Attending Church Services on Mothers' Day in a Northern Cmmunity, Alberta

Looking out from the front of the Christian school in northern Alberta

The northern community we are visiting is about two hours  behind Toronto time. When it is 7 am here, it is 9am in Toronto.

We spent our first night at our host’s home. Praise God, both S. and I slept well.

Today was Sunday and Mothers’ Day. A special day indeed!

We attended two Sunday services at two different churches. For the morning service,  our local friend picked us for the 11 am service. 

Before the service started, M. took us for a tour of the Christian school located right next door.

The school is a simple portable donated to be used for Christian education in the area.  It is a school intended for students from Grade 1 to 12. Because of the residential school history, the enrollment of the school has declined dramatically .

After the school tour, we attended the Sunday Service at a local Christian church.We met M., the wife of a local pastor who passed away recently. She is a strong woman, full of faith. Despite of her husband’s recent death, she was holding up quite well.

Though a small congregation, there were quite a number of musicians among them!  Besides Pastor O. there were two other guitar players, one of whom was a young child. I enjoyed the singing very much. 

After the songs, M. encouraged mothers to come up and shared since today was mothers day. A few of mothers did, including me. There were a few touching stories.

Pastor Ed. shared a Mothers’ Day message in which he encouraged the congregation to pray for mothers everywhere. M. prepared long stem roses for mothers and Pastor O. and Pastor Ed prayed for each one as the mothers came forward to receive their roses.

At the conclusion of the service, our youth sang a hymn and explained to us the touching background of the hymn – All is Well.

 I didn’t think there was a dry eye in the church.

We went to see a rodeo in the afternoon, an interesting show indeed!

After dinner, we attended the evening service at the north church. Our host, L. was there leading the worship. The elderly gentleman, Pastor O. pastor of the church was there too. The singing was awesome! L. invited people came forward to share and a few of us did. I would never forget C. sharing about how God blessed her with a daughter after trying for six years to have a baby and finding out that they were an infertile couple.

It was a long day, but a great day spent with God’s people!

R.T.

Our 2nd Day

Northern Alberta