Embedded Files
The Ambassador
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
June 2026
10 Farrand Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7A 3H5
Offices: 807-344-1926; Immanuel Hall/FAX: 807-343-4857
E-mail: osimm@tbaytel.net
Facebook: ‘Our Saviour’s Thunder Bay’
YouTube: ‘Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay’
Instagram: ‘OSLCTBay’
Pastor: Matthew H. Diegel (Parsonage: 807-344-6822)
__________________________________________________________________________________
Pre-Retirement Celebration
As has been announced, Pastor Matthew’s last day of his call to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament at Our Saviour’s is July 31. His final Sunday with us will be July 5, after which he will take vacation and transition to retirement.
So that we can celebrate before summer scatters us, we are having a pre-retirement celebration for him on Sunday, June 7. An extended Fellowship Hour will follow worship until 2:00 p.m., so that friends from other churches and the community can also attend. To help see Linda Sander, Karen Bishop, and Sharon Scott.
Sunday Worship
We gather for worship on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. We celebrate Holy Communion on June 7 and 21. June 14 and 28 will be Service of the Word.
As we meet we record the services. They are uploaded later to our YouTube channel, ‘Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay’.
Women’s Party
“On June 20, at 1:30 p m., come for your birthday celebration. All ladies are welcome. We’ll make a greeting card, enjoy birthday cake and ice cream, and exchange gifts with our prayer partners. If you don’t have a prayer partner, bring a small gift for the exchange, so everyone gets a gift. Then, we’ll draw names for next year’s prayer partners. You should pray for this person until the next party. Some include their birthdays so you can give a card. Christmas and Easter are other occasions for card greetings.”
For more info, see Karen Bishop.
Our Life Together:
Deaths:
-Chris Berg, May 13 (funeral: July 7)
-Eleanor McMurray, May 18 (funeral: May 29)
Wedding:
-Dave Williams and Lori Forester, May 16
Memorial gifts:
-In memory of Violet Jones
Drum, Turtle Shaker & Rattle Making Workshop
Hosted by Arlene Lehto, “Circle Bound Strategies”, this workshop is taking place in Immanuel Hall on Sat. June 13 and Sun. June 14, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Arlene is extending a special invitation to the congregation to attend. The gathering will focus on the teachings, creation, and birthing of drums, turtle shakers, and traditional rattles, within a respectful circle environment. It is being offered in the spirit of sharing, learning, responsibility, and community connection.
Registration cost for those making a 12- inch Drum or Turtle Shaker is $160.
Registration cost for those making a traditional Rattle is $75.
This cost includes materials, teaching and guided instruction, the birthing ceremony, sharing circle, facilitator and venue expenses, and feast.
For more information and to register, contact Arlene directly at
https://circlebound.ca/contact/ .
Summer Reading
Our Saviour’s has a collection of books to borrow for summer reading, at the coat rack at the bottom of the stairs to Immanuel Hall. It contains titles on a wide variety of topics related to the Bible, church, children, life events and Scandinavia. Pastor Matthew also has recently donated devotions, church-related topics, and local history books.
Lutheran Community Care Annual General Meeting
All are invited to attend the LCC’s Annual Meeting on Mon. June 29, at Christ Lutheran Church, Walkover St. Doors open and 4:30 pm., and the meeting will start at 5:00 p.m. Refreshments will follow.
Thank you to Karen Bishop, now completing her second term as Director and Chair, serving as our congregation’s representative on the Board. As she is not eligible for re-election, the LCC Nominating Committee is asking for our help in finding a new rep. See Karen for more details.
Thank you to those attending the Annual Meeting as our delegates: Karen Bishop, Carolyn Barthels, Arlene Berg Leishman, Lori Husiak, Bev Tienhaara, and Pastor Matthew.
Children’s Ministry
Our Sunday School classes are now on break for the summer. See Karen Bishop for information about the restart after Labour Day.
The seasonal Activity packet for Summer will be available at the end of the month.
Adventure activity bags are under the mailboxes inside the sanctuary, for children to enjoy during worship.
Call Process
The Call Process Committee, Peter Hinz, Chair, is continuing its work. It has met with Bishop Jason and has submitted the ‘Congregational Ministry Profile’. When the final version is ready, Synod Office will publicize the vacancy and invite clergy to apply through that office. Peter will share updates at upcoming worship services.
