At the celebration of The United Church of Canada’s 100th anniversary service on June 8th at Okotoks United, at least twenty-one people who usually attend St. Andrew’s attended the celebration. The morning saw a pancake breakfast, kid’s activities which included balloons and face painting, and musical presentations before we gathered around tables for the service at 10:45. Julia entitled her 100th anniversary message “There’s a Spirit at Work” from the scripture Ephesians 1:15-19; 3:16-21.
On June 10, 1925 there were four streams flowing into one river to form The United Church of Canada: the Methodist Church, Canada; the Congregational Union of Canada; 70% of the Presbyterian Church in Canada; and the Union Churches. Julia then gave us a brief summary of what the communities of faith at St. Andrew’s United and Okotoks United have been and are involved in as service oriented congregations as we all continue to honour God in service. Our celebration service included serving our table group the communion meal. Oh, and by the way, we began our service by singing Holy, Holy, Holy and concluded the service by singing Amen, Amen, Amen. At the reception following the service, we shared some cake and continued fellowship with one another.
On June 15th, twenty-two people joined with Julia for worship. Julia entitled her message “In the Beginning…” and we heard one of scriptures’ beginning stories from Genesis 1:1-5 where God brought order out of chaos. Genesis 1:1-5 is a story, not fact. We celebrate beginnings and we all have stories of our own beginnings. There are many creation stories in the world and they express expansion and connection. Everyone lives by stories. There is no objective reality, only stories. Some stories require revisioning. In the response time following the message, we were asked to answer the question in small groups “What story or stories need revisioning today?” What is our own response to this question?
Marie Wedderburn