Advent in Action Calendar

MNO Synod Young Adults invite anyone of any age to participate in this year's MNO Synod Advent in Action Calendar. The idea is that each day you follow the instructions on the calendar and post a story/photo to social media using #mnosynod or #mnosynodadvent. In that way, we can connect with others as we do daily actions that invite us into reflecting on how we are preparing our hearts and lives for the in-breaking message of Jesus.

Copies of the calendar are available at the church, or downloadable:

available here.

“Soul Care”: These simple spiritual/contemplative practices invite a moment of pause and reflection to strengthen your spiritual life. Feel free to replace these suggestions with other spiritual practices that are meaningful to you (lighting a candle, going on a walk, reading a devotional, etc).

“In the Box”: In January, drop off collected food items in the wicker basket at the church, for the Current River Churches’ food bank.

“Tally it Up!”: Keep track of the financial donations throughout Advent, and in January make an electronic donation to MNO Synod through www.mnosynod.org/donate. Make a note that your donation is part of the “MNO Advent in Action calendar”, and the donation will be combined with others in a donation to CLWR towards a Mobile Health Clinic in the West Bank. The suggested donation for this gift is $75.

“Acts of Kindness”: Feel free to adjust the Acts of Kindness to simple actions that inspire you or connect with your context and situation.

Questions, pictures or stories can be emailed to Deacon Michelle Collins (mcollins@elcic.ca).

Our Saviour’s Fall Supper

Sunday, November 15 …but with a twist!

Thank you to all who set up and participated in our 'virtual' Fall Supper. Our Freewill offerings totalled $2,350. These will be given to Salem Lutheran Church in Pass Lake -- it is moving forward to rebuild in the spring. Its building burnt down earlier this year.

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In-Person Worship

We have resumed celebrating Holy Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. On the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays we gather for Service of the the Word.

Holy Communion

We remain in our places, as we share the bread only. You receive an individually wrapped wafer as you enter. Gluten free wafers are available on request. If you feel more comfortable, you can bring bread for yourself or your social bubble.

The service looks and sounds different than it did 8 months ago, but the goals are the same: to give God thanks, to be refreshed in faith, to build up community, and to be renewed in service and witness.

-Please enter at the wooden doors off Farrand Street, answer the screening questions asked by the Greeter, wear a mask, and follow the posted guidelines on social distancing and seating.

-There is a limit of 30% of capacity inside the sanctuary, 50 in attendance.

- The worship folders are found on the pews. Spoken responses are permitted, provided masks are being worn and social distancing protocols are being observed. There is no congregational singing, but you may hum along to the hymns, or sing softly, as you would do while sharing a lullaby with a child in your arms.

-There are containers for offerings at the entrance to the sanctuary.

-There is no Fellowship hour. On the way out, please maintain physical distancing, exiting by the doors to the parking lot.

Children’s Ministry

Due to Health Unit guidelines for places of worship, for the time being there will be no in-person Sunday School classes. Handouts are available at worship – they can be picked up at the Martin Luther statue in the front hall.

“Where we are headed is not to be back to where we were, but we give thanks that who we are as a church has not changed.”

Your Congregational Council and Pastor Matthew

National Bishop Susan's Daily Hymn and Prayer

Join our National Bishop:

"Many of us are feeling isolated as we practice social distancing because of COVID-19. Join me each day in focusing our prayers around one hymn."

Twice weekly Bishop Susan suggests a hymn from Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Join her to pray while you sing, and then in prayer through the petition. Please share these with others in your community.

http://elcic.ca/publichealth/BishopSusanHymnandPrayer.cfm

A singing communion in Advent 2020

(LWI) – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches expectantly await the coming of Christ this Advent in music and worship with a video calendar of hymns. In this third year of the Advent Hymns, LWF World Service country programs will offer contributions.

A hopeful expression of Advent, the hymns will be giving daily insights into how Lutheran churches celebrate Advent through singing.

“This will be an Advent unlike others, with many churches worshiping remotely and taking precautions to maintain physical distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Rev. Arni Danielsson, LWF’s Head of Communication. “In that context we are happy to share such beautiful insights and songs from the communion for the third year in a row. Our hope and prayer is that this strengthens the bonds between Lutherans across the world.”

Special care has been taken to maintain physical distancing, respecting the regulations concerning Coronavirus (COVID-19) in each country. Some hymns were recorded in previous years.

