Pincher Creek United Church

Welcome to Pincher Creek United Church Pastoral Charge

We include the three churches of Pincher Creek, Cowley (Foothills) & Mountain Mill.
Visitors and new members are always welcome at any of the churches.


PINCHER CREEK
Weekly services at 11:00am.

Sunday School and Nursery offered September to June.


FOOTHILLS COWLEY

Services are every week, except for third Sunday, and begin at 9:30am.


MOUNTAIN HILL

Services are on the third Sunday of the month at 1:30pm.



Contact us at: 403-627-3734 in Pincher Creek.

If someone is not there, the answering machine is always on to take a message.


Mailing Address: P.O. Box 667, Pincher Creek, AB T0K 1W0


Our Email is: pcreekuc@gmail.com and pcucoffice@gmail.com


We are using the Sanctuary with limited capacity according to Covid-19 protocols.
In-person services are recorded and uploaded on our
Facebook page.

Anniversary Supper and Silent Auction

Hyun’s Weekly Notes
- Announcements 
[PDF]


Newsletters [PDFs]


Information and Contacts


Please see our Worship section.

Calendar


Resources


Welcoming Rev. Hyun!


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    Rev. Hyun ringing bell at Mountain Hill on Sunday, September 19, 2021

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  • Rev. Hyun wearing a white coyboy hat and standing beside a brown horse in a stirrup.

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Church Events


Truth and Reconciliation gathering at the church on Thursday, September 30, 2021:

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St. Patrick's Day Celebration

Click to View Pictures [PDF]


Anniversary Dinner

The Annual Anniversary Church supper was held Sunday, Nov. 12 and was a roaring success! A bountiful, delicious meal was served to a full house and enjoyed by all. A great program and entertain followed. 

Wonderful and interesting items were donated to the Silent Auction and it was a HUGE success. Thank you to all who donated their time and effort to make a wonderful evening of great fellowship.

Click to View Pictures [PDF]


In a pastoral letter written this past March just before the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, former Moderator Jordan Cantwell wrote: “As Christians, we must root out fear, and commit to spiritual and social practices that help us to ground our actions and attitudes in love. If we give in to fears based on religious or racial grounds, we will be providing fertile ground for hate and extremism to flourish. Let us instead cultivate love, understanding, and acceptance of each other.”


In light of of the continuing world acts of terrorism, the former Moderator’s words merit being read again so that they take root and remind us that we need to be vigilant against all forms of extremism and xenophobic rhetoric.

About Us


Our Church Family


Foothills United Church

Our church has 21 members, most of whom are seniors. We worship most Sundays with the exception of the 3rd Sunday of each month. We maintain a Board but many decisions regarding church matters are made by the congregation over coffee and goodies after each worship service. All members help with the services, church chores and maintenance.

Women have played a significant role throughout the church’s history. The first formal group, the Ladies Aid Society of the Presbyterian Church was formed in 1906. This group became the United Church women in 1962. They continue to support the church.


Mountain Mill

The Mountain Mill church remains totally off-grid. It is heated by a wood stove, has no running water and has an outhouse. Services continue every third Sunday of the month at 1.30 p.m. An additional worship opportunity is the sunrise service held on Easter Sunday at 7.00 a.m. Occasional wedding and baptisms take place in this lovely church in the valley. The congregation consists mostly of families, many with young children. A sign-up sheet provides opportunity for teaching Sunday School and for opening the church (which consists of starting the fire, bringing and heating the water, sweeping the floors and setting out the hymn books). A potluck lunch is enjoyed with stove-perked coffee following the Sunday service.


Pincher Creek

The Pincher Creek congregation is a loving, welcoming, intergenerational community of faith whose people are open to new ways of expressing their spiritual journeys. The congregation is served through strong, thoughtful and committed leadership by Council and its committees. Lay leaders help with music, the liturgy, greeting and taking the offering. Children are welcomed as an integral part of our congregation.

Programs and social activities are our ways of being together. We enjoy special services such as our Anniversary Sunday, a Cowboy Christmas service, and a June Pastoral Charge outdoor service. Music and musicals performed by our choirs and Sunday School are especially appreciated. Average attendance, around fifty, consists of a few young families and many seniors. We have a strong tradition of mission-outreach and social justice.

History


Foothills United Church

Foothills United started out as the Cowley Presbyterian Church in 1904. Services were held on alternate Sundays as the Reverend also did services for the Cowley Methodist Church which was located next door. The Methodists joined the Presbyterians in 1920-21. Since 1954 the church has been part of the Pincher Creek Pastoral Charge. The name Foothills United Church was adopted in 1958.

Mountain Mill United Church - 'A Brief History of Mountain Mill United Church 1906 To 2016' (PDF)

The Mountain Mill Church was built and dedicated as a house of worship on June 7th, 1906. Services were held in the McLaren Mill House for three years prior to this by Rev. Grant who drove out with horse and buggy from Pincher Creek.

