It was a more sombre Canada Day service at the Innisfil Community Church on Sunday than has been seen in many years – but there is still reason to rejoice, noted Pastor Howard Courtney.
“As Canadian people, as people who live in Canada, we have reason to rejoice today. God has blessed us,” the pastor told his congregation, that had gathered for an outdoor ‘field’ service. “It’s a land that flows with milk and honey.”
Pastor Courtney spoke of the beauty of the landscape, Canada’s mountains, lakes and forests; the country's diversity; the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that are guaranteed by law – but also of the sorrow and pain that Canadians feel with the discovery of “unknown graveyards, with unknown indigenous children from residential schools, often led by religious bodies, showing disrespect for life and for death.”
As a result of the discoveries, “we have been tarnished as a nation, tarnished as a political system, tarnished as bodies of objective and collective faith and religion,” Pastor Courtney acknowledged, which has led some to argue that there should be no Canada Day celebration, because it would “diminish the atrocities.”
The pastor read from a letter from a member of the Mohawk of Six Nations, that told Canadians to “bow your head in sadness, not shame. You didn’t write the laws that made these places… You didn’t know about these children, because the government didn’t want you to know.”
The author urged Canadians to celebrate the day “because we’ve been found, celebrate it because our children have been recovered, celebrate it because you don’t want this country to repeat what they’ve done.”
Pastor Courtney then invited the congregation to “Pay respect to our great country,” by singing the national anthem.
Over the past months, Innisfil Community Church has adapted to pandemic restrictions by holding “drive-in” services in its parking lot, assigning a parking space to each family.
“As restrictions were lifted, we were allowed to sit in lawn chairs in our parking spot,” said volunteer Tina Cubert as she directed traffic to the outdoor location for Canada Day, on July 4, beneath three large crosses in the field beside the church. “To be back together – it’s great!” she said.
The congregation sat in their vehicles, honking their 'amens,' or stepped outside to sit in lawn chairs and under umbrellas while maintaining physical distancing, as the Worship Team sang and the pastor spoke.
“To everything there is a season,” said Pastor Courtney, asking Canadians to “rejoice, laugh and mourn on Canada Day.”
And as he offered Communion, he said, “We have even greater reason to rejoice: the freedom of our faith… Rejoice because God loves you.”