TEHKUMMAH—It’s been nearly three years since regular services have been held in Tehkummah’s Fairview United Church and the service held this past Sunday afternoon signals the end for the 126-year-old building’s use as a United Church.
The 2 pm Sunday, June 18 decommissioning service began with a traditional communion worship service officiated by Rev. June McDougall, who also officiates at Knox United Church in Manitowaning and St. Andrews by the Sea in South Baymouth and a communion service and decommissioning by Rev. Melody Duncanson-Hales, Canadian Shield Region support minister.
Rev. McDougall began her greeting with the admonition that “memory is very important.”
The services began with a land acknowledgement read by Mary Yett referencing the 126 years the congregation has cared for the land and the stewardship of the Anishinaabek under whom the land has been cared “for time beyond knowing.”
The gathering hymn was ‘Come in, Come in and Sit Down,’ followed by the passing of the Peace of Christ (now done with hand on heart instead of handshake due to COVID). Following the offertory the hymn ‘It Only Takes a Spark’ set the tone for the opening prayer.
Debbie Robinson performed the first of two solos, exhorting the gathering to join her on the chorus. The first of these was ‘I, the Lord of Sea and Sky,’ which Ms. Robinson’s voice delivered with heartfelt effect.
As might be expected, given the circumstances of the closure of the church building, Rev. McDougall’s sermon referenced change, utilizing the metaphor of a caterpillar and a butterfly in demonstration that not all change is an ending.
‘Make Me a Channel of Your Peace’ was sung following the sermon before a Holy Communion service was held.
Following the initial church service, members of the congregation were invited to share their memories of the church, including services that may have impacted their lives, humorous stories or memories of loved ones who have passed. Participants lit candles in memorium, with late Expositor columnist Pat Hall and her mother being referenced several times. A few of Ms. Hall’s many poems were read by her daughter, and Rev. McDougall shared a story wherein a woman suffering from depression picked up one of Ms. Hall’s books from her coffee table and was transfixed by its uplifting content.
Another parishioner shared how she played the church pump organ, being sometimes surprised by an exodus of mice from within once she began playing. A slide deck of photos featuring many well-known parishioners was featured on a screen in the front of the church, eliciting many laughs and sighs of recognition.
Ms. Robinson then sang the second of her solos, ‘Wings of a Dove,’ again accompanied by the congregation on the chorus.
Finally, the bittersweet moment came to its fruition, with Rev. Duncanson-Hales taking the gathering through the sacred objects, including the space itself, the cross, the table, the baptismal font, the pulpit which has stood sentinel over services for 126 years and finally, referencing the music that has also “been a blessing for us all.” At the end of each invocation, the congregation responded with “Thanks be to God,” “May God’s name be praised’ or “We give you thanks, O God.”
Rev. Duncanson-Hales then intoned the “Declaration by Canadian Shield Council” that the church is no longer the place of meeting of a congregation of the United Church of Canada.
The closing hymn was ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ before a final choral benediction was read and the congregation gathered for refreshments and a photograph on the porch of the building that was once known as Fairview United Church and will now live on in the memories of those whose many life milestones took place within its walls.
