100th ANNIVERSARY – UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA – 1925 – 2025

June 10, 2025, will mark the United Church’s 100th anniversary—an opportunity to honour our past and look to the future!

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

The words of Jesus’ prayer that the disciples be one (John 17:21)

Bold Discipleship

The belief that what unites us is stronger than our differences

Daring Justice

The desire to live out the gospel call to love and justice in Canada and around the world.

Symons Valley United Church invites you to explore and reflect with us on the Church’s Centennial themes—Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship, and Daring Justice. This year, our journey will look into these powerful themes, starting with a focus on creation this September. Stay tuned to this webpage for the latest insights.

We are still in the midst of Creation Time – a season of the liturgical year in which we recognize that we belong to Earth means that we are not so much her beneficent caretakers, as we are indebted and grateful because all of our life energy is derived from her. While our message time is not centred on Creation this Sunday, we do want to acknowledge the work that the United Church is doing on Climate Change. The United Church of Canada is approaching its 100th anniversary. On the 99th anniversary in June, we created a garden representing the church. And from the garden, we removed a few stones that have not fostered growth and allowed for people to thrive. Stones such as arrogance and pride, silence and injustice.

Over these next ten months, we will add to our garden those things that the church is working towards—growing in our ability to love God with our hearts, souls and minds to love one another as we love ourselves. A New Creed calls us “to live with respect in Creation.” Creation is a gift of God, and caring for Creation is a spiritual commitment. We cherish Creation’s rich diversity and respect its inherent value and right to protection. This line was added in 1994 after extensive consultation with Indigenous members of the Church. Climate change impacts us, the local eco-systems of which we are part, and partners the United Church is connected with around the globe. The greatest burden of climate change is falling on people in the Far North and global South—those who have contributed least to the problem. Indigenous voices in the church remind us that we are called upon to look after Creator’s gifts and to pass along these gifts to our children. We can be part of a just transition to a renewable energy economy by pressuring governments and industries, ending unsustainable overconsumption through lifestyle choices, and working with United Church ministries and partners engaged in climate justice. For more information have look on the Climate Change page on the United Church of Canada’s website.

Rev. Vicki McPhee