World Day of Prayer

The World Day of Prayer service was written by the women of Vanuatu, an island country in the South Pacific. The theme is Building a Strong Foundation, based on Mt 7:24 -27. The service was intended to be hosted at Our Saviours on Fri. Mar. 5, but because of Covid it is not possible to meet together. However the W.I.C.C [Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada] has prepared a video available for use in homes. The service is now available by video or YouTube. You can easily access this video by going to wicc.org and clicking on the One hour Service video button.

Also: Shaw Local TV Community Channel, Friday, March 5th at 5 pm on Shaw Spotlight

For further information contact Marion Poutanen 344-1906.

Manitoba/NW Ontario KAIROS Regional Online Gathering 2021

Our national inter-church social justice coalition is hosting a series of online zoom sessions to replace its in-person annual gathering. All are welcome!

-Thurs. Mar. 4, 7:30 pm Assiniboine Food Forest and Restoring the Land

David Barnes is a naturalist, environmentalist, and advocate who operates the Assiniboine Food Forest. He will share the work done on land by the Assiniboine River to preserve the ecosystem.

Following David's presentation a short Annual General Meeting will be held on Zoom. All Kairos members and anyone interested in learning about the regional organization are welcome to remain on line to attend.

To register & receive the link:

https://secure.kairoscanada.org/civicrm/event/register?id=210

In-Person Worship

When we are able to resume:

-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

Diaconal Sunday - February 28, 2021

Celebrating witness expressed through service (diakonia) and leadership offered by the ELCIC's diaconal ministers.

Sunday, February 28 is Diaconal Sunday, the day the ELCIC celebrates 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.

Our synod office has prepared this prayer for those deacons serving on our territory:

God of compassion, your Son came not to be served but to serve. We give you thanks for those whom you have called to the diaconal ministry of word and service. Especially we give thanks for the active and retired deacons in the MNO Synod: Michèle Barr, Diaconal Minister at Pembina Place PCH, Michelle Collins, Assistant to the Bishop; Val Sander, retired from early childhood education; Kris Taylor, spiritual care provider at St. Boniface Hospital; and Hilde Vickers, parish deacon at Christ Lutheran Church, Waldersee. Give these deacons and all those who serve others through word and service faith to serve you with gladness. Sustain and strengthen them with a living hope; kindle in them your love and empower them to see the face of Christ in every neighbour. Through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord, Amen.

It’s been a while since our Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth gathering (CLAY) was postponed from 2020. Our National Planning Committee has been hard at work developing a one-of-a-kind online CLAY experience and we have some important updates to share with you.

2021 Gathering Dates

CLAY 2021 will happen August 20-22, 2021.

Registration + Cost

Registration opens April 2021.

In an effort to make CLAY 2021 as accessible as possible, the cost of participating will be pay-what-you-can. The suggested amount per participant is $45.

Home teams that can pay beyond the suggested amount are encouraged to; helping those who may not be able to afford the registration fee.

What Will Online CLAY Be Like?

Our National Planning Committee is committed to making this CLAY the absolute best it can be! It will be a gathering of hundreds of Anglican and Lutheran youth happening at the same time across the country.

There will be 3 hours group gathering time each day featuring: worship, workshops, and a large group gathering with the CLAY band, drama team, and our keynote speaker, Melanie Delva.

There will also be Late Night Spots every day (a CLAY participant favourite) + activities engaging with our National Youth Project happening outside of the group gathering times.

Home Teams will be encouraged to gather in-person if it is safe to do so; in accordance with local public health guidelines or participate online as a group.

More Info Coming Soon!

Be the first to get the latest CLAY 2021 info by signing up for our newsletter at claygathering.ca and following us on social.

World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle:

Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands

28 February - 06 March 2021

Intercessions

Give thanks for:

• the important roles political leaders here have played in European integration.

• how people here have led in creative solutions to environmental, economic, and cultural challenges.

• how churches here have overcome barriers and reached out to assure a good life for all.

• the ecumenical contributions that have come from this area, and their continuing support.

Pray for:

• overcoming cultural, linguistic and political barriers and suspicions that remain divisive.

• the haunting legacies of colonization and quests for economic gain.

• immigrants who are alienated or marginalized in these societies.

• greater tolerance and solidarity with all in these societies and around the world.

Prayers

Prayer for Faith, Hope and Love

Let us pray for Faith:

That it will be the fruit of right hearing.

That at all times there will be people

with an open mind and open ears

who will listen sharply to your word

and pay attention to the needs around them.

We pray:

Let us be such people.

Let us pray for Hope:

That it will be the fruit of a living faith.

That at all times there will be people

growing towards the light,

continuously filled with courage and never cease being hopeful.

We pray:

Let us be such people.

Let us pray for Love:

That she is the fruit of a living faith and hope.

That at all times there will be people

never giving up being alarmed

about the continuing existence of the earth:

The care for animals and entire environment

that lend assistance in friendship,

that abolish loneliness,

that help working out sorrow and grieve,

that show sympathy with joy.

We pray to you, O Lord.

Let us recognize one another

in deeds of faith, hope and above all through love.

(© Rev. Pieter Post)

Prayer for people in need

Dear God,

there are so many people in need!

Like everyone in this world,

refugees are in need of a place to live,

a warm bed, food, clothing, a decent wash…

Dear God, you know that we need all those things,

but, most of all, we need people who care,

to share our love, our hope and our future.

We need to be needed.

Dear God, you know that we are in need.

Come and give us a hand! Amen.

(From http://www.ccme.be/members-info/)

Prayer

Lord, we pray for the world,

for the world in which we live.

We pray for the girl who says:

I don't want to live anymore

and for the boy who confesses:

I sometimes want to end it all.

We pray for the new-born baby

with an uncertain future.

Lord, we pray for the world,

for the world in which we live.

Lord, we pray for all the people,

all the people in this world

who feel scared or upset;

who are ill or lonely.

We pray for people around the world

who have no freedom or no family.

Lord, we pray for all the people

all the people in this world.

Lord, we pray for the world,

for the world in which we live.

We pray that the world will not collapse

under the weight of violence and hate

and that our eyes will remain open

to beauty and goodness,

so that we may also pray:

Lord, we thank you for this world,

the world in which we live.

Amen.

(from the Dutch Dienstboek Schrift Maaltijd en Gebed, p. 793 no 65)

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."