Children and Confirmation Ministry

Children:

The seasonal Advent/Christmas activity kit is now available -- please call for a delivery or pick-up!

We are happy to be resuming monthly in-person children’s ministry. Our next time is January 15. 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.

Confirmation:

Confirmation classes are being 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

The church is open!

River Street will remain closed between Farrand and College until 2023 while we wait for replacements at McVicar Creek to 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.

Following the latest recommendations of the Ontario Medical Officer of Health, 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'!

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.

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. Limited Hospital visits are now possible. Please please contact him to let him know who is requesting a visit or prayers. Contact Pastor at 344-1926, or osimm@tbaytel.net.

Basketeers is a program started to support female victims of abuse start fresh and re-establish their lives. The program supports women as they transition from the shelter into their new home. The baskets contain household items, including those for the kitchen, bathroom, and the bedroom. After not being able to take part in this during the past 2 years, this year we are hoping to fill at least one basket, coordinated by Corinne Loovere. Please leave your donations in the front hall by Tues. Dec. 6. Suggestion lists are available in the front hall.

Choir Christmas Worship Our choir will share the message of Advent and Christmas at our 10:30 a.m. service on Sun. Dec. 11, with guest soloist and musician. Come hear the good news: invite a friend!

Christmas Carolling Come hop on a bus and share the good news of Christmas for some of our shut-in folk! We are leaving the church at 3:00 p.m. on Sun. Dec. 11, and aim to be back by 6:00 p.m., having visited about 10 residences. Hot chocolate will be served once we are done singing! A sign-up sheet is in the front hall.

‘Blue’ Christmas Worship This gathering invites people experiencing the pain of any type of loss during this time to come and reflect, grieve, and to receive comfort and hope in the message of the Christ child. Our service is on Sun. Dec. 18, at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome.

Canadian Lutheran World Relief has released its annual Gifts from the Heart catalogue for 2022. As always, this year’s catalogue is full of meaningful, life-changing gifts that you can use to share God’s love with the world, while you add some joy to your own family’s Christmas season. There are copies in the front hall, or it can accessed at www.clwr.org

Warm Clothing for Seafarers The Thunder Bay station of Mission to Seafarers has very little warm clothing on hand. It would appreciate donations of warm, small to large size men's clothing. Many sailors on ocean-going vessels come from warmer countries and find our fall weather rather cold. Donations can be put in the drop off box outside the Seafarers' Centre or given to Pastor Matthew.

Christmas Services:

-Sat. Dec. 24, Christmas Eve: 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. Holy Communion

-Sun. Dec. 25, Christmas Day: 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion

-Sun. Jan. 1, Name of Jesus: 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion

National church leaders launch advent meditations and conversations series

National leaders of the Anglican Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Presbyterian Church in Canada and United Church of Canada have announced that throughout the month of December, they will be cooperating on an ecumenical Advent meditation series, reflecting on the four themes of hope, joy, peace and love. The meditation and conversation series “What are we Waiting For” will address challenges facing Canadian churches.

Dr. Robert Faris, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada explained, “We are all facing a time of challenge in the Canadian churches. We are anxious and we are not sure what the future holds. Yet Advent is a season that is all about overcoming anxiety and waiting in hope for the new thing that God is doing. We thought it would be a good idea to talk together as Church leaders and to be in conversation with others about what it is we are waiting for. Where are the signs of hope, peace, joy and love in our churches and in our world today?”

Each Monday during Advent, the church leaders will release an ecumenical Advent meditation in which they will focus on one of the four Advent themes and address challenges and opportunities facing the Canadian churches. On each of the following Thursdays in Advent, participants can attend a live discussion at 7:00 PM EST on the theme and ask questions, via Zoom, with two of the leaders.

• To receive the meeting link for each event and receive email reminders of each week’s upcoming events, visit Advent2022.ca for access to the registration form.

Schedule for the live online discussions:

December 1: Hope, “Signs of the Time” – Bob Faris in conversation with Susan Johnson about the church in the 21st Century.

December 8: Peace, “Finding the Good Path” – Bob Faris in conversation with Carmen Lansdowne about truth telling and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

December 15: Joy, “God’s Love Includes Everyone” – Carmen Lansdowne in conversation with Bob Faris about the inclusion of all in the church.

December 22: Love, “The Cost of Discipleship” – Bob Faris in conversation with Linda Nicholls about the church’s public witness in a rapidly changing social and political context in Canada.

Participating church leaders:

The Most Rev. Linda Nicholls, Primate, The Anglican Church of Canada

The Rev. Susan C. Johnson, National Bishop, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The Rev. Dr. Robert Faris, Moderator, The Presbyterian Church in Canada

The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Moderator, The United Church of Canada

ELCIC member Katarina Kuhnert to document trip to COP27 via ‘Instagram takeover’

NOVEMBER 2, 2022

ELCIC member Katarina Kuhnert is travelling to Egypt to participate in the United Nations’ Climate Change COP27 Conference. She will be taking over the ELCIC Instagram account (@CanadianLutherans) during her time overseas (November 7-19).

The majority of her trip will be spent in Sharm El-Sheikh, but exciting treks through Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine’s Monastery are also on the itinerary. Watch for Katarina’s content which will be posted daily to the @CanadianLutherans Instagram page beginning this week.

In October of 2021, the circumpolar climate scientist had the opportunity to serve as one of four representatives from the Lutheran World Federation at COP-26 in Glasgow, Scotland. She collaborated with the Interfaith Liaison Committee, the World Council of Churches, the ACT Alliance and the Climate Action Network of Canada, before presenting at the People’s Summit for Climate Justice on the topic of energy transitions (pictured above). The experience was something Kuhnert will not soon forget.

“It is very important that we maintain this work from a place of radical hope,” Kuhnert told the ELCIC following COP26. “Since I’ve come back from COP, I’ve been saying that my hope is greater than my despair. My hope has legs. My legs have accountability. That is a great place to ground this work. If we believe that we have the possibility to make significant change with respect to things like our oceans – one of the highest greenhouse gas emitters in the world – if we believe that things can be different, than that’s the way to make them different.”

This year’s conference – as hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt – will aim to continue building upon the work and goals set at COP26, while paving the way for future ambition to effectively tackle the global challenge of climate change. Focal points will feature climate finance and technology, various nature-based solutions and action for climate empowerment.

“Climate change is an intersectional and an intergenerational issue, and we need to respond in a diversity of ways across generations,” Kuhnert said. “This affects everyone from youth and children to adults, elders and leaders in the church. The potential for challenges of the current climate crisis impacts so many elements in our lives. Attending events like this, building our understanding of what’s happening and our networks of support, our community resilience improves greatly by having these conversations together. When we hold the burdens of challenge and change together they become a little bit lighter.”

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 2023 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.