Our Newsletter
The Ambassador
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
September 2023
10 Farrand Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7A 3H5
Offices: 344-1926; Immanuel Hall/FAX: 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: 344-6822)
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Children’s Ministry
This fall our in-person sessions are increasing to twice monthly, on the first and third Sundays. We will begin on October 1 and 15, leaving September for us all to get settled.
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 those in the class come up to share Holy Communion.
See Karen Bishop, co-ordinator, for more information.
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 .
There are Adventure activity bags under the mailboxes inside the entrance to the sanctuary, for children to enjoy during worship.
The next seasonal activity pack, for Thanksgiving/Fall, will be ready at the beginning of October for pick-up or drop off. For the latter, email osimm@tbaytel.net.
We have Fellowship Hour each Sunday following worship, in Immanuel Hall. The platform lift is available for those who cannot access the basement via the stairs. Please sign up in the front hall to bring food and/or help out.
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. Thank you!
On Sunday, September 17, we will be having a special collection. For that day only, we will join with other churches in marking the end of Celebrate Community Week, September 11-17. The United Way and a large number of community service groups are coming together to host a community food drive during that time. The donations received will be given to the RFDA (Regional Food Distribution Association), and then shared with its partner agencies.
Worship
We gather each Sunday at 10:30 a.m., celebrating Holy Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month and festivals. Other Sundays are Service of the Word. Worship with the Band returns on September 24.
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 .
Holy Communion is being shared in both kinds. We continue to receive a ‘wafer-in-a-cup’ as we enter the sanctuary. At the time of the Communion we eat the bread while sitting in the pews. (Gluten-free wafers are available – please see the usher. You may also bring your own bread.) Then we are invited to come up the centre aisle to receive the wine/grape juice. Prefilled glasses in trays are on a table at the foot of the chancel stairs. 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 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
For worship during September, we need Greeters and Ushers, a Reader, and Communion assistants. Please sign up on the sheets in the front hall.
A 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 in the front hall and Immanuel Hall.
Life’s Journeys
Wedding:
-Matthew Ingves and Samantha Ward, Sept. 1
Funeral/Memorial services:
-Rick Harris, July 10 (died May 15, 2006, MB)
-Dorie Faulconer, July 29 (died June 9) – Pr. Arleen Berg Leishman officiating
-David Brown, Sept. 9 (died Dec. 5, 2021, MB)
Memorials Fund donations:
-in memory of Dolores Mechtab
Readings for Worship
September 3
Jeremiah 15:15-21
Psalm 26:1-8
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28
September 10
Ezekiel 33:7-11
Psalm 119:33-40
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20
September 17
Genesis 50:15-21
Psalm 103: [1-7] 8-13
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35
September 24
Jonah 3:10-4:11
Psalm 145:1-8
Philippians 1:21-30
Matthew 20:1-16
October 1
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
Psalm 25:1-9
Philippians 2:1-13
Matthew 21:23-32
Seasons of Creation
The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment. It is an annual inter-church season where we pray and act together as a Christian
family for our common home. Individuals and communities are invited to participate through prayer, sustainability projects and advocacy.
The theme for the 2023 Season of Creation is Let Justice and Peace Flow.
The Season of Creation begins on Sept. 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends on Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.
Pledge of Commitment to Protect and Heal God’s Creation
We have come to renew our covenant with God and with one another in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
We have come to help protect God’s creation. We have come as followers of Jesus to commit ourselves anew to one another and to heal injustice and poverty.
We have come to stand together against all threats to life. We have come to discover some new beauty every day in God’s creation: the sunrise and sunset, birds, flowers and trees, rainbows in the sky, the stars, the many forms of life in the forest.
We have come to listen to the “music of the universe”- water flowing over rocks, the wind, trees bending in the wind, raindrops pattering the roof.
We will remember always that God speaks to us through the beauty of his creation, and we will try our best to answer God’s call to reverence all that he has created.
– From Prayers on the Care of Creation, USCCB
Lutheran Community Care – Grand Parade
For the fourth year LCC will be the local host of The Grand Parade, a cross-Canada event supporting charities that serve aging Canadians and their families. The Grand Parade is a walkathon and peer-to-peer fundraiser. Funds raised during The Grand Parade go to our Pastoral Care, Social Services, and Street Reach Ministries programs.
When: Sat. Sept. 16.
Please note that our upcoming walkathon fundraiser The Grand Parade will not take place in person, but will be a virtual event this year. We are very grateful for your participation.
This change means that individuals who have signed up to participate as a team of walkers will have the opportunity to schedule their walks to fit their own unique schedules.
Once again, our sincerest thank-you to everyone that has signed up to walk on a team and who has donated.
