Schedule of Services and Activities

 Sunday, November 8, 2009

~ Embracing God to Touch Your Life ~
 

Sunday, November 8

Worship Service - 10:30 a.m.

Offerings for: C.R. Home Missions Usher: Hannu Nursery: List for 2009 Ada K. & Alexis S. Coffee: List for 2009 Ross & Anita Greeters: List for 2009 Cye & Cathy Council Lead: Fred Council Greeter: Sharon

Leader: Pastor Al Postma WELCOME GOD GATHERS US TO WORSHIP Call to Worship: Psalm 92:1-2 Opening Hymns: - SNC #16 I Love You Lord - #160 In The Presence of Your People God's Greeting Hymn of Praise: #430 We Sing the Mighty Power of God GOD GIVES US HIS GRACE IN JESUS CHRIST Call to Confession: 1 John 2:15-17 Sung Prayer of Confession: #255 God, Be Merciful to Me Assurance of Pardon: 1 Peter 1:3-5 God's Will for our Lives: 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 We sing: SNC #277 The Servant Song Congregational Prayer Offerings: Christian Reformed Home Missions GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS WORD Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21 Sermon: "A Prayer for the Persecuted...And Us!" Prayer of Application Hymn of Response: #508 Jesus, with Your Church Abide GOD BLESSES AND SENDS US Benediction: 1 Peter 5:10-11 Closing Song: #618 Jerusalem the Golden

- Church Activities Schedule - Sunday, November 8 9:30 am - Church Education Classes 10:30 am - Worship Service 12 noon - Teen Club meets Tuesday, November 10 7:30 pm - Council meeting Friday, November 13 7 to 9 pm - Young Peoples Fun Night Saturday, November 14 5:30 pm - Potluck supper & games Sunday, November 15 9:30 am - Church Education Classes 10:30 am - Worship Service Full Church Calendar

Bethlehem Bulletin Board

Church Contacts and Information

This year Bethlehem C.R.C. celebrates it's 50th year serving Thunder Bay (North)

LOOKING BACK…..

1961
• January: Parsonage bought at 109 Bruce St. for $13,500. Needed renovations would cost another $2000.
• March: Rev. Pereboom installed as first minister; service held at Presbyterian Church, Cameron St., with reception at the Lutheran Church, Farrand St.
• October: Building permit issued; building begun. $1000 donation received from First CRC toward building costs.

March 4, 5, 1958
Classis Meeting spawns the idea of a church in Port Arthur.
How, you may ask?
A number of families had a long drive to First Church from Port Arthur, probably the farthest away being the Ypma’s (Cye’s parents) on Onion Lake Road, presently the home of Ed and Raili, so most likely the idea of a church in Port Arthur had been discussed. Remember, there was no Expressway in those days!
At the classis meeting, the Minneapolis church was given permission to call a pastor to lead a second church there, and it was on the long drive home (from Brooten MN) that Rev. Mulder and elder L.C. Kok discussed the ease with which such a project could be started. They brought their Classis report to the next consistory meeting, resulting in discussion, subsequently including those living in Port Arthur. It was decided to start with Sunday evening services, held in the Oliver Rd. Presbyterian Church, later in the Oliver Rd. Public School. Classical church visitors added their endorsement to the idea when they visited in the summer. Formal proceedings started with a congregational meeting, January 22, 1959.
- from the 25th Anniversary Booklet

1959
• A lot designated for religious or educational purposes was purchased by the First Church consistory from the city of Port Arthur for $600.00
• On the evening of March 30, 1959, the consistory called the congregation together for the institution of the Port Arthur Christian Reformed Church.
• The first consistory meeting was held April 2, 1959.
• The first clerk was Mr. Art Vandenberg.
• At the first congregational meeting, April 21, 1959, held at the John Street Baptist Church, it was reported that a gift of $150 had been received from First Church for the deaconate fund. Twenty-five new hymn books were donated by First Church, and the building lot would be a gift as well.
• In May a stencil machine for producing the weekly bulletin was purchased, and a committee from the Young People was formed to begin an organ fund.
• Collections for the building fund began in June, and the Orange True Blue Hall on VanHorne at Court St. was rented for worship services.
• The first two calls to ministers were declined: Rev. Jelle Nutma and Rev. Quartel.
• Youth attended summer camp, and the congregation was represented at Fall classis.
• Calvary Baptist church was the site of the Thanksgiving service, Men’s Society meetings, and Catechism classes, all in October.
• The first marriage occurred with the wedding of Mr. M. Vandenbos and Miss D. Brink (Martin and Doreen).
• The year ended with the decline of another call, this time to Rev. Cooper.

Bethlehem Church Library

The Bethlehem Church Library is open every Sunday! Come visit the library after the morning service and take out a book or two. In order to provide Christian reading material, we need your help. Do you have any Christian books you could donate, or would you consider buying for the library when you buy for yourself? Your help is appreciated.

SERVICELINK

Jenny Mol is the Regional Coordinator of Volunteers for the Canadian side of Classis Lake Superior. Jenny lives in Thunder Bay and is the local and classical connection for any inquiries on volunteer opportunities with the Christian Reformed Church and its agencies. Interested in volunteering? Contact Jenny at (807) 475-6995, or by e-mail at jhmol@tbaytel.net

Toronto Hospital Chaplain

"I was sick and you visited me" (mt. 25:36) Mrs. Nell De Boer the Classis Toronto Hospital Chaplain visits patients and family members who are at the hospital with the patient. When people from out of the city are patients in Toronto, pastors, elders relatives and friends are sometimes not able to visit as often as they would like. Call the chaplain! 416-226-0673.

Safe Drinking Water and United Way

Following the E. coli epidemic in Walkerton, it is again starkly apparent what a basic necessity clean drinking water is. In Africa, hundreds of people die every day from this type of water-borne disease. We co-founded Lifewater Canada here in Thunder Bay as a Christian organization to train and equip African Nationals to drill safe drinking water wells (http://www.lifewater.ca). You can help sponsor a well in Liberia using your United Way pledge form. In the section "United Ways in Ontario", simply fill in: "Lifewater Canada; Reg # 885420737RR0001". So that we can thank-you personally, please send us a short E-mail since United Way does not give us a donor list. Thanks for your consideration.
...Jim Gehrels (gehrelji@yahoo.com), Bethlehem CRC.

Thunder Bay Christian Radio

CJOA 95.1 FM is Thunder Bay's Christian radio station. It began 24-hour a day broadcasting at 2:00 p.m. on December 20, 1998. It's programming consists of various types of Christian music. Public service announcements are also carried. Tune in to 95.1 or 93.1 FM on your dial, and praise God. LISTEN LIVE

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