The national flags that we borrowed from the Christian Reformed Church’s headquarters will be returned to Burlington this week, marking the end of our focus on the growing number of nations now represented in this local expression of the household of God called Hope Fellowship Church. We’ll be sorry to see them go. If I had my druthers there would always be a flag flanking the stage in our sanctuary for every nationality at HFC.
Currently, we would need 28 flags. That was the final tally after counting the countries that were shouted out in our two morning services on January 24 and then adding Greece (missed you on January 24, Emilios!), a family from Pakistan who attended the Mosaic Meal, and a First Nations Canadian who added herself to the list last week.
Speaking of our Mosaic Meal, it was a great success as approximately sixty people feasted on six tables worth of potluck dinners. Jerk chicken, nasi goreng, Irish stew and boerekool were just some of the mouthwatering foods that we sampled. As Melissa Claxton-Oldfield, our Community Life Zone Co-ordinator who oversaw this event, said, “Each person put a tremendous amount of thought and effort into creating and serving one of their national dishes.” It all led to some great conversations as people socialized and learned more about each other’s upbringing and cultures. Hopefully, this Mosaic Meal will become an annual event.
So which nations are now part of our multi-racial and multi-national multitude of worshipers at Hope Fellowship? The countries are: Austria, Belarus, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, First Nations, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lithuania, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Trinidad, and the U.S.A.
If your country is not on this list because you were away on January 24, please e-mail or call me. Then I can tell you off for skipping church that Sunday (just kidding, eh)! As for those who enthusiastically shouted “Friesland”, “Quebec”, and even “Toronto”, you are to be commended for your civic pride, although your geographic knowledge needs a little work.
- Pastor Peter
Currently, we would need 28 flags. That was the final tally after counting the countries that were shouted out in our two morning services on January 24 and then adding Greece (missed you on January 24, Emilios!), a family from Pakistan who attended the Mosaic Meal, and a First Nations Canadian who added herself to the list last week.
Speaking of our Mosaic Meal, it was a great success as approximately sixty people feasted on six tables worth of potluck dinners. Jerk chicken, nasi goreng, Irish stew and boerekool were just some of the mouthwatering foods that we sampled. As Melissa Claxton-Oldfield, our Community Life Zone Co-ordinator who oversaw this event, said, “Each person put a tremendous amount of thought and effort into creating and serving one of their national dishes.” It all led to some great conversations as people socialized and learned more about each other’s upbringing and cultures. Hopefully, this Mosaic Meal will become an annual event.
So which nations are now part of our multi-racial and multi-national multitude of worshipers at Hope Fellowship? The countries are: Austria, Belarus, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, First Nations, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lithuania, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Trinidad, and the U.S.A.
If your country is not on this list because you were away on January 24, please e-mail or call me. Then I can tell you off for skipping church that Sunday (just kidding, eh)! As for those who enthusiastically shouted “Friesland”, “Quebec”, and even “Toronto”, you are to be commended for your civic pride, although your geographic knowledge needs a little work.
- Pastor Peter
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