What's Happening? 

May 13-19

Monday 

9:30 - 2:00 ESL Classes (Mon.-Fri.)

6:30 p.m. Confirmation class

6:30 p.m. Cubs

8:30 p.m. Friendly A.A. Group

Tuesday 

5:00 p.m. Council meeting

5:30 p.m. -  TOPS

Wednesday 

6:30 p.m. TBay Carvers

Thursday

6:30 p.m. Bible Study

8:00 p.m. Friendly Group A.A. 

Friday

Saturday

Sunday - Day of Pentecost

10:30 a.m.  Holy Communion, Sunday School

11:15 a.m. Fellowship Hour - Birthday Sunday

Bible Studies

Karen Bishop and Pastor Matthew are leading a 4-session Thursday evening Bible study, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. The remaining dates are May 16, 23, and 30. Come to all or as many as you are able. Invite your friends!

Written by Canadian Lutheran World Relief, each session has been designed to help us delve deeper into the challenges around the world, to explore related Bible stories, and to discuss how these connect and how God calls us to act together. 

Plant, Bake, and Yard Sale

Back by popular demand, our annual sale is happening Saturday, June 8, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. To help, see Linda Sander, Council Lead. Bakers, we sell all the baking that we receive. Start baking, and freezing, now! Please note that drop-off of sale goods can only happen once notice is given, due to storage and usage needs.

Worship

We gather each Sunday at 10:30 a.m., celebrating Holy Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, May 5 and 19, and festivals. Other Sundays are Service of the Word, May 12, and Worship with the Band, May 26.

   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 at Our Saviour's

At the time of the sharing of Communion, all are invited to come up the centre aisle to the foot of the chancel steps to receive the bread and the wine/grape juice. Gluten-free wafers are available. 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 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.

 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.

Learning:

Children:

 The seasonal activity pack for Easter/Spring is available for pick-up or drop off. For the latter, email

osimm@tbaytel.net.

Our Sunday School classes normally are twice monthly, on the first and third Sundays. Our final class for the spring: May 19.

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. 

 ‘Joseph’: 

Sat. June 8, 7:00 p.m.

‘Jubilation’ is a youth choir from St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Bloomington MN, consisting of 7th through 12th grade students. Each summer they tour a new area of the U.S., Canada, or Europe. This year marks their 36th tour and the choir’s 50th year 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, to be given to the choir to help with its expenses.

 Due to space limitations, send order for seats (free) to osimm@tbaytel.net .

Confirmation:

This ministry of the church helps youth to continue in the promises made at Baptism. All youth Grade 7 and older are welcome. We have been meeting the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Classes are now on break until the fall. To sign up, or to learn more, see Pastor Matthew.

Confirmation Sunday is June 2.

Food Collection 

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!

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

At the beginning of November, 2023, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada launched an appeal to support our partners in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

To date, ELCIC support for this appeal has enabled the goal of $263,000 to have reached past the half-way point.

“I am absolutely delighted with the support of our ELCIC members,” says ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson. “I urge you, if you haven’t already made a donation yet, please do so.”

The ELCJHL Appeal was launched following an update ELCJHL Bishop Dr. Sani-Ibrahim Azar shared on the impact of the Israel-Hamas war with the ELCIC.

Bishop Azar noted that due to the increase in violence, schools have had to close; checkpoints between the West Bank and Jerusalem and between areas such as Ramallah and Bethlehem have been nearly completely closed off, preventing many people in these communities from being able to travel to and from work; and there has been a devastating impact on families whose livelihoods are connected to the tourism and hostility industry. Bishop Azar asked for support in helping to cover one month of salaries of teachers at ELCJHL schools and half of the salary for ELCJHL pastors, which amounts to $263,000.

“These are our sibling Lutherans,” Bishop Johnson noted. “I spoke to Bishop Azar recently and he told me what a difference this is going to make in people’s lives at a time when the local church is needed more than ever.”

To assist in reaching the ELCJHL emergency appeal donation target, the ELCIC’s National Church Council approved a one-time contribution to the appeal for $100,000. The Eastern Synod – which serves as a companion partner of the ELCJHL – has provided another $25,000. Direct donations from individual ELCIC members is over $20,000, with more yet to come in from congregational giving.  

You are invited to help support our partners through a financial contribution to the ELCJHL Appeal. 

