Embedded Files
The Ambassador
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
Summer 2026
10 Farrand Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7A 3H5
Offices: 807-344-1926; Immanuel Hall: 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 (until July 31)
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Worship
We gather Sundays in the sanctuary at 10:30 a.m., followed by Fellowship Hour in Immanuel Hall. ‘Birthday Sunday’ is the 3rd Sunday of the month.
July
-We will celebrate Holy Communion on July 5. Pastor Matthew will preside.
-On July 12 and 19, we will have Services of the Word, with lay leaders, while Pastor Matthew is on vacation.
-On July 26, will will gather for Service of the Word and Baptisms. Pastor Matthew will preside. This will be his final service before he retires Aug. 1.
August
The Sunday worship which will have Holy Communion is still being arranged. All other gatherings will be Services of the Word.
Lay Worship Leaders
We appreciate those able to help lead the services on July 12 and 19, and starting August 2. Please see Linda Sander or the sign-up sheet in the front hall.
Services on YouTube
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 and Brian Phillips.
Thank You
Thank you again for the incredibly special service and luncheon on Sunday, June 7 and since that time. The music, food, words, and cards have been very moving, and will be of lasting memory and joy.
I will always cherish the honour of being your pastor since January 1, 1995. Together, we have shared the gifts of God and served the world. God grant that you and Our Saviour’s continue to rejoice in the good news.
My retirement begins on August 1, with some time off for vacation during mid July. Once my time as pastor here ends, and for the first year of ministry of your new pastor, our national church policy states that the retired pastor normally stays away from the congregation, so that the new relationship can grow. During that time I will keep you all in my prayers.
Kaija and I will be staying in Thunder Bay, moving out of the parsonage the end of July. So you will see us around town, and, after a while, at church!
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favour and give you peace.
Pastor Matthew+
Call Process News
Call Process Committee
-The Congregational Profile, 27 pages long, has been given to Bishop Jason. He will use it to begin the process of finding candidates for pastor. A partial copy of the document is available on the downstairs’ corridor bulletin board. Thank you to all who provided input for this core document.
Ministry Transitions
-Karen Bishop will be the new coordinator for the private Facebook Prayer Chain group.
-Vi Peternelj is picking the Sunday hymns, starting for July 12. Suggestions welcome!
-Linda Sander is coordinating the printing of Sunday worship outlines, readings, and prayers. Please tell her you can help out!
-John Stadtlander will send the copyright use data to OneLicense.
-Artith Francis will work with Pastor Matthew to learn about the mandatory monthly fire system checks.
-When Pastor Matthew retires, the web site will become a ‘static’ information page, until a new editor begins. Perhaps it is you! See Linda.
-The church’s Facebook page is attached to Pastor Matthew's personal account. He needs to suspend it on July 31. You might be the one to establish the new one! See Linda.
-A new editor for the monthly newsletter is needed, as Eldon Oja has stepped down. (Eldon will continue to produce the ‘Daily God Winks’.) Look in the mirror – are you the new editor?!
Council Comments
Notes from the June council meeting not mentioned elsewhere:
Council Member Appointment
-Council has appointed Vi Peternelj to the position on council that has been vacant since the last annual meeting. This is until the next congregational meeting. Thanks to Vi for volunteering!
Appointment of Treasurer and Secretary
-Council has made the following changes to the Officers of the congregation: effective Sept. 9, Artith Francis, now Secretary, will become Treasurer; also, Vi Peternelj will become Secretary.
Day of Action Yard and Plant Sale
-Sharon Scott has prepared a binder containing information from this year’s sale and previous ones.
-The proceeds from the sale now total $1,255. Half of this will go to the Gathering Table for its Food Bank. The other half will go to the Reserve Fund, as per council policy.
Sacred Heart Church Rental
Council approved this congregation moving its start time to 2:00 p.m. on Sundays, from 5:00 p.m.
Cubs
The Cub pack is returning to Immanuel Hall in September. It met at Harmony United this past year, due to a leader shortage. The new meeting time will be from 6:15-7:45 p.m. on Mondays. This enables the A.A. Group to move its starting time from 8:30 to 8:00 p.m.
-Council’s next monthly meeting is Tues. Sept. 9, 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
‘Eternity for Today’
Copies of our national church’s daily devotions’ booklet, the July-Sept. issue, are now available in the front hall. They can also be dropped off: call the office.
Pastor Matthew has written the devotions for July 26-August 1.
Children’s Ministry
Copies of the seasonal Activity packet for Summer are available. Pick up a copy, or call for a drop-off or for a packet to be sent by email.
Adventure activity bags are under the mailboxes inside the sanctuary, for children to enjoy during worship.
Sunday School resumes after Labour Day. The sessions for children in JK – Gr. 6 begin in Immanuel Hall at 10:30 a.m. for Bible stories, crafts, and other activities. We come up to share Holy Communion. See Karen Bishop, co-ordinator, for information, or to be an assistant in the fall.
From Salem Lutheran, Pass Lake
On Sunday, September 27, MNO Bishop Jason Zinko will be at Salem to dedicate its new building. More details to follow!
Venezuela Earthquake Emergency
Canadian Lutheran World Relief and our Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada are calling on Lutherans and friends to pray for those affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela, and to give generously to support urgent humanitarian needs.
On June 24, a rare sequence of two major earthquakes struck Venezuela just 39 seconds apart, causing devastation across one of the country's most densely populated regions, including Caracas and surrounding states. Even before these earthquakes, an estimated eight million people across Venezuela were already in need of humanitarian assistance. This disaster has placed even greater pressure on communities struggling to recover from years of economic hardship.
