Closing things out on a sing and a prayer
By Craig Westcott
It wasn’t the most attended event during this year’s Frosty Festival, but the ecumenical service shared by clergy and members from all the various Christian denominations in Mount Pearl at the end of the annual winter celebration did make a joyful noise.
Featuring musical performances and prayers by the “house band” at Park Avenue Pentecostal Church, which hosted the event, the service drew an estimated couple of hundred people and functioned as the closing event but one for the Frosty Festival.
“We’ve been doing this as part of the Frosty Festival for a long time,” noted Kent Sceviour, the church’s lead pastor. “I think we have representatives from almost every church that I’m aware of. Not all are directly participating but that doesn’t mean they’re not participating behind the scenes in supporting this.”
A collection was taken for the city’s three food banks.
“It’s a very critical need, a very real need,” said Sceviour. “There’s always people drawing on those resources, so as churches we all support the food banks in our city.”
The first prayer of the service was offered by Major Morgan Hillier of the Mount Pearl Salvation Army Citadel.
Hillier said the differences between the denominations don’t matter as they all stand under the banner of Jesus, who brings hope and peace and light in a chaotic world.
“We thank you, Father, for every good and perfect gift, because it comes from you,” Hiller said. “Bless us, bless this worship, bless the message, bless all that takes place today.”
Sceviour said he was pleased that the city’s churches are able to partner with the City of Mount Pearl, the local MHAs and the federal government on so many initiatives.
“We appreciate it,” said Sceviour. “We can’t do it alone, is what I’m trying to say… We don’t do anything alone. As individual churches we do our thing, but we’re better when we put our efforts together and we work in partnership with other entities. And here in Mount Pearl one of the things that I’ve noticed in the last number of years from being here is the partnerships that exist and the cooperation that exists, the connections that we have and the access. I’ve been in smaller communities where you were hard pressed to even have a conversation with a councillor or to know who your MHA is. And those things are invaluable. We appreciate it and I want to say thank you for that and thank you for the partnerships that exist… So, thank you for what you do to serve our community.”
Mayor Dave Aker said it was great to see the ecumenical service as part of the Frosty Festival again. He noted the festival has changed slightly since the City took on responsibility for it this year from the former volunteer board of directors which ran it previously.
“I want to assure you, that like your churches, your congregations, the volunteer base here in the city of Mount Pearl is the energy and will continue to be behind the festival,” Aker said. “So, a big round of applause please for the volunteers.”
Pointing to the church’s house band, Aker added some of the unsung heroes in Mount Pearl are the people who make up its bands and choirs.
The mayor joked that the only longer serving event better than his own marriage of 35 years is the Frosty Festival, which was 43 years old this year.
“It’s the longest running festival in Eastern Canada,” said Aker.
The mayor thanked the churches for being part of the community and called attention to the presence of MHAs Paul Lane and Lucy Stoyles as well as the members of local service groups including the Knights of Columbus, and member of council, two of whom – Isabelle Fry and Chelsea Lane – are members of the Kinettes.
“You can see the theme here, folks,” said Aker. “The theme is that it’s all about our good sense of community… We’re all part of the community and we’re so grateful this event is happening, we’re so grateful for all of the events that you offer within our community… Mount Pearl has a rich history, a rich culture… It’s all about the people that live in our community and we’re welcoming people, we welcome people from around the bay, we welcome people, believe it or not, from St. John’s.”
Aker concluded by thanking the City’s staff, as well as the staff who work for the churches. “We could not have done the festival without them,” he said.
Rev. Barbara Boone, the deacon of the Anglican Church of the Good Shepperd, led the congregation in the Apostle’s Prayer.
“We gather today as one community,” Boone said, “transcending denominational boundaries, united in our shared journey of faith.”
Pastor Peter Hayes of the Solid Rock Wesleyan United Church offered readings from scripture selected to offer hope “in our tumultuous political climate today.”
Hayes noted each of the verses calls people to anchor their hope in Jesus.
“May these verses inspire you to live with confidence and joy in the hope that is found only in Jesus Christ,” Hayes said.
The sermon was performed by Fr. Wayne Dohey of Our Lady Queen of Families Roman Catholic Parish. Dohey pointed to the theme of the service, which was ‘Hope in Jesus’ and argued it was a fitting one.
“As we look at our world today, there’s a tremendous amount of chaos and anxiety,” he said. “If you look at the world through the lens of humanity, we see many challenges. Many, sadly, are political, becoming more economical. Uncertainty and anxiety and fear and chaos tend to find this root within our hearts. That’s if you look through the lens of humanity. But when we look through the lens of faith, we something different. When we look through the lens of faith we have hope, because we can rebuild.”
Dohey told the congregants they are people of hope and not to leave that role to the clergy or the ordained alone.
Dohey pointed out the City’s motto is ‘all things for the glory of God.’
“And if we admit that this is the mission of our great city, then we cannot sidetrack its importance,” he argued. “But rather, all must be for the glory of God. Year after year, as Mayor Aker has said, the 43 (years) of the Frosty Festival is not just a social celebration. It is not just a celebration of party and song and dance. But rather we as a community say it’s a time to remember our past and proudly add to this Frosty Festival celebration a moment of prayer. Lest we forget a moment to always praise God for this is the foundation of our community. To be a people of hope, and to ensure our community holds fast this motto, every day you and I must preach by example, every day you and I must preach Christ’s love and encourage one another in the simple things that every faith tradition holds precious. Proclaim Christ, live the treasure of what St. Paul says, ‘faith, hope and charity.’ My friends we are missionaries, believe it or not. We don’t have to go to lands faraway as did our ancestors who preached the gospel. We cry out for it to happen home here now. We are called to carry the word of God into our community to be joyful and to give hope. Yes, we live in challenging times. Some say that God is less and less involved, but we cannot walk in that path of darkness. We must say God is always here leading us, and He says to us, ‘Come follow me.'”
After Fr. Dohey’s sermon, Salvation Army Major Lisa Hillier lead the gathering in the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, before Pastor Sceviour concluded the service by making a plea for people to attend their Church, whatever the denomination.
“If you don’t attend a local church, I know a couple of good ones,” he joked. “This is a plug for all of our clergy. Everybody should be attending church. If you are connected to a church, if you call yourself by any particular name (denomination), if you say that, I’m Pentecostal, or I’m Salvation Army, or I’m Roman Catholic, then you’d better be showing up. And I would encourage you if you’re not, to begin a wonderful pattern of growth in your life and begin to participate in your community of faith. It will be a blessing to others, and it will be blessing to you.”
Park Avenue Pentecostal Church hosted an ecumenical service to close the Frosty Festival on Sunday, February 16. Much of the service consisted of the songs performed by the church’s “house band” shown here with Lead Pastor Ken Sceviour (second from left) and consisting of, from left: Emily Pitcher, Amber Hamel, Everett Perry and Pastor Jared Pitcher.