December 24, 2021

Dear Church Family,

Merry Christmas!  I will miss seeing you all in person again this year, but I give thanks we can gather on-line and with small groups in our homes.  Tonight when we light our candles and sing “Silent Night” we are together in spirit. As we sing tonight in my living room I will close my eyes and see you all in the pews at church. 

Many thanks to the musicians, technical folk, and worship assistants who make it possible for us to worship together. 

Greg and I wish you a blessed Christmas and blessings in a new year.  I am looking forward to a better year ahead.

God bless and keep you safe.

Pastor Marilyn

Here are the links for this Christmas weekend. Remember, if you have any issues with connecting you can try both our website or our YouTube channel (search: Augustana Saskatoon YouTube)

Christmas Eve link:  https://youtu.be/AA-PrtSNw2U

Christmas Day link (originally from 2020): https://youtu.be/mvkVcEAVbXs

December 26 link (this service is also in-person):  https://youtu.be/0ipfeHbB4ds

 

 

December 18, 2021

Dear Church family,

It has been a bit of a “rerun” week. We seem to be circling back into a new covid concern.  Fortunately, we do have some experience with this and know how to slow down and take whatever measures we need to in order to minimize risk to ourselves and others.  With this in mind, our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services will be on-line again this year. 

The Christmas Eve Candlelight service is being prepared for this coming week and you will be able to have a candle light service at home with the people in your “bubble.”  This is also a service you can share with family and friends who are not able to travel to you this year. We may be separated by distance, but on-line we can be together. I am sad to not be able to see people in-person on Christmas Eve, but I look forward to that time coming soon.

Our Christmas Day service is the beautiful Christmas Lessons Carols service which was prepared last year.  This service, from the Anglican tradition, retells the Christmas story with scripture readings and music. Our Augustana St. Timothy choir lead our music and many readers share the Word with us.

This Sunday (December 19) we will have worship in-person and on-line at the regular time (10:30 am).  We will also have an in-person Blue Christmas Service at 3 pm.  The Blue Christmas Service acknowledges that this time of year is difficult for some. The bulletin for that service is attached to this email. Please remember to wear a mask if you attend an in-person service.

God bless and keep you well,

Pastor Marilyn

Worship link for this week:  https://youtu.be/dnKPbook7c0

 

December 11, 2021

Dear Church family,

We light three candles this week. Traditionally the third candle is “Joy.”  It is a good opportunity to reflect this week on all the things that have bring joy into our lives: past, present, and future.

Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services will be on-line this year and the link will be provided on our website, in an email, through facebook, and on our “Augustana Saskatoon” YouTube channel.  In a sense we will be able to worship together as we gather in our smaller “bubbles”. Christmas Eve will be a traditional candle light service with special music and Christmas Day will be Christmas Lessons and Carols again with special music.

God bless and keep you safe and well,

Pastor Marilyn

This week’s worship link:  https://youtu.be/WrM9dFCupa4

December 4, 2021

Dear Church family,

The newsletter is out this week so I will keep my comments brief.  I’d like to say thanks for the support you have given for our Christmas hampers.  It has been a rough year for many people and the Christmas grocery vouchers will be appreciated!

Two Candles this week.  This time of year just flies.  As you are making plans for Christmas this year please make time to celebrate with your church family.  Our Christmas Eve Candle Light Service and Christmas Day Lessons and Carols service will be on-line this year so you can gather with the people in your bubble to be part of each service.  We are thankful for the musical support of our choir and worship assistants and technical folk who make these services very special and accessible.   

December 19th at 3 pm will be a Blue Christmas Service (in-person and not recorded).  See details for this in the newsletter and the attached poster.

God bless and keep you safe,

Pastor Marilyn

Worship this week: https://youtu.be/hnrzUgzZO6o

November 20, 2021

Dear Church Family,

Here are the links to this week’s worship, the bulletin, and children’s activity sheets (some for readers and some for non-readers). 

In the wake of the multiply disasters in BC this week, I wanted to remind all of you that Canadian Lutheran World Relief will be active in some way to help people recover.  You can make a donation to CLWR and designate it for the BC relief effort.  The Primate’s World Development and Relief Fund (PWDRF) is also accepting donations to aid in the BC recovery.

Please have your articles for the December newsletter in to the church office by Tuesday. 

God bless and keep you safe,

Pastor Marilyn

 

Worship link this week:  https://youtu.be/NE8GlVgcC2g                                         

Worship by phone:  1-306-205-1168

November 13, 2021

Dear Church Family,

Here is the link for worship this week (live Sunday morning at 10:30 and recording available later in the day). 

I am noticing that our food bank bin has been pretty lean these days.  If you are able to, please remember to bring something for the food bank when you are at the church or put something extra in a foodbank bin at the grocery store.  There has been a significant increase in need for the foodbank lately.  Thanks for all the years when the bin filled up regularly.

