The well-attended worship service will take place on September 17, two days before the IPM kicks off.
By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com; Image by robo1214 from Pixabay
Because a little help is always appreciated, an interdenominational Worship Service on the Sunday before the International Plowing Match & Rural Expo (IPM) officially opens will lead off the weeklong event.
The service will be held on Sunday, September 17 in the Entertainment Tent of the RV Park, 333569 7 Line, Laurel, at 2 p.m.
"We know the Worship Service is a very special part of the IPM tradition, and our community is very much looking forward to welcoming everyone to hear from our faith leaders and share in some fabulous music that afternoon," stated organizing committee members Charlie and Liz Bryan.
The IPM will take place September 19–23 in Bowling Green (between Grand Valley and Laurel) in Dufferin County, Ontario. The IPM is a five-day celebration of agriculture and rural living. There will be plowing competitions, a range of activities for people of all ages, numerous opportunities to learn about agriculture, daily live entertainment in multiple match venues, hundreds of vendors and exhibits, a wide variety of food, an RV park, and more.
The event is hosted by the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, which partners with a community to organize and host the annual International Plowing Match and Rural Expo. [For more information, visit www.plowingmatch.org.]
The organization of the worship service has been very much a collaborative effort, added Joanne Everson of the worship service planning team, noting that they are impressed with the strong response from the faith community across Dufferin County. "With about 80 to 90 people participating—including the choirs—I’m so very happy we can include that many people from our community."
Several faith leaders from across the Dufferin County area will participate in the afternoon service with a special message delivered by Wayne Townsend, the retired and longtime curator of the Dufferin County Museum and Archives.
Music is an integral component of worship, and this service will be no different, featuring several local musical artists and groups, including a mass community choir led by Julia Breen, Choir Director with the Tweedsmuir Presbyterian Church in Orangeville, that has been assembled specifically for this worship service.
Breen said that the call-out for participants drew a strong response from not only across the Dufferin County area but beyond, with members participating from each of the neighbouring towns of Caledon and Wellington County.
"Everybody is very enthusiastic, and we are certainly looking forward to sharing the joy of music at the service," Breen related.
The service will also feature local artists Alex Burnett, a country gospel singer; The Bells of Westminster Orangeville; Trista Belder; the Someday Quartet; and the band from the Compass Community Church.
A free-will offering will be taken, with proceeds shared amongst three local charities: Youth Unlimited of Dufferin County, which offers support for teenagers to encourage healthy lifestyles; Active Lives Canada, a not-for-profit organization that provides adults 18 years of age and older living with special needs access to a broad range of services in Ontario; and the Dufferin Food Bank, the umbrella food bank serving the Grand Valley, Shelburne, and Orangeville communities.
Very much a part of the IPM weeklong traditions, the interdenominational service is always well attended. Limited seating will be available using the commemorative, specially crafted IPM 2023 wooden benches that will be later used throughout Tented City for the duration of the match, so guests are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs.
Again, the service will be held on Sunday, September 17, 2023, in the Entertainment Tent of the RV Park, 333569 7 Line, Laurel, at 2 p.m. Entrance to the service will be through the RV Park and directional wayfinding signs will be prominently posted. With an expected attendance of approximately 70,000 people, this year’s IPM will take place from September 19–23. For more information, visit www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2023.