Bible Book of the Month Club

To be part of our national Bishop's initiative, we have organized a Bible Book of the Month club. In April we are studying Amos.

Once a month, we gather by Zoom and share our experiences of reading. You can join any time -- contact Pastor Matthew.

Our April meeting: Mon. April. 26, 7:00 p.m. Pastor Matthew is preparing a study guide for Amos -- contact him for a copy.

Synod Convention Learning & Formation Session Open to All

On Saturday, April 24, the MNO Synod Convention will host a learning session led by Andrew Root from Luther Seminary. This session, titled "The Congregation in a Secular Age," is free and open to all. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Those who have already registered for the convention will need to register separately for this session. More information about the speaker and the session is available on the Convention 2021 page of the synod web site.

In-Person Worship

We will resume at the Orange Level or lower:

-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.

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.

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 emailed to you, or 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

Earth Day

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada National Bishop Susan Johnson, Anglican Church of Canada Archbishop Linda Nicholls, and Anglican Church of Canada National Indigenous Archbishop Mark MacDonald share a joint Earth Day message with their two churches. "Perhaps more than at any time in our modern era, we are recognizing the moral urgency of the spiritual and living relationship between humanity, Creation, and Creator," say the leaders in their letter. "Earth Day is a time to claim these insights, renew relationships, and act on commitments to care for God's world." Please read the full letter here.

A Joint Easter Message from the National Bishop and Primate

"When Jesus rose from the dead, the disciples could not quite believe it. They locked themselves into rooms; they isolated themselves from others." In this message for our second Easter of this pandemic, National Bishop Susan Johnson (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) and Archbishop and Primate Linda Nicholls (Anglican Church of Canada;) speak to our collective experience of isolation and remind us of the continued signs of hope and resurrection around us.

To view this message: https://anglicanlutheran.ca/

OFFERINGS

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

Sets of envelopes for your 2021 Sunday and special offerings are available. If you are a present envelope holder, or to sign up for one, please contact the office, 344-1926, osimm@tbaytel.net .

When we have in-person worship, you are able to share your offerings at the entrance to the sanctuary. At other times, and for those unable to attend worship, here are other 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.

World Council of Churches Prayer CycleAYER E

Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine

18 - 24 April 2021

Intercessions

We give thanks for:

• the distinctive icons, art, literature and music that have come from this area

• the faithful witness of churches under the reign of Communism, and their revitalization since then, after decades of official atheism

• all those who help to alleviate the suffering of people due to the conflict in Ukraine and who try to counteract and overcome divisions

• those who work for democracy and openness in government.

We pray for:

• guidance, as these nations work to reconfigure political and economic structures

• compassion and integrity for all peoples in these nations with such diverse ethnic histories

• those who suffer from alcoholism, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and other life-threatening diseases

• the large numbers of people who now live in poverty and are unemployed

• those in Belarus and Ukraine who suffer from the continued effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster

• those who struggle for democracy and truthfulness in the media.

Prayers

Christ our God, sun of righteousness, by your divine touch you gave light to the eyes of the blind man who had been deprived of light since birth.

Enlighten also the eyes of our souls, and make us sons and daughters of light so that we cry out to you in faith: great and beyond words is your compassion towards us!

Loving Lord, glory to you!

(Vesper Hymn, Sunday of the Blind Man. In: Let us pray to the Lord, A collection of prayers from the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox traditions © 1996 WCC)

Prayer before supper

The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall praise him; their hearts shall live forever!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Lord, have mercy! (3 times)

O Christ God, bless the food and drink of thy servants,for thou art holy, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

(Orthodox tradition. www.stvladimirs.ca)

Morning prayer

Lord, let me accept calmly all that this day might bring me,

and let me devote myself completely to your sacred will.

Direct me and help me each hour of this day.

Control my thoughts and feelings in all my deeds and words.

When unpredictable circumstances arise, do not let me forget that everything comes from you.

Lord Jesus, Son of God, it is better not to live than to live without you. I thank you, God, for the gift of this day and for all the good deeds that you will help me do today. Holy Spirit, help me to dedicate this day to my Lord and Saviour. Teach me to be just towards my brother [and sister], never to provoke wrath or cause sorrow. Control my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to suffer, to forgive and to love.

Merciful God, deliver me from the desire for comfort and make me worthy of denying myself for your sake and for my brother’s [and sister’s] sake at any moment, for that is why you have given me life. Help me to reject anything that does not belong to you, and all that does belong to you to accept with devout faith, hope and love. Give me courage to serve you worthily, to place justice above profit, the realization of noble deeds above momentary pleasures, to put others before myself and to fulfil your commandment of love. Let the light of your beauty, goodness and love shine in my soul.

(Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, Russia. www.stvladimirs.ca)

Vocational Sunday - April 25, 2021

ELCIC members and congregations are invited to celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter as a Day of Prayer for Vocations to Rostered Ministry.

The word "vocation" is rooted in the Latin word, voccacio meaning call or summons. A vocation is a calling: to serve God, to an occupation or profession, and/or an inclination to a particular activity.

Individuals and congregations play a vital role in leadership formation. In faithful, prayerful community, we help each other to hear God's call and encourage each other to exercise gifts for ministry.

The following prayer is recommended for Vocational Sunday:

Holy God, we pray for our church as we continue to engage in renewal: that the Spirit would guide us and enlighten us, and that in living into a renewed vision of the church we may all be strengthened for ministry in and for our church, and in and for our world. We give you thanks for the gift of being called through baptism. Bless the church with faithful pastors and diaconal ministers. Inspire us all to pattern our lives on our Lord Jesus Christ, in gratitude to you and in service to others. Grant us courage, patience, and vision; and strengthen us all in our Christian vocation of witness to the world and of service to others. Amen.

(EvLW, pg 74)