The Proclamation event took place in Assiniboia at the Messiah Lutheran Church from November 13 to November 22. This is a work of the Canadian Bible Society when the Bible is read aloud in public in its entirety from beginning to end over a ten-day period.
On the first day of Proclamation, Pastor Doug Miner welcomed those gathered and spoke briefly about the significance of this event. “It’s a privilege to be part of this Proclamation event. This word is a means by which God graces our lives,” he added. “It is an opportunity to read the Bible together as a community.” Among the readers and those coming to listen, there were people representing every church congregation in Assiniboia.
“We know as we take our turn reading and listening, the Holy Spirit is at work in each of is,” he said. Pastor Miner then began reading a designated excerpt followed by each of the pastoral leaders from the churches in Assiniboia, including Rev. Bob Scott, Pastor Greg Dermody, Pastor Marlin Juell, Rev. Marilyn Leuty, Rev. Denis Remot and Pastor Nicholas Franks. There were also congregation members from churches doing readings as well.
Proclamation began in the Spring of 1995 in Rosemère, Quebec, when about 200 people representing many different denominations and speaking more than 12 different languages came together in the small Anglican parish of St. James to read the Bible over a 10-day period. In 1998, another Proclamation event was held at five locations in the Montreal area bringing in 2,000 readers. In Nova Scotia, two events brought together almost 1,000 people representing over 30 churches, and in Brockville almost 400 readers from 16 churches took part in a Proclamation event.
By 2001, every province in Canada had held at least one Proclamation event. Proclamation continues to grow and to encourage more and more Canadians to proclaim the Word of the Lord publicly in their communities. Still, it is not an annual event. The last Proclamation event in Assiniboia was at least five years ago.
At the Assiniboia Proclamation event, readings took place over ten days starting on November 13. It began at 7 a.m. every morning and concluded about 9 p.m. daily. Because regular worship service took place on Sunday morning, the readings began at 1 p.m. During the final day on November 22, a Celebration Service was held at 7:30 p.m.
The readings were set up to run about 35 to 50 minutes for every hour. In between, the readers and those listening would take a break and socialize and discuss the readings. Reading schedules have been developed integrating Old Testament readings with Psalms and Proverbs along with New Testament readings.
Commenting on the benefits of the Proclamation event for the Christian community, “I see it helps us to build relationships and be inspired together,” Miner stated. “I personally wish we could have a Proclamation each year.” An annual event would allow those outside the church to have an opportunity to ask questions about Christianity. For many Canadians, both those who listen and read, participating in a Proclamation event is a remarkable new experience. Proclamation is a public witness that reinvigorates the church. Over the years, the events have brought together many different congregations and parishes from many denominations and confessions. This co-operative spirit makes a powerful statement of community unity.
