Submitted by:
Rev Dr. Jenny Sprong on behalf of the SVMA
The Swan Valley Ministerial Association organizes an Annual Community Service for the Swan River Churches. This year, the service once again took place on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
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The service was held on October, 16th at 10:00am and lent itself to a worshipful theme for ‘Praise & Thanksgiving’. Several congregations brought worship banners to adorn the Veterans’ Hall and to create an ambiance for a Service of Worship. A potted plant and some pumpkins on the stage added to the festive atmosphere of Thanksgiving.
Many congregations participated, making this a true community event, with more than two-hundred people worshipping and praising God together.
We are privileged to join as one in worship and to concentrate on the things we have in common – we particularly honour the Seventh Day Adventist members, who come out especially to join us even though their day of worship is usually a Saturday.
The music was provided by the Temple Baptist Church’s song group and Elisabeth Archambault, from the St. James Anglican Church, joined in on her violin. The hymns and songs were well-known by most of the congregation and they were inspiring for all.
St. Andrew’s United Church provided the welcome, opening and confessional prayer – beautifully done by Clara Alford – and it was also their turn to provide the preacher, so, Rev Dr Jenny Sprong gave the message after Pastor Ray Hart, from the Solid Rock Church, read two of the passages from the Bible: Jeremiah 31:27-34 and 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.
The children’s ministry was provided by Pastor Bob and Barb Lewis of the Trinity Lutheran Church. The children had a most interesting time, having to unscramble some significant words before enjoying some juice and fish crackers together.
Pastor Roy Jamieson, from The Seventh Day Adventist Church, introduced the offering and gave thanks to God for all our blessings. After paying the bills, for the expenses incurred for the service, the offering of more than $2,000 will go towards the Swan Valley Refugee Fund.
Bringing canned food items for the SV Food Bank, formed part of the offerings we brought on Sunday
The photo shows the boxes, ready for the contributions from the congregation – before the service – by the time I was ready to take a photo of them full to overflowing, the boxes had already been collected!
A big THANK YOU from the Food Bank to everyone who donated these much-needed items of food!
Pastor Reg Rivett, from the Pentecostal Tabernacle, lead the prayers of intercession and petition after which everyone shared in the Lord’s Prayer together. After singing the final hymn ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’, Pastor Reg also pronounced the benediction.
The Gospel theme of the day was from Luke 18:1-8, which Jenny read immediately prior to the sermon: ‘Justice for the Faithful’. We examined some truths in the parable Jesus told about a widow pleading persistently with an unjust judge to give her justice in a dispute she had brought before his court. The final result was that the judge eventually decided to honour her request because ‘she kept on bothering him’. Jesus encouraged his followers, and us, to be persistent in our prayers and not to lose heart. As Jeremiah reminded us, we are part of God’s New Covenant people! We were also reminded to be mindful of what we pray for. God is not committed to give us everything we ask for.
After the service, many people visited with one another and three young men kindly helped to pack away the chairs. We express our thanks to Lana Graham, with whom all the arrangements were made for us using the Veterans’ Hall.
Our Christian witness in the Swan River Valley continues to shine for God.