Scarborough Adventist Church Celebrates International Sabbath and Taste of the Nations
Posted: November 4th, 2026
it@adventistontario.org
Scarborough Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated its International Sabbath and Taste of the Nations on October 24 and 25, 2026, bringing members and friends together for a weekend of worship, cultural appreciation, food, and fellowship.
The guest speaker for Sabbath and host of Sunday's celebration was Sister Vivien Morris-Scarlett, affectionately known as Lady Viv. A Jamaican folklorist, storyteller, playwright, and author, she is a former cultural adjudicator with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) and currently serves as Director of Performing Arts Ministry at First Seventh-day Adventist Church in Paterson, New Jersey.
In her message, "The Word Is Love," Lady Viv emphasized love's power to unite people across cultures and languages. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 13:1, she reminded the congregation that the world is not simply waiting for better sermons, but for a greater demonstration of Christ's love.
She reflected on how Jesus demonstrated that love by coming into our world, reaching out to those who were considered untouchable, and offering forgiveness even from the cross. She concluded her message with a sign-language presentation accompanied by the song Love in Any Language.
Throughout the weekend, displays highlighting different countries introduced attendees to their histories, notable figures, national foods, sports, and traditions.
Sunday's Taste of the Nations featured 27 dishes representing a variety of cultures, including curried mango from Trinidad and Tobago, puto from the Philippines, beet and potato salad from Haiti, callaloo soup from Dominica, mauby from St. Vincent, fish cakes from Barbados and St. Lucia, jollof rice from Africa, and curried goat from Jamaica.
Lady Viv returned as host for Sunday's program, which featured cultural presentations by church members and friends. Toronto comedian Marcia Brown entertained the audience with a lively performance, adding laughter and enjoyment to the celebration.
The weekend concluded with Ernie Trelfall performing One Love on the steel pan, a fitting reminder of the message that carried throughout the weekend: love brings people together, regardless of language or cultural background.
The congregation looks forward to celebrating again next year!
Watch the Sabbath sermon: Scarborough International Day | Sis. Vivien Morris-Scarlett | The Word is Love | Oct 24