MOOSE JAW — The following article has been submitted to the Moose Jaw Express by Dustin Swanson, a board member of the Minto United Church in Moose Jaw:
“Several recent stories have referred to the possible sale of some United churches in Moose Jaw, leading to some questions about the future of the Minto United Church. Despite the desire of the congregation to sell their physical church building, we are optimistic about the future.
Minto United Church has been in northwest Moose Jaw for over a century and still is a vibrant and strong faith community.
The history of Minto United Church began in 1912 and resulted from the collaboration of seven rural churches that saw the need to unite their congregations. Minto has undergone several expansions and renovations over the past 112 years as it has served the residents of Moose Jaw and surrounding communities.
Minto offers large and small sanctuaries, an auditorium, many classrooms and function rooms, offices, two compete kitchens, and plenty of off-street parking.
It’s interesting that Minto United Church was formed when several congregations came together for worship, and Minto continues this tradition to this day. Presently, Minto is also a home for other denominations whose congregations share space to hold their weekly services and functions.
As other United Church congregations across Canada have faced, the size of Minto’s congregation has changed — making the need for a large sanctuary and Christian Education building unnecessary. Our smaller — yet still vibrant — congregation looks forward to a new future, albeit likely with a more compact footprint.
Minto’s services feature a blend of music, scripture, reflection, and prayer. The Sunday School program, operating since Minto’s creation, remains a beloved part of worship.
In the past couple of years, Minto has been relying on lay ministry to provide diverse and engaging worship services. Although this was thought to be a temporary solution, many congregants have shared that the variety of lay leaders has been a refreshing change and is positive for everyone attending services.
In May, the congregation held its annual general meeting. With a chance to reflect on the past year, we feel blessed to continue gathering for regular weekly worship.
Our worship services are open to all who would like to attend. Our church office is open Tuesday to Thursday and church services are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
However, Minto United Church will be closed throughout the month of July (and will re-open in August).
Please come and join us for Sunday service!”
To learn more about the Minto United Church, visit MintoUnited.ca or follow ‘Minto United Church’ on Facebook. To contact the church, call 306-693-6148 or email [email protected]. The Minto United Church is located at 1036 Seventh Avenue Northwest.
Look for an updated story on the current status of the United churches in Moose Jaw here and in the next edition of the Moose Jaw Express paper.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct Dustin Swanson's role with the church.
