CANORA – “We’re going back 100 years today.”
With that remark by Thom Carnahan, the Centennial service, celebrating 100 years of the United Church in Canada, and 121 of the Church in Canora, opened on Oct. 19 at St. Andrew’s United Church.
Carrie Fischl lit the three candles at the start of the service.
Thom Carnahan shared the Prayer of Confession.
“Gracious God, you send us the gift of your spirit and your dreams, and we turn away from you. We are sorry for when we have doubted your presence. Take all the ways that we have missed the mark as individuals and denomination, and help us move into the future you have for us. May your Spirit ignite your dreams in us again. This we pray in Christ’s name, Amen.”
A skit combining United Church history with some clever humour was written by Thom Carnahan and performed by:
Judy Schick as the Presbyterian Church (P)
Joy Stusek as the Methodist Church (M)
Val Morozoff as the Union Church (U)
Iris Bodnarchuk as the Congregational Union (C)
Doris Kopelchuk as the United Church of Canada (UCC)
Sharing our 100th anniversary
P: “In the beginning, in 1904, a Mr. Fletcher, Presbyterian divinity student from Scotland, came to Canora for the summer and held a worship service in a general store. This was well accepted by all faith groups and was considered the inauguration of this church. This was followed in 1906 with the building of a Presbyterian church.”
M: “Also in 1906 a Methodist church was built. Both churches had different service times so that people could attend both. Our minister was Rev. Sharp, and he needed to be.”
U: “The Local Union church organization was established in 1908 to help prevent the competition of local Protestant churches and encourage integration in rural western Canada. In 1912 the two Canora churches were amalgamated with 34 members as the Union Church with minister Rev. Hackney.”
P: “In 1914 the Missions for the Presbyterian Church had built the Hugh Waddell Memorial Hospital in Canora and was church operated until 1944. In 1919 we further opened a home for girls so that rural girls could live in town and go to school. There was available space for 20 girls, and the program was instituted for 10 years.”
U: “Just as church union in Canada was preceded by the Union Church in Canora, so in 1924 our congregation changed its name from Union Church and became the United Church of Canada on our own 20th anniversary as follows, one year before it being official in the county. As we join with the others, we want to know – can we still receive wine with communion?”
M: “We Methodists wish to integrate our ministry with others. We love all other denomination members. We are a progressive church and leader in social justice issues. We have several excellent leaders and are willing to share them with our new partners. We wish to do this in order to best serve the vast Canadian Northwest and improve overseas missions. If we join with the others, does that mean we can no longer play bridge?”
C: “We are the Congregational Union, a small church organization, and wish to co-ordinate our ministry with others. We love all other denomination members. The congregation level is our most important element and is unique and independent of the wider church. Each congregation decides important issues on their own. We take a progressive approach to worship and policy.
P: “We Presbyterians wish to co-ordinate our ministry with others. We love all other denomination members. We are a conservative denomination and are against the drink, gambling, dancing closely and card playing. Over two thirds of our churches are interested in joining, the others will continue as they have been. We want to know, if we join the others, will they still be dancing too closely, especially with OUR members?”
U: “We are the Local Union Churches and wish to coordinate our ministry with others. We love all other denomination members. We have already years ago, locally integrated the other three denominations in many small communities in Western Canada as Local Union Churches and now wish to pursue this integrated ministry country wide. The reason we do this is because there are not enough ministers to serve all these small churches of differing denominations and already they were sharing and banding together, with some closing. We need to be flexible enough to progressively move forward. We are pleased to announce that many of our churches, even one year ago, including in Canora, have already changed the names of their churches to United Church of Canada. If we join together, can we still have fall suppers?”
ALL: “So in 1925, we are all obviously united in our love of each other, as Jesus commanded. We therefore declare the name of our new church shall be the United Church of Canada. May we successfully join our ministries together to the glory of God!”
UCC: “The United Church in Canora, one of the oldest buildings in town, burned down in 1948, perhaps from a fire and brimstone sermon. Services were then held at the Anglican Church with student ministers. The first service in the new church was in 1949. In the ensuing years, many excellent ministers came to our church, and we did our best to live up to the teachings of Jesus and be a responsible organization in Canora. In 2025, Canora’s St. Andrew’s United Church is 121 years old! Also in 2025, the United Church of Canada is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Yeah! Yeah! Now we sing our formative hymn: VU#402 “We Are One.”
Carnahan acknowledged contributions to the writing of the skit.
“Thanks to the memory of Lil Crotenko for having produced the history of Canora United Church that was used herein.
“Thanks to Doris Kopelchuk for the skit idea and comments.”
Other congregational singing, led by pianist Carol Leach, included: We Are Pilgrims, Open My Heart, Deep In Our Hearts, Praise God From Whom, Spirit of Gentleness, and Dance With The Spirit.
Brad Gabora, scripture reader, shared from: Ephesians 1:15-19, 3:16-21, and John 17:20-26.
Gabora also presented the Minute for Mission report
“For 100 years, people of The United Church of Canada have faithfully come together to follow Jesus and help others. Through Mission and Service, we have supported people in need across Canada and around the world – bringing food to the hungry, shelter to the vulnerable, justice to the oppressed, and hope to communities.
“This is ongoing work. And as we look ahead, we know the needs we face will not disappear-they will deepen. Poverty, injustice, and the climate crisis will continue to challenge us, but so will our call to respond with love, compassion, and courage.
“That's why we are invited to take part in something extraordinary: the Centennial Legacy Campaign. This is the most ambitious initiative our church has ever taken on. Its goal is to inspire legacy gifts that will strengthen local communities of faith, Mission and Service, and The United Church of Canada Foundation.”
The service concluded with The Lord’s Prayer.
Following the service, potluck lunch was served in the church basement.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The worship service borrowed, with thanks, some items from the church’s national 100th service in Newfoundland on June 8, 2025)
