Elaine Schneider and Sherry Nott pose for a portrait with the 140-year banner they created at the pulpit in St. Barnabas Church.--News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
St. Barnabas Church is looking back on 140 years as a part of the Medicine Hat community this month, and with that, how members might continue to grow the church with the city.
The congregation in many ways is older than the iconic building nestled in downtown Medicine Hat, says Rev. Oz Lorentzen. He explained that their meetings were initially held in the Presbyterian Church beginning in 1884, with their first church being built in 1886.
The one that currently stands was built later, in 1912, but they carry with them the history of the community that came before the red brick building many are familiar with.
Since then, says Lorentzen, the St. Barnabas community has truly had an opportunity to grow and change alongside the city, and grow deep roots with the people who live here.
“The front of the church doesn’t quite face due east, but it faces where the sun rises on June 11, which is St. Barnabas day,” said Lorentzen. “One really powerful illustration of how the church and the community grew up together is that the street runs parallel to our church. So that means the entire downtown is laid out on the same gradient, oriented toward St. Barnabas day, which is lovely.”
Over the years, the church has seen expansions to the building and changes, but the core of their faith and dedication to the community remains much the same, and that this is something they want for people to know as they look to how they might best continue to be part of the city in the many years to come.
“We’re grateful that you’ve been a part of us, and that we’ve been a part of you,” said Lorentzen. “We want to keep celebrating that rich heritage, and that history.”
St. Barnabas continues to be a community hub, says Gord Nott, a lifelong member of the church, from providing meal programs for those dealing with food insecurity to being able to once again host a troupe of boy scouts in their gymnasium.
As they’re seeing more organizations reach out in hopes of using their facilities again, Lorentzen says they are looking forward to recovering and rediscovering their role as a community hub.
“The church has always done best when it’s been actively engaged in the heart of the community, not as some sort of religious presence, but as an invitation into remembering that being human is more than just eating and sleeping,” said Lorentzen.
He continued on that he wants to provide an outlet for the social and spiritual needs of the human spirit, and be a place people can come to for open discussion, and where people can flourish, which is a guiding principle for the church.
To mark the anniversary, St. Barnabas Church will be hosting a special service at 10 a.m. on Sept. 22, with Archbishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson attending. Lorentzen says they will be celebrating the history of the church and also expressing gratitude for what God has done for them to have them continue to thrive for well over a century. They will also be hosting a dinner, inviting members from out of town to return and reconnect with each other, as well as hear from guest speakers who have been part of St. Barnabas’ legacy.
A special banner, made by St. Barnabas members Elaine Schneider and Sherry Nott, will be presented and blessed to commemorate the milestone.
