CANORA - On a warm, sunny Aug. 25 Canora morning, Parkland Christian Centre and Gateway Community Church came together to host an outdoor church service at King George Park.
The opening song was I Surrender All.
Musicians who led the singing and provided music for the service were: Pastor Brett Watson (guitar, vocals), Pastor Mavis Watson (vocals), Caleb Senechal (keyboards) and Adam Jones (drums).
Pastor Brett Watson gave a warm welcome to all those in attendance.
“It’s good to see you today,” said Watson. “We’re here to have a great time worshipping the Lord. Let’s open with a word of prayer.
“Dear Lord, we come into this beautiful cathedral today to give you honour and praise. We invite you to be on us and through us on this beautiful day today. Amen.”
Scripture reader Jessica Vaughters shared Psalm 133.
Following the scripture, those in attendance once again raised their voices in song, including: This is Amazing Grace, Great is Thy Faithfulness, and Worthy of it All.
Pastor Brett Watson followed with a solo, Midnight Cry, which “speaks of a day we believe is coming soon when we’ll be called home to heaven.”
Pastor Greg Bright shared the meditation, Let me tell you about my mother-in-law:Ruth and Naomi.
“The sermon title might throw you a bit – you might be expecting a bad joke or a critical story. But, no, that’s not it,” said Bright
“My story about my mother-in-law, is a story of faithfulness and service. From a young age, caring for her mother, she was told that she would make a good nurse – and that’s what she trained for – and that’s the avenue of service she chose.
“Carolyn’s Mom was born in Winnipeg in 1929 – Elisabeth Hildebrandt. Her family had immigrated to Canada a couple of years earlier from the Mennonite colonies in Ukraine. In 1944 she moved to Vineland, Ont. with her family – her Dad found better work opportunities there at that time.
“Mom – I call my mother-in-law ‘Mom’ – completed her nurse’s training at Toronto East General and Orthopaedic Hospital, June 13, 1953,” continued Bright. “She then went to Bible College in Winnipeg in 1954 where she met Peter Hamm. They were married on Aug. 27, 1955. Both were interested in mission work and served in India, first, at Kodaikanal International School, in South India.
“Later, Peter and Betty (as Mom came to be known) served in Shamshabad, near Hyderabad, in Central India where Carolyn’s Dad taught in a Bible School, training pastors and church leaders. “Mom was adventurous – travelling all over the world with Dad in his work – and then, later, to India several times on her own. She visited Russia, Afghanistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil, Paraguay and Columbia; and other places in between, during, and after these trips.
“When they were nearing retirement, they chose to serve in Liberia – African Independent Churches in Liberia – Bible teaching, bridge building and writing. Mom was involved in health training among the women, putting her years of nursing to work once again in a new setting.
“Moreover, Carolyn’s Mom is a wife, mother, and grandmother, as well as a daughter and sister. She has been a caregiver and supporter in many settings throughout her long life.
“Mom is 95 years old and lives in Broadview Care Home in Smiths Falls, Ont. – a long way from us, but close to other family support.
“Betty loves the Lord and joins our Canora congregation for worship via Zoom. I love my mother-in-law. And I’m proud of her! She’s not perfect. But she has always been faithful and loving and we are very thankful for her.
“Now, come with me and hear about another mother-in-law – her name was Naomi,” said Bright.
“This took place over 1,500 years before Christ, over 3,500 years ago!
“Naomi and Elimelek, and sons Mahlon and Kilion, came upon hard times, famine. Elimelek died. Mahlon and Kilion married two women from Moab, Orpah and Ruth. Mahlon and Kilion died.
“Naomi and her daughters-in-law were left alone. In their culture, this was very difficult. Naomi encouraged her daughters-in-law to return to their birth homes and pray for another marriage – a cultural necessity in their day.
“Ruth chose to stay with Naomi.
“Ruth 1:16, ‘Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
“The women had no food to eat, so Ruth went out to glean what was left behind by the harvesters – the odd stock of barley that fell from the hands of the women gathering the stocks. Boaz knew of Ruth’s kindness to her mother-in-law, his near relative.
“When she sat down with the harvesters, Boaz offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men to leave her alone, ‘Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her,’ (Ruth 2:16). Naomi and Ruth had some food to keep them going for a while – but nothing lasting.
“Naomi devised a rather bold plan – and Ruth went along. At the threshing celebration dinner, men stayed there over night to protect the harvest from marauders.
“Women not usually welcome on the threshing floor. Ruth dressed in her finest, probably wearing a cloak so that she wouldn’t be recognized. She went to Boaz and lay down with him. When he woke, he didn’t know who it was, and she identified herself.
“Ruth 3:15, “He also said, ‘Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.’ When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he went back to town.
“But there was one obstacle left,” said Bright. “There was a relative closer to Naomi who had first choice on her land. But Boaz was not only a kind man, he was a man of action and wisdom. He bought the land.
“And Boaz took Ruth as his wife. And Naomi, who did most of her work in the background, was cared for and loved as part of the family.
“Christ shows His kindness to us, buy buying us back from death and giving us eternal life. God’s kindness should motivate us to live in love and to express kindness to others.
“These are themes of the story of Ruth, and may they be themes of your life as well: faithfulness, kindness, integrity, protection and blessing. May you also place your trust in the Lord, living out the love and faithfulness that Jesus showed us in His life and death and His love for us.”
Following the mediation, Pastor Mavis Watson closed the service in prayer.
“Lord God we pray for the Church during this time. The Church is not just a building to be visited on Sundays, it is the body of believers. You came to this earth to save. We pray for the Church to come together and work together in unison to be a vessel of Your light in this dark world. May we be used to encourage, uplift and bless those around us and may we ever be pointing others to you. Amen.”
A potluck lunch in the park followed the service.
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