Chinook Winds Regional Conference, Fort Macleod, AB
Oct. 25
Led by Rev. MiYeon Kim of Trinity United, Fort Macleod
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to this gathering of faith, hope and renewal. My name is Rev. MiYeon Kim, and I serve at Trinity United Church in Fort Macleod as well as at Granum United Church. It is my great joy and honour to welcome you all to this year’s Rural Ministry Conference.
In this sacred space, we gather from many different corners of rural communities – places where we live, serve and minister with such deep care. Each one of us carries unique stories of faith, of community and of the land that sustains us. Yet in this moment, we are brought together by the Spirit, sharing a common calling to serve in rural communities. Here, God’s presence is alive and abundant – in the vastness of creation and in the closeness of our relationships.
As we enter into this time of worship, I invite us to open our hearts and minds to our Creator God, who is already here among us, ready to guide, inspire and refresh us for the work ahead. May this time be one of deep connection – to God, to one another, and to the land we call home.
Land Acknowledgement – This evening we together acknowledge that we are gathering on the land of the Blackfoot people of the Canadian Plains. We are mindful of the rich culture, history and spirituality of the Indigenous Peoples who inhabited and cared for this land for generations – long before the first settlers arrived here. We gather in deep gratitude for their past and ongoing hospitality as we continue to live together on their land. We also recognize the contributions Métis, Inuit, and other Indigenous Peoples have made in shaping and strengthening this region, the provinces and Canada as a whole. We
commit as a community of faith to continue to work to build relationships that are just and equitable for us all.
Lighting the Christ Candle: God of life and truth, heal our weary and broken hearts with Your light, and shine the light of wisdom and hope into the hearts of those gathered here. Grant that we may live as children of light, faithfully carrying Your hope into the church and the world. Amen
Opening Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, the love you show us in our joys and sorrows strengthens us for our journey of faith. Come and be with us today as we gather to worship you. You are the light on our path and the living water that quenches our thirst. May this time together help us to re-center ourselves and encourage us to live as you call us to live in this world. By your Holy Spirit, renew our minds and hearts, so that we may know, desire and do your will. Amen
Message: I know that all of you gathered here are faithful and strong leaders, yet I also understand that this doesn’t mean you are without struggle. You may have come here with a heavy heart – perhaps due to family or friends who are ill or have recently passed away, because of the current situation of your beloved church, or because of the broken state of the world today.
In Korea, we sometimes use the phrase, “maomae duldongika itda” which means, “It feels like I have a heavy rock in my heart.” Today I invite you to consider this rock as a symbol of your heavy heart.
And then, we have this water. Sometimes it represents tears, but in the Bible, water often symbolizes healing – like the story of General Naaman who was healed of leprosy by washing himself in the Jordan River seven times. And in the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “The Holy Spirit will come to us like a river of living water when we trust Him.”
While the prayer of the people is prayed, you can hold your own rock, and before you leave you may place your rock into the water.
Reader 1: Dear God, we cry out to you in the midst of uncertainty, in the midst of grief, change and loss, in times of anxiety and struggle, remind us. Still us. Heal us. Unite us.
Reader 2: We pray for those who need your justice Lord: for those who sleep on cold streets, for those who do not have enough to eat, and for those who worry about how to make ends meet for their families. (Silence)
- We pray for all those facing violence, in their homes or communities, for nations engulfed in conflict, and for places struggling to recover after flooding, drought, storms, wildfire, or unrest.
- We pray for all who need your healing touch Lord: for people who are confused or afraid, for those in hospitals and nursing homes, and those who care for them, for all who are dealing with long-term disability or mental illness, and for those who have encountered loss through the death of a beloved, a change in circumstances or disappointed hopes.
We pray for your churches – from rural churches to every congregation struggling financially, struggling without ministers, struggling without children and youth, struggling with low volunteer numbers and feeling the weight of burnout.
God of hope, hear our prayer and transform each situation for which we pray, so that we may all experience new life in your almighty power. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.