Friends,  Tomorrow, we are celebrating the 100 th Anniversary of the formation of the United Church of Canada. We are also observing Pentecost – that amazing day 2,000 plus years ago, when the Spirit descended on believers and non-believers in Jerusalem. It was a chaotic and amazing event. As we recognize the United Church’s 100 years, I am aware that the Spirit was very active calling us into union – and pushing against the divisions that have marked the wider Christian church. The movement toward union began long before 1925. In fact, it was delayed by World War I. Finally, in 1925, Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Union Churches (that already existed) came together. It took an act of parliament as much property was already involved. Not all Presbyterians came into union, but they did in Australia, some years later, creating the Uniting Church of Australia – a sister denomination. We have many sister denominations and partners around the world and we share a global mission with a number of them. In 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren (Eastern Conference) came into the United Church. The original vision was to bring Christ to a young Canada. There was also a pragmatic understanding that it was not wise to plant three or four churches in new communities. As we look back on 100 years, we can see many ways and places where The Spirit has been at work: When we decided to ordain women in 1938. When women could be elders in the church. When we elected our first black Moderator, Dr. Wilbur Howard. Then, our first lay Moderator, medical missionary Dr. Robert McClure, and then our first woman Moderator, the Rev. Lois Wilson. When we apologized to our indigenous brothers and sisters for their treatment over decades. When we voted to ordain gay and lesbian persons who were fit and trained for ministry. The Spirit has been at work in hundreds of other ways --invited us to follow Christ, inviting us to justice, and inviting us to plant new congregations like Heart Lake United Church. We are a Spirited bunch! We have made some mistakes – but God isn’t done with us! I hope that you can share our celebrations this Sunday. Wishing you grace and peace in these challenging times. Reverend Jim Cairney