Come, share the gifts of God with us,
and serve the world together,
at
OUR SAVIOUR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH,
10 Farrand Street (at River),
THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO, CANADA
807.344.1926 osimm@tbaytel.net
Our congregation is located on the traditional territory of the Ojibwa of Anemki Wajiw (the Fort William First Nation), a signatory to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850.
Welcome!
We invite you to be part of our community of grace and faith, active in Thunder Bay for the past 118 years. We seek to continue to be a place where people can grow in their understanding of God's forgiving love revealed through Jesus. Gathered in to worship, God's Spirit calls us out to share in word and action what it means to be people of God.
OUR VISION:
"Come share the gifts of God - serve the world"
Our Facebook page is 'Our Saviour's Thunder Bay'
Our YouTube channel is Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay.
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Recorded Services:
Our services, are recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel.
New - February 9 - Fifth Sunday after Epiphany (Service of the Word)
February 2 - Presentation of Our Lord (Holy Communion)
January 26 - Third Sunday after Epiphany (Worship with the Band)
January 19 - Second Sunday after Epiphany (Holy Communion)
January 12 - Baptism of Our Lord (Service of the Word)
Newsletter:
To receive a copy of the monthly 'Ambassador' by email, please send a request to osimm@tbaytel.net.
The text version of our February 2025 Newsletter is on the page 'Our Newsletter'.
Deadline for March 2025 'Ambassador' articles: Feb. 24.
What's Happening, February 10-16
Monday
9:00 a.m. ESL classes (M-F)
6:30 p.m. Confirmation class
6:30 p.m. Cubs
8:30 p.m. Friendly A.A. Group
Tuesday
5:00 p.m. Council meeting
5:45 p.m. TOPS
Wednesday
6:30 p.m. TBay Carvers
Thursday
8:00 p.m. Friendly Group A.A.
Friday
Saturday
Sunday - Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
10:30 a.m. Holy Communion
10:30 a.m. Sunday School
11:30 a.m. Fellowship time - 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 February, we will share the sacrament on the 2nd and the 16th.
Sunday, February 9 and 23 will be Service of the Word.
Worship with the Band returns on March 23.
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:
Our Sunday School classes normally are twice monthly, on the first and third Sundays. For February : 2 and 16.
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.
Activity sheets for each Sunday are available in the front hall and are also emailed on Thursday. To sign up for these:
There are Adventure activity bags under the mailboxes inside the entrance to the sanctuary, for children to enjoy during worship.
The next seasonal children's' activity pack, for Spring/Easter will be available at tend of February for pick-up or drop off. Email:osimm@tbaytel.net.
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!
Diaconal Sunday – February 23
The last Sunday of February is Diaconal Ministry Sunday - a day to celebrate the witness expressed through service (diakonia). Through our baptism all Christians are called to share God’s word and to serve our neighbours in Christ’s name. It is also a day to recognize and give thanks to God for all of those who serve in official calls as deacons in our church.
Online Forum: Strengthening Voices for a Just Transition
You are invited to an online forum hosted by KAIROS, our national inter-church social justice coalition.
KAIROS' Strengthening Voices for a Just Transition project is the focus of this webinar on Thursday, February 13, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This project aimed to nurture community dialogue, develop bold and creative visions of societal transformation, and strengthen just transition policies and programs with principles from Indigenous peoples, young people, and those most affected by climate change. The project also nurtured a cohort of young changemakers - building their capacity to advocate for a just transition in their communities. Join us for an evening of stories, art, ideas, and strategies to help guide us through the next stages of the energy and economic transition in Canada.
To register, please click here.
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.
Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Western Sahara, Tunisia
02 - 08 February 2025
https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/algeria-libya-morocco-western-sahara-tunisia
Andorra, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Vatican City
09 - 15 February 2025
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 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.)
Again, we are so thankful for your faithful generosity.