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Welcome! Our Saviour's and Immanuel Lutheran Churches invite you to be part of our communities of grace and faith. United in a parish since 1987, we have been active in Thunder Bay for 101 and 102 years respectively. We seek to continue to be places where people can grow in understanding of God's forgiving love revealed through Jesus. Gathered in to worship, God's Spirit calls us out to share in word and action what it means to be people of God. Our journeys began as the First Norwegian Lutheran Church of Port Arthur and Swedish Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church. During the 1920s First Norwegian Church of Fort William merged into what is now Our Saviour's. In 1983. St. Mark's Lutheran Church of Thunder Bay did the same. From 1906 - 1962, Immanuel was part of 2-point parish with Zion Lutheran Church, Fort William. It then became part of a new parish, with St. Mark's, until 1981. We are part of the Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Synod. Check out our biweekly newsletter, 'CrossWord', at www.mnosynod.org/nwslttr.html . With congregations across the country, we form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. For more information about our national church, check us out at www.elcic.ca . We cooperate with our local sister congregations -- Hilldale, and Salem (Pass Lake), through 'Lutherans Together', and with all local Lutheran churches through the Lutheran Community Care Cente. Upcoming congregational and joint events include: Lutheran Community Care Centre: Our Street Reach Ministries cupboards are bare. Please help it out with the following: soda crackers, donuts, fruit, coffee, cookies, paper side plates, juice, sugar, sandwiches, stryrofoam cups, napkins, and tea. Leave your donations in in the front hall of the congregations. Thank you for your support of this ministry.
Our Pastor: Matthew Diegel has served our parish since January 1995, after being pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Windsor. He was ordained in 1987, graduating from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. He also holds a Honours B.A. in History from Huron University College (Western). Matthew enjoys reading, walking, talking, nature, x-country skiing, and cooking. Matthew is the spouse of Kaija Ranta. Together, they are the proud parents of Elina, Stacie, Alexa, and Hilldegard -- the wonder dog.
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Our Saviour's Lutheran Church Corner of Farrand and River Streets
Our Purpose is to be Christians gathered together as a family to grow in our relationship to God. Our Guiding Principles are Jesus is 'Our Saviour', We Learn God's Word, We Live God's Word, We Spread God's Word, and We Share in the Sacraments.
Did you hear about what's happening at OS? - September 11 - Confirmation Orientation
- September 14 - 'Welcome' Sunday; Firelight Kids resumes
- September 15 - ELW resumes
- September 16 - 'Master Builders' resumes
Sunday Readings August 3 - Pentecost 12 Genesis 32:22-31 Psalm 17:1-7, 15 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:13-21
August 10 - Pentecost 13 August 17 - Pentecost 14 Genesis 45:1-15 Psalm 133 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15:10-28
August 24 - Pentecost 15
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Immanuel Lutheran Church Corner of Pearl and Banning Streets.
Our Purpose is to be Christians linked to God through Christ by love and commitment. Our Guiding Principles are God is with us ('Immanuel'), We Reach Out To All, We Seek To Proclaim The Gospel Through Word And Deed, While Valuing Our Heritage, We Move Forward, and We Invite All To Join Our Worship, Learning, and Fellowship.
Look what's happening at Imm.! - September 7 - Sunday Fellowship Hours resume
- October 3/4 - Cambrian Conference gathering
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Immanuel: We gather on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Holy Communion is celebrated on the 1st and 3rd Sundays monthly, plus special times of church year. Our Saviour's: We gather on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion is celebrated on the 1st and 3rd Sundays monthly, plus special times of church year. There is a special Children's Time during each non-Communion service. 'The O.S. Band' usually leads worship there on the last Sunday of the month, except in December and during the summer. Holy Communion in both congregations is open to all the baptized, regardless of Christian background or age. A First Communion instruction session is held as desired. Please contact Pastor Matthew. Our parish worship style is a blend of traditional and contemporary. To help us in this we use as our main resource the red 'Evangelical Lutheran Worship' book, published in 2006.
