Sunday, Feb. 15 saw parishioners from Christ Church, Hope join us at All Saints, Agassiz to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the National Flag of Canada and the Feast of Saint Valentine. Sixty people of all ages gathered in the Hall for a potluck luncheon and time of fellowship.
Our iconic red and white flag with a single red maple leaf at its centre was designed to reflect a modern Canada, looking towards its future, but ever respectful of its past. It was unveiled by Lester B. Pearson, then Prime Minister of Canada, on Feb. 15, 1965 and was flown for the first time from the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa on that day.
The Feast of Saint Valentine is an official feast day commemorated on Feb. 14 in both the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church. Valentine was a Roman Priest at a time when emperor Claudias the Second persecuted the church and prohibited the marriage of young people. Because Valentine secretly married Christian couples he was eventually captured in 269 AD; imprisoned, tortured and martyred for performing marriage ceremonies against command of the Emperor.
Since January, All Saints is fortunate to have Father Daniel Westin, his wife Dr. Rebecca and their children worshipping with us from Sweden until June 2015. Father Daniel is from the Swedish Lutheran Church and Dr. Rebecca Westin is a doctor of veterinarian medicine at present working at the Research Centre in Agassiz. They are also both accomplished violinists. As well as rendering an uplifting sermon Father Daniel accompanied local musician Sandra Bower in several hymns and Rebecca also joined him in sharing their gifts of music at the Holy Eucharist Service that day. At the luncheon that followed the violinists had us tapping our feet to their Swedish folk music. It is a great blessing to get together with our sisters and brothers from Christ Church, Hope a few times a year. We are looking forward to our next ‘visit’.
Submitted by
Monica Gibson-Pugsley
Parish Administrator, all Saints Anglican