Transitions
Our council is working with Pastor Matthew on transitions related to his retirement. Thank you to those who have already taken on some. For more info or to sign up, see Pastor Matthew or Linda Sander about:
-worship bulletin production/copying
-OneLicense.net copyright reporting
-Facebook page administrator
-Webpage administrator
-Banner lead
-Outside sign messages
-worship video front page editor
This is Pastor Matthew’s final edition as editor of The Ambassador, and of our outreach newsletter, “The Daily God Wink” Eldon Oja has been a monthly contributor to the since its inception and will be assuming responsibility for both. As Eldon will be writing and formatting the newsletters from home, you may see some changes simply because the technology or software may change. For those wishing to submit articles in future editions, please send your input to eldonoja@tbaytel.net.
‘Day of Action’
Thank you to all who helped our congregation participate in our national church’s first annual ‘Day of Action’, called to share God’s love through service in Christ’s name.
Our Yard and Plant Sale on May 30 raised $1,240. Half of this is being donated to our partner in mission, Gathering Table Anglican parish, for its food bank; with the rest going into our Reserve Fund.
On May 31 at worship and fellowship we officially welcomed those confirmed members who have joined our congregation during the past six months: Carolyn Barthels, Marg Billbrough, Rachel Hepburn, Lori Rubin, Taylor Percy, and Karen Hartviksen.
.
Gathering Table’s food bank offers food twice monthly to those in need. Donations can be dropped in the basket and box in the front hall. The most needed items are: Kraft Dinner; cold/hot cereal; tuna; Flakes of Ham/Chicken/Turkey; fruit cups; Canned soup: Cream of Mushroom, Chicken Noodle, Tomato, Vegetable; Pork and Beans; pasta sauce.
‘Eternity for Today’
The July-September issue is available in the front hall.
More News from your Council
Council Vacancy appointment:
Please see Linda Sander about filling this position until the next Annual Congregational Meeting.
Signing Officers:
The Signing Officers for 2026 will be Vi Peternelj, Linda Sander, and Julie Verhoeven. 2 signatures are needed for each cheque. Thank you to Ken Boegh for his many years as a Signing Officer, who has stepped down.
Sacred Heart Church:
Starting at the end of June this congregation is moving its use of our building to between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. weekly, on Sundays. We rejoice with them on receiving a new priest from India for the next 3 months.
Archive work:
Kim Kairoja has completed her course work at LU which included arranging the congregational archives. She has volunteered to continue this activity through the end of July. Council offered her thanks and gave permission, with Pastor Matthew continuing as supervisor.
Cubs and A.A.:
The 178th Cubs is returning to Our Saviour’s this September, after meeting at Harmony United with the Beavers during the past year. It is moving up its starting time to 6:15 p.m., meaning the Friendly Group can start its meeting earlier, at 8:00 p.m.
Property:
-Thanks to Jim Symington and Don Furlotte for replacing the broken sprayer line under the kitchen sink.
-Thank you to the Thunder Bay Carvers for installing brighter lights in Immanuel Hall. Council and the Carvers are going to investigate splitting costs on work to enable the remaining fixturers to accept the new tubes.
-The city approved a 2nd recycling bin for the parsonage, which can be used at the church. A 2nd garbage cart is being kept at the parsonage – to be used for the church’s non-food garbage. This helps cut down on the bags taken to the shed across the street – the landlord now has a limit from the city on how many bags can be picked up weekly. He welcomes our continued use, but this helps him not to have to pay for excess disposal.
-Lawnmowing: thank you to Rene Kaukinen for setting up the schedule, and to Ken Boegh, who looked after arranging it for many years.
Council’s next monthly meeting is
June 16, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Chair – Linda Sander 622-0604
Vice-Chair – Karen Bishop 344-0052
Secretary – Aritith Francis 345-3617
Treasurer – Vi Peternelj 344-8552
Thank You
“Thank you very much for your recent donation to support our Emergency appeal for the Middle East. That is wonderful news that Flipper Flanagan’s Flat Footed Four held a concert in the afternoon at your congregation and donated proceeds to this emergency. Please pass on our many thanks to the band for the generosity!
The generosity of your congregation and the group will support families affected by this crisis, giving them the urgent support they need, and we are truly grateful for your continued support.”