Canadian Lutheran World Relief is working with the Lutheran World Federation, which is assessing needs and preparing to respond quickly where help is needed most. Their staff are currently all safe. We pray for them, too, and thank them for their compassion at this most difficult time.
With your support we will help provide: Emergency shelter, blankets and bedding; Clean water, hygiene and sanitation supplies; and Essential household items,
You can send your donation through our Sunday Offerings by designating your amount on your envelope as ‘CLWR: Venezuela’. Also, you can donate at clwr.org/venezuela or call
1-800-661-2597.
Gathering Table Anglican
Food donations received in the basket in the front hall are being given to the Gathering Table’s food bank and to those in need. The most needed items are:
-Kraft Dinner; cold and hot cereal; tuna; Flakes of Ham/Chicken/Turkey; fruit cups; Soup: Cream of Mushroom, Chick. Noodle, Tomato, and Vegetable;
Pork and Beans; pasta sauce.
Friends of Creation Challenge
More than 90 congregations, including Our Saviour’s have joined the Friends of Creation challenge! Together we have raised $835,271.69 (almost $1200 in this congregation!) to help restore 16,705 acres in the Lake Chad basin. What an incredible commitment to care for God’s creation.
Earlier this year, Bishop Larry, Bishop Ali and Bishop Carla visited Lake Chad to witness the damage to the ecosystem and see how the community is fighting back by planting native trees. When the project is complete, CLWR and partners expect more than 128,000 people will benefit directly — with better nutrition, more water and higher crop yields — and an additional 640,000 people will be able to live and work in the restored ecosystem.
Thank you so much for responding with prayer and action. Check out the interactive map with the full list here: www.clwr.org/foc-congregations .
Heidi Van Schaik
Senior Manager — Church Relations
Our Life Together:
Baptisms:
-June 14: Colton Esposti
-June 18: Michael Edwards
Funeral/Memorial Services:
-Joan Rissanen, July 4 (April 24)
-Chris Berg, July 7 (May 13)
Deaths
-Edward Pedersen, June 27
Memorial Gifts:
-in memory of Joan Rissanen and Chris Berg
Summer Reading
Our Saviour’s has a collection of books to borrow for summer reading. You will find them on bookshelves at the side of the coat rack at the bottom of the stairs to Immanuel Hall.
There are titles on a wide variety of topics related to the: Bible, church, children, life events and Scandinavia. Fiction books written by Scandinavian authors also are available.
Pastor Matthew has recently added more of his library, including: devotions, church-related topics, and local history books.
FINANCES
Local and Missions
Thank you for your donations in June. During July and August we continue to need to pay the ongoing costs of our ministry. Please respond in prayer and in giving as you are able to help us start the Fall on a strong note. Coming together, sharing our gifts, we serve the world.
June Offerings:
$ 7,745.00
Budgeted Offerings
$ 9,750.00
Monthly Offerings YTD:
$ 49,092.00
Budgeted Offerings YTD:
$ 58,500.00
Forward in Mission
Received in 2026: $ 1,365.00
2026 goal $ 2,500.00
Thank you again for your donations. We remain on pace to meet our partnership goals for 2026. One of these is $600 for the Dew Drop Inn. These funds help this soup kitchen to offer daily meals to more than 400 persons.
Cleaning Fund
Received in 2026: $ 1,340.00
Budgeted to date: $ 1,950.00
Thank you for your designated offerings. These enable us to employ a part-time custodian. We continue to be falling behind our needs. This shortfall in turn lowers our other funds on hand. As you’re able, donations to help erase this deficit would be much appreciated.
Building Fund
Our gifts 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, 2026: $ 22,111.13
Received in 2026: $ 2,135.00
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 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. You can desigate part of ‘Weekly’ for ‘Cleaning’. To sign up, or make updates, call the office.
Faith put into action through our sharing and outreach
by Eldon Oja
I want to share my thoughts about the future of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church after speaking with some of the participants who attended Pastor Matthew Diegel’s retirement farewell. (For those of you who aren’t familiar, Pastor Matthew has served as our supportive leader in worship and devoted himself to performing God’s work in Thunder Bay for the past 31 years. After Pastor Matthew and Kaija take a short vacation, his last scheduled day of call will be July 31.)
So, what happens next at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church? Well, we are formally going through a call process to find a new pastor. However, the vision of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church has not changed … “Come share the gifts of God – serve the world”.
Our church is blessed with many gifted and exceedingly faithful members within our congregation. During our transition period, we hope to lean on lay leaders who will read our sermons and lead worship, as well as lean on our talented musicians and voices who will enrich our spiritual journey. As you may know, lay leaders cannot administer communion, so we will invite a rostered clergy to lead us in the sharing of bread and wine.
At this time, I wish to extend some information to those outside of our congregation who may not be familiar with the many supportive programs that are available within our church building to anyone in need of assistance. Over the years, Our Saviour’s has welcomed and helped many people within our congregation, as well as many others in the broader spectrum of Thunder Bay. Our church is home to several organizations, allowing each of them to teach, encourage and assist anyone who desires their services: These organizations include Scouts Canada (178th Thunder Bay Cubs); AA Friendly Group (Alcoholic Anonymous); LINC (Language Instruction for New Canadians), also known as “English as a Second Language Class”; the Thunder Bay Carvers; and TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). Our church supports all these organizations to teach, encourage and offer help to anyone who desires their services.
More recently, we have offered our sanctuary and lower level to a newly formed church called the “Sacred Heart Syro-Malabar Eastern Catholic Church Thunder Bay”, whereby we provided 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 to share the gifts God has bestowed upon us to help those in need. If you would like to come and check us out, the doors are always open! Hope to see and meet many of you soon!
Eldon
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