Anyone still wishing to donate to a walker or team is welcome to do so at https://thegrandparade.org/location/thunderbay
If you require assistance or have questions regarding the virtual event, please call our office at 807-345-6062 for more information.
Pastoral Visits
Pastor Matthew once again is able to have home visits, and to go 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. However, as the administrations there haven’t yet reestablished clergy access to the patient lists, it is vital that you contact him with information about who is a patient who would benefit from such care. (His ESP doesn’t always know if people are in the hospital, but he’s working on it!)
Lutheran Community Care Chapel Services
LCC, through its Pastoral Care Associate, Liisa Lahtinen, coordinates Lutheran services at the Long Term Care homes. Pastor Matthew presides at two of them, with Vi Peternelj leading the music. All are welcome to attend, including as volunteers (contact Pastor Matthew for more information).
We gather from 10:30-11:00 a.m.:
on the 1st Tues. of the month at Roseview, in the main floor gathering space;
and, on the last Thurs. of the month at Hogarth Riverivew, in the chapel past the main entrance.
FINANCES
Thank you for your donations during the summer months. Unfortunately, but non-unexpectedly, our offerings during this time fell noticeably more below our budgeted goal. Pray how, during the months ahead we might work together to eliminate this shortfall. As we share the gifts of God, God calls us out to serve the world, in Our Savior’s name.
July and August Offerings:
$ 16,015.00
Budgeted Offerings Monthly:
$ 19,333.34
Monthly Offerings Year to date:
$ 69,384.99
Budgeted Offerings Year to date:
$ 77,333.36
Forward in Mission
Received in 2023: $ 1,860.00
2023 goal: $ 2,500.00
Thank you for your gifts in 2023.
One of our proposed Partners is the Annual Praise Appeal of our Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada ($150.) For 2023 its theme is “Let there be greening” – this lifts up our Easter hope for our church, our world and all of creation.
Cleaning Fund
Received in 2023: $ 1,655.00
Budgeted Year to date: $ 2,400.00
Your gifts enable us to employ a part-time custodian to maintain our building. It is concerning that we continue to experience a deficit in this fund. Please help us to remedy this. Designate offerings for the ‘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: $5,759.49
Received in 2023: $1,260.00
Expenditures: In Feb. we used $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. Instead of numbered sets, we are giving out supplies of undated envelopes. To pick up your envelope bundle see Linda Sander or call the office.
Other ways:
1.Mail envelopes to the church
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 is appreciated, so that the offering can be brought inside.
3.E-Transfer online banking 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. To sign up, or if you desire to make changes or if you have updates on your address or financial institution, call the office.
Council Comments
Council didn’t meet during the summer. Its next monthly meeting is Tues. Sept. 12, 5:00 p.m., Immanuel Hall.
Chair – Linda Sander 622-0604
Vice-Chair – Karen Bishop 344-0052
Secretary – Aritith Francis 345-3617
Treasurer – Linda Sander 622-0604
Confirmation classes will be offered in hybrid form again this fall – mostly online, but with special times together. These hopefully will include gathering with the Confirmation youth from Hilldale Lutheran Church.
Classes will begin shortly after Thanksgiving.
This ministry of the church helps youth to continue in the promises made at Baptism. All youth Grade 7 and older are welcome. See Pastor Matthew.
Luther's Small Catechism has been recreated as a web app (by Augsburg Fortress). View Luther’s explanations, along with other helps and prayers. New Revised Standard Version biblical texts and Evangelical Lutheran Worship texts are used. You can access the app at https://catechism.augsburgfortress.org/
178th Thunder Bay Scouting
The 178th Cubs meet each Monday at Our Saviour’s, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. For more info, contact Susan McCutcheon,
akela@gmail.com.
TOPS offers wellness programs about healthy living and weight management, with supportive group fellowship and recognition. Meetings are held upstairs at the church every Tuesday, with weigh-in starting at 5:45 p.m., followed by a program at 6:00 p.m. Please call Corinne Loovere, 683-5392, for more information.
Once again this fall, til next June, we are leasing part of our building to host English classes for refugees, run through the Thunder Bay Multicultural Centre. The students and teachers will be using the basement level weekdays, 9:30 – 2:30 p.m. You might also see them in the front hall or outside,when they are on break. Please welcome these new neighbours – this also helps them to practice their English!
KAIROS Climate Action Week
KAIROS Climate Action Week runs September 11 - 17 to galvanize awareness and action on the climate crisis.
The week’s theme, Decolonizing Climate Action: Keep the Oil in the Soil and Let Justice and Peace Flow will focus on the root cause of climate change: fossil fuels.
KAIROS will be presenting two online events on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Learn more when you click on the following link:
kairoscanada.org/what-we-do/ecological-justice/climate-action-week
The 2023 Lutheran World Federation’s General Assembly is taking place Sept. 13 -19 in Krakow, Poland. The theme is One Body, One Spirit, One Hope.
