YORKTON — The Saskatchewan Day long weekend will be a time to celebrate for a Yorkton church that held its first service a few years before Saskatchewan became a province.
First Baptist Church will celebrate its 125th birthday with a series of activities. It will start with a free barbecue at City Centre Park in Yorkton from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Aug. 2. Pastor Steve Rosluk said country music recording artist Rachel Dancsok and her husband Darwin will be performing at the event. Kim Walker will play the bagpipes, the church 's praise team will be performing and he expects to speak at the event. People are asked to bring their own lawn chairs.
"We're praying for good weather on that day," said Rosluk.
A worship service will begin at 10:30 a.m. the following day. Their guest speaker will be Daryl Vion from the Canora area. Country music singer Troy MacNaughton will sing, and gospel singers Lorne and Grace Kopeck with Borrowed Time Gospel will also provide music.
Rosluk said the service is expected to last a couple of hours. Pizza, submarine sandwiches and pita bread sandwiches will be served following the service.
The theme is "Remembering the Past, Rejoicing in the Present and Reaching for the Future; Celebrating God's Never-Ending Faithfulness."
Rosluk has been the church's pastor since Sept. 1, 1996, and was there when First Baptist celebrated its 100th anniversary. Some people are expected to return to the church for the 125th festivities.
According to Rosluk, the church's first service was held on Sept. 16, 1900, at a building on Smith Street in Yorkton next to the police station. The first building was dedicated in November 1901. One of the first ministers, according to Rosluk, was Rev. Peter Carey, whose grandson was also involved with the church when Rosluk arrived in 1996.
"In 1955, the city wanted to annex the land and expand Smith Street. So, the church was given some land a little bit south of where we originally were, and a new church was built in 1955 and dedicated in 1956, and that's where presently we're located," said Rosluk.
The church started with 32 members and it grew.
"The annexation of the land … was sort of a good thing, because the church, the new building was built bigger, and there was more facilities in it," said Rosluk.
The church typically attracts anywhere from 40-60 people for Sunday morning services, which start at 10:30 a.m. Sunday school is offered for children. It has a Wednesday afternoon Bible study at 1 p.m. that is open to all in the church basement. A Thursday night Bible study is held in various homes of church members.
Every eight weeks, the church offers a service in the nursing home.
Rosluk said the church is looking forward to the upcoming celebration. They're hoping it all goes well, and he expects it should be a good time of food and celebration at the barbecue, and an opportunity to thank God for the past 125 years.
"Hopefully through the music and sharing, we'll shine God's light into the community, because there's lots of hurting people, and lots of hungry people," he said. "So, hopefully it will be an event that honours God and helps the community."
Everybody is welcome to attend both events.
