2019

2019

January

Dr. Crittenden and a group of approximately 40 individuals travelled to the Holy Land where he led a pilgrimage between January 20th and 31st. 

February ⎯ SANCTUARY RENOVATION IDEA

On February 14th, Dr. Crittenden, on behalf of Metropolitan’s Board of Elders, presented the idea of converting our chancel to a multipurpose space with a large, flat stage, and making the organ console movable giving greater flexibility for usage by the arts and other community groups. Changes might also include cushioned seating on the main level of the sanctuary, with due respect to the effects on acoustics. Potential benefits would be increased rental revenue and increased community outreach.  Everyone was asked to consider the Board’s goal of exploring what it would take to implement this concept. To elaborate further, on February 24th, everyone at Met United was invited to a Lunch and Learn Session in the Great Room with Kendra Fry from Trinity-St. Paul’s (TSP) United Church in Toronto. As a knowledgeable expert on sanctuary alterations at TSP Church and other faith places through her work with Faith & the Common Good, Kendra sparked much interest amongst our church members as everyone began to realize ways Metropolitan United could alter its Sanctuary and offer more opportunities for our community to be engaged at our church. 

On Thursday, Feb. 28th, everyone was invited to Father James Siemens’ presentation at Metropolitan United on More Than Meets the Eye. Then, on March 3rd, Fr. James Siemens was Metropolitan’s guest preacher. His sermon title was The Beginning of the Journey. Fr. James, now (2024) living in Cardiff, Wales, is originally from Canada, where he studied theology at the University of Manitoba and at McGill University in Montreal. 

March ⎯ SANCTUARY RENOVATION STUDY

On March 5th, after much discussion at Met United’s annual general meeting, a recorded vote was held on the question: “Given our focus on hospitality, outreach, and discipleship, and our majestic sanctuary, are you in favour of further exploring changes to the altar space and seating of our Sanctuary for the benefit of Metropolitan and our community outreach initiative?” With 88 percent approval by those in attendance, the Board of Elders subsequently announced on May 2nd the names of those who would carry out an exploratory study concerning changes to the altar space and seating of our Sanctuary. The Steering Committee representatives included Al Edwards (Chair and representing the Board of Trustees), Christine Buchanan (representing Outreach Committee), Murray Faulkner (representing Ministry & Personnel Committee), and Shirley Smith (representing Finance Committee). 

March ⎯ DR. ROWAN WILLIAMS

On March 17th, Metropolitan United welcomed our guest preacher, Dr. Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury. His sermon title was Deserts and Cities: A Reflection for Lent.  During Dr. Williams’ 3-day conference, he addressed the question Learning to Live: How do we grow in Christian insight? With more than 2000 people attending his lectures over three days (Mar.16-Mar.18), the entire Metropolitan-led event culminated with Dr. Rowan receiving an honourary Doctorate from Huron University. 

March

Dr. Crittenden organized a city-wide Faith Formation Confirmation refresher course on the weekend of March 22-24.

April

On April 4th Rev. Dr. Paul Scott Wilson was honoured at Met United on his retirement as Professor Emeritus of Homiletics at Emmanuel College, the University of Toronto. 

ReVITALize 3, presented by the Centre for Practical Theology and the Middlesex Presbytery Resource Centre, was held at Metropolitan United and First-St. Andrew’s United churches in London from April 26th through April 28th. Dr. Crittenden led the conference and participated in the many lectures and workshops primarily presented for ministry leaders and lay worship leaders. One of the guest speakers, the Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean, preached on Sunday April 28th at Met United on the topic of Love in a Culture of Contempt. 

July

In July, London Symphonia expressed interest in a partnership with Metropolitan United in the project to renovate the sanctuary. They even increased the number of rentals at Met United for their concerts in the 2019-2020 season. Discussions centred on a detailed list of renovation items they identified as either needing or wanting at Met United.

September

For one week in September (Sunday, Sept. 15th to Monday, Sept. 23rd), Dr. Crittenden again led a pilgrimage in Spain as 21 Met United people walked the Camino trail for 113 kilometres from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. After celebrating their pilgrimage, everyone flew to Madrid, then home to Canada. While enjoying a chili lunch on November 24th at Met United, church members listened to the retelling of individual Camino experiences.

