A decade ago, an event occurred which some claim changed the world.
On Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, the horror of the terrorist attack on the World Trade towers and Pentagon spread around the globe.
The evening after, Ralph Connor United Church on Main Street held its first Evensong celebration.
“Our first meeting was the day after 9/11,” said congregation member Eric McAvity. “It was partially in response to that, but it evolved into a mid-week celebration.”
An open and inclusive Evensong now runs each Wednesday, from the autumn equinox to the summer solstice.
Evensong evenings are generally led by laypeople, said McAvity, though there is ministerial involvement. “Like others, I’ve designed and led a service. It’s a collective with no leaders, but many hands. It’s a mid-week contemplative practice and it’s my favourite form of worship; I’ve really grown to enjoy it.
“Some people are here every week, some just once, sometimes visitors just drop in. Some nights there will be three or four people, sometimes 15 or 16.”
Last week (Sept. 21), a nearly full congregation of about 50 gathered for the 10th anniversary, which honoured the mystical power of Evensong and a memorial dream catcher.
In celebration of a decade, former Ralph Connor wife/husband ministers Catherine MacLean and Earl Reaburn had a homecoming from Edmonton and Sue Hertell returned from Coronation.
The homecoming was particularly suitable for the evening, as the theme was home and coming home. The service was led by a number of people, including MacLean and Reaburn and present minister Ron Jeffrey. Poems, prayers and selected readings were offered and, accompanied by Jan Tissandier on piano, hymns were shared.
Evensong takes place each Wednesday from 7:15-8 p.m.
