We are an open faith community. You will find here Christians born and nurtured in the United Church, and you will find people from denominations such as the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Christian Reformed churches.
We welcome spiritual seekers and those who have not made a public decision to profess their commitment to Christ’s path. Some people deepen their roots and shape their identity with us. Others move on. And that’s okay.
No church is perfect, and neither are we. What fun would that be? We’re called to be human beings, not ideas and theories. And being human involves so much more than being perfect—especially perfection on our own terms!
It’s important to respect an individual’s freedom to choose why they believe what they believe. At the same time, as a community of faith, we draw ourselves around the central Christian story of God revealed in the person of Jesus, empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Our openness comes out of our belief that the path of Christ is one of abundant life for all. This belief gives shape to other aspects of our life together.
We read the Bible seriously, not literally; its witness informs our lives and serves as a basis for preaching Sunday to Sunday. We are a community at prayer: we welcome prayer requests, and we pray not simply for ourselves, but also for this suffering world God loves. We are a community in study: Sunday school, preaching, faith exploration, and the more demanding “Beyond Bible Study” provide a setting where we think the faith!
We are a people of service. We reach out to the local and global community. Locally we support the food bank, a thrift shop, blood donation, and recently undertook a drive to provide blankets and children’s necessities to a local shelter.
Our children sponsor a child in Columbia. Through the Mission and Service Fund we provide financial help to the United Church’s ministry in Canada and around the world. Much of this ministry is focused on issues of justice so that the lives of God’s people will be much improved for the good of all.
We work openly with other local Christian denominations. We offer room in our church building for spiritual seekers to gather for meditation. We allow our space to be available for the healing ministry of addictions recovery. A local chapter of SPARKS meets here.
We love to laugh and delight in the goodness that God gives. We care for each other in our troubles and our grief. People smile here more than they frown. We are open to growth in many, different ways. The Spirit blows where it will.
As Shirley Erena Murray writes, “Love will relate us, colour or status, can’t segregate us round Jesus Christ: family failings, human derailings, all are accepted, round Jesus Christ.”