God bless you and keep you well,

Pastor Marilyn

Worship this week:  https://youtu.be/3dVGjHMsqP0 

November 5, 2021

Dear Church Family,

Please join us for worship this week as we celebrate All Saint’s Sunday. You can join us in person or livestreamed at 10:30 Sunday morning or you can view the taped service or phone recording later in the day. Pastor Michael Diegel will be leading the service.

We continue to have 20-35 participants at the in-person services and that seems to be a good number given the continued presence of the covid 19 virus in the community.

The bulletin is attached as well as resource sheets you can use at home or in church for your children to help with learning about All Saint’s Sunday.

God bless and keep you safe,

On behalf of Pastor Marilyn

Worship link for this week:  https://youtu.be/vjOcwgcUsvQ

Worship by phone:  1-306-205-1168

October 30, 2021

Dear Church Family,

My message is brief today as the newsletter is attached with all sorts of information.  Please join us for worship this week as we celebrate Reformation Sunday. You can join us in person or livestreamed at 10:30 Sunday morning or you can view the taped service or phone recording later in the day.

Next Sunday will be All Saints’ Sunday and we will remember the saints that have gone on ahead of us.  If you plan to worship from home and wish to light a candle in remembrance, please contact the church office so that we can light a candle on your behalf prior to the service.

We continue to have 20-30 participants at the in-person services and that seems to be a good number given the continued presence of the covid 19 virus in the community.

I will be in Calgary this coming week for my Mother’s service.

God bless and keep you safe,

Pastor Marilyn

Worship link for this week:  https://youtu.be/f7nE9bAPl0Q

Worship by phone:  1-306-205-1168

October 23, 2021

Dear church family,

Please find attached the bulletin for this Sunday. Announcements and hymn lyrics are in the attachment:  please check out the notes regarding our parish nurse and custodian.

Pastor Michael Diegel will be leading the service this week.

Worship link for this week:   https://youtu.be/MjMJiO9478w

(the live service begins at 10:30 am Sunday morning and the recorded version is available later in the day)

Worship by phone:  1-306-205-1168

Blessings for your weekend,

 

Lorene Jewitt, Office Admin

October 16, 2021

Dear church family,

I was reminded this week that we do live in interesting times.  There are lots of other descriptors for our times as well J . We have all experienced our times in some similar ways, but we have also all had unique experiences of living through a pandemic.  How are you doing?

We continue to meet for worship in person. It is a small group – which I think is good.  We continue to meet on-line – which I also think is good.  You can join your church family for worship live, livestreamed, taped, or by phone.  It seems like quite a smorgasbord of options and that is because you are important in this family and we want to make sure that you have access however possible.

Announcements and hymn lyrics are in the attachment:  please check out the notes regarding our parish nurse and custodian.

God bless and keep you safe,

Pastor Marilyn

Worship link for this week:  https://youtu.be/XlioWLAB40w

(the live service begins at 10:30 am Sunday morning and the recorded version is available later in the day)

Worship by phone:  1-306-205-1168

October 2, 2021

Dear church family,

We are going live this Sunday.  You can attend worship live at 10:30 am or access the recorded service at a later time or day. We practiced this week and think we have it.  I say that as though I have any expertise in this happening – I do not. I am very thankful for all the people who do know how to make this happen.  They are listed in this month’s newsletter in the thank you page.

One thing that will be missed is the scrolling lyrics.  Attached you will find the hymns and service bulletin which might help with that.  For coming Sundays you might want to sign out a hymnbook from church for home use so you can sing or follow along with the service. 

God bless and keep you all safe.

Pastor Marilyn

Worship link for this Sunday:  https://youtu.be/3V7Cg45ikKw

Even if you do not have the specific link for a Sunday you can still access worship:  go to the Augustana YouTube Channel at https:// www.youtube.com/channel/UCua4E9ZVxlZ4Wfmct0ZLnBA/featured Once there, click the play button on the player in the browser to open the live player and view the worship service.

Worship by phone — dial 1-306-205-1168

September 24, 2021

Dear church family,

As Pastor Marilyn is not available as she deals with the health of her mother, and upon the recommendation of the Health Cabinet, there will not be an in-person service again this week. Augustana Sunday’s service will be a pre-recorded one from last year.  Worship link at: https://youtu.be/VrRM72mPDjk

You will find the Worship Service document attached and it will be available on the website as well.

For those who would prefer a live worship service, you are invited to attend the YouTube livestream from Zion Lutheran at 10:30 this Sunday morning. Worship link at  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo7oFRb9WluqtWmHpv-yVgw/videos

Please find a copy of the Zion Sunday Bulletin also attached.