Among the churches offering hymns this year are the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, The Lutheran Church of Senegal, Church of Sweden, Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia (GKPI), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and the LWF World Service country program Central America – El Salvador.

The first hymn will be shared on 29 November which is the First Sunday of Advent and the last one on 24 December, Christmas Eve.

To see the videos:

www.lutheranworld.org/advent-hymns

"Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,

Praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,

Praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals."

(Psalm 150:2-5)

World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle:

Myanmar, Thailand

29 November - 05 December 2020

Intercessions

We give thanks for:

the beauty of these countries and their people, and their many distinctive Buddhist temples

those who long have struggled that these countries might become more democratic

the faithful witness of churches, which have advocated with others for greater justice

efforts to protect the environment and resources in these countries.

We pray for:

minority ethnic and religious groups who continue to experience discrimination, persecution or even genocide (such as the Rohingyas), and for greater interfaith understanding and tolerance for ethnic and religious diversity

those victimized by sex tourism and exploitation, and those who perpetuate such acts

political stability and progress toward democratic rule

economic justice for all people, and environmental protection, as these countries undergo development.

Prayer

Give us this day our daily bread.

All good gifts of the earth come from your generous hands, God.

Yet, this abundance is not shared equally among us.

While some are satisfied, others are starving.

Women often become the victims of exploitation

because they are desperate to feed and care for their children.

If only we would be mindful that each and every one of us must pray:

Give us this day our daily bread.

(World Day of Prayer Committee of Myanmar 1989, Lord, teach us to pray. © 1989 World Day of Prayer International Committee.)

Mandatory Use of Mask or Face Covering within Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church

Under instructions issued by the Medical Officer of Health, all businesses and organizations, including places of worship, in the Thunder Bay District Health Unit area must adopt a policy that requires all members of the public and employees who enter or remain in an enclosed public space to wear a mask or face covering.:

1. Beginning 12:01 a.m., July 24, 2020, all members of the public, employees, and others who enter or remain in enclosed public areas of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay, Inc. are required to wear a mask or face covering. The mask or face covering must cover the nose, mouth and chin without gaping.

a. The following persons are exempted from the requirement to wear a mask or face covering and will not be required to provide proof of such exemption:

i. Children under two years of age, or children under the age of five years either chronologically or developmentally who are unable or refuse to wear a mask or face covering and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver;

ii. Individuals with medical conditions rendering them unable to safely wear a mask or face covering, including breathing difficulties, cognitive difficulties, hearing or communication difficulties;

iii. Individuals who cannot wear or are unable to apply/remove a mask or face covering without assistance, including those who are accommodated under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) or who have protections under the Ontario Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c.H. 19 as amended;

iv. Employees who are within or behind a physical barrier (e.g. Plexiglas).

b. Temporary removal of the mask or face covering is permitted where necessary when:

i. actively engaging in an athletic or fitness activity, including water-based activities;

ii. consuming food or drink;

iii. receiving services in a personal service setting on an area of the face that would otherwise be covered by a mask or face covering; and

iv. for any emergency or medical purpose.

2. This policy will be implemented and enforced in “good faith” to primarily educate people on wearing masks or face coverings and promote their use in enclosed public spaces. Persons listed under 1a) are not required to show proof of exemption.

3. Signs about the requirement to wear masks or face coverings will be posted prominently at all public entrances. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer will also be made available at all entrances and exits for persons entering or exiting Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay, Inc.

4. Employees/staff will be trained on the policy, including:

a. How and when to provide verbal reminders of the policy’s masking requirement to persons entering or remaining without a mask or face covering, and those who remove their mask or face covering for an extended period of time.

b. where and how to properly wear a mask or face covering;

c. how to respond to customers who do not have a mask or face covering;

d. where people can get more information about the policy; and

e. how to handle a customer who becomes aggressive about the new requirement.

5. A copy of this policy will be made available on request to a public health inspector or other person authorized to enforce the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

Dr. Janet DeMille, the MOH has included these words in her directive:

Emerging evidence supports that wearing a mask or face covering when in enclosed spaces is an important measure in reducing community transmission of COVID-19. Increasingly, recommendations and expectations around masking in enclosed spaces are being strengthened to reflect this...

Implementation of the policy should be enacted and enforced in ‘good faith’ and should be primarily used as a means to educate people on mask or face covering use in public spaces."