LCCC Chapel Services: On behalf of the Lutheran Community Care Centre, Pastor Matthew leads worship at Dawson Court on the 1st Thurs. of the month, at Roseview Manor on the 2nd Weds. of the month, and at St. Joseph's on the 3rd Weds. of every 2nd month. All are welcome to join the residents/patients! If you would be interested in volunteering to help with any of these services, please see Pastor Matthew.
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Learning: Our Saviour's Firelight Kids is our Sunday ministry for children from JK to Grade 6. We are now on summer break. Classes resume Sunday, September 14. Our theme will be "Wonder Stories", as we learn about the miracles of Jesus. From September to the end of May, we meet downstairs in the Fellowship Hall, at 11 a.m. Our classes are grouped JK/SK, 1-3, and 4-6. On Communion Sundays, we come upstairs to share in the sacrament. On non-Communion Sundays, we join the end of worship for 'Children's Time'. On special days, we have no classes, as we gather with God's children of all ages for 'Worship Together' Sundays. We still need a few teachers for the fall term. Please call the parish office. Confirmation is a 2-year programme, related to Baptism, especially for youth in Grades 7 and 8. Our theme for 2008-2009 is 'Here We Stand: The Bible'. Classes are normally held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month from September to May, from 7:30 - 8:45 p.m. Please note: There wil be an Orientation session on Thurs., Sept. 11, from 7:30 - 8 p.m., at OS. Parents and students should both be present. Evangelical Lutheran Women: All women are invited for Bible Study and fellowship. At OS, we meet monthly on the third Monday, at 1:30 p.m. at the church. At Imm, we meet on the last Wednesday of the home of one of the members. - OS: Monday, September 15, 1:30 p.m.
Master Builders for Men is a Study Group meeting Tuesdays at O.S., from 10:45 a.m. until noon. We will resume on Tuesday, September 16. Our first topic wll be 'The Meaning of the Cross'. Golden timers, for those 55+, meet on the 3rd Weds. of each month at a local restaurant, at 1 p.m., for a time of fellowship. Our next gathering will be anounced. Youth: see under Confirmation Membership: Please see Pastor Diegel about becoming a member of either congregation through transfer, affirmation of Baptism, or restoration. Adult education: more news coming soon Luther Village: Luther Village is located about a 1/2 hour south of Kenora, on Hwy. 71.
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Service: We reach out with Christ's love through ministries which include - 'Our Saviour's Cares': We pray that we may serve the Lord and our congregation when and where we're needed. Examples of caring include prayers, visits, cards, meals, phone calls. Call the parish office for more details;
- the Dew Drop Inn soup kitchen: members and friends of OS prepare and serve the meal each Monday, between September and May,
- the Thunder Bay Food Bank: Volunteers are needed for the 2nd and 4th Wedsnesdays of each month. Call 345-5065.
- the Lutheran Community Care Centre,
- Christmas Cheer,
- Faye Peterson Home,
- Habitat for Humanity
- the ELCIC Global Hunger and Development Appeal:
- Canadian Lutheran World Relief: for more information, go to www.clwr.org ;
'Gifts from the Heart': Help address poverty in Canada, assist with the ELCIC's 'Mission in the World' projects, and help people in need throughout the world. Copies of the catalogue are available at both churches, or by going to www.clwr.org. 'School Kits: The summer project at O.S. for CLWR is School Kits., This consists of notebooks, 'a ruler, a pencil sharpener, pencils, and pencil crayons. A complete list of what is in each bundle is at the church, or online at www.clwr.org . So far in 2008 we have sent 42 Baby Bundles, 33 pneumonia vests, 40 baby blankets, and 13 Christmas kits. 'Knitters Nook': If you would like to help with our need for knitters, but need to learn how to knit first, join us on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m., at OS. We resume in September All ages are welcome! 'Cameroon Companions': Our MNO Synod is partnered with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon. To get involved in this exciting ministry, go to www.camerooncompanions.ca . The Blog: Our parish blog is a place for the pastor and others to reflect on the Bible readings for the coming Sunday, current events, and the way life/God seem to be.
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