ABOUT US
We are a group of people who love God and the people around us. We gather for worship on Sundays, and then go out to live, love and serve in the world, wherever God has placed us. No one here is perfect, although we strive to do our best as followers of Jesus.
OUR HISTORY
St. Paul’s United Church is rooted in the Methodist tradition and began as the Wesleyan Methodist Church, which opened its doors to worship on September 11th, 1853, in the village of Stirling which was established in the 1820’s. Early in January 1880, the Stirling Methodist Episcopal Church unanimously voted to erect a new church on the present site. The building, completed in 1882, cost about $9,000. (The church has been remodeled numerous times over the years.) On June 10, 1925, when the Methodist, Congregational and many Presbyterian churches joined together, the Methodist Episcopal Church became St. Paul’s United Church. The first service as a congregation of the United Church of Canada was held on October 18, 1925. (The Heritage Years: a History of Stirling and District.) In 1967, the blending of the Carmel, Eggleton and West Huntington United Church congregations broadened the definition of our heritage.
MISSION STATEMENT
Nurture Faith. Live Respectfully.
Give Generously.
We are called to be children of God, living in respect with creation, and living in a faith family that supports each other, the communities in which we live, and the world. We are challenged to create nurturing spaces for worship, fellowship, and education for people of all ages. We endeavour to seek the Spirit of Christ in our lives daily, and with love encourage others to do likewise.
MISSION STRATEGY
The congregation will strive to nurture one another’s faith. We will encourage interactions through Bible studies and various other groups. We will facilitate and enable Church members and staff to care for each other, particularly those facing recognized personal challenges. We are committed to helping our extended Church both locally and worldwide. While maintaining our traditional worship service, we will not hesitate to explore and experiment with alternate worship styles, and formats. We will encourage members of all ages to become involved in
the service.
We recognize the importance of building and energizing Christian Education for all people with particular attention to children and youth. We will provide programs and opportunities to draw near to God through prayer, meditation and spiritual growth.