Season of Creation

The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration to pray and respond together for the cry of creation: the ecumenical family around the world unites to listen and care for our common home.

The "Celebration" began on Sept. 1, the Feast of Creation, and ends October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations. The theme for Season of Creation this year is to hope and act with Creation, and the symbol is "the first fruits of hope", inspired by Romans 8:19-25.

At Our Saviour’s we conclude our celebration by:

·holding Creation in our weekly prayers

-having our annual Blessing of the Pets on Sun. Oct. 6, 4:00 p.m.

- celebrating creation as part of our Thanksgiving worship, Sun. Oct. 13. As you are able, please bring gifts of food to decorate the sanctuary and then to be shared with the Gathering Table’s Food Bank.

Worship

We gather each Sunday at 10:30 a.m., celebrating Holy Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month and festivals: October 6 and 20. Worship with the Band is on October 13, Thanksgiving Sunday. Reformation Sunday, October 27, is Service of the Word. 

   As we meet, we record the services. They are uploaded later on Sunday to our YouTube channel, ‘Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay’.  

Closed captions are available on the video – corrections and song lyrics are added as time allows.

   Texts of the bulletin and sermon are also mailed out on Saturday: sign up for our enews: osimm@tbaytel.net. They are posted on our website on Saturday: www.oursaviourstbay.org .

Holy Communion at Our Saviour's

At the time of the sharing of Communion, all are invited to come up the centre aisle to the foot of the chancel steps to receive the bread and the wine/grape juice. Gluten-free wafers are available. After taking a glass, please go off to the side and drink. There is a receptacle for the used glasses as we go back to our seats via the side aisles. 

  If you are unable to come to the front, please tell the usher and the elements will be brought to you.  

 Those who do not receive Communion are welcome to come forward for a blessing.

  If watching online, when the presiding minister says, ‘The body and blood of Christ given and shed for you’, we welcome all to take and eat a piece of bread, and then to take a glass of wine or other beverage, remembering and giving thanks for the promises of grace, forgiveness, love, new life, and community given us in Christ Jesus.

 The Health Unit continues to recommend the wearing of masks in public areas when exposed to the corona virus or immunocompromised. 

The Congregational Council endorses this for those who wish to wear masks, and continues to make masks and hand sanitizer available in the front hall and Immanuel Hall.

Fall Supper

We are holding this annual event on Sat. Oct. 26, at 5:00 p.m. Come enjoy wonderful soups and other hot dishes, fellowship, and music. Council welcomes ideas for the recepient of our free-will offerings at the door.  Give suggestions to Linda by Oct. 8.

Christmas ‘Baking and “Slight-used Decorations’ Sale

This unique event will happen on Sat. Nov. 30, from 9:00 – noon. It’s never too early to start baking and freezing, and filling a bag or box with decorations that you don’t use that would look wonderful in a new home! Proceeds from the sale will go to our Builiding Fund, for projects in 2025.

Christmas Carolling

All aboard the bus!  Sun. Dec. 8, 2:00 -5:00 p.m. details to follow!

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) were invited to observe September 30 as Orange Shirt Day, which marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  

“Check your hearts for the fences and the gates of defence that may hinder you from the shared journey of healing and hope.” National Indigenous Archbishop Chris Harper of the Anglican Church of Canada, a partner in full communion with our national church offers this message: https://www.anglican.ca/news/a-message-for-truth-and-reconciliation-day-september-30/30047532/

National, Synod Bishops invite continued prayer and advocacy in advance of October 7 anniversary

October 3, 2024 

Dear members of the ELCIC, 

One year ago, on October 7, we watched with horror as a new wave of violence engulfed the Holy Land. After 56 years of military occupation and 16 years of complete blockade in Gaza, tensions once again erupted as Hamas launched an attack on areas of Israel surrounding the besieged Gaza strip. We as Christians are heartbroken to see the devastation that the last 76 years of systemic violence and oppression has led to. As feared by many at the time, the events of that day led to more violence across all of Palestine and Israel. It is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge this day as the anniversary of the current war between Israel and Hamas. 

In the last year, the death toll in Gaza has risen to the tens of thousands and hundreds have been killed in the West Bank as well. We grieve deeply with Palestinians and Israelis who have lost loved ones and whose lives have been horrifically impacted by this violence. We mourn the thousands of innocent civilians killed in indiscriminate attacks, including on hospitals, schools, places of worship, and tent encampments. We continue to feel deep concern as well for all the people in the affected region who are facing displacement, hunger, injury, illness, and trauma as a result of war, especially as tensions escalate. 

We pray for our siblings in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), a church whose Bishop Ibrahim Sani Azar, pastors and people we have come to know and care for. 

Bishop Ibrahim Azar shares the following with our church: “As Christians ministering in the land of Jesus, we are facing unimaginable challenges. We condemn every act of violence that costs human life, no matter the perpetrators, and are heartbroken by the loss we witness every day. As we mourn our siblings in Gaza, as we face increasing acts of violence from Israeli soldiers and settlers in our communities, as we struggle under a crippling economic situation across Jerusalem and the West Bank, we look to our Christian siblings around the world for your solidarity and prayers that we might reach a just peace that ensures freedom, safety, and dignity for everyone in the Holy Land.” 

