Our Newsletter

The Ambassador

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church

April 2024

10 Farrand Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7A 3H5

Offices: 344-1926; Immanuel Hall/FAX: 343-4857

E-mail: osimm@tbaytel.net

Web: www.oursaviourstbay.org

Facebook: ‘Our Saviour’s Thunder Bay’

YouTube: ‘Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay’

Instagram: ‘OSLCTBay’

Pastor: Matthew H. Diegel (Parsonage: 344-6822)

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Worship

We gather each Sunday at 10:30 a.m., celebrating Holy Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, April 7 and 21, and festivals. April 14 is Service of the Word. Worship with the Band is on April 28.

New:  For Holy Communion, all are invited to come up the centre aisle to the foot of the chancel steps to receive the bread (bakers appreciated) and the wine/grape juice. Gluten-free wafers are available. After taking a glass, please go to the side and drink. 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 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.

   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’. Thank you, John Stadtlander and his new assistant, Brian Phillips!

      The bulletin with links to videos of the songs, and the text of the sermon, are e-mailed out on Saturday. Sign up: osimm@tbaytel.net. They also are posted on our website on Saturday:

www.oursaviourstbay.org .

 

Children’s Ministry

The new Easter/spring seasonal activity packet is available for pick-up or drop off. For the latter, email osimm@tbaytel.net. Activity sheets for each Sunday are available in the front hall and are also emailed on Thursday. Sign up: osimm@tbaytel.net . 

   Our in-person Sunday School classes are twice monthly, on the first and third Sundays. This month we are meeting on April 7 and 21. The sessions, for children in JK – Gr. 6, begin downstairs in Immanuel Hall at 10:30 a.m. for Bible stories, crafts, and other activities. Then we come up to share Holy Communion. See Karen Bishop, co-ordinator, for more info.

   There are Adventure activity bags under the mailboxes inside the entrance to the sanctuary, for children to enjoy during worship.


Mission to Seafarers

The Mission to Seafarers Fund-raising Dinner is being held Friday, April 19 at the Current River Community Centre, 5:30 pm doors open and 6:15 pm dinner. Tickets: adults $45.00; children 6 to 12 $20.00. The guest speaker is The Most Rev’d Anne Germond, Anglican Metropolitan Bishop of Ontario and Bishop of Algoma. Tickets must be purchased by Friday, April 12. Please contact Janet Pike at 807-627‑1112, the Seafarers Centre at 807-344‑8241, or see Pastor Matthew (MTS Thunder Bay Chair).

 

Luther Village

Under God's grace, Luther Village exists to provide Christian ministry in a harmonious outdoor setting to give all individuals the opportunity for growth and renewal of mind, body and soul. 

The Luther Village Camp annual brochure for 2024 is now available to help you create your family, child, grandchild or individual camping plans for this coming summer! Please pick one up at the church, or go online, www.luthervillage.ca, and see what’s happening during our synod’s 60th year of outdoor ministry on Dogtooth Lake near Kenora. Online registration has openened. Hope to see you at Luther Village this season.


Newsflash:

Back by popular demand, our annual Plant, Bake, and Yard Sale: Sat. June 8, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. More details coming shortly! 

 

‘Joseph’: Sat. June 8, 7:00 p.m.

Council has agreed to the invitation from St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Bloomington, MN, to present this musical in our sanctuary.

‘Jubiliation’ is a youth choir consisting of 7th through 12th grade students. Each summer they tour a new area of the U.S., Canada, or Europe, performing ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’. This year marks their 36th tour and the choir’s 50th year in existence under the direction of Linda Olson.

There is no fee for this 60-70 minute musical, and Our Saviour’s is providing the sanctuary at no charge. There will be a free-will offering at the end of the performance.

We are responsible for providing the Sat. supper and Sun. breakfast, as well as having the participants camp out in the church Sat. night.  More details to follow! 

 

Readings for Worship

April 7 – Second Sunday of Easter

-Acts 4:32-35

-Psalm 133

-I John 1:1-2:2

-John 20:19-31

April 14 – Third Sunday of Easter

-Acts 3:12-19

-Psalm 4

-I John 3:1-7

-Luke 24:36b-48

April 21 – Fourth Sunday of Easter

-Acts 4:5-12

-Psalm 23

-I John 3:16-24

-John 10:11-18

April 28 – Fifth Sunday of Easter

-Acts 8:26-40

-Psalm 22:25-31

-I John 4:7-21

-John 15:1-8

May 5 – Sixth Sunday of Easter

-Acts 10:44-48

-Psalm 98

-I John 5:1-6

-John 15:9-17

 

Fellowship Hour

We have Fellowship Hour each Sunday following worship, in Immanuel Hall. Birthdays are celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of the month!