Graduates of the Licensed Lay Worship Leadership (LLWL) program, taught by Dr. Crittenden in September (14-16) 2018, and again in early March (1-3) 2019 at the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre in London, were celebrated at Met United during and after our Sunday morning worship service on Sept. 15th.  Lay Worship Leaders generally help with the shortage of worship leaders in London and region. Rick Wood, a long-time choir member at Met United, and one of the LLWL graduates, was our guest preacher on this date, with Lost and Found his sermon title. He would later become Met United’s regular Sunday morning Liturgist and pulpit supply. 

October ⎯ FAIRMONT CAMPUS

Fairmont Campus was established in 2019 with the support of local organizations. London partners include Western University Schools⎯King’s School of Social Work, Western Law School, Ivey Business School⎯and numerous other community groups. In July, Metropolitan’s Missional Congregation slowly transformed at Fairmont Campus. The original pews in the building, formerly known as Fairmont Church, were removed by Dr. Crittenden and his son, Graeme. Potential renters had toured the space and assessed its potential usage. Dr. Crittenden was looking forward to offering services of worship beginning in October 2019. Everyone offered Jeff and Metropolitan’s Board of Elders encouragement on Metropolitan’s new adventure. 

At this point in time, Metropolitan United’s Missional Congregation in the London area had been meeting for six years, but this was the first time at Fairmont as its permanent home. United Church of Canada paid approximately 15 accountable leaders who attended the bi-weekly Wednesday morning sessions.

The former Fairmont United Church building, and grounds became a campus of the Centre for Practical Theology (CPT), established in 2016.  Housed at Fairmont Campus, CPT would now emphasize education, reflection and participation as well as community engagement and Wednesday evening worship services. The first Wednesday evening worship service was held at Fairmont Campus on October 16th, 2019. 

October ⎯ REVEREND HERBERT SUMMERS 

Sadly, our gifted liturgist and beloved Minister of Pastoral Care, Rev. Herbert Summers, died on Oct. 18, 2019. In his special honour, the next four Sundays were designated Socks Sundays. More than 5000 pairs of colourful socks were donated and distributed to the various missions in London. Almost every Sunday morning, Herb would lift a pant leg in the pulpit to show the congregation his fancy colourful sock. Dr. Crittenden was especially moved by Herb’s laughter, encouragement, and tremendous ministry, in addition to Herb’s friendship. On November 14th, in a letter with overflowing gratitude, Herb’s family expressed their “sincere thanks to the Metropolitan family for loving Herb and taking such good care of him for the last 14 years.” Dr. Crittenden extended a special thank-you to everyone for their charitable gifts in memory of Rev. Summers. Then, as Advent approached, Herb’s personal and extensive collection of nativity sets from around the globe were sold. Herb’s family were “overwhelmed with the support.” The money from this sale in 2019 was subsequently used to purchase a beautiful stained-glass window which was dedicated in October 2022 and now (2024) hangs on the east wall of the Great Room, in memory of Rev. Summers. 

October ⎯ ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY

On Anniversary Sunday, October 27th, we welcomed our guest preacher Rev. Dr. Richard Topping whose sermon topic was Get Everything You Ever Ask For. He is a Principal and Professor of Theology at the Vancouver School of Theology, and former minister of the historic Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal. He is published in the areas of theological interpretation of scripture, theological education, and Christian doctrine.

October - December ⎯ SANCTUARY RENOVATION STUDY

Over the summer, Tim Laskey, a member of Metropolitan and our Church Treasurer, had consulted with several contacts and became convinced of the potential benefits of making changes to the altar space and seating of our Sanctuary. He recommended to the Steering Committee that Metropolitan retain Kendra Fry as part-time Project Manager, which was done in October. In November, five architects responded to a Request for Proposal: Reimagining the Sanctuary, Chancel, Stage for Flexibility of Usage. The Steering Committee chose McMichael Ruth of architects Tillmann Ruth Robinson Inc.