We join the ELCJHL in praying for freedom, safety, and dignity for everyone in the Holy Land. We admire the ongoing witness and ministry of our partner. We are grateful for the generosity of ELCIC members in supporting our recent ELCJHL Appeal. We surpassed our goal of $263,000 to provide one month of teachers’ salaries and 50% of the pastors’ salaries. 

We commend to you the August 26, 2024, Statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem Regarding the Ongoing War. The ELCIC continues to support a two-state framework for peace and we express our disappointment that Canada abstained from the September 18, 2024 United Nations motion calling on Israel to end its “unlawful presence” in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. 

We are concerned about the rise in antisemitic and anti-Islamic words and actions in our communities and across the world. We pray that all people of faith may embody peace rather than incite hate.

We continue to hope, pray and advocate for: 

• An Enduring and Sustained Ceasefire. 

• Immediate flow of life saving food, water, aid, fuel and humanitarian assistance. 

• Release of all captives. 

• End all arms transfers to Israel. 

• End of occupation so a just-peace can begin. 

We invite you to write to the Prime Minister of Canada, and to your Member of Parliament, to lift up these advocacy concerns. 

Please join us in prayer and concern for the region. For those who mourn their dead on both sides of the conflict. For the hostages and their families, afraid for their lives. For those who have been maimed and injured. For those who have lost their homes. For those who have not been able to move to safety. For the opening of a humanitarian corridor into Gaza. For a peaceful solution to this war. That the war may not escalate into neighbouring countries.

God of peace, we pray for peace in Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon. We pray for all leaders that hearts would be changed and there would be a peaceful ending to this war. God of comfort and strength, we pray for all those who are suffering in this war – those who mourn, the injured, those who live in fear. We pray for those who continue to try to provide aid and medical care – workers who risk their lives. Bring us all hope, bring us all strength, bring us all peace.

In your holy and life-giving name, we pray, Amen.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Susan Johnson
National Bishop, ELCIC

Rev. Kathy Martin
British Columbia Synod 

Rev. Patricia Schmermund
Synod of Alberta and the Territories

Rev. Dr. Ali Tote
Saskatchewan Synod 

Rev. Jason Zinko
Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod

Rev. Carla Blakley
Eastern Synod

World Council of Churches: Ecumenical Prayer Cycle

The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle takes us through every region of the world over the course of a year. Praying for each place on earth and its people at least once a year, we affirm our solidarity with Christians all over the world, brothers and sisters living in diverse situations, experiencing diverse problems and sharing diverse gifts. Pray with us!

Prayer is at the very heart of the ecumenical movement. Jesus prayed that we – his followers – may all be one. When we pray with and for one another, we can feel God’s gift of unity. Prayer sustains us on our way towards a unity that all can see, “so that the world may believe”. (John 17:21)

The suggested prayer texts are based on the publication "Pilgrim Prayer – an Ecumenical Prayer Cycle". The book and the website offer valuable aids for intercessory prayers, prayer on behalf of and in solidarity with others.

Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama

06 - 12 October 2024

https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/costa-rica-el-salvador-nicaragua-panama

Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela

29 September - 05 October 2024

https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/colombia-ecuador-venezuela

OFFERINGS

Thank you for your offerings, sharing the gifts of God so that together we might serve the world!

During our worship, you are able to share your offerings at the entrance to the sanctuary.

Envelopes for your 2024 offerings are available. If you wish to receive a supply,  please contact the office, 344-1926, osimm@tbaytel.net.

At other times, and for those unable to attend worship, here are options:

1. Mail envelopes to the church

Mailing address: 10 Farrand St. Thunder Bay P7A 3H5

2. Drop envelopes off at church

You can drop off envelopes in the mailbox beside the parking lot doors. Calling to let us know, 344-1926, is appreciated, so that the offering can be brought inside as soon as possible.

3. E-Transfer online banking

a. If you use online banking, log into your account

b. Add Our Saviour’s as a recipient using our office email address:

 osimm.office@tbaytel.net

c. Enter the desired amount and click ‘send’.

4. Sign up for Pre-Authorized Withdrawal (PAR)

You are able to have your monthly offerings directly deposited from your financial institution to that of the church. You can designate it 1-3 ways:  Weekly, Building, Forward in Mission. You also can receive undated envelopes for other offerings. To sign up, call the office. If you desire to make any changes at any time of the year, or if you have updates on your address or financial institution, please call the church office, 344-1926. 

5.  Canada Helps

Our regional synod office has set up Canada Helps button link, you can use to donate to congregations. The charitiable donation receipt will be issued by Canada Helps directly. (It is important to note that there is a cost to using Canada Helps as our donation service. Please considering adding 4% to your donation to cover these costs.) 

http://mnosynod.org/donate/

Again, we are so thankful for your faithful generosity.