PRAYER FOR THE AUXILIARY
120th Anniversary Celebration Blog, Part 5
By Rev. Rusty Edwards, Senior Minister FBCH
Background
On November 18 th , 2023, the FBCH Auxiliary closed out its 120th Anniversary Year with a celebratory Tea and Dessert Party. Over 80 people joined us in this time together to share in our accomplishments, and to celebrate all that has been, and all that is yet to come. Rusty offered this inspiring Opening Prayer, and the next day, November 19th, he shared it again with church congregants, as we closed out the church year.
There are so many, and so much to be thankful for!
PRAYER FOR THE AUXILIARY
O God, Creation went from good to very good only after human community was fashioned from the soil… it is community centred in the Way of Jesus that forms and enlivens the Church.
Today, we give you thanks for an aspect of our shared community at First Baptist Church Halifax that has been at the centre of our existence as a church from our beginnings and officially organized 120 years ago in 1903.
We give thanks for all the Auxiliary has accomplished:
We give thanks to the Auxiliary for helping the congregation reach out in times of disaster, like the Halifax Explosion, and in times of War.
We give thanks to the Auxiliary for ensuring the FBCH community has a well-cared for home to gather in—helping us rebuild after the fire of 1942, furnishing spaces for the formation of children both past and present, aiding the church when roofs leaked or equipment was needed to keep us connected in a time of global pandemic.
We give thanks to the Auxiliary for all the fundraising that has been done—activity that nurtured relationships that exceeds even the over quarter million dollars raised… crafters and cooks sharing their talents and time, activities that brought us all together like the Tea & Sale.
We give thanks to the Auxiliary for all the food… for the many congregational business meetings that were a little less contentious because well-fed congregants were just a bit more friendly… for bereaved families that were supported in grief with beautiful receptions that provided space for conversation and healing.
We give thanks to the Auxiliary for the ways they have served as trailblazers in our church—adapting with changing times, encouraging their own to serve—like two members of the Auxiliary who in 1976 became the first women deacons of our church.
Most of all, we give thanks for the community woven into every activity and gathering of the Auxiliary. Whether 145 members meeting in 3 auxiliaries, or present time when we hold so close the memory of those who have gone before and the feeling of loss as times change and much of what brought this group joy is no more… for those memories of people and of a brilliant history, we pause now in silent reflection…
Still… we give you thanks, O God, for all the ways the Auxiliary continues to support the life of our FBCH community. For the series of guest speakers and meetings that have brought many outside the auxiliary to church on Wednesday mornings… and for events like today’s dessert tea—we give you thanks.
O God, Creation went from good to very good only after human community was fashioned from the soil… it is community centred in the Way of Jesus that forms and enlivens the Church… today we give you thanks for the Auxiliary—for all that was, for all that is, for all that will be.
Amen.
Missed Part 4, Click here to read “Meaning, Mentors, and Friendships”
Missed Part 3, Click here to read “Fun and Finances”
Missed Part 2, Click here to read “I Remember…”
Missed Part 1, Click here to read about the Auxiliary’s 120th Anniversary
Click Here to access the Evolution of the FBCH Auxiliaries
