Online Worship and Newsletter

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

    the name of the Lord is to be praised. Ps. 113

What a mighty God we serve!!  He calls and gathers people together to be in his presence and be blessed.  Please join us Sunday @ 10:30. 

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 :  We are going to dig into the book of James in the coming weeks.  We begin this Sunday with James 1:19-27 ‘Walk the talk’

NEWS, THANKS and PRAYERS:

•  Barb J. celebrates a birthday this week.  We thank God for the blessing she is to us!!
• Alice V. moved into extended care at Hogarth this past week.  We pray that this transition goes smoothly and she is quickly settled and at peace.  Please uphold her and the family in prayer. 

DEACONS’ OFFERINGS: 

This Week:  Bread Box

Next Week:   Resonate – Strydhorst

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.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: Please note that there will be a brief congregational meeting after the service on Sunday, April 19, 2026. This meeting will be an opportunity for Council Executive to advise the congregation on a decision taken around the HSR, pursuant to the Task Force recommendations. Secondly, Council will update the congregation on the present Council nomination process and the streamlining of Council duties going forward.

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

SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY: Join us Sundays in a study on the book of James. We will begin at 7:00pm at Yvonne’s house (807 John St.). 

Our dates and studies in the month of April are:

April 12: James 1:1-12 Trials Can Bear Fruit

April 19: James 1:12-27 Accepting the Word Planted in You

For more information, please contact Yvonne Schenk (807-631-8991).

WALKOVER WEDNESDAY @ 5:45:  Join us for pizza to mark the last meal together until the fall.  This is an open meal to anyone who would enjoy a night out with good company.   Since ‘The Rekman Pizzeria’ is providing the meal, please let Pastor Marg know if you plan to attend. 

Salads and dessert are a welcome addition. 

BREAD BOX: FIVE YEARS! 

The Bread Box first opened our doors in April 2021. Over the last 5 years, Bethlehem Church has served our neighbours with love through volunteering, donations, and prayer. We have had the joy of distributing hampers of food but also warm smiles and words of encouragement. We’ve gotten to know our neighbours and hear their stories. Babies have been born, children have grown, and sadly, some of our new friends have passed away.  We’ve shared our sorrows and our joys, and many laughs!

Praise be to God for the blessings that this ministry has brought to Bethlehem and to our neighbours.

Please join in celebrating our 5th anniversary with cake and coffee after today’s service.

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.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SHORT TERM MISSION PROJECTS? 

SOW-GOOD ministries, a charitable, not-for-profit ministry is looking to come alongside brothers and sisters in Belize, Central America. This fledging ministry is currently looking for individuals with construction skills to join ministry teams for one to two week projects. They hope to build infrastructure on property that has been acquired to begin faith based community ministry with the small communities in Belize.  Retired pastor Gary Robinson will be sharing the plans of SOW-GOOD to grow with small town communities in Belize with a variety of practical needs. Join us Saturday, April 18 at 10:00am at Bethlehem CRC, 75 Walkover St. to learn more about this amazing ministry opportunity. If interested, please contact James Collie (807-473-5176) or Brian Schenk (807-627-2657).

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 .

GATHERING PLACE:  We’re looking for a summer intern for the months of May-August with a potential of up to 35 hours a week.  If you know of a college or university student looking for work, please speak with Fred Rekman or check the Gathering Place website for the posting. 

NORTH OF 60: We all will be home in time to serve another scrumptious lunch on Thursday April 16th at Hope CRC. Come a little early for coffee/tea and some great fellowship .  Everyone over the age of 60 are more than welcome

THUNDER BAY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: 

Thunder Bay Christian school will be hosting all Grandparents and Special Friends on April 24th at 1:15 in the school gymnasium. Come join us for coffee and goodies! We look forward to seeing everyone there!

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.

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:On behalf of the seniors who attended the luncheon last Saturday, a big thank you is extended to the deacons from the Reformed Churches last Saturday. The food was delicious and the fellowship was  heartwarming.   It was delightful to visit and catch up with our Christian brothers and sisters.  It was also very nice to meet the deacons from the other churches and you all did a fantastic job serving us.  It was much appreciated. 

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: Thursday, April 30, 2026

Please submit your cover letter and resume by email to Harold Heerema hheerema10@gmail.com by April 30, 2026. If you have any

Questions 807-626-2476.

RIGHT TO LIFE: You are invited to the Annual General Meeting of Right to Life of Thunder Bay and area on this coming Saturday, April 25 th . Symposium begins at 11 a.m., with

membership meeting at 11:30. Lunch will be provided at 12:15 p.m.

DEW DROP IN: The Friends of Chippewa and the Dew Drop Inn are seeking vendors for a Celebrating Mothers Luncheon on Sunday, May 31st. All of the information for this fundraising event is on the poster included in this email.

Last but certainly not least The Dew Drop Inn is excited to team up with our friends at Roots Community Food Centre for another Trivia Night at the Columbus Center on Saturday, April 18th. 

PRAYER CORNER:            ” YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS”

” Don’t be alarmed ………..you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified . He has risen !!! He is not here.!!!! See the place where they laid him”     Mark 16-6.

The women who went to the tomb on Sunday were expecting to find a corpse. They went there to carry out the unpleasant task of anointing Jesus’s body with spices, even though they were not sure if they could get into the tomb.

I like how the book of Mark says they were on their way to the tomb “just after sunrise”

A new age was already beginning as the women made their way to the remarkable  discovery . Instead of a closed tomb with a dead body in it, the found the stone rolled away from the entrance and “a young man dressed in a white robe” ” And they were alarmed” 

I imagine they wondered if they were even at the right tomb. But the angel was quick  to assure them that they were at the right tomb and that he knew he knew they were looking for the crucified  Jesus. And the angel announced ,” He has risen”

This would have been far more than the visitors could process so quickly. So it’s no wonder they were confused and afraid after learning everything the angel had told them.

Later, Jesus appeared to his disciples  in the locked room where they were hiding. He invited them to touch him, to see that he was solid flesh and bone, and to examine  the nail scars in his hand and feet. For conclusive proof,  he ate a piece of fish in front of them, which would’ve simply passed through him and fallen to the floor if he were an apparition. Because of the resurrection, Jesus’ disciples  were transformed  from trembling in a locked room to boldly testifying about the Lord. They went out  proclaiming that Jesus was alive, that salvation was available through him, and they turned the world upside down with their message. There could be no doubt………. the Lord had risen indeed. Prayer starter: Risen Lord, the empty tomb is an indisputable fact of history. Countless people have experienced salvation through your name because of the miracle of your resurrection. Thank you for making a way and giving us courage to share this good news with those around us. In your glorious name we pray, 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, Lori Lawrence, Mark Heerema and Mikaela Hummel