History - our spiritual heritage
Morinville United Church was officially formed on June 6, 1965. Prior to that, several families had been meeting together in each other’s homes. A small two-room house at the read of Dr. McDonald’s house at 9514-100th Street was loaned for services and much fun and fellowship took place there.
Two of three years later (1967 or 1968) the congregation began meeting upstairs at the Morinville Recreation Centre (now Parish Hall). It was here that the Jr. Choir was formed and yard upon yard of red curtain material was sewn into billowing choir gowns. A small organ was donated the Christmas season was alive and well at Morinville United!
The population of Morinville in 1970 was 973 and the few Protestants were anxious to have a place to worship. Larger quarters were needed and about 1972 the congregation moved downstairs in the Recreation Centre. Sunday school was active and full.
Morinville continued to grow and Morinville United was the only Protestant congregation. Therefore, by 1978, there was a “full house” every Sunday. The minister was holding services at Patricia United at 9:30am and, and Morinville at 11:00am.
As the need for larger and more permanent quarters grew, the congregation had many long and serious discussions about 'should we build"?
In 1980, Forest Glen Dixie was negotiating for a quarter section of land, which was owned by Marjorie (Graf) Rockwell. The 'old Graf place' was to be the newest housing development in Morinville. Mrs Rockwell specified that a piece of land was to be designated for use only for a Morinville United Church. The two lots that the church now occupy are the result of these negotiations. A third lot was purchased before Yellowhead Presbytery would approve our National Church funding request.
And, so began the 'fun and fundraising'. Debentures were sold, square feet were sold, donations solicited and fundraising events, such as the Oldtimers Hockey Game, were held. The United Church Woman's Group, having always been very active, began even more catering and specific fundraising.
In October 1981, the congregation moved into the present building on the corner of Morinville Drive and Grandin Drive. A Daycare Centre owned by the church, and built to 'Provincial Specifications for Day Care 1980' was set up in the basement to continue raising funds for operation. When the running of a Daycare proved too much for the church, the operation was sold to a member of the congregation. An integral part of Morinville United's budget, the Daycare remained in the building until 2003.
In 2004, there are third generation members in our congregation who remember the thousands upon thousands of dedicated volunteer hours that went into the building of the congregation and the creation of the Morinville United Church building.
Our challenge in 2009 is to change... to blend scriptures to science, open our doors and hearts to those who wish to belong first, and maybe come to believe later. Everyone needs spirituality (Spirituality - pertaining to the soul, matters of the spirit). Spiritual matters regard humankind's ultimate nature and purpose, not as material biological organisms, but as spirits of energy with an eternal relationship beyond the bodily senses, time and the material world.
