Our Saviour's This Week:

The church is open!

River Street will remain closed between Algoma and College until 2023 while we wait for repairs to the sinkhole over McVicar Creek take place. Farrand Street remains open, with access from cross streets off Algoma St. N., or from Margaret Ave. We will post pictures and updates.

In-person Sunday worship is at 10:30 a.m. We continue to record the service and upload it to our YouTube Channel later on Sunday ("Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay"). Files for the order of service and sermon are emailed on Saturday and posted to our website.

October 3 - 9

Monday

Newsletter articles, please

9:30 a.m. ESL classes

6:00 p.m. Cubs

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

Tuesday

9:30 a.m. ESL classes

6:00 p.m. TOPS

Wednesday

9:30 a.m. ESL classes

6:30 p.m. TBay Carvers Board

Thurs

9:30 a.m. ESL classes

1:30 p.m. Anglican-Lutheran group - Gathering Table

8:00 p.m. Friendly Group A.A.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday - Thanksgiving

10:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Service of the Word

11:30 a.m. Fellowship Hour

Worship News

Hymn books are back in the pews . The words to the songs continue to be in the larger-print version of the bulletin, and in the Saturday e-mail version, and on the website.

Council has decided that we will continue to close off every other pew, unless needed. This is for the comfort and well-being of those attending.

Council recommends that we continue to wear masks in the building when in close contact with others, especially in the sanctuary when singing, and if not fully vaccinated. Thank you for making this what the Health Unit calls a 'mask-friendly space'!

Fellowship Hours after worship have resumed! Volunteers are needed to make this work: please sign up on the sheets in the front hall, or call the office for more details.

Holy Communion at Our Saviour's

We have resumed sharing both elements.

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

For those needing gluten-free wafers, please ask Pastor Matthew.

Pastoral Visits

Pastor Matthew is able to have home visits, and some Long-Term Care Home visits, following COVID guidelines. This includes sharing Holy Communion. Hospital visits are still limted, but please contact him to let him know who is in need of prayer. Contact Pastor at 344-1926, or osimm@tbaytel.net.

Children and Confirmation Ministry

Children:

We are happy to be resuming in-person children’s ministry this fall! We will meet on Sunday at least monthly, with next times being November 6 and December 4. We begin downstairs in Immanuel Hall, and then come upstairs to share in Holy Communion. For info: Karen Bishop.

Activity sheets for each Sunday will be available in the front hall, and will be mailed out 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.

The Fall/Thanksgiving activity kits will soon be ready. These will be in the front hall for pick-up. They can also be dropped off:

osimm@tbaytel.net

Our Coordinator is Karen Bishop.

Confirmation:

Confirmation classes will be offered in hybrid form this fall – online mostly, but with special times together when it is possible. This ministry of the church helps youth to continue in the promises made at Baptism. All youth Grade 7 and older are welcome. See Pastor Matthew.

Bruce Cook elected as Vice-Chair

Bruce Cook was elected Vice-Chair of the ELCIC at the 2022 National Convention. He served on National Church Council since 2013 as a member of the finance committee. Cook is a registered nurse by training and has worked in the insurance industry for many years.

“I’m anticipating a huge learning curve to start with and I’ll be leaning heavily on the other officers and NCC members to guide me through. Sheila Hamilton has been a great role model for my entire tenure on NCC.” he says. “My recent work on the vision statement task force has been very interesting. It encouraged me to look at our church with wider eyes and in different ways.”

Cook understands the difficult decisions congregations face in these times of transition and uncertainty. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s in Gadshill, Ont., and was a member there until it closed in August 2020.

“It was the church I was raised in, where my family is buried,” he says. “ It was a very difficult time of loss and sadness. Being at the decommissioning service, locking the door for the last time, saying good-bye was so hard. But it pushed me from somewhere that I was comfortable and made me dig deep – to rediscover who I am and what is important to me.”

When asked about his idea of mission, he responded, “My idea of mission has really changed over the years. I used to have a traditional view of mission – to go into the world, proclaim the gospel and make disciples. Now, the “how” and “what” of my idea of mission has changed and is more outward focused and action oriented. It’s about being present as a Christian Lutheran in my community, my country and my world – being socially responsible, taking action against climate change, helping when I can to address poverty and homelessness, being involved with social justice issues, and the list goes on. Sometimes it’s as simple as making a donation or dropping a bag in a food bin.”

Over 33 million affected by catastrophic flooding in Pakistan

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada joins Canadian Lutheran World Relief in asking its members to consider donating to those suffering from catastrophic flooding in Pakistan.

Together with the Humanitarian Coalition, CLWR is appealing for donations to respond to the flooding emergency unfolding in Pakistan.

