An outdoor non-denominational church service on July 16 at the town hall started the week-long Canora in Bloom celebration.
Rev. Brett Watson welcomed the gathering for the church service to kick off Canora in Bloom. He asked how many remembered Canada’s 100th birthday in 1967, and shared that he was eight years old at the time and remembered it well.
Watson prayed with the congregation to open the service, in a prayer which highlighted residents’ close relationship to the land.
“O God, you created the earth to be our dwelling as we journey toward our heavenly home. We praise you for the riches of this land that feeds and sustains us. We thank you for the kindness of those who welcomed the newcomers who settled here. We thank you for the faith of those who worked to build a just society that honours you.
“We ask you to send your spirit upon our gathering this morning. Open our hearts with gratitude for your blessings; with repentance for our failures, and grant us an unshakeable hope, to build a future that glorifies you in all things. We ask you this through Jesus Christ, your son and our Lord. Amen.”
Watson led the gathering in the singing of the well-known hymns, Holy Holy Holy, How Great is Our God, How Great Thou Art and Here I am Lord.
In the meditation, Rev. Franklin Emereuwa spoke of how fortunate Canadians are to be living in Canada.
“Driving around Canora we see many impressive structures and edifices, which reminds us how blessed we are to be living in Canada and celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday,” he said. “We have a place where we can, for the most part, close our eyes and sleep peacefully at night.”
Emereuwa paid tribute to the many early Canadians, including Canora settlers, who were focused on the importance of God in their lives, and did their best to put Him first.
“Our forefathers recognized the value of their Christian faith, and erected a number of churches in Canora which are still here,” he said. “They worshipped God for providing for them with such abundance.”
Emereuwa said that like many of the impressive structures and edifices around Canora, Canadians are starting to show cracks and signs of aging. Church attendance continues to decline, and most of those who do attend are elderly.
He left listeners with a closing thought for the meditation.
“During this Canada 150 celebration, the signs of God’s love for the people of Canora, and Canada, are all around us. What are we willing to give Him in return?”
Lorne Kopelchuk led the gathering in the prayers for the faithful: “For our church leaders and the Canora Ministerial Association members, that God will continue to bless them in their vocation as shepherds of God’s flock, let us pray to the Lord.
“For all gathered here to celebrate 150 years of the faith of our fathers and mothers in the Province of Saskatchewan and the Dominion of Canada, let us pray to the Lord.
“For an attitude of thankfulness for all of God’s blessings that we have enjoyed and continue to receive, let us pray to the Lord.
“That God will continue to bless our province and our country with fair weather for the planting and growth of crops that will help feed the hungry of the world, let us pray to the Lord.
After the service, everyone was encouraged to stay for brunch, sponsored by Candy’s Catering.
