Home Page

Our location

Our staff

Upcoming events

Outreach

Links

Group Life

Youth

Paterson Bursary

About us

About the United Church of Canada

go to United Church web site

The United Church of Canada was formed in 1925 by the amalgamation of the Methodist, Congregationalist and many of the Presbyterian Churches in Canada. The Evangelical United Brethren (UEB) joined in 1968. The symbols on this crest represent the founding churches and Christianity as a whole.

The dove is a symbol for the Methodists and comes from a story which is referred to as the Transfiguration of Jesus. It represents the power of God and of God's Holy Spirit which works through us to change our lives.

The burning bush is a symbol for the Presbyterians and refers to the story in the Bible where Moses knows he is in God's presence by a bush that is burning but is not touched by the flames. It represents the indestructibility of God's word and of the Church as it carries on from generation to generation.

The open Bible is a symbol of the Congregationalists and represents the truths which are revealed through scripture which have the power to make people free.

The alpha and omega at the bottom are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and represent God who is eternal, here before the beginning and after the end of time.

The X in the middle is the Greek letter for CH, which stands for Christ, who shows us the way to God.

In 2012, the crest was further updated by incorporating the four colours of the Aboriginal medicine wheel (representing the 4 directions and 4 races of humanity) and adding the Mohawk phrase “Akwe Nia’Tetewá:neren,” which means “all my relations.”

A New Creed

We are not alone,

we live in God's world.

We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,

the word made flesh,

to reconcile and make new,

who works in us and others by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God's presence,

to live with respect in Creation,

to love and serve others,

to seek justice and resist evil,

to proclaim Jesus,

crucified and risen,

our judge and our hope.

In life, in death,
in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.