Hello Church family,

The newsletter came out this week, so I will try to not repeat information. You should have received the newsletter in an email and it is available on our website as well.

I have been concerned with the growing number of active covid 19 cases in Saskatoon and our plans to hold regular in-person services at Augustana. I know it is so much more satisfying to gather together in person, but for now we will have to make our contact and care for one another through other means: phone, letter, email, video calls, and sidewalk visits. Bishop Sid and Pastor Ali hosted two town hall zoom meetings this past week. Their recommendation to the whole synod is to have only on-line worship until the end of January. At that time we will re-evaluate. This also means that all meetings at the church will be cancelled or occur by zoom or video.

I do know that there are many phone calls, letters, and emails occurring among our church family, but if you have been missed or you feel the need to connect, please do so. Even though we are physically distant, my hope is that no one will feel that they are alone or isolated or left out.

Your assignment for the week: since this is the first of 4 weeks of advent I have divided the alphabet into 4 parts. Each week I will ask you to phone someone whose last name is in that part of the alphabet. This week call one or more people whose last name ends in the letters A to F.

May the peace of Christ sustain you from day to day!

Pastor Marilyn

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

Advent 1 is about HOPE

Light one candle to watch for Messiah;

Let the light banish darkness.

Christ shall bring salvation to all of us,

God fulfills the promise.