Applewood United Church

06/01/2026

God of the Rainbow,
More than those who watch for morning,
Our souls wait, for the day when each of us,
of every gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation
knows that we are meant to be:
loved, cherished, and protected; and
that we are to be:
proud of our identities; and
celebrated.

For we are your imperfectly perfect children,
called to reflect Christ’s radiant light,
embody Christ’s radical love; and
build your beloved community,
especially when storms of fear and hatred rage around us.

And so, more than those who watch for morning,
we, in our great diversity,
wait for your promised rainbow of peace,
as we work towards a world where every gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation is affirmed as beloved; and,
every soul’s spirit is able to sparkle, shine and sing your dream with pride.

May it be so,

Amen.

—Rev. Dr. Alydia Smith

05/05/2026

We are excited to welcome to Applewood The Very Rev. Carmen Lansdowne on May 10th. She is the guest speaker for our Social Justice Sunday worship as we celebrate 12 years of being an Affirming congregation. Rev. Lansdowne is Past Moderator of the United Church of Canada and is currently the Assistant Professor of United Church of Canada Studies, Emmanuel College, Victoria University in the University of Toronto.

04/29/2026

The Outreach Committee will be holding an Underwear/Diaper Drive drop off at Applewood United Church on Saturday May 2nd from 12-2pm. We welcome your gifts of new underwear, socks, long johns, undershirts and diapers for babies, children, men and women. Also being accepted at this time are gift cards for Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Dollarama or grocery stores. Please no denominations over $25.00 and write the dollar amount on the gift card.

Members from the committee will be on site to accept your donations directly from your vehicle. Please enter through the parking lot and exit by the church. If you are coming to worship on Sunday May 3rd there will be baskets and an Outreach committee member to accept any items from you at the front door.

03/11/2026

The Applewood Outreach Committee will be holding a Personal Care Drive-through drop off at the church on Saturday, March 21 from 12:00-2:00 pm. We welcome your gifts of full and travel sizes of shampoo, body wash, body lotion, soap, deodorant, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, and feminine hygiene products.

Members from the committee will be on site to accept your items directly from your vehicle. Donations will still be accepted the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday in the baskets at the front door.

03/10/2026

The 2nd screening in our West End Affirm film series will take place this Friday (March 13) at 7:00 pm at Royal York Road United Church.

“1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture” followed by a virtual Q+A with the documentary’s lead researchers.

Words matter. Translation matters. People matter.

A powerful and eye-opening film exploring how a 1946 mistranslation of two Greek words in the New Testament shaped decades of harmful theology — and contributed to the exclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community.

This is an evening for learning, reflection, and meaningful conversation. Admission is free.

Register now: https://bit.ly/46qKPbe or call the church office.

Come with curiosity. Leave with deeper understanding. Everyone is welcome.

Discover 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture—a powerful film uncovering how a Bible mistranslation shaped anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs.

03/03/2026

The Applewood United Church Choir singing
“ Stay With Us” written by Ron Klusmeier and Walter Farquharson.

Stay with us through the night. Stay with us through the grief. Stay with us, blessed stranger 'til the morning brings relief.

Stay with us through the night. Stay with us through the dread. Stay with us, blessed stranger 'til the morning breaks new bread.

-from the Easter Cantata, "Stay With Us" SATB Mixed Voices with flute and Descant. Tune Name: Casswell

Music written by: Ron Klusmeier
Words written by: Walter Farquharson

Stay With Us - Applewood United Church ChoirStay with us through the night. Stay with us through the pain.Stay with us, blessed stranger 'til the morning br...

02/12/2026

A Prayer with the Community of Tumbler Ridge, BC

Providing God,
With people across the country and around the world,
we seek your care as we bear witness to the mass shooting in the community of Tumbler Ridge.
Provide solace for all affected.
Provide comfort to those overwhelmed by grief.
Provide compassionate strength to those who are providing support to the broken-hearted.

Providing God,
guide us, as we continue to the build the world you have imagined:
A world where a child's right to learn, laugh, love and live is cherished and protected in every village – everywhere;
A world without violence;
A world where the most vulnerable among us feel safe, cherished and protected, always.

For the sake of Christ who entrusted us to each other,
may it be so.
Amen.

—Rev. Dr. Alydia Smith

Worship leaders, please see our website for a note in times of crisis (scroll below the prayer): https://united-church.ca/prayers/praying-community-tumbler-ridge-bc

[Photo credit: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay]

01/29/2026

12/23/2025