2022

2022

January

Considering the continuing surge of COVID-19 cases, Dr. Crittenden informed everyone that Sunday morning worship services on January 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd at Metropolitan United would be online at 11:00 a.m. only. Fairmont Campus Wednesday evening worship services and the Inviting Circle program were cancelled. Metropolitan United remained open during business hours; however, groups were discouraged from meeting at Met United. All COVID-19 protocols remained in place. 

On January 27th, Dr. Crittenden announced that Met United would resume its in-person 9:30 a.m. (with Eucharist) and 11:00 a.m. worship services beginning on Jan. 30th. In-person Wednesday evening worship services at 7:00 p.m. at Fairmont Campus would resume on February 2nd at 7:00 p.m. 

February

 A joint meeting of the congregations of First-St. Andrew’s United Church, Metropolitan United, and Siloam United was held on Sunday, February 13th at 1:00 p.m. via ZOOM, an online technology company designed to provide virtual meeting communications. The purpose of the meeting was to seek approval of a new pastoral relationship. Representatives of the three churches (Stephen Elson, Catherine Glover, David Spencer, and David Wardlaw) worked together since early 2021 to establish a shared position to minister to the youth and young adults attending the 3 churches and throughout the city.  Necessary approvals from Antler River Watershed Regional Council were secured. A motion was put forth by Jason McHardie (Met United), seconded by Mark Davidson, and carried by an overwhelming majority of congregants at the joint meeting to appoint Marilyn Arthur to the position of Minister of Youth and Young Adults. On May 29th, we welcomed Marilyn Arthur to Met United as our new shared Minister for Youth and Young Adults.

March

On March 18th, Met United launched an appeal to our members to show support for those most affected by the war in Ukraine, by making a donation to the United Church of Canada, who was coordinating an emergency response. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February cost precious lives and created a humanitarian crisis as people in Ukraine fled to safety. 

On March 21, the Ontario government lifted general masking requirements for many indoor settings, including churches. Dr. Crittenden informed everyone on March 27th that mask-wearing was now optional during worship services and other activities at Met United. 

The Sanctuary Renovation project received a major boost in early March when London Symphonia was awarded a federal Canada Cultural Spaces grant of $300,000 towards the project.  With earlier support of $100,000 from the Good Foundation and $55,000 from other donors, London Symphonia committed $455,000!

A call for construction tenders was issued In February, with three qualified firms submitting bids.  On March 8, Elders and Trustees in a joint meeting approved awarding the contract to Norlon Builders.

April

On Tuesday, April 19th, renovations began in our Sanctuary to transform our chancel into a one-level surface to accommodate multiple purposes in the future. 

Worship services at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. were held in the Great Room while the Sanctuary was undergoing renovations from April through mid-October. Seating in the Great Room was limited to 40 individuals on Sunday mornings, due to available space. No one was allowed in the Sanctuary during construction. As renovations progressed, timely video communications kept everyone updated on our website.

From mid-April through late May, Dr. Crittenden made his way in Spain along the Camino de Santiago known in English as the Way of St. James. It is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition holds that the remains of the apostle are buried. 

May

On May 14th, Dr. Crittenden completed his 575-kilometre walk along the Camino from St. Jean to Ponferrada. To carry two smooth stones as you walk the Camino symbolizes letting go of something; you throw the stone over your shoulder and walk on. Jeff carried one small stone he had with him in 2018; the other he carried for a dear friend who couldn’t complete the Camino (yet). 

He thanked Rob Stapleford (2018), Jim Gillespie, Bjoern (2018), and the congregation of Metropolitan United for their support, encouragement, and notes of kindness along his pilgrimage. His final comments: “No words can express the gratitude I have for the glimpses of generosity, compassion and surprise that our Living God offers in our ‘one wild and precious life.’”

July

On 17th July we welcomed guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Mark Giuliano. Mark is a professor of communication with a focus on placemaking at the Savannah College of Art and Design, and the pastor of the Montgomery Presbyterian Church (USA).

Sunday July 24th, 2022, marked the 11th year Metropolitan representatives, including Dr. Crittenden, have participated in London’s Pride parade, along with several other United Church representatives.

August and September

 On August 14th, a congregational meeting was held in the Great Room following the 11:00 a.m. service of worship to seek the congregation’s approval of Diaconal candidate Jennifer Prince as our Pastoral Care Minister at Metropolitan and Fairmont Campus. In early September, we welcomed Jen to our church community in that position. She is a lifelong learner and plans to learn and grow as much from us as she hopes we will from her. Jen will shape this role in response to the needs of our congregation. The fundamentals, of course, involve providing spiritual support to those in life crisis, medical distress, or end of life; and supporting outreach to the community, including those members who live in supported settings.

On September 21st, Wednesday evening worship services at Fairmont Campus resumed after the summer break.

October

Metropolitan’s annual Welcome Back Barbeque was held in our parking lot after the October 2nd worship service.

Metropolitan’s long-awaited Sanctuary renovations were sufficiently completed to allow London Symphonia to stage its first concert of the 2022-2023 season on October 22nd. See some photos below, and more on our website. 

On October 23rd, Crazy Socks Sunday, many members of our congregation wore fancy socks and made donations of socks for men, women, and children, in honour of the late beloved Rev. Herb Summers.

The organ console was installed on its new wheeled platform and reconnected to the organ just in time for Sunday morning worship services to resume in our beautiful new Sanctuary on October 30th. 

On the evening of October 22nd, the first concert in our newly renovated Sanctuary was deemed a huge success!  Here are a few photos of London Symphonia’s musicians on our new “mostly finished” stage.

Since the completion of our Sanctuary renovation, there have been so many wonderful events that have taken place in our new chancel in November and December! Numerous photo links have been added to Metropolitan’s newly redesigned website: www.metropolitanchurch.com 

November and December

Metropolitan United Church’s website was completely redesigned by Rob Cairns and posted online for everyone to see current information about the people and activities at our church.

On Dec. 18th, a stained-glass window depicting the nativity scene, and hanging on the east wall of the Great Room at Metropolitan United, was dedicated to the memory of the late Rev. Herbert Summers, who died in 2019. 

The final 2022 Wednesday evening worship service in the Fairmont Campus Sanctuary was held on December 14th from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. It was a huge celebration with guest musicians and singers!  

On December 23rd, our Fairmont Campus Garden Project was announced!  Here's a couple of photos of the “ground-breaking” event on Dec. 22nd.  Four truck loads of soil were brought in and some of the brush was removed from the back of Fairmont Campus. The old grass and gravel were trucked off site. We now have a nice flat surface of topsoil to work with in the spring of 2023.