OR if you like, you a welcome to view the recorded Sept. 26th service for Good Shepherd Lutheran Sunday Evening (or Monday) on their website https://goodshepherdsaskatoon.ca/

Click on the link and scroll down to Sunday Recorded Service video.  The Good Shepherd Sunday Bulletin is attached as well.

Worship by phone: 1-306-205-1168 (same every week)

And just a reminder about supplies for Queen Elizabeth school. We are extending the deadline to mid-October for items and donations to be received.

Last, but not least a message from (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan Johnson:

"I invite you to make Thursday, September 30th a day of quiet reflection, learning and/or participating in a community event. September 30 reminds us that every child matters. It is a day to remember the children who did not return home from residential schools, survivors, families and all who need healing. May God's grace and unconditional love surround you as you pray, reflect, learn and gather.” Read the letter from ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson here. 

September 18, 2021

Dear church family,

As Pastor Marilyn is away due to a family member’s health, this week’s service will be a pre-recorded one from last year.  Worship link at  https://youtu.be/YIPjCnXuafI

You will find the service document attached and it will be available on the website as well. Part of Pastor Marilyn’s weekly message from last year is also included below:

“You might notice a little doggy face peeping out at you this week during worship.  It was not intentional, but it certainly fits with us marking the season of creation.  I had to tape my part of the service from home since I was waiting to hear back on a covid 19 test.  Our dog Sophie quietly took her place behind me and checked out the camera.  Fortunately, the letter carrier did not come while we were taping or you would have seen and heard Sophie.

As a congregation we are trying to maintain as much of our regular ministry as possible. This is a learning experience for us all, but it enables us to still be in mission during a pandemic. Thank you for your continued efforts to keep in touch and care for each other.  I have appreciated your support and encouragement and suggestions.”       

To Note: Synod Leadership met in a virtual Town Hall on Sep 8th with about 70 faith leaders, lay and rostered gathering together. There are specific guidelines to follow in order for our congregations to continue meet safely. 

1.Synod encourages our faith communities to continue to move forward with face to face community activity, including in-person worship, complete with Holy Communion, congregational singing, etc.

2. Synod recommends that faith leaders continue to encourage their people to be vaccinated for the safety of the whole community.

3. To protect our children, and to protect those among us who have not been vaccinated, synod recommends that faith communities mandate masking at indoor events, including worship.            Faith communities should provide masks at the door so no one is turned away.

4. Given that our children are not able to be vaccinated, synod recommends that faith communities do not hold in-person Sunday School gatherings this fall.

5. Synod recommends the continued vigilant use of hand-sanitizer when we meet, especially for those who may be assisting with communion.

6. Synod recommends that church visitors and worship attendees sign-in for contact tracing purposes.

7. Synod recommends that we delay for a time:

a. the use of the Common Cup in worship.

b. the practice of physically sharing the peace with hugs and handshakes.

c. the practice of the pastor shaking hands with the gathering following service.

d. pot-luck meals. If a shared meal is deemed as needed, a served meal or at least a served buffet is preferable.

Many of us were hoping that this fall would be less complicated than our experience in the 2020-2021 program year. While it is disappointing that we are still working out how to navigate yet another wave of the pandemic, vaccination levels certainly give us a better place to stand. Synod will gather faith leaders together in coming months as the world unfolds.

As children we used to sing, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” That matters to us especially as we continue to walk this challenging road. Pray for each other. Be kind to each other. Peace, Bishop Sid

 

God bless and keep you safe!

Pastor Marilyn

September 5, 2021

Dear Church Family,

Since the September newsletter came out earlier this week, I will keep my comments brief. 

We are still learning how to record a live service (a whole new learning curve) and awaiting an upgrade in the church’s internet connection. Again, thanks for your patience.  There is a Sask Synod town hall zoom meeting this week for rostered and lay leaders and I also have a meeting with Saskatoon pastors.  I will let you know of any suggestions that come out of those two meetings. 

It has been wonderful to meet with a small group of worshipers on a Sunday morning.  So far our numbers are small enough to make sure that there is space between households.  Since there has not been any worries about too many people coming we are not asking people to pre-register, just to sign in when they come. I look forward to seeing you when you feel it is safe for you to attend in person.

God bless and keep you safe,

Pastor Marilyn

Link to worship this week:  https://youtu.be/MuNVg8DI9tk

August 21, 2021

Dear Church Family,

I have a rather long update for you this week … please bear with me to the end.  The quality of “patience” keeps popping up J Thank you for your continued patience.

We have a guest preacher this week: Eastern Synod Bishop Michael Pryse.  With 5 weeks centered around “Bread of Life” this summer, it is good to hear another voice on the topic.