Cataclysmic flooding in Pakistan has destroyed homes, crops, health centres, roads and bridges, affecting more than 33 million people. Rain is expected to continue through September and there is an elevated risk of the spread of malaria, dengue fever and other diseases.

The Government of Canada has announced that it will match donations to the Humanitarian Coalition and its member charities up to $3 million. Your gift today will provide life-saving clean water, food, shelter and healthcare to those affected.

You can make a difference — please give generously!

Donations will be accepted securely by visiting https://www.clwr.org or by including a donation with your offering, marked 'CLWR - Pakistan'.

A Statement from the ELCIC’s National Church Council on Ukraine

MARCH 7, 2022

The ELCIC’s National Church Council met virtually from March 4-6, 2022. As part of their work, they issued the following statement.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) joins the World Council of Churches, The Lutheran World Federation, and the Canadian Council of Churches in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and global solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

We denounce any and every use of deadly armed force to resolve disputes that could be resolved by dialogue. We firmly believe that dialogue – based on the principles of international law and respect for established national borders – was and is the proper path for the resolution of tensions surrounding Ukraine. We call for an immediate end to the current armed hostilities, and for the protection of all human lives and communities threatened by this violence.

The ELCIC through its partnership with Canadian Lutheran World Relief calls on its members to respond through financial support to the urgent humanitarian needs in Ukraine.

We ask all members, congregations and related agencies to examine their financial investments to ensure they do not support Russian investments.

We urge all members and all people of good will around the world to join us in prayer for peace for the people of Ukraine and the region.

Loving God, you are our peace. We pray for peace between Russia and Ukraine. We pray for the people of Ukraine – those who are forced to flee, those who are trapped and unable to flee, those who are in need of aid, those who have died. We pray for Ukrainian and Russian soldiers, that they may be moved to lay down their weapons. We pray for world leaders, that they would be led into your ways of peace and justice. We pray for our whole world who watches and worries. God have mercy!

ragement from National Bishop Susan Johnson amid these anxious times.

Ecumenical Prayer Cycle

Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela

02 - 08 October 2022

Intercessions

We are thankful for:

• the beauty in these countries, including in their people and cultural traditions

• persistent, patient, prophetic work of churches and ecumenical and other organizations, to establish peace with justice throughout the region, especially in Colombia

• resistance to past colonization, and to practices of today that prioritize economic ideologies over the needs of the people

• efforts by churches and people of goodwill for inclusive and respectful relations in society and government.

We pray for:

• the continued pursuit of peace in Colombia, the fulfilment of agreements reached, the reintegration of insurgents into society, broad and inclusive dialogue for justice, and fair compensation of those victimized by conflict

• the strengthening of democratically elected governments in the region, without pressure from outside interests

• greater respect for the human rights of all, especially vulnerable populations and those who work for the wellbeing of others and of the environment

• an end to the corruption in these societies, and to unsustainable exploitation of their resources.

Prayers

A Confession of Faith

God of love, we believe that you are our hope.

God of love, we believe that you have called us to work for peace.

God of love, we believe that your Holy Spirit is breathing new life into our communities, churches and nations.

God of love, we believe that you make it possible for light to shine upon all who suffer in our world.

God of love, we believe that you are speaking to the world’s peoples in all their differences, turning those differences into opportunities to build a new world.

God of love, we believe that you speak to the world’s peoples in all life’s situations, in the midst of our social, religious, political and economic life, in order to bring us hope.

God of love, we believe that you are calling all peoples and nations today to work together for change wherever there is pain and suffering in our world.

God of love, we believe that you are our hope. Amen.

(Revd Adelaida Jiménez, Colombia)

To be more patient give us strength, Lord.

To become peace-makers, equip us, Lord.

To be right, give us your light, Lord.

To accept our faults, give us humility, Lord.

To be in solidarity with those who suffer, make us sympathetic, Lord.

That our actions will be guided by love, give us your Spirit, Lord.

(Migdáleder Mazuera and Mairín Rodríguez, Venezuela. © Red de Liturgia y Recursos de Educación Cristiana de CLAI-CELADEC. English transl. Terry MacArthur, WCC)

God, we pray for all those who, following the example of Jesus, search and work for peace, proclaiming and building your reign.

Increase their strength and fill them with your grace.

(Loida G. de Valera, Caracas, Venezuela. English transl. Terry MacArthur, WCC)

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. 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/

Envelopes for your 2022 offerings are. available. If you wish to sign up for a supply, please contact the office, 344-1926, osimm@tbaytel.net .

Again, we are so thankful for your faithful generosity.