The Ladies Aid financed the building and bought the organ. The church was debt free in June, 1906. The church seats (chairs) came from Montreal. When the railroad was built to Beaver Mines the church had to be moved to a different land location donated by William Gladstone.

The early ministers were Grant, Chamber and Hamilton. The church was served by a number of ordained ministers and students following church union in 1925.


Pincher Creek United Church

Pincher Creek United Church history begins with the first Protestant Sunday School organized by three Methodist women in 1884. Presbyterian and Baptist children attended as well, and all worshiped together in the log schoolhouse. The first ministers were visiting ministers. It 1886 the three religions cooperated in building a Methodist church. It was shared with the Presbyterians until they built their own church on the present United Church site in 1892. The manse was built in the same year. Separate ministers served each church until the Presbyterian and Methodist congregations united in 1917. They worshipped and worked together until June, 1925, when the United Church of Canada was established. At that time more space was needed and a new church was built on the Presbyterian site. It was dedicated on Oct. 4th, 1925, the first United Church in Canada.

Sixteen ministers have served in our church since 1925, two of them for fifteen years.

Pincher Creek Food Bank


756 Kettles Street - (403) 627-4265


Hours of Operation:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday
9:00 am–4:00 pm
(closed at lunch from 12:00–1:00)


The Food Bank is currently in need of canned healthy food (e.g. fruit, tuna, vegetable, tomatoes and sauces etc.) and dry staples (past, rice, etc.). Congregational members can bring your food donations and place them in the basket in the church lobby or drop at the office door if you come in midweek. All help is greatly appreciated.

Thrift Shop


"Aquilla and Priscilla's" United Church Thrift Shop

972 Police Avenue ~ Pincher Creek


Hours of Operation:

Open Fridays and Saturdays

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.


Men’s and Ladies Fashions and Accessories, Children’s Wear and Toys, Dishes, Bedding and much more!


Donations may be dropped off outside the door anytime, as it is checked daily.


~ All help is provided by Faithful Volunteers ~


For the community of Pincher Creek and surrounding area, our thrift shop is a place to purchase whatever you need for the right price.


In the fall of 1981, after having garage sales in our parking lot for 2 years and having to contend with unsold items, the idea of having a thrift shop in the unused part of our Christian Education wing was given great thought.


In October, 1981, the idea became reality and the Aquilla’s and Pricilla’s Thrift Shop opened. Our minister’s wife at the time, Margaret Henning, was paid monthly to coordinate the Thrift Shop. This money came out of the Thrift Shop earnings, all other help were volunteers. In 1987 Margaret Henning asked Donna Elliott if she would be the Thrift Shop coordinator. Donna said yes if it was operated by volunteers only. Donna has been the volunteer coordinator ever since.


We have several different rooms – 2 ladies, 1 children’s, 1 men’s, and 1 miscellaneous – plus many shelves put up in the last 3 years and painted by our property committee. Three ladies do the phoning each week to get volunteer help. We are open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. On Thursdays of each week ladies sort, mark and clean. There is always lots of clothing coming in each week with thanks to our generous community. Items are left at the church door and are checked on a daily basis by another volunteer and put inside the church.


We continue to help individuals who are having hardships. Many times we have taken patients in our local hospital clothing when a need is requested.


In past years we were able to donate to St. John’s Anglican Church for new shingles, to St. Michael’s Catholic Church to help replace the library after they had a fire, to help with building the STAR’s ambulance pad – and the list goes on. No one is excluded, everyone is helped.


Each week the Diabetic Society from Lethbridge comes and picks up excess bags of clothing as we get more than we have space for. They in turn sell to Value Village generating them much needed dollars plus being a great service to us.


The volunteers continue a great service to our community giving us all much satisfaction. We all share a great bond, much love, togetherness, friendship, laughter and fun times. We are grateful to the faithful, loyal ladies who keep the Thrift shop going and give them our thanks. To celebrate our work together we go out in January and June for dinner paid for by our U.C.W.


We thank those members for their generosity. We are always in need of volunteers and appreciate anyone willing to join us.

Social Justice Committee


The Social Justice Ministry seeks to help God answer Jesus' prayer request that "Thy (God's) kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." In other words, help the world be a better place.


We do this by collecting money for various causes.

 

  • At the beginning of 2015 we collected over $3,000.00 for Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology. This was used to teach people ways to have good drinking water and good ways to manage waste.
  • At the end of the year we collected over $2500.00 sent to the United Church's response to the Syrian and Middle East refugee crisis.

 

We have had various members and friends of the church discuss sponsoring Syrian refugees. We had a person from an organization called 'From Syria to Lethbridge' come and speak after Church about their successful response. We decided that for now we would respond as stated above with donations.


