Today marks 100 years since the founding of The United Church of Canada, with the milestone being celebrated in services across the country and around tables.
At Metropolitan United in downtown Toronto, over 150 people gathered this past Sunday for a community potluck, seated at a 100-foot-long picnic table stretching across the church lawn. Built earlier this spring by a team of 30 volunteers, the table stretches across the church’s front yard and is painted in rainbow colours, a nod to Pride Month and Metropolitan’s identity as an affirming church.
“We had a role in the anniversary service 100 years ago,” said Rev. Jason Meyers, Metropolitan’s minister for worship and faith formation. “Like today, the bells were ringing outside of our church, and some thousands of people gathered here in this park.”
The idea emerged through the “100 Tables” campaign, a national United Church initiative encouraging congregations to mark the centennial by setting tables for connection. While some churches opted for simple folding tables or small gatherings, Metropolitan saw an opportunity to reflect its downtown context by building something on a larger scale. The table was built by a team of 30 volunteers on a Saturday after a week of preparation inside the church, where pieces were measured, cut, and sanded.
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“We’ve been talking for a good year and a half about what we were going to do for the centennial — what’s important for the next centennial of the United Church of Canada,” said Ronda Parkes, communications director at the General Council Office. “I kept coming back to the image of a place at the table.”
That image became a reality not only in the physical table but in Sunday’s potluck, where local congregations gathered to celebrate the centennial together. The diverse crowd included children, ministers, and seniors, all gathered to share food and community.
“Our church is starting to look more and more like Toronto each year,” said Rev. Meyers.
Rev. Jim Harbell, the incoming minister at nearby Saint Luke’s United, also joined the potluck. He reflected on how fitting it was to celebrate the centennial with food and fellowship.
“Early Christians gathered over meals. Food has always been central to the church’s story — and to the social gospel that’s guided the United Church’s work,” he said.
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Paniz Vedavarz is an intern at Broadview.
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