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The Ambassador
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
May 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)
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Day of Action
This year we are marking 40 years as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada! As a church, we are called to share God’s love through service in Christ’s name. The ELCIC Day of Action on May 31 is an opportunity to live out that calling together. National Bishop Larry Kochendorfer is inviting us to step beyond our church walls and into our neighbourhoods, joining with others across our church in acts of service, compassion, and care.
Our council has positively responded to this invitation. Its plans include these ways for us to get involved:
a)Yard, Bake and Plant Sale
Our annual Yard, Bake, and Plant Sale is returning: the morning of Sat. May 30. A portion of the proceeds is being given to local Food Banks. Stay tuned for more details.
b)New Member Sunday
At our 10:30 a.m. Worship with the Band service on Sun. May 31, we will officially welcome those who have joined Our Saviour’s during the past 6 months. There will cake for Fellowship!
Children’s Ministry
Our last classes before the summer break will be on Sunday, May 3 and 17. The sessions, for children in JK –
Gr. 6 begin in Immanuel Hall at 10:30 a.m. for Bible stories, crafts, and other activities. Then we come up to share Holy Communion.
The seasonal Activity packet for Easter/Spring is available. Pick up a copy, or call the church for a drop-off.
Activity sheets for each Sunday are available in the front hall and are also emailed on Thursday. To sign up for these: osimm@tbaytel.net .
Adventure activity bags are under the mailboxes inside the sanctuary, for children to enjoy during worship.
On Sundays when there isn’t Sunday School, Pastor Matthew will share a message for children during worship.
May 17 Potluck Fellowship Hour
On May 17, our tradtional Hot Dog feast will be served during Fellowship! Please bring something to share, as you are able.
We have Fellowship Hour each Sunday following worship, in Immanuel Hall. Birthday Sunday normally is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of the month: May 17. Gifts of food are welcome – please bring them down before the service. For those wishing to make a gift toward supplies there is a coffee pot on the table at the entrance to the hall. The platform lift is available for those who have trouble with the stairs.
Choir and Band/Singer Notes
Sunday, May 3 - Choir practice after Fellowship, We will rehearse Lord of the Dance, Let us Break Bread Together, and Here I am Lord.
Sunday, May 24th - Choir will sing for the Confirmation service. We will sing in the balcony. Please meet in the balcony at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, May 31 - Band and Singers: Please be ready to rehearse at 9:30 a.m., for Worship with the Band.
Music Notes
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in music for worship services and cantatas over the past three decades. To the organists, choir members, choir directors, accompanists, narrators, band singers and band musicians - your gifts and your talents have been greatly appreciated. Music in worship enhances our spiritual experience and congregational singing builds us as a community.”
Thank you once again, Kaija Ranta.
Confirmation Sunday
On the Day of Pentecost, May 24, two young people of our congregation will affirm their Baptism during the 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion service. Please come and support Chris Broughton and Faith Broughton on this special day. Doing so, we all renew the covenants God made with each of us in our Baptisms. There will be cake for Fellowship!
Thank you to Jim Maley for carving crosses for the confirmands.
Conversations Across the Church
What does it mean to be a church Living out God’s grace and unconditional love? Join the National Bishop of our Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Larry Kochendorfer, and members from across the church online on Sun. May 24, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., as we reflect, share, and grow together. Registration is required:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/s27TUCRVTGS2EUyJJBvLKg#/registration
Brochures for the 2026 season of outdoor ministry at Luther Village are available in the front hall, and online at www.luthervillage.ca .
Worship
We gather for worship on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Normally we celebrate Holy Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays monthly: May 3 and 17. We will also share this meal of grace on the Day of Pentecost/ Confirmation, May 24.
May 10 will be Service of the Word. Worship with the Band is on May 31.
As we meet we record the services. They are uploaded later to our YouTube channel, ‘Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay’. Thank you, John Stadtlander, Brian Phillips, and Pastor Matthew.
The bulletins, with links to videos of the songs, and the text of the sermon, are e-mailed on Saturday. Sign up: osimm@tbaytel.net. They also are posted on our website each Saturday:
For Holy Communion, all are invited to come up the centre aisle to the foot of the chancel to receive the bread (gluten-free wafers available) and the wine/juice. There is a receptacle for 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 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.
Worship Assistants
Thank you to those who helped out during April. For May, please sign up in the front hall to be a Greeter and Usher, Reader, and/or Communion assistant. You can check what needs filling for the coming Sunday in the bulletin.
Worship Readings
May 3-Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16;
I Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14.
May 10 – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; I Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21.
May 17 – Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 1:6-14; Ps 68:1-10, 32-35;
I Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11; Jn 17:1-11.
May 24 – Day of Pentecost
Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b;
I Cor. 12:3b-13; John 20:19-23.
