KAMSACK — During the service at the Westminster Memorial United Church in Kamsack on June 22, special recognition was made of the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada.
“After our service today, we had lunch and cake for the 100th anniversary,” said Karen Bodnaryk, a parishioner.
Photographed with the cake, which contained the information: “100 years; 1925-2025,” a United Church crest and a photo of the building, were Faye Korpatniski of Kamsack, the chair of the church’s board, and Tricia Challoner of Norquay, a licensed lay worship leader.
The United Church of Canada observed the anniversary on June 10, which was “an opportunity to learn from our past to prepare for the future,” said information on the United Church’s webpage.
The United Church was inaugurated on June 10, 1925, in Toronto when the Methodist Church, Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada, and 70 per cent of the Presbyterian Church in Canada entered into a union, the information said. The theme for the Centennial is “Deep, Bold, Daring.”
“One of the first ‘united’ churches in the world, from its formation the United Church has been rooted in deep spirituality,” it said. “The words of Jesus’ prayer that the disciples be one (John 17:21).”
The Church adheres to bold discipleship with “the belief that what unites us is stronger than our differences,” and focuses on daring justice with “the desire to live out the gospel call to love and justice in Canada and around the world.”
The congregation of Westminster Memorial celebrated the centennial of the Church building in 2019 when a cornerstone was removed from the building and its contents were reviewed, said Rod Gardner, a parishioner. The cornerstone was then replaced with current artifacts.
The observance concluded with a picnic, he said. The building had served as a Presbyterian Church until the union in 1925.
