Ecumenical Worship Service for Christian Unity

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Sunday evening people of the Garson, Falconbridge and Skead area gathered to celebrate the  annual Ecumenical Worship Service for Chritian Unity.  The host parish was St. John the Evangelist Church on Church St. in Garson, where we gathered in friendship to celebrate what unites all Christians and to pray together for Christian Unity.  2009 marks our 10^th anniversary of gathering for communal prayer.

Welcome Message: 

This year’s theme is “ONE IN GOD’S HAND” and the text was prepared by the ecumenical group in Korea.  We come together to pray as we focus on what unites us, Jesus Christ our Lord.  By sharing in one baptism, we are united to Christ in faith, but also united to each other in the communion of Christ’s body.  This fundamental unity is what all Christians share.  On the eve of his death, Jesus prayed that his followers would be one as he and the Father are one. 

Cette année le thème est “ILS SERONT UNIS DANS TA MAIN” et le texte a été préparé par le groupe oécuménique de Corée.  Chrétiens et chrétiennes, ensemble, célébrons en centrant sur ce qui nous unis, Jésus Christ, Notre Seigneur.  En partageant un même baptême, nous sommes unis au Christ par la foi, mais nous sommes également unis entre nous dans la communion du corps du Christ.  Tous les chrétiens et toutes les chrétiennes partagent cette union fondamentale.  La veille de sa mort, Jésus a prié pour que tout ses disciples ne soient qu’un, de même que lui et son Père sont un.

Living in a small community such as Skead, Falconbridge and Garson has many advantages ... we get to know our neighbours,  we form community by always being there for each other, together we celebrate weddings and births, we console one another in times of crisis and death.  It becomes possible for us to worship together because differences which separate us seem not to exist when neighbours, friends and relatives gather.  Gathering with us this evening are Pastor Stan Ball of First Baptist Church, Pastor Erin Todd of Trinity United Church, Lay Minister Robert Lewis of St. Mark Anglican Church who along with our Pastor, Father Charles Mathieu will lead us in this Worhip Service. 

Demeurer dans une petite communauté nous offre des avantages ... nous nous connaissons les uns les autres, nous devenons comme une grande famille en célébrant ensembles noces et naissances, en se consolant à l’occasion de crise et de la mort.  On dirait que les différences qui nous séparent n’existe plus quand voisins, amis et parenté se rassemblent.   Ce soir le Révérend Stan Ball de la paroisse First Baptist, la Révérende Erin Todd de la paroisseTrinityUnited, Ministre Laïque Robert Lewis de la paroisse Anglicaine St. Mark se joigne a notre curé, le Père Charles, en tant que célébrants de ce Service de Prières. 

As always Pastors and laypeople were very open to participate and be part of the ecumenical group.  I could not have asked for better cooperation and generosity.  Some of them have been involved for the duration and are wonderful giving men and women on which I can always count on for assistance. Too much can never be said about the importance of team work – brings kindred spirits together.

I am looking forward to working together again in January 2010 when we gather to  pray and celebrate once more.  The host  parish will be Trinity United Church here on Church St.  in Garson.   

I am pleased to report that donations amounted to $408.36 and 123 food items for the Garson Community Foodbank.  We estimate attendance at 112 people.   All in all it was once more a most meaningful endeavour and a heartwarming celebration of unity.  

May our Heavenly Father bless you and yours with the Peace of Christ! 

Doreen Merkas, coordinator