When I look back on how our parents handled religion in the family, I marvel at their attitude.  As we became adults, we had the freedom to worship in churches of our choosing.  All churches chosen were of the Christian faith.  That was a comfort, I am quite certain.  But of course, those were different times when compared to 2007.

   My parents came to Canada as children so it is unlikely that they remembered religious experiences or observations of their parents and grandparents.  My recollection is that Dad’s sisters and their families – the Hutzkals, the Mihalcheons and the Harrisyms leaned toward the evangelical faith. The Hutzkals later joined the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) church.  I don’t know about his sister Dora Kazamerchuk who  lived in British Columbia and whom I had never met.  I do not know much about the faiths of Mother’s family – the Seminovichs.  I recall being in a church (in Lac La Biche, I think) and admired Uncle John Semenovich’s craftsmanship.  He had built the altar in that church.  He worked with wood, like his father  (my grandfather), Stephan Seminovich.

   Probably because we lived in a predominantly Ukrainian Greek Orthodox community, my parents sometimes went to that church at Ispas.  That was likely for convenience and acceptancase.  As a child I attended that church only a very few times.  To me the church service and the building were mostly a curiosity – the huge candles, the tiny angels painted on a blue ceiling, the aroma of incense, the chanting, the robed priest who spoke in a language that I did not understand.  It was all fascinating and interesting, but I did not learn much about God nor the Bible.    I do believe that most of my siblings experienced similar observations.

  We youngsters flowed with the tide.  We did what our parents asked us to do.  But in time we became adults.

    The oldest, John, took an interest in religion after his return from Europe at the end of World War II.  He joined the SDA church.  I believe the Hutzkal family was an influence.  With government help for returned men, he furthered his education by studying at The Canadian Union College, an SDA school near Lacombe.  The SDA believers studied the Bible, worshipped regularly, refrained from vices such as smoking, liquor, dances, eating pork.  Their Sabbath day was Saturday.  John found solace and goodness in his chosen faith.  He set good examples for the rest of the family.  Even the grandchildren learned from John.
   Gladys and her husband Bill were initially ‘so-so Greek orthodox’, but later joined the Jehovah Witness followers  and found comfort in that church.
    Mike died at the age of 19.  He had not chosen a church at that young age.  However, I recall letters he had written from the sanitarium in Calgary stating that the patients attended chapel in the institute.  I have no doubt that he was near to his maker before he left this earth.
   Dan married Margaret, a Roman Catholic.  I don’t think he attended mass or church very often but he was content and enjoyed a fulfilling life.   Like most of the family he exuded kindness and goodness.
   Helen and her husband Philip were staunch DSDA members.  I recall joining them at summer camp meetings where the singing of hymns was so uplifting.
   Nick, Steve and Kathleen (Kate) had Ukrainian Greek Orthodox spouses and leaned towards that faith.  The younger members of the family - George, Lucille, Bertha (Beth), Adeline and I were comfortable with the United Church of Canada.

    Probably what influenced our lives and knowledge of the Bible most was the visits to our community by missionaries from the Prairie Bible Institute (PBI) at Three Hills.  The groundbreakers were two young women who grew up north of the river – the Sherstan (Sherstanko) sisters.   I was in elementary grades when they held Sunday school at our Deep lake school as well as in homes that were open to them.  Several years later a Reverend Waldy and family moved into the district.  They rented a house across the road from the former Shalka Post Office.  They too, held meetings in schools and people’s homes.  Our parents opened our home to them.  In our home, Mrs. Waldy accompanied the singing by playing the organ we had in our home.  On warm summer Sundays, the music and singing of hymns floated throughout the barnyard.  While some neighbours came to our house for the services, other Greek Orthodox believers had nothing to do with it. 

   In the summer two young women from PBI held Bible school; first in the small, abandoned Skoreko house and later in what was called the “Bull Coral”. That was an open platform with limited shelter where dances were sometimes held during the summer.  Since the liquor (moonshine) ran freely at the dances, our parents discouraged us from attending.  I had never been one of those dances, but I spent summer days there helping the two missionaries with children’s Bible school.  I think it was during that time that I learned Bible verses that have been a comfort to me throughout my life: “Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” “ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  When tempted, “Get behind me Satan.  I will follow the Lord and Him only will I serve.”  Two favorites from Isaiah: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from where comes my help.  My help comes from the Lord,” and “This is the day which the Lord hath made.  We shall rejoice and be glad in it.”  “There shall be no other gods before Me.”

As we go about our everyday work, sometimes a thought jogs a memory; memories of one of our large family.  It seems strange that it happens.  Is it ESP, an omen or perhaps a message not understood by us, but possibly a silent call that your thoughts and prayers are required.  Prayers are heard in any situation – when driving a car, doing dishes, shoveling snow, at bed time, just any time and any place.
  The Bible says we will get back tenfold of what we give, be it in prayer or other ways.  But, of course, this works only if given freely without ever expecting any thing in return.

   Has it occurred to you that you are giving to the whole family (over 100) when during a silent moment you utter a prayer for all?   God bless you if that is part of your life.
   During this time in history it is most important that God is part of our daily lives; honor Him before men and He will honor you in the kingdom of heaven.  When I was young I thought I would live forever.  But life flashes by so quickly.  However, it is a comfort to look forward to the ‘everlasting life’ He has promised as long as we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.  God keep and bless all our wonderful family.
     (Copyright January 2007  Pearl Murray)