The first St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in Boston in 1737. Many Irish immigrants had left Ireland and relocated to America. In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Sunday was a time of strict church attendance. Beyond the Catholic celebrations in America, the first New York celebration was a small group of persons hosted in the home of an Irish Protestant. Therefore, March 17th has become a cultural event enjoyed by those of Irish descent or simply by those who desire to be “Irish for a day.” Green is the colour of the day, perhaps because of the shamrock or the green of the fields of the Emerald Isle. The date chosen is supposedly the day the Missionary/Patron Saint of Ireland died. Patrick, a Roman who was raised in Britain was born in 460 AD. Tradition says he was captured and transported as a slave to Ireland. He escaped back to Britain only to later return voluntarily as a Catholic missionary.
Regardless of our roots and ethnicity, we are one in Christ, purchased by His precious blood. Because of our diversity, we bring a richness of expression each time we are together to chat, celebrate or worship our Lord.
The Northumberland County of New Brunswick where I grew up was populated by many Irish persons, both Catholic and Protestant. Miramichi East is known as the Irish Capital of Canada. Perhaps that is the reason I was raised on roast beef and potatoes, corn beef and cabbage and why I so love shepherd’s pie!
NorthLife Church is “a family of nations loving God together”. Regardless of our roots and ethnicity, we are one in Christ, purchased by His precious blood. Because of our diversity, we bring a richness of expression each time we are together to chat, celebrate or worship our Lord. How blessed we are! We are well positioned to reach out to the many cultures of the Wood Buffalo Municipality on behalf of our Lord, who in his humanity was born a Middle Eastern. God so loved the world! Hallelujah! No wonder heaven rejoices with the refrain, “You (Jesus) are worthy…for you were slain, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9)