To help with set-up or clean-up, volunteer at the kitchen.

The platform lift is available for those who cannot access the basement via the stairs.

 

Worship Assistants

For worship we need Greeters and Ushers, Readers, and Communion assistants. Please sign up on the sheet in the front hall. You can check what positions need filling in the listing in the bulletin for the coming Sunday. Pastor Matthew is happy to offer an orientation for all positions. Thanks to those who helped in March, including during Holy Week and Easter Day.

   

Choir and Quartet+

Thank you to the Choir for singing during the Mar. 28 Maundy Thursday service. It will next sing on April 28 and May 26. Please see Kaija Ranta, Director, for details.

Thank you to the The Quartet + for the Calls to Worship on March 24, and 31. For future dates, see Vi Peternelj.

 

'Eternity for Today' 

Copies of our national church’s daily devotional booklets for Apr.-June are available in the front hall, or call the office to have one dropped off.

 

Bible Study: a 4-week study in May and June: details next month!


Council Comments

Council met for its regular monthly meeting on Mar 12. In addition to news noted elsewhere:

-Elections were held for officers of the council and congregation. The results:

*Chairperson: Linda Sander

*Vice-Chair: Karen Bishop

*Secretary: Artith Francis

*Treasurer: tba.

Linda will continue to do the book-keeping, but will not be the Treasurer this year. A search has begun for a person to hold this position. They do not have to be a member of Council.

-Jim Symington was welcomed (back) to council, having been elected at the Annual Congregational meeting.

-Eldon Oja, whose council term was up, did not stand for reelection. However, the good news is that he will continue to work on the ‘Daily God Wink’ outreach newsletter.

-Our Signing Officers remain the same for 2024: 2 of 3 signatures required: Linda Sander + Ken Boegh and/or Vi Peternelj.

-The Memorials Committee has moved half of the Memorials Fund balance to a higher interest account. The other half has been invested in a one-year GIC.

-The Memorials Committee is preparing a proposal re landscaping of the beds on either side of the of the two sets of front doors and underneath the sign. The cedar stumps are to be removed among the front, with fabric and soil being put in, as well as shrubs and  

perennials. By the parking lot doors, the beds are to be renewed, and one lilac replaced. For the area underneath the sign, one person has already committed to covering the cost of renewal.

   The committee will be asking the council for the congregation to cover the cost of removing the stumps and renewing the soil, with the Memorials Fund providing the funds for the shrubbery and related plants. It will also seek to find enough people, paid and volunteer, to do the work.

-The other proposal for the Northwest Exit rebuild project has not yet been received. Council hopes to make a decision on the project at its April meeting, including if the congregation could do the demolition itself.

-The drywall at the bottom of the front stairwell was damaged by someone from Carvers missing the last step. Thank you to Jim Symington for the quick repair. The person involved is okay, and will be making a donation to the church in thanks for the repair (the only cost was paint.)

-‘Our Saviour’s Cares’: Thank you to the group of women who prepared and mailed Easter cards to those on the congregation’s shut-in list.

-News from Hilldale: Retired Pastor, Rick Sauer, and retired Bishop, Elaine Sauer, have been appointed Interim Ministers of Hilldale Lutheran Church, for a three month period, beginning Mar. 1. Prayers are appreciated for both of them and for that congregation as it preprares to call a new pastor.

-Council’s next monthly meeting is Tues. April 9, 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Chair – Linda Sander 622-0604

Vice-Chair – Karen Bishop 344-0052

Secretary – Aritith Francis 345-3617

 

Women’s Party

-breaking news – to be held Sat. Apr. 27. Details to follow!


FINANCES

Local and Missions

 Thank you for your generous offerings during March and on Easter Sunday. Together we were able to lessen our shortfall in giving from the first two months of 2024. Our regular weekly offerings (envelope and loose) support our budgeted local ministry expenses. They also enable us to partner with our synod (regional church – Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario) and national church: “Benevolence”, $10,000 in 2024. In addition, we include sustaining support for Lutheran Community Care: $1,500. Together, with the Spirit’s guidance, we serve the world with the gifts of God.

March Offerings:

$ 11,026.00

Budgeted Offerings Monthly:

$ 9,666.67

Monthly Offerings 2024:  

$ 27,006.00

Budgeted Offerings 2024:

$ 29,000.01

 

Forward in Mission

Received in 2024:  $ 915.00

2024 goal:         $ 2,500.00

Thank you for your gifts. One of our designated partners this year is our national church’s Annual Praise Appeal ($150). Funds raised during this appeal aid new and continuing ministries outside the regular budget. 

