July 2026

Happy Canada Day – although yesterday was July 1st I don’t think it is too late to send out this patriotic greeting! I sometimes puzzle over the importance of patriotism and whether faith and patriotism should co-mingle. We do sing in our national anthem, “God keep our land glorious and free” a line that echoes petitions from the Psalms. 

Did you know that the song, O Canada was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Theodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day? The original French lyrics were translated to English in 1906. Multiple versions ensued and the version that gained popularity, and that we sing today, is Robert Stanley Weir’s version from 1908. O Canada had served as the ‘de facto’ national anthem since 1939, officially becoming the country’s national anthem in 1980 when Canada’s National Anthem Act received royal assent and became effective on July 1 as part of that year’s Dominion Day, which is now known as Canada Day, celebrations.

We were at one time known as the Dominion of Canada. That phrase was inspired by Psalm 72:8. “God shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” This verse is inscribed on the east window of the Parliament Buildings Peace Tower. 

So, while rabid patriotism is not my ‘cup of tea’ we know that pride of country, based on principles of faith has been an important part of our national heritage. It has not always served us well - I am thinking here of the shame and regret of the Residential School system, in which the church played a significant role, but I hope, and believe we continue to build a country based on respect and justice. 

Summertime means weekend visits to the cottage, the trailer, or attending family picnics and reunions. It also means we make a more leisurely worship experience on Sunday morning. The choir takes a well-deserved holiday but Tracy has lined up some excellent musical offerings for us in his Ministry of Music.

Over the month the sermons will focus on the Biblical accounts of characters who played an important role in the unfolding faith story but who we seldom talk about.  Here is a bit of an outline for July:

July 5 –  Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:1-23)

July 12 – Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:8-21)  

July 19 – The daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27:1-11)

July 27 –  Herod (Luke Mark 6:12-31, Matthew 2 and 14:1-13)

This coming Sunday, July 5th we will be blessing the Prayers Shawls that have been lovingly made for distribution from Ebenezer. A shout out to Bonnie and Roxy who oversee our Prayer Shawl ministry.

I continue to send a weekly email each Monday morning to our Prayer Network so if you have something or someone you would like us to hold in prayer, please let me know. 

Wherever you find yourself on the Sunday mornings of July say a prayer for our community of faith and wherever your July activities take you - travel safely.

See you at church!  ~Nancy