Figuring out life and church life continues to be a challenge.  With Covid 19 still in the community and public health measures gone it is hard to know how best to proceed.  I have been using the Saskatchewan “Know your risk checklist” to help me make decisions for myself and for our congregation.  If you are using this to guide your return to church here are some of the things we are doing to make in-person worship safe:

  • We wear masks for church – this way we can sing

  • Ventilation – we keep the windows open for the service

  • Spacing – there is an empty pew between households

  • Time – I am trying to keep services as brief as possible.

  • Numbers – we are limiting worship to 35 people a Sunday at this time.  When we are sure it is safe to increase numbers we will do so. We will continue to keep a list of who attends worship just in case we need to do contact tracing.

  • Shared activities – we do not pass the offering plate, we share the peace in a safe (non-touching) way, bulletins are handled by one person

  • Speaking – the pastor and worship assistant are 4 m. away from the congregation when they speak without a mask

  • Holy Communion –  we are sharing communion in a manner suggested by the synod during the height of the pandemic. You do not have to come forward for communion and you can also choose to receive only the bread. We are using a pouring chalice (wine & grape juice) so that only the one receiving communion touches their own individual glass.

 You are welcome to attend worship in person, but you are also welcome to attend worship on-line.  Come back to worship in-person when you feel you are safe to do so.  I miss seeing you, but I want you to be safe. I eagerly look forward to seeing you face to face!

We have been recording the Sunday morning worship service with mixed success.  I understand that some people have had trouble with garbled audio and others have no such issue.  I don’t know why this is and people who know more than I about this sort of thing are trying to rectify the problem. We are still learning how to provide a dependable worship service on-line and in-person. Please let me know if you are experiencing difficulty with the recorded services.

God bless and keep you safe,

Pastor Marilyn

Link to website:  www.augustanasaskatoon.net

Link to the recorded service will be available later in the day Sunday (that means if you have got in the habit of attending worship services in your pj’s you will have to keep them on all day to continue doing so).

The link from our website remains the most reliable way to reach the recording.

Link to worship by phone: 306-205-1168

Link to “Know your risk checklist:

(https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/about-covid-19/know-your-risk)

August 14, 2021

Dear church family,

This Sunday will be our 4th worship service in-person! During that time we have made it a priority to ensure that people without access to a computer have space at church.  But there is room for more people at worship in person.  We have been following careful guidelines to ensure that we are gathering for worship safely. If you feel comfortable, come and join us at 10:30 am this Sunday. Give me a call, text, or email to let me know you are coming. 

There will still be worship on-line (and we are improving on recording a live service, thanks for your patience). The best way to access Sunday morning worship is through our website (it will be available sometime on Sunday). We also still have worship by phone.  We welcome Good Shepherd Lutheran to worship again this week.

Lorene Jewett will be back in the office this week after her vacation.

God bless and keep you safe,

Pastor Marilyn

Website link:  www.augustanasaskatoon.net

Worship by phone: 1-306-205-1168

August 8, 2021

Dear church family,

Here is the link to today’s worship. My apologies for the sound quality of last week’s service. Every week we will get better at recording a live service. This week we have the help of Deacon Alexa Wallace. Many thanks to Bishop Chris Harper of the Anglican Saskatoon Diocese for lending her to us.  This week will be a live stream (and also available later as a taped service). You can access the service through our you tube channel link below.   

This will be our third in-person service.  There have been a few more people each week.  I am looking forward to increasing our numbers every week, as people are comfortable returning to in-person services. Please call the church office, text, phone or email me if you plan to come to worship next Sunday.

Pastor Marilyn

August 8st Worship with Good Shepherd: Augustana Saskatoon - YouTube 

July 30, 2021

Dear church family,

This week is different: we will be recording our Sunday morning service on Sunday morning and it will be available later in the day.  I will send out the link as soon as I have it, but you can always find the link to worship on our website or on our you tube channel (links at the end of the email).  Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is joining us for worship on-line. 

There are still openings to attend worship this Sunday (August 1).  We are limiting the number of people in-person for worship for the time being.  As the weeks go along safely, we will increase our numbers.  We had a small number of people at worship last Sunday and all went well except for a small glitch with the sound system (that is the hiccough Lorene referred to in her email).

Lorene, our office administrator, is on vacation: If you wish to register for worship please call or text my cell phone or email me (not the main church email) as soon as possible. Please wear a mask when you attend worship and stay home if you feel unwell. The mask makes it possible for us to sing.

This week we are exploring food to nourish our soul. Join us for worship online, by phone, or in person and nourish your soul.

God bless and keep you safe,

Pastor Marilyn

Website: www.augustanasaskatoon.net

Augustana’s You Tube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua4E9ZVxlZ4Wfmct0ZLnBA

Worship by phone:  1-306-205-1168