in the front entryway.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Bread Box

THE GATHERING PLACE: Get Your Tickets for The Gathering Place’s New Fundraiser – The First Annual Cornspiel Classic!: Be a part of the inaugural cornhole tournament in support of the work of The Gathering Place. The tournament will take place on June 13, 2026 at the Da Vinci Centre, with doors opening at 12:00 and cornhole starting at 1:00 sharp. All skills levels are welcome! Tickets are $65.00 per competitor and will include a voucher for pizza for your team. To register your pair, email fundraising.tgp@gmail.com. Want to play but don’t have a partner? No problem! Register as an individual and we’ll find you a teammate!

HOPE CHURCH: Job Opportunity

Hope Church is excited to share a new ministry opportunity as our congregation continues to grow. We are currently seeking a Family Ministry Pastor to join our team.

We invite you to view the full job description on our website and share this opportunity with anyone in your network who may feel called to this role: https://www.hopecrc.com/workwithus. Deadline to apply is May 15th .

FIRST CHURCH:  HYMN SINGING at JASPER PLACE on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Please come and share the love of the Lord to the shut-ins.  Hope to see you there

THUNDER BAY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: The Thunder Bay Christian School Spring membership meeting is planned for May 11th @ 8pm in the school gymnasium. All members are encouraged to attend. Meeting packages will be going out May 1st. If you do not receive one, please kindly contact the school office at office@tbcs.school. 

Thunder Bay Christian School is currently seeking to hire for the 26/27 school year; one full-time intermediate/junior Teacher, one full-time primary Teacher, and two Teacher’s Assistants. More information and a staff application package can be found on the school website at tbcs.school under the “About Us” link. Please email resume to admin@tbcs.school or drop off at the school during school hours.

Mark your calendars and get ready to tee off! The TBCS Golf Tournament is on Saturday, June 6. It’s sure to be a hole-in-one kind of day!

We are looking for:

• Golf Teams of 4 – gather your friends, family, or colleagues and hit the course together
• Sponsors – businesses and individuals willing to support this event and help us drive Christian education forward
• Volunteers – lend a hand on tournament day and help everything run above par

Register your team or sponsor the event using this link https://tbcs.school/golf-tournament! If you have any questions please email tbcsgolf@gmail.com

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.  

FIRST CHURCH:

Summer Ministry Coordinator – 1 Position

First Christian Reformed Church of Thunder Bay is seeking a mature, organized and

self-directed individual. Flexible hours beginning May 2026 to August 2026

$25-28/hour based on qualifications and experience

Camp Leaders – 2 Positions applicants must be 15-30 years old at the time of hiring as per Canada Summer Job Grant, 8 weeks, 35 hrs/week, $18.50/hour

Deadline for Applications: Monday 11, 2026 Please submit your cover letter and resume by email to Harold Heerema hheerema10@gmail.com by May 11, 2026. If you have any

Questions 807-626-2476.

DEW DROP IN: The Friends of Chippewa and the Dew Drop Inn are seeking vendors for a Celebrating Mothers Luncheon on Sunday, May 31st.

PRAYER CORNER:          Be Found at Peace

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (2 Peter 3:14)

I’m convinced that one of the distinguishing marks of the End-Times Church will be peace. In Peter’s second epistle he speaks of those who scoff at biblical prophecy regarding the Lord’s return. Then Peter moves into a harrowing description of what will happen: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:10).

These are all things that should bring great fear to those who read and believe. Yet followers of Jesus should be those who actually “look forward to the day of God” and live in peace even in the midst of chaos and confusion. It is a peace that Jesus provides for us that is not based on circumstances around us or even feelings within us. It is a peace that comes from his presence in our lives. It is a peace that allows us to walk through even extremely difficult circumstances because he is with us.

I remember my dad telling me how the troop ship he was in during World War 2, while on its way to England in a convoy, was attacked by German U-boats. Obviously there was not a thing that soldiers on a troop ship could do to defend against submarine attack. So Dad and some of his friends did the only thing they knew to do . . . they prayed. Down in the bunk rooms of the ship, they gathered on the bunks to pray and ask God’s protection. Dad said that was the only sense of peace they felt on the whole trip. Not a ship was lost and they made it safely to England.

Your fears may not be about the end-times, and likely do not deal with submarine attacks, but we all face fear and anxiety of some sort. It may be relationships in your family, it might be financial problems, or even generalized anxiety over life itself. I want you to know that Jesus is willing and ready to walk with you through your shadows and bring you to his light in peace. It doesn’t always mean that your circumstances change, but it does mean you face them from a whole different perspective. It’s the peaceful presence of Christ that makes all the difference.  Prayer starter: Gracious Lord, I am so grateful for your presence that brings peace. It is so easy for me to fall back into my own fears, insecurities and anxieties, while all along you were there, waiting for me to turn to you. Forgive me for forgetting your readiness and love. I turn to you now for the peace that I desperately need in my walk through this worrisome world ,knowing that you are always right beside me to encourage and remind me again and again of your great love for me, 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:  clerk@bethlehemcrc.ca

Elders:  Corinne Hoogsteen, Sharon Jaspers, Abraham Drost 

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