“I have been deeply enriched by the loving interaction with other Christian denominations”
– Becky Middleton, Senlac, Saskatchewan
I come from a background of four generations in the Community of Christ. It has always been a part of my life, being the foundation laid as to where and how to worship. This rich heritage has helped to guide my personal relationship with God and grow me spiritually. Circumstances of my childhood didn't always allow for weekly Sunday attendance, but we attended as often as we could, and I always felt included and a part of the various congregations.
After I was married, our life in a farming community allowed for attendance at church every week and my husband Doug and I took part in all aspects of the congregational life from attending to teaching and leadership roles in the congregation at Senlac, Saskatchewan, and in the camping activities at the Hills of Peace as well as in the Saskatchewan District and Canada West Mission Centre (CWM). These roles were fulfilling to me and the support from other members of the Community of Christ family helped to sustain me and nurture my growth as priesthood member, pastor, and mentor to others.
Time brought about change both in our congregation and in the community at large. Numbers of the congregations — both Community of Christ and Anglican/United church group in Senlac diminished. This led to a period of years where we joined in a combined service once a month at the Anglican church building in Senlac where we provided the ministry for the service. During this time, we were asked to do the same with the Anglican/ United group at the neighbouring community of Evesham on a sporadic basis. As time continued the group in Senlac closed its doors other than a couple of special occasion services, like Easter and Christmas Eve. The group in Evesham continues to grow and we usually worship with them providing the ministry message two or three times annually.
These people are not strangers. Being in a farming community many of the people were already known to us as friends and neighbours with the others becoming just that as we continue to worship together. These relationships have been further advanced. I have been asked for several years now to be the relief minister for the United Church in the nearby town of Unity, Saskatchewan, for the month of July when their minister is on holiday. This usually means hospital visits and conducting funeral services should that be required. Again — many times but not always — these people are known to us at least a little.
Over the years, both my husband and I have become the ministers in general for our small community of Senlac. We conduct many of the marriages and most of the funerals for the community as a whole as well as some in the extended communities of Unity, Evesham, and Macklin. For the most part these are not members of the Community of Christ but are people in Christ's community. We share openly with the people the love Jesus has for each one of them and do our best to model the enduring principles of the Community of Christ through our lifestyle and interaction with others.
Our Community of Christ congregation continues to meet at our little church, actually located in the countryside 15 miles out of the village of Senlac during the summer months, typically from mid-May to mid-October. Even though our presence in the church building is less than what it has been in the past I feel our ministry in the community is greater than it may have ever been.
I have been deeply enriched by the loving interaction with other Christian denominations as we all strive to bring awareness to our community of the Lord's love and desire for a personal relationship with each one. I truly feel the combined efforts of the Christian community in our area is how the Lord is leading us to share his message with everyone and I am privileged to represent the Community of Christ as we work together toward this goal.
After I was married, our life in a farming community allowed for attendance at church every week and my husband Doug and I took part in all aspects of the congregational life from attending to teaching and leadership roles in the congregation at Senlac, Saskatchewan, and in the camping activities at the Hills of Peace as well as in the Saskatchewan District and Canada West Mission Centre (CWM). These roles were fulfilling to me and the support from other members of the Community of Christ family helped to sustain me and nurture my growth as priesthood member, pastor, and mentor to others.
Time brought about change both in our congregation and in the community at large. Numbers of the congregations — both Community of Christ and Anglican/United church group in Senlac diminished. This led to a period of years where we joined in a combined service once a month at the Anglican church building in Senlac where we provided the ministry for the service. During this time, we were asked to do the same with the Anglican/ United group at the neighbouring community of Evesham on a sporadic basis. As time continued the group in Senlac closed its doors other than a couple of special occasion services, like Easter and Christmas Eve. The group in Evesham continues to grow and we usually worship with them providing the ministry message two or three times annually.
These people are not strangers. Being in a farming community many of the people were already known to us as friends and neighbours with the others becoming just that as we continue to worship together. These relationships have been further advanced. I have been asked for several years now to be the relief minister for the United Church in the nearby town of Unity, Saskatchewan, for the month of July when their minister is on holiday. This usually means hospital visits and conducting funeral services should that be required. Again — many times but not always — these people are known to us at least a little.
Over the years, both my husband and I have become the ministers in general for our small community of Senlac. We conduct many of the marriages and most of the funerals for the community as a whole as well as some in the extended communities of Unity, Evesham, and Macklin. For the most part these are not members of the Community of Christ but are people in Christ's community. We share openly with the people the love Jesus has for each one of them and do our best to model the enduring principles of the Community of Christ through our lifestyle and interaction with others.
Our Community of Christ congregation continues to meet at our little church, actually located in the countryside 15 miles out of the village of Senlac during the summer months, typically from mid-May to mid-October. Even though our presence in the church building is less than what it has been in the past I feel our ministry in the community is greater than it may have ever been.
I have been deeply enriched by the loving interaction with other Christian denominations as we all strive to bring awareness to our community of the Lord's love and desire for a personal relationship with each one. I truly feel the combined efforts of the Christian community in our area is how the Lord is leading us to share his message with everyone and I am privileged to represent the Community of Christ as we work together toward this goal.