May 31 – The Holy Trinity
Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8;
2 Cor. 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20.
June 7 – Time after Pentecost
Hosea 5:15-6:6; Psalm 50:7-15; Romans 4:13-25; Mt 9:9-13, 18-26.
‘Eternity for Today’
The April-June issue is available in the front hall. Copies can be delivered: call.
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 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. There will be special parts to the service, followed by a extended Fellowship Hour. The latter will continue until 2:00 p.m., so that friends from other churches and the community can also attend.
To help on this day, see Linda Sander, Karen Bishop, and Sharon Scott.
Call Process
The Call Process Committee, Peter Hinz, Chair, is continuing its work on the ‘Congregational Ministry Profile’. As part of this process, the Committee is seeking input from the church community, both members and friends, to identify priorities for our congregation and for the next pastor.
Please take a few minutes to provide your perspective. Click this link to the start the survey-
https://forms.gle/bCWsC3kftBmxZxKT7 . Please complete this survey by May 10th. Your responses are completely anonymous.
If you are unable to access a digital copy, the committee has laptops available during Fellowship Hour for you to do so. The more comments received, the more the committee is able to articulate who we are to potential candidates. Thank you.
After the responses are collated, the Committee will send the profie, along with projected achievable compensation levels/ type of call to Bishop Jason. When he approves the document, the Synod Office will begin to publicize the vacancy and invite interested clergy to apply through that office.
Transitions
Our council is continuing to work with Pastor Matthew on transitions in our ministries related to his retirement. For more info or to sign up, see Pastor Matthew or Linda Sander about:
-worship bulletin production/copying
-selection of worship hymns
-OneLicense.net copyright reporting
-Facebook page administrator
-Webpage administrator
-Facebook ‘Prayer Chain’ lead
-Banner lead
-Outside sign messages
-E-newsletter
-YouTube worship video front page editor/ sharer
Women’s Party
Our annual Women’s Party is being held in June this year. Stay tuned!
Articles for June Newsletter needed by Monday, June 1. Thank you!
Flipper Flanagan’s Flat Footed Four
Thank you to all who volunteered at, and came to, the concert on April 19. Together, we raised over $1,300 for Canadian Lutheran World Relief’s Middle East Emergency Appeal. We even got a Chronicle-Journal thumbs up: “What a great concert with just great music enjoyed by all. Thumbs up to a gentleman making toy mice out of paper. Even the mice were dancing (well at least in the kids’ hands). Superb!”
Middle East Emergency Appeal
As violence continues, CLWR, our national church, and the ‘Humanitarian Coalition’ are asking for your help to provide life-saving aid. Please join us in prayer and consider donating to this appeal. Your can designate your gift ‘CLWR – Middle East’ on the blank line on an offering envelope, give at clwr.org/middleeast ,or call 1-800-661-2597.
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.
News from your Council
For the opening devotion, Pastor Matthew shared an Easter Prayer, and remembered Eldon Oja’s spouse, Jeanette, who died on March 29.
Appointments:
At its May meeting Council will address the appointment of a Treasurer for 2026, this year’s signing officers, and the filling of the vacant council position. See Linda for details.
Pancake Supper Update:
The final freewill offering report: $1,220 in donations -- $610 to the Building Fund; $610 + $145 (2025 FIM Surplus) to ‘Our Kids Count’ = $755.
Easter Breakfast:
Approximately 35 persons atttended. All seemed to enjoy the event. Leftover food was purchased to take home, with the revenue returned to the Fellowship Fund.
Council’s next monthly meeting is
May 19, 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
Our Life Together:
Deaths:
-Rick Epp (Mar. 28; funeral, Apr. 9)
-Jeannette Oja(Mar. 29;funeral, Apr. 2)
-Joan Rissanen (Apr. 24)
Memorials gifts:
-In memory of Jeanette Oja
FINANCES
Regular Weekly/Festivals
Thank you for your April donations. The good news is that our offering levels continue to rise. The worrying news is that we continue to lag behind our budgeted needs.
The family of Jeanette Oja has asked that Memorial gifts in her name be designated to the General operating fund. These generous donations are not included in this report, but are a much appreciated blessing.
Please respond in prayer and in giving as you are able to help us fully fund our vision for ministry. Sharing our gifts, we serve the world.
April Offerings:
$ 9,212.00
Budgeted Offerings
$ 9,750.00
Monthly Offerings YTD:
$ 31,772.00
Budgeted Offerings YTD:
$ 39,000.00
Forward in Mission
Received in 2026: $ 910.00
2026 goal $ 2,500.00
Thank you for helping us to keep on track to meeting our goal!
