Annual tradition kicks off at Grace United

The annual yard sale at Grace United Church is underway, and the community is also getting ready to mark the centennial of the United Church of Canada.

The line-up to get in spanned the length of the church as attendees were ready to get a few treasures and visit with people they had not seen in a while.

Rev. Cathy Kinsman, who has been in Lloydminster over the past seven years says the only time they have not had the yard sale was during the pandemic.

“It’s always a huge success. It brings a lot of sense of community, not just to our volunteers here but the people that are coming in to look for stuff – it’s like a community building event,” says Kinsman.

Grace United Church was founded in 1904 in Lloydminster. Pictures of the list of pastors are on the hallway chronicling the legacy of community involvement. In 1925, about 70 per cent of the Presbyterian churches, along with the Methodist Church, Congregational churches, and the General Council of the Local Union Churches came together to form the United Church of Canada to which Grace United in Lloydminster is a member.

The churches held a service in Toronto at the home of the Maple Leafs (Arena Gardens or Mutual Street Arena). In 1925, most of the Maple Leafs were United and were expected to attend church, states author Brian Brown in the centennial celebration book, The Untied Church of Canada: Unfettered for 2025 Celebrations.

“The United Church has been a social justice church for many years, and it was always talked about as the uniting church – a church to bring people together,” says Kinsman.

The anniversary book details aspects of the development of the United Church of Canada and the chapters celebrate diversity including women as mothers of the church, members and ministry across the gender spectrum, racial diversity, and Indigenous involvement.

“The history of the United Church – and how the Indigenous community has walked hand-in-hand for long periods of time with the United Church of Canada. But now they are looking to become an autonomous group within the United Church of Canada,” says Kinsman. “There are some changes happening. As they have said, they want to continue to paddle alongside us but in their own canoe, both going up the river together.”

On May 31, the Grace United community invites everyone to come to Weaver Park to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada.

“We are going to have a day of activities. We are going to have old-fashioned ice cream making, games, and Indigenous representation, including smudge and a teepee.”

More details on the May 31 celebration will follow in a subsequent article.

A church service on June 1 will also celebrate the centennial, which will be observed on June 10.

The annual yard sale tradition continues until Saturday.