Come, share the gifts of God with us,
and serve the world together,
at
OUR SAVIOUR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH,
10 Farrand Street (at River),
THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO, CANADA
807.344.1926 osimm@tbaytel.net
807.344.1926 osimm@tbaytel.net
We invite you to be part of our community of grace and faith, active in Thunder Bay for the past 118 years. We seek to continue to be a place where people can grow in their understanding of God's forgiving love revealed through Jesus. Gathered in to worship, God's Spirit calls us out to share in word and action what it means to be people of God.
"Come share the gifts of God - serve the world"
Our Facebook page is 'Our Saviour's Thunder Bay'
Our YouTube channel is Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay.
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Each Sunday we record the service, and post the video to our YouTube channel:
New - November 9 - Time after Pentecost/ Remembrance Sunday (Service of the Word)
November 2 - All Saints Sunday (Holy Communion)
October 26 - Reformation Sunday (Worship with the Band)
October 19 - Time after Pentecost (Holy Communion)
To receive a copy of the monthly 'Ambassador' by email, please send a request to osimm@tbaytel.net.
The text version of our November 2025 Newsletter is on the page 'Our Newsletter'.
Deadline for December 2025 'Ambassador' articles: December 1.
10:30 a.m. Service of the Word
10:30 a.m. Sunday School
11:15 a.m. Fellowship - Birthday Sunday
11:30 a.m. Worship with the Band Singers rehearsal
5:00 p.m. Sacred Heart church rental
9:00-2:00 LINC classes (M-F)
8:30 p.m. A.A. meeting
5:45 p.m. TOPS
7:30 p.m. A.A. planning
6:30 p.m. TBay Carvers
8:00 p.m. A.A. meeting
10:00 a.m. Pre Advent/ Christmas church cleanup
10:30 a.m. Holy Communion/ Worship with the Band
11:15 a.m. Fellowship
11:30 a.m. Cantata choir rehearsal
Food donations received in the wicker basket in the front hall are being given to the Gathering Table’s food bank and to others in need. Thank you!
Thank you for all your food gifts on Thanksgiving Sunday, Oct. 12, which helped decorate our sanctuary. All will be given to Gathering Table and to others in need.
We gather each Sunday at 10:30 a.m., celebrating Holy Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, except for November: November 2 (All Saints Sunday) and 23 (Christ the King Sunday).
Sunday, November 9, will be Remembrance Sunday Service of the Word. November 16, and November 30, the First Sunday of Advent, will also be Service of the Word.
Worship with the Band will be on November 23. (Note: no Worship with Band in December.)
As we meet, we record the services. They are uploaded later on Sunday to our YouTube channel, ‘Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay’.
Closed captions are available on the video – corrections and song lyrics are added as time allows.
Texts of the bulletin and sermon are also mailed out on Saturday: sign up for our enews: osimm@tbaytel.net. They are posted on our website on Saturday: www.oursaviourstbay.org .
At the time of the sharing of Communion, all are invited to come up the centre aisle to the foot of the chancel steps to receive the bread and the wine/grape juice. Gluten-free wafers are available. After taking a glass, please go off to the side and drink. There is a receptacle for the used glasses as we go back to our seats via the side aisles.
If you are unable to come to the front, please tell the usher and the elements will be brought to you.
Those who do not receive Communion are welcome to come forward for a blessing.
If watching online, when the presiding minister says, ‘The body and blood of Christ given and shed for you’, we welcome all to take and eat a piece of bread, and then to take a glass of wine or other beverage, remembering and giving thanks for the promises of grace, forgiveness, love, new life, and community given us in Christ Jesus.
The Health Unit continues to recommend the wearing of masks in public areas when exposed to the corona virus or immunocompromised.
The Congregational Council endorses this for those who wish to wear masks, and continues to make masks and hand sanitizer available in the front hall and Immanuel Hall.
No, this isn’t a trick question in a Bible Trivia quiz! It’s the theme of our Sunday School sessions this fall.
Each 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, the next time being Nov. 16, children in JK-Gr. 6 gather at 10:30 a.m. in Immanuel Hall for stories, crafts, and more. At the end of their session they join worship to share in the Holy Communion.
