Holy Week & Easter at Onion Lake First Nation

Onion Lake First Nation concluded Holy Week this year with a joyful Easter celebration and parish supper.

Holy week in the community began with Evensong on Holy Tuesday, and continued with services on Thursday, Friday and a late-night vigil on Saturday. Daniel Watson, who joined the parish six months ago, sang the ancient exultet beautifully at the Vigil, and the small group of parishoners in attendance were deeply moved by the blessing of the new fire, of water, the reading of the prophecies and the First Communion of Easter. "Beautiful," said the parish wardens, Florence Harper and Ivy Houle.

Fifty people attended the Sunday morning Easter Eucharist which included eight baptisms. Following service the parish hosted a turkey and ham "Meet the Priest" supper. One of the parish children declared that the Easter service was "the best Church service ever!"

The supper is the third event in a series of outreach initiatives undertaken by the parish. The first was a parish newsletter distributed to 810 households in Lent; the second has been monthly rummage sales in the Church basement; and there are further plans for Mother's and Father's day suppers as well as a summer parish BBQ and day camp.