One of our chosen partners for 2026 is our synod’s outdoor ministry near Kenora: Luther Village. We hope to be able to give $150 for its Annual Appeal. Through this, we share in its vision of Growth & Renewal - Mind, Body & Soul:
Cleaning Fund
Received in 2026: $ 810.00
Budgeted to date: $1,300.00
Thank you for your designated offerings, to make possible our part-time custodian. Unfortunately, our shortfall in funding is increasing. This means we have to cover the rest of the cost from our Weekly/Festival giving.
Building Fund
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.
Balance, Jan. 1, 2026: $ 22,111.13
Received in 2026: $ 1,680.00
2026 Budget Goal: $ 2,300.00
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.
Joint Canadian Humanitarian Response to Sudan Crisis Launches with $8.5 Million in Initial Government Support
As the war in Sudan enters its fourth year, the Government of Canada has announced $8.5 million in funding for the first year of a two-year joint humanitarian response led by CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, and Canadian Lutheran World Relief. The two-year project will support more than 429,000 people across Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad with water and sanitation services, essential health care, and protection.
Part of Canada’s pledge at the International Ministerial Conference on Sudan in Berlin, the funding will support a coordinated, cross-border response to one of the world’s most severe — and most underfunded — humanitarian crises. The conflict has displaced an estimated 14 million people, devastated health and sanitation systems, and tripled the number of women and girls at risk of sexual violence.
CLWR, through its implementing partner the Lutheran World Federation, will deliver integrated water, sanitation, and protection programming in Chad’s Ouaddaï and Sila provinces, where LWF has maintained continuous operations since 2007.
Canadian Lutheran World Relief
The Board of Directors of CLWR has appointed Darryl Loewen as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1. Loewen succeeds the Rev. Dr. Michael Pryse, who served as interim leader during the search process.
Loewen brings nearly a decade of executive leadership at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Manitoba, where he oversaw fundraising, finance, social enterprise and operations. He led a major organizational consolidation, represented the organization across a diverse constituency, guided MCC Manitoba through significant change and deepened the organization’s fundraising capacity.
“CLWR is one of Canada’s oldest, most trusted humanitarian organizations, but also one of its fastest growing. I couldn’t think of a more exciting — or critical — mission to be part of right now,” said Loewen.
Founded as a grassroots movement of Lutherans to resettle families after World War II, CLWR is one of Canada’s leading humanitarian organizations. Its programs now span emergency response, refugee resettlement and community development across Africa, the Middle East, South America, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe. CLWR is a trusted, long-term partner of the Lutheran World Federation and the Government of Canada, and a member of the Humanitarian Coalition and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
“We all know how the world feels right now,” added Loewen. “And Canada has to decide who we are as the world around us changes from what we knew. I believe it’s time for people of faith to take the lead with our commitment to global solidarity, and show how deep our convictions are that no one should be abandoned in the face of wars, disasters and a changing climate. I’m honoured to be part of a movement that was born of that conviction, and has been living it out for 80 years.”
Faith in the Future of the Church
By Eldon Oja
“If I was to ask you to think about your faith in God, does one of the following phrases apply to you?
1. Faith is not part of my life
2. Finding my faith
3. Rekindling my faith
4. Sharing my faith
Our Saviour’s Call Process Committee has recently asked members and friends of the congregation to fill out a survey to identify their priorities for the congregation in the years ahead.
In the survey, the challenge is to limit oneself to the top three mission priorities from a list of six options: social ministry, direct community service, stewardship, evangelism, visitation, and strengthening music and worship ministry. Next, you must rate twenty-six ministry areas from “not important” to “very important”, knowing that we can’t work on everything over the next year.
Your survey choices may eventually help our congregation to reverse our recent history of diminishing numbers. Future change may also help us to work to soften the scepticism amongst younger generations about organized relgion in general. However, that kind of change might not produce such change until the next generation or even longer.
Now if you selected “Faith is not part of my life”, the survey still applies because you probably have just as much or more to say as many other participants. Perhaps if you said that you have no faith in God, it may be because a couple of those six priorities plus a few the twenty-six ministry areas were not or were poorly addressed. As a consequence, there was no one to help when someone cried out.
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 shared those teachings and now we must accept that challenge to help others by sharing those same teachings and our faith in God as we help those in need.”
Blessings to you all as you carry on God’s work and complete the survey.
Eldon Oja
Pastoral Visits
Pastor Matthew looks forward to home visits, and going to Long Term Care homes. This includes sharing Holy Communion. Contact him at 807-344-1926, osimm@tbaytel.net . Pastor Matthew visits at the Regional Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s. As clergy don’t have access to patient lists, contact him about who is a patient who would benefit from such care.
Thank You to:
-Jim Symington, for modifying and strengthening the new handrail at the top of the stairs
-Sharon Stadtlander, for the beautiful Easter sanctuary decorations
-all those who donated Easter flowers
-the Choir, singers, and musicians over Easter (plus the snow shovelers!)
-those who prepared the Easter breakfast
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