Prayers for Jasper
VST extends our profound sympathies and prayers for all those in Jasper who have lost their homes, places of worship, and businesses, and who are scattered in diaspora grieving and waiting to return and rebuild. We pray also for the family and friends of the firefighter who lost his life over the weekend.
Last Friday, VST’s Marketing and Communications Officer spoke with Rev. Linda McLaren (VST MDiv, 2016). Rev. Linda is the minister of Jasper United Church. Both the church building and the manse, where Rev. Linda lived, were lost in the fire.
In this time of heartbreak and concern for the future, Rev. Linda emphasized the importance of honouring the pain and uncertainty of now, difficult as it may be. A healing journey begins with lament. Over the past week, seeing photos of the walls of flame, including the neighbouring Anglican Church ablaze, and cognitively knowing about the damage has been immensely difficult and hard to comprehend. While most congregants have yet to return to the townsite, Rev. Linda looks forward to making a journey to where the church once stood and experiencing the loss in a tangible way, as part of the grief and healing process.
Rev. Linda spoke about the “incredible gift of hospitality” present in the spirit of the community. Jasper United Church, like their Anglican neighbours, welcome visitors from around the country and the globe who come to visit the park. Care for one another and care for strangers is part of their DNA. The crucial ability to notice a need, ask “What can we do?” and then act is a hallmark of the community. Rev. Linda knows that this tangible and abundant hospitality and gift of care is a value and practice that will be their strength in rebuilding.
Rev. Linda emphasized the nourishment of ecumenical relationships and the close connections with Jasper United’s Anglican neighours, who also lost their church. These relationships are already strong, and ecumenical dialogue has been taking place over the past year. The support of the faith community and the incredible people who now gather in grief, with hope, is a beautiful thing.
Although it may be some time before the congregation gathers physically, Rev. Linda said that they have been staying present with one another through emails. Part of this communication includes sharing the abundance of prayers that Rev. Linda is informed of. She spoke of feeling “wrapped in the gift of prayer.” Despite the heartbreak of losses, Rev. Linda highlighted the many gifts and supports that are being offered to the community, including the UCC’s financial support and the ecumenical relationships and solidarity. God’s grace is abundant even in times of turmoil. At this time grief, grace, and gratitude are all wrapped up.
VST offers our heartfelt prayers and invites your prayers for the healing of the community. The Northern Spirit Region of the United Church of Canada is gratefully accepting donations for wildfire emergency relief to support those impacted by the fire. https://northernspiritrc.ca/support-for-jasper/. PWRDF is also providing wildfire relief through their Emergency Response Fund. Find more at https://pwrdf.org.