What's Happening, April 21-27

Monday 

8:30 p.m. Friendly A.A. Group

Tuesday

9:00 - 2:30 p.m. ESL classes (Tues.-Fri.)

5:45 p.m. TOPS

Wednesday

6:30 p.m.  Choir practice

6:30 p.m. TBay Carvers

Thursday

10:30 a.m. LCC Chapel service, Hogarth

8:00 p.m. A.A. meeting

Friday

Saturday

1:30 p.m. Immanuel Hall rental

Sunday - Second Sunday of Easter

10:30 a.m. Worship with the Band and Choir

11:15 a.m. Fellowship Hour - Birthday Sunday

Worship

We gather each Sunday at 10:30 a.m., celebrating Holy Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month and festivals. In April, we will share the sacrament on the 6th,  17th - Maundy Thursday, 7:00 p.m., and the 20th - Easter Sunday.

 Sunday, April 13, Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion, will be Service of the Word. 

  Good Friday worship, Apr. 18th, is being held at 10:30 a.m.

  Worship with the Band is happening on Sun. Apr. 27.

   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.

Children:

The next seasonal children's' activity pack, for Easter/ Spring, is ready for pick-up  or drop off. Email:

osimm@tbaytel.net.

   Our Sunday School classes normally are twice monthly, on the first and third Sundays. The sessions, for children in JK – Gr. 6, begin downstairs in Immanuel Hall at 10:30 a.m. for Bible stories, crafts, and other activities. Then those in the class come up to share Holy Communion. See Karen Bishop, co-ordinator, for more info.

   Next session: May 4, our last session until the fall -- hot dogs served at Fellowship Time!

  Activity sheets for each Sunday are available in the front hall and are also emailed on Thursday. To sign up for these:

osimm@tbaytel.net . 

  There are Adventure activity bags under the mailboxes inside the entrance to the sanctuary, for children to enjoy during worship. 

Food Collection 

Food donations received in the wicker basket in the front hall are being given to the Gathering Table’s food bank and to those in need. Thank you!

North America – Holy Land solidarity visit statement

April 16, 2025

“The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So, they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’” (John 12:12-13a).

Over the past week we have engaged in a solidarity visit with the people and ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Holy Land (ELCJHL), concluding with Palm Sunday celebrations. We have experienced the strength of the Lutheran Christian community, which serves the people through worship, diakonia, education, health care, environmental stewardship and gender justice. 

At the same time, we have experienced how the church’s witness in this place, continuous since the time of Christ, is under existential threat. Though many of us have visited before, we have never seen the Holy Land at such a critical point. For Palestinians, movement is restricted, violence is increasing and hope is dimmed. Many feel they have no choice but to leave their land. The last standing hospital in Gaza, which has a partnership with the Lutheran World Federation’s Augusta Victoria Hospital, was bombed by Israeli forces on the morning of Palm Sunday. We wonder if we can still shout, “Hosanna!”

This solidarity visit has been a reminder to the people of the ELCJHL that they are not alone. It has also been a reminder to the people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada that our presence and accompaniment with the Palestinian Lutheran people is a vital expression of our shared faith and commitment to justice and peace. Together, we invite you to come and see – to witness the vibrant life and faithful witness of the ELCJHL, and sumud (steadfastness) of the Palestinian Lutheran people. We know that travel is not possible for everyone, but we affirm that showing up, in whatever form it takes, matters deeply. For, as long as the ELCJHL is here, we are all here.  

We call upon the people of our three churches to remain steadfast in our solidarity, witness and advocacy for justice – for the sake of our life together and in support of the indigenous Christian presence in the Holy Land. By doing so, we greet the One whose arrival in Jerusalem continues to unite us in our “Hosannas.” 

Bishop Dr. Sani-Ibrahim Azar

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land 

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton

Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. Susan C. Johnson

National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Joint Easter message from our National Bishop and the acting Anglican Primate

Our National Bishop Susan Johnson and Acting  Anglian Primate Archbishop Anne Germond reflect on the new world order put in place by Christ’s resurrection:

https://www.anglicanlutheran.ca/statements/easter2025/

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.

Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine

20 - 26 April 2025

https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/belarus-moldova-russia-ukraine

Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania

13 - 19 April 2025

https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/bulgaria-hungary-romania

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 donations during the passing of the plates at the Offering.

Envelopes for your 2025 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.