A number of Church members have attended in Lethbridge and other locations the play 'New Blood' written and acted by the May's Daughter's High School class from Strathmore. The play dealt with the historical effects of the relationships between the native peoples and peoples in Canada.


Church people attended the Justice Film Festival in Fort Macleod.


During Advent, the congregations collected food for the Pincher Creek area Food Bank to help with the highest need time in January.


Members of the Churches give each week to the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada which helps churches and other people's needs in Canada and Worldwide. In prior years, Hollywood films and documentary films with Social Justice Themes have been shown after worship, at men's groups and other times.


We have had events to bring awareness to Social Justice Needs locally and worldwide i.e. peace, ecology etc.


Many members and friends of the churches belong to and/or lead in various groups in the communities in the area which enrich their lives and other's lives i.e. Service organizations, helping in many places, book clubs, nature programs, coffee groups etc.

Our Ministry


There are approximately 20 churches in our area. We have a Ministerial Association that meets once a month for a time of fellowship, discussion and future planning. They organize services at the seniors lodges and take turns contributing to the “Pastor’s Pen” a column that appears weekly in a local paper. Various churches gather together during Lent, with each church taking a turn leading a service and providing lunch. There is an interdenominational World Day of Prayer that rotates among different churches and a Blue Christmas Service. Various churches and community members combine to form a community Choir for the annual Carol Festival and other community events.


Churches in the Fishburn and Waterton communities host occasional services in their churches or join us in Pincher Creek. Various groups in the community use our facilities for social gatherings, meetings and other events. We support the local food bank, run a thrift shop from our church basement and are always willing to make a peanut butter sandwich for a hungry person. Monies received from the Thrift Shop go to a variety of charities and support the work of the church.

Our Community


Pincher Creek and the surrounding Municipal District are nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in south west Alberta. The area is a recreational, cultural year round paradise. The combined population, in excess of 7,100, enjoys a variety of activities and services. To the west of us are the majestic Rocky Mountains, to the east the Piikani Nation Reserve, to the south lies beautiful Waterton Lakes International Peace Park and north of us are the stunning Porcupine Hills and Oldman River Dam. The town and district continue to maintain a flourishing farming and ranching industry, a strong conventional (oil/gas) and renewable (wind) energy sector and retail/commercial businesses. Pincher Creek is one hour west of Lethbridge and two hours south of Calgary.


The Town of Pincher Creek  website: www.pinchercreek.ca.


The Municipal District. of Pincher Creek  website: www.mdpinchercreek.ab.ca.

Worship


Information and Contacts


Council Meetings

Held on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Room.

Chairman of Church Council - Muriel McPherson - 403-627-2872

Secretary of the Board - Doris Blackburn - 403-672-2972


Rental Contracts

Office Assistant – Maureen Akitt – church: 403-627-3734, home: 403-627-2443


The philosophy of the Pincher Creek United Church is to be inclusive to the community and generous in the use and rental of our facility. As there are costs associated with running the church building, we would, whenever possible, like to receive rental income to offset our expense. Rental decisions are based on this philosophy and on each rental situation. Things such as children/adult, profit/non-profit and church member/non-church member will be considered. The following are the guidelines we use.


Price Guidelines

Sanctuary for Weddings: $200.00

Basement Hall for wedding showers: $40.00

Basement Hall for Large Usage: $100.00

Basement Hall for small usage: $40.00

Meeting Rooms: $ 7.00/hour

Deposit when applicable: $100.00


Wedding Fee Schedule

Office Assistant – Maureen Akitt – church: 403-627-3734, home 403-627-2443

A "wedding in church" would be one of the three church buildings in the pastoral charge – Pincher Creek, Cowley and Mountain Mill


Funerals

Our church is available to everyone in need, whether you are a member or non-member. Contact – Judith Walker – Church office – 403-627-3743 or 430-627-2052


Aquila's and Priscilla's Thrift Shop

Open – Fridays and Saturdays – 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.


Youth Group

Meets on the last Sunday of the month at 2:00 p.m. (at Pincher Creek Church).

Wedding in Church


  • To the church for staff time: $200.00
  • Minister's Honorarium: $100.00
  • Organist's Honorarium: $75.00
  • Sanctuary: $100.00
  • Mileage: n/a

Outside Wedding


  • To the church for staff time: $200.00
  • Minister's Honorarium: $100.00
  • Organist's Honorarium: n/a
  • Sanctuary: n/a
  • Mileage: $.45/km

Sunday School


Sunday School is available September to June. There is programming for children 3 years and older. Usually the older youth provide child care for children under 3. It is an important ministry and community within our community!

UCW


There is an active UCW (United Church Women) group in each of our three points on the Pastoral Charge: Pincher Creek, Cowley (Foothills) & Mountain Mill

Senior Choir


The Senior Choir practices on Wednesday nights from 7:00. They have fun together and always welcome anyone new who wants to join.

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