Grace United Church celebrates 56th anniversary in Tavistock

Rev. Marilyn Arthur, current minister of Grace United Church, welcomes Rev. Margaret Smith, who served the congregation for 12 months as interim minister and previously ministered in Stratford after teaching at Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School. Both shared meaningful messages with the children and congregation during Sunday’s 56th anniversary celebration service. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Anniversary celebrations are always a time to reflect on both the past and the present. On Sunday, Grace United Church in Tavistock marked its 56th anniversary with a special service that welcomed back a familiar face to the pulpit.

Rev. Margaret Smith of Stratford, who served as interim minister at Grace United for 12 months between the tenures of Rev. Soo Young and current minister Rev. Marilyn Arthur, delivered a heartfelt and thought-provoking sermon titled “The Last Time.” Her message captivated the congregation from beginning to end.

In welcoming Smith back, Arthur shared how meaningful her time with the Grace congregation had been and expressed how pleased everyone was to have her return for this special occasion.

During her sermon, Smith reflected on the history of Grace United Church, which was formed through the union of Zion, Knox, South Easthope and Harmony congregations. In 2010, the Lingelbach congregation joined, followed more recently by members of the Hickson United Church family.

Smith said anniversaries are about celebrating unity – the coming together of worshippers who share a common goal: to serve God and pray for peace in the world.

For those who missed the service, a recording is available on YouTube for the community to enjoy