International Sabbath

A select few church members sharing how they celebrate Sabbath in their countries.

CHURCH NEWS

We often marvel at the vastness of our planet; however, we are taught that God has the whole world in His hands. International Sabbath at the Yellowknife Seventh-day Adventist Church showed us the power Christ must bring us together. Our congregation spans 18 countries from five continents. On February 27, 2021, we were blessed to be in Yellowknife, where we could gather in person. Our service was full of beautiful culture and education, which illustrates the divine creativity and thought our Father put into making us.

Brothers and Sisters representing their Celtic, Filipino, and Indigenous Heritage through cultural outfits and gears.

We learned "Happy Sabbath" in Ndebele, Kinyarwanda, Tagalog, and Dene from a few of our brothers and sisters. Two young brothers dazzled us with their vast knowledge of Tanzania, and two girls performed a jig, a dance culturally significant to the Northern Dene. A brother from Scotland shared a story of being your brother's keeper, then played his shield to close. Yes, you read that right. Some families shared their beautiful gift of music with us. We concluded with a panel discussion, where we discussed different ways we celebrate the Sabbath in Jamaica, South Africa, the Philippines, and Canada.

All in all, this event put an exceptional shine on Sabbath, which we already cherish so deeply. Collectively, we missed the potluck that was sure to happen if not for the pandemic. After the pandemic, I am excited to see the culinary side of the International Sabbath.

Out of many, one people.

By Chantal Grey