Mission and Service at the Centre
La Ronge is a northern Saskatchewan town framed by Lac La Ronge, the boreal forest, and the Precambrian Shield. For Michelle Gale, it is also home to La Ronge United Church, her place of worship for 40 years. The congregation is a Mission Support recipient church with a rich history of supporting Mission and Service. Recently, Michelle decorated six tables used for a congregational dinner for the new Moderator, the Right Rev. Gary Paterson. It was the first time the church had received such a visit, and Michelle used centrepieces to illustrate the history of the congregation for the Moderator. Each table had a theme. Michelle used music-patterned fabric to symbolize that “we may be the smallest church in the community, but we always have the biggest choir at community events.” The justice table held canned goods for the food bank. “Seven of its nine board members attend the church,” says Michelle. The environment table was green and brown, representing nearby forests, while the UCW centrepiece held the life membership pin of a member known for her AIDS advocacy. The learning centrepiece was made from imperfect patches of fabric bound together with colourful sashing. On the United Church table, an altar cross stood next to leather mittens handmade by Paul Powder, an Aboriginal friend. It was the eve of National Aboriginal Day, and they reminded people that a large part of the community is First Nations. As the dinner ended, it was clear that the centrepieces prepared for the Moderator had sparked a broader celebration of the mission of the little church on the shores of Lac La Ronge. Mighty and tender God, our gifts to M&S help your church to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you.