So if Jesus ISN’T under the sea (that would Jonah), what does this theme mean? The sea contains many wondrous sights created by God. When we take a closer look at the them, by connecting them to a Bible story we see that the sea has much to teach us about God.
To help with the classes, or for more info, see Karen Bishop.
Activity sheets for each Sunday are in the front hall and also are emailed Thurs. osimm@tbaytel.net .
Copies of the next seasonal Activity packet, for Thanksgiving/Fall, are available in the front hall or by calling the office. The edition for Advent/Christmas will be ready at the beginning of December.
Adventure activity bags are under the mailboxes inside the sanctuary, for children to enjoy during worship.
When there is no Sunday School class, there will be a children’s message during worship for children present (federal law prevents it from being included on our recording.)
You are invited to join new ELCIC National Bishop Larry Kochendorfer for an hour online in devotion, prayer, reflection and conversation.
Conversations Across the Church: Sunday, November 30 at 6:00 p.m. EST – the First Sunday of Advent.
Be a part of the conversation! When you register, be sure to complete the following question: If you could ask Bishop Larry one thing as he begins his new ministry as National Bishop, what would it be? – You might hear your question answered during the gathering!
Sign up here: bit.ly/4otMfZB
Dear Beloved Members of God’s Family in the ELCIC,
Just two days ago, we wrote in commemoration of the second anniversary of the war between Israel and Hamas. Today, our hearts are filled with hope at the news that the beginnings of a peace deal have been reached. We implore you to pray with us now that this fragile window for peace will hold and become the foundation for a lasting, just peace for all Israelis and Palestinians.
Since Hamas’ mass killing and kidnapping of Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed through imposed starvation and indiscriminate attacks, including on hospitals, schools, shelters and places of worship. Prior to the October 7 attack, decades of violence and oppression have shaped the lives of all Palestinians — who have been denied basic rights, including self-determination — and of all Israelis.
Our prayer today, as it has been for many years, is for all Palestinians and Israelis to experience the fulness of peace, safety and dignity that we believe God desires for them.
Please join us in prayer that peace would take effect immediately, with all captives released, and that humanitarian access would be immediate and unhindered so the mercy of Christ can reach all those in critical need.
Please pray with us:
God of peace, We can barely comprehend the pain and sorrow experienced by so many in Israel and Palestine these last two years. We receive this news of potential peace with broken and hopeful hearts, and we turn to you, source of hope and comfort. Strengthen the resolve of world leaders to make peace and end violence. Comfort all who grieve and answer the prayers of those longing for the sound of bombs to stop. Make straight the way for life-saving aid and healing from trauma to reach all those whose lives have been shattered by this war. Bring compassion and understanding to all, and stir in hearts a commitment to lasting peace. Amen.
In Christ Jesus,
The Rev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer, National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Rev. Dr. Michael Pryse, Interim Executive Director, Canadian Lutheran World Relief
The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle takes us through every region of the world over the course of a year. Praying for each place on earth and its people at least once a year, we affirm our solidarity with Christians all over the world, brothers and sisters living in diverse situations, experiencing diverse problems and sharing diverse gifts. Pray with us!
Prayer is at the very heart of the ecumenical movement. Jesus prayed that we – his followers – may all be one. When we pray with and for one another, we can feel God’s gift of unity. Prayer sustains us on our way towards a unity that all can see, “so that the world may believe”. (John 17:21)
The suggested prayer texts are based on the publication "Pilgrim Prayer – an Ecumenical Prayer Cycle". The book and the website offer valuable aids for intercessory prayers, prayer on behalf of and in solidarity with others.
16 - 22 November 2025
https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/aotearoa-new-zealand-australia
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 donations during the passing of the plates at the Offering.
Envelopes for your 2025 offerings are available. If you wish to receive a supply, please contact the office, 344-1926, osimm@tbaytel.net.
At other times, and for those unable to attend worship, here are options:
1. Mail envelopes to the church (when postal strike over)
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.)
Again, we are so thankful for your faithful generosity.