The local Assembly planning committee is promoting a weekly prayer cycle, connecting Lutherans in Poland with the world by sharing information about all of LWF's member churches, of which our Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is one:
https://en.luteranie.pl/category/prayers/ .
Peace in Palestine and Israel
The World Council of Churches (WCC) invites people and churches all over the world to pray, advocate, and stand in solidarity with people in the Holy Land from Sept. 16 to 23.
The International Day of Prayer for Peace is set on Sept. 21.
For more information please click here:
https://www.oikoumene.org/events .
On July 2, 2023, our Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church in Canada approved a joint resolution calling on the Prime Minister for stronger action to address conditions in Israel and Palestine. To view the joint letter, please click here:
https://www.anglicanlutheran.ca/statements .
Luther Lecture
This year's Lecture at Luther College, University of Regina, on Sept. 25, features Dr. Regan Shercliffe from the United Nations World Food Programme, speaking on Humanitarian Aid Work: (Another) Impossible Profession. Guests can join with the Zoom option. Full details on Dr. Shercliffe's lecture are available here: www.luthercollege.edu
Each issue, we share a continuing project your regular donations to Canadian Lutheran World Relief (designate ‘CLWR’ on your envelope or e-transfer) make possible.
In Nicarauga, your gifts are keeping kids in school, learning, and growing with full bellies! Across 23 communities, children are receiving financial help to stay in school, extra learning supports and hot meals at schools. Our local partners are working with schools to provide children from the most vulnerable families with scholarships to support their education – providing for school uniforms, shoes, and school supplies. It also covers stipends for tutors and classroom supplies, and children in need of support are receiving tutoring and homework support. The feeding program is being expanded, with new kitchens being built in several congregations. Your support is changing the future for these children. Thank you!
Glenboro Lutheran Church, Glenboro, MB
and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Baldur, MB
The small congregations of Glenboro and Immanuel held their closing services on Sun., Aug. 20. Worship, with Bishop Jason Zinko preaching and presiding, was held at the historic site of Grund Frelsis Church and Cemetery (9 km north of Baldur) Music and fellowship followed.
Anglican-Lutheran Group
The Anglican-Lutheran Group held its General Meeting on Thurs. June 29 at Our Saviours. There the group decided to dissolve and evenly distribute its assets according to its Constitution to charitable poverty organizations reflective of the ALG mission: Shelter House, the Underground Gym and the Salvation Army Journey to Life Centre.
ALG accomplished a great deal since it first met Sat., Sept. 10, 2011 at St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church and formed its first Executive: Marianne Schmidt, Chair; Sharon Corston, Vice-chair; Janet Pike, Secretary; and Gloria McKay, Treasurer. It set up its Action Plan to work to fight poverty in Thunder Bay.
To do this, it passed a motion to develop a Bursary and since the first Bursary in 2012 awarded $37,500. ALG also served lunches at Shelter House, supported many other local organizations such as Teen Challenge and Hope House and the Salvation Army, who take care of those in need, and created a special working group.
The members of ALG do not want to lose touch with each other after working so long to establish the connection they have formed. Marg Boone has offered to be the contact: mboone@tbaytel.net Phone 807 345-2184. If our churches or organizations are having an event, she will share the info. This will also create opportunities to gather in fellowship.
“On behalf of Pat Kaukola, thank you to everyone for your work on behalf of the Group.” Janet Pike, Secretary, ALG
Blessing of the Animals
This event is traditionally held on the feast of St. Francis, friend of animals and creation. We are having a short gathering on Weds. Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. – outside the front doors, or inside the front hall, depending on weather. All pets and their humans are welcome, including those from those of friends and neighbours. There will also be a prayer for pets of our memories.
We will celebrate Thanksgiving on Sun. Oct. 8, at 10:30 a.m., with Service of the Word (recording uploaded later to our YouTube channel). Please bring food donations to decorate the sanctuary. The harvest will be shared with the Gathering Table’s Food Bank.
Challenge to the Luther Village Community
From our synod’s outdoor ministry on Dogtooth Lake, east of Kenora:
We have been given an amazing opportunity to help move the CAPITAL CAMPAIGN forward and help us get closer to completing some of the ongoing capital projects at Luther Village.
The challenge- help us raise $50,000 by the end of October and a generous donor will match that $50,000,
bringing the total to $100,000.
So far, we have raised $5812.00 of our goal.
Ways to donate:
Cheque/ E-transfer/ Cash
or donate online (see www.luthervillage.ca )
For more info please contact camp
Contact Lisa at
executivedirector@luthervillage.ca
or call (204)783-3337.
October ‘Ambassador’
Please have articles sent to the office by Mon. Sept. 25. Thank you.