LUSELAND — The United Church of Canada is celebrating a milestone anniversary this year, as the pastoral organization has been established for the past 100 years. Also celebrating this milestone is the St. John’s United Church, located in Luseland.
The congregation had spent numerous hours over the past few months preparing for this celebration. From building repairs, planning the service and sermon for the celebration and a feast for all to enjoy, church members showed how they can come together to make something great happen.
Brenda Bean held the service on June 1, leading the congregation through hymns, prayers and sharing a message of what it means to be a good disciple of God. Bean was introduced to the United Church at a very young age and her faith has remained strong over the years. She has always said, “It is important to hear the words of God each Sunday, where they are shared is not important, just as long as you hear them.” She believes it is the fellowship with others, the learning and sharing of God’s word that is important.
This centennial milestone highlights the enduring legacy of churches everywhere across Canada, and for St. John’s, church member Dawn Kennedy took it upon herself to research the history of the church to share its story. With all of her hard work and dedication, she and other church members were able to put together memorabilia displays for all to see.
A lot of Kennedy’s research came from documents she found through the United Church Women (UCW). The UCW has a long history with the United Church of Canada, beginning as the Ladies’ Aid, then developing into the Woman’s Missionary Society (WMS), which eventually became the UCW we find in many of the United Churches today. Within Luseland, it was the Ladies’ Aid that fundraised the money to build the St. John’s Church, which was discovered in records of said fundraisers in Regina by Kennedy.
Unfortunately, the UCW group from St. John’s disbanded in 2019 with only a handful of remaining members, many of whom were seniors. Despite the disbandment, the UWC is still considered to be the heart of the local church, as the women in the group over the years had true passion and pride for their work within the church.
For over a century, St. John's legacy was made through the contributions of the community, making the occasion even more meaningful for the church. To honour their 100th anniversary, St. John’s United Church has started a project to refurbish the gates of the Luseland Cemetery. The offering that was collected from the anniversary worship service will go towards this project and towards continuing cemetery upkeep.