 

Cleaning Fund

Received in 2024:        $ 1,145.00

Budgeted to date:        $    900.00

Your gifts enable us to employ a part-time custodian to clean our building. Please designate offerings: ‘Cleaning Fund’.

 

Building Fund

Our donations help us have a dedicated reserve to maintain our property when the ‘unexpected’ happens. When planning indicates a major project is needed, a Congregational Meeting can set a goal for giving to the fund.

Balance, Jan. 1, 2024: $ 5,314.04

Received in 2024:        $   715.00

Expenditures: In Feb. we needed to pay $2,440 for our annual maintenance agreement for our platform lift. Gifts to replenish the fund are appreciated.

 

Offerings

During worship you are able to share your offerings at the entrance to the sanctuary. Envelopes for Sunday and special offerings are available.

For a bundle of envelopes for 2024 see Linda Sander or call the office.

Other ways to send your gift:

1.Mail envelopes to the 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. New: You can desigate part of ‘Weekly’ for ‘Cleaning’. To sign up, or make updates, call the office.


'Mask-friendly space' 

The Health Unit continues to recommend the wearing of masks in public areas when social distancing cannot be maintained. The Congregational Council endorses this for those who wish to wear masks, and continues to make masks and hand sanitizer available. 

 

Pastoral Visits

Pastor Matthew looks forward to making 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 Hospital. As clergy no longer have access to the patient lists, it is vital that you contact him with info about who is a patient who would benefit from such care.

 

Life’s Journeys

Funeral:

-Greeta Stiletto, Mar. 11 (died Mar. 3)

 

Food Drive

Food donations received in the wicker basket in the front hall are being given to the Gathering Table’s food bank and to those in need.


Emergency Appeal for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land 

Our goal is to cover one month of expenses for the ELCJHL to a total of $263,000. Support has reached past the half-way point. Financial donations may be given:

 

Canadian Lutheran World Relief

Partnership:

Your Generosity in Action

CLWR has released its ‘Year in Review: Your Impact in 2023’. In each ‘Ambassador’ issue we are sharing one of more of its stories.

“Haiti; Humanitarian assistance in response to disaster”

In 2023, as Haiti was struggling to recover from heavy flooding and landslides, it was hit by 2 massive earthquakes. The back-to-back disasters complicated the lives of many people, whose situation was already precarious. With your support, our partners in Haiti are providing families with emergency cash support to cope with these disasters. Thank you for helping families get through this crisis and begin to rebuild their lives!

You can make a donation by marking ‘CLWR’ on a line of your offering envelope, or by visiting www.clwr.org .

 

From our April 'Daily God Wink' outreach newsletter:

Our Saviour’s Online by Eldon Oja

  “In the March 2024 edition of Canada Lutheran, the Magazine of our Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, I was intrigued by the cover story, “Faith online A new avenue of ministry”, by Sarah Malina. Sarah is a recent graduate from Carleton University in Ottawa. She writes, “The landscape of how we interact with God and with each other has evolved. This is exciting and invigorating, as much as it may be daunting.” The article goes on to describe many creative initiatives across the country, such as, livestreaming services on Facebook, podcasting on topics such as harm reduction, 2SLGBTQIA+, mental health and pastoral care, and Zoom meetings for bible studies and fellowship.

  Using online resources can be a difficult transition for many people including me. I have the devices but for the life of me some of those links can be frustrating. For example, my daughter and my granddaughter set up my TV to get movies online and then they set up a computer tablet with instructions how to get and play the movie. Without their help, I would still be flipping channels. That is why we have started on several links which are all accessible via a computer or smart cellphone. Hopefully, you or a friend are familiar with one of those pathways and you can help each other get connected.

  Here are several ways that you can connect to our congregation online:

As in most congregations, our online projects could make use of more technology and volunteers. Still, already we are having a great time trying to reach out to you through the media and online spaces available to us right now. Our web master and Facebook page administer is Pastor Matthew. Our worship videographer is John Stadtlander along with new assistant camera man, Brian Phillips.    

  Pastor Matthew tells us that some of you are using our links already. So, please let me say “Welcome to Our Saviour’s Online”. “


Homeless Week

For one of our midweek Lenten discussions, Pastor Matthew shared the Anglican diocese of Algoma’s presentation on homelessness in Thunder Bay. During Homeless Week, April 28-May 5, the diocese is inviting all to an online ‘Panel Discussion Event’, to explore the issue further.

  It is being held on Thurs. May 2, from 7-8:30 p.m. Anglican Archbishop Anne Germond will be the moderator. To register, send an email to Jane.e.cox1@gmail.com. Registrants will receive the webinar link three days before the panel discussion date.