Blessings,
Cody Cleave - Church Relations Officer (CLWR)
FINANCES
Regular Weekly/Festivals
Thank you for your May donations. We welcome the continuing trend of rising offering levels. Together we can enable our budgeted ministries to flourish. Help us, especially during the summer months, to maintain this. Sharing our gifts, we serve the world.
May Offerings:
$ 9,575.00
Budgeted Offerings
$ 9,750.00
Monthly Offerings YTD:
$ 41,347.00
Budgeted Offerings YTD:
$ 48,750.00
Forward in Mission
Received in 2026: $ 1,150.00
2026 goal $ 2,500.00
Thank you for your faith-fulfilled response to our vision for shared service ministries.
One of our chosen partners for 2026 is Canadian Lutheran World Relief. Through our $300 donation to its General Appeal, we will help it to be ready to assist with global and national emergencies.
Cleaning Fund
Received in 2026: $1,175.00
Budgeted to date: $1,625.00
Thank you for your designated offerings, to make possible our part-time custodian position. Your gifts in May helped reduced our shortfall in funding this important support ministry.
Building Fund
Balance, Jan. 1, 2026: $ 22,111.13
Received in 2026: $ 1,955.00
2026 Budget Goal: $ 2,300.00
The Annual Meeting voted to merge the ’Capital Improvement Fund’ (from the sale of Immanuel) with the ‘Building Fund’ (a fund at Our Saviour’s before merger).The merged fund now is the ‘Building Fund’. Continuing the existing Building Fund policy, when an expenditure over $1,500 is needed, Council can call a Special Congregational Meeting for discussion.
Offerings
Envelopes are in the pews. For a bundle of envelopes for 2026 see Linda Sander or call the office. Our offerings are collected in the pews during worship.
Other ways to send your gift:
1.Mail to church:
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 is appreciated, so that the offering can be brought inside.
3.E-Transfer to:
osimm.office@tbaytel.net
4.Pre-Authorized Withdrawal (PAR)
You are able to have offerings deposited from your financial institution to the church. You can designate it Weekly, Building, and/or Forward in Mission. You can designate part of ‘Weekly’ for ‘Cleaning’. To sign up, or make updates, call the office.
“Faith put into Action”
Over the past year, there has been much discussion about the expected transition that will take place at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church once Pastor Matthew retires. The Call Process Committee has now completed its congregational survey and has prepared the ‘Congregational Ministry Profile’. The Call Process Committee met with the Bishop on May 31 to review and submit the profile and to look at the next steps of the process. It will share an update on this at an upcoming worship service.
During the month of June, Pastor Matthew will be presiding at our Sunday worship services. He will preach his final sermon on Sunday, July 5. After that, Pastor Matthew and Kaija will have a short vacation, and his last scheduled day of call will be July 31.
So, what happens next? What about the church? What about us?
The vision of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church has not changed. “Come share the gifts of God – serve the world”. Our congregation has been blessed with many gifted and exceedingly faithful members. During our transition period, we will have lay leaders reading the sermons, leading devotions, and talented musicians & voices enriching our spiritual journey. As lay leaders cannot preside at Communion, a rostered clergy will be invited to lead us in the sharing of bread and wine.
Over the years, Our Saviour’s has welcomed and helped so many people in our congregation, as well as others in the broader spectrum of Thunder Bay. Our church has also housed multiple organizations… i.e. the Boy Scouts, AA (Alcoholic Anonymous), LINC (Language Instruction for New Canadians) also known by us as the English as a second language classes, the Thunder Bay Carvers, and TOPS… allowing these organizations to teach, encourage and offer assistance to anyone who desired their services. More recently, we have offered our sanctuary and basement to a newly formed church called the “Sacred Heart SM Catholic Church Thunder Bay”, whereby we provide a place for them to worship each Sunday.
Our church is full of life & activity throughout the week, creating a unique opportunity for all of us to connect with each other and share the gifts God has bestowed upon us, which is to help those in need. In my article last month, “Faith in the Future of the Church”, I closed by saying, “Jesus’ teachings were shared with all in the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes and the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. The twelve apostles then went out and put those teachings into action. I believe it is our turn now to put our faith into gear and carry on God’s teachings as he so intended.”
Eldon Oja
Articles for Summer Newsletter needed by Monday, June 29. Thank you!
Google Sites
Report abuse