1. Through Our Saviour's, by designating your special offering to ELCJHL Appeal.

2. Online through the ELCIC National Office at secure.elcic.ca.

WCC Presidents Share Pentecost Message: "We Need the Renewing Presence of the Holy Spirit"

We, the presidents of the World Council of Churches, greet you in the spirit of Christian love and fellowship on the occasion of the feast of Pentecost. 

The Pentecost is the descent of the Holy Spirit on the church and the empowerment of its missionary outreach. The church is the Koinonia of people held together by Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Our ecumenical journey at the 7th Assembly of WCC (Canberra, 1991), with its theme "Come, Holy Spirit, Renew the Whole Creation" was an appeal to the member churches to reaffirm the renewing power and transforming action of the Holy Spirit in the church, and in the whole creation. It was also a reminder of the vital importance of the church's Missio Dei sustained by the Holy Spirit. 

In a world in which life in its human and ecological dimensions is threatened, we need the Spirit of life to protect the sacredness, wholeness, and integrity of the God-given life. 

In a world torn apart by intolerance and polarization, we need the intervention of the Holy Spirit to tear down the "dividing walls" (Eph. 2:14), and help establish coherence and harmony, among diversities of race religion, and culture. 

In a world dominated by corruption, injustice, and the decay of moral and spiritual values, we need the renewing presence of the Holy Spirit to transform our societies through the Gospel values. 

As a global fellowship of churches, let us pray, as we did at Canberra Assembly, come Holy Spirit and help us grow in unity, which is a gift of God, and move forward with renewed vision in our spiritual journey. Empower us to articulate more concretely our missionary engagement in all parts of the world, and particularly at these critical moments in the Middle East. Help us to replace hatred by love, violence by dialogue, and self-centeredness by mutual acceptance. Make us instruments of justice, apostles of peace, and messengers of life.

Presidents of the World Council of Churches

H.H. Catholicos ARAM I, Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia)

Rev. Dr Susan DURBER, United Reformed Church 

Rev. Dr Henriette HUTABARAT-LEBANG, Gereja Toraja                           

Most Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola OSITELU, Church of the Lord (Prayer Fellowship) Worldwide

Rev. François PIHAATAE, Église protestante Maohi

Rev. Dr Angélique WALKER-SMITH, National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.

Rt Rev. Philip WRIGHT, Church in the Province of the West Indies 

H.E. Metropolitan Dr VASILIOS OF CONSTANTIA AND AMMOCHOSTOS, Church of Cyprus

World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle 

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal

12 - 18 May 2024

We are thankful for:

the peoples of these nations – the diversity of their cultures, languages, and art, and their resilience

the breath-taking beauty of these lands – the mountains in all their grandeur, overflowing rivers and green paddy fields

all those who work for the churches and their institutions, especially in places where natural disasters strike

We pray for:

efforts of governments and others to build up these nations’ economies

those who have lost families and homes in earthquakes and other disasters as they struggle to rebuild their lives, homes and infrastructure

those who contribute to religious harmony and advocate for the minority voice of Christians, especially amid religious and ethnic tensions

religious and government leaders that they will make it possible for all peoples to live in justice with peace and harmony.

these small nations which depend on other countries and are often threatened by interests of their bigger neighbours.

OFFERINGS

Thank you for your offerings, sharing the gifts of God so that together we might serve the world!

During our worship, you are able to share your offerings at the entrance to the sanctuary.

Envelopes for your 2024 offerings are available. If you wish to receive a supply,  please contact the office, 344-1926, osimm@tbaytel.net.

At other times, and for those unable to attend worship, here are options:

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 to let us know, 344-1926, is appreciated, so that the offering can be brought inside as soon as possible.

3. E-Transfer online banking

a. If you use online banking, log into your account

b. Add Our Saviour’s as a recipient using our office email address:

 osimm.office@tbaytel.net

c. Enter the desired amount and click ‘send’.

4. Sign up for Pre-Authorized Withdrawal (PAR)

You are able to have your monthly offerings directly deposited from your financial institution to that of the church. You can designate it 1-3 ways:  Weekly, Building, Forward in Mission. You also can receive undated envelopes for other offerings. To sign up, call the office. If you desire to make any changes at any time of the year, or if you have updates on your address or financial institution, please call the church office, 344-1926. 

5.  Canada Helps

Our regional synod office has set up Canada Helps button link, you can use to donate to congregations. The charitiable donation receipt will be issued by Canada Helps directly. (It is important to note that there is a cost to using Canada Helps as our donation service. Please considering adding 4% to your donation to cover these costs.) 

http://mnosynod.org/donate/

Again, we are so thankful for your faithful generosity.