History

The people whose vision gave birth to St. David's in the late 1950's, were full of enthusiasm, courage and wisdom. They were not afraid to put their faith on the line and plunge in to the risky but rewarding adventure of establishing a new church in the rapidly expanding northeast corner of Woodstock. Four United Church congregations worked together to plan and finance St. David's.

The first service was held in Huron Park Public School (now Hillcrest Public School) on Sunday January 11th, 1959. David Allan, a theology student at Emanuel College served as student minister while under the supervision of Reverend J V McNeely from Central United Church.

The construction of the present church building at 190 Springbank Avenue North, was started in 1962 The congregation grew rapidly in the sixties and at one point in the late sixties had an average Sunday School attendance of 232.

St. David's will celebrate its 53rd anniversary in 2012.

Former Ministers

• Rev. J H Richardson ......... 1960 - 1963
• Rev. John Downing .......... 1963 - 1965
• Rev. Alf Mc Alister.............  1965 - 1970
• Rev. Donald Powell........... 1970 - 1975
• Rev. Peter Scott................ 1975 - 1993
• Rev. Glen Wright............... 1993 - 2002
• Rev. David Woodall........... 2002 - 2006
• Rev. Jane Van Patter......... 2007 - Present

The Congregation

We have approximately 399 families within our pastoral charge of which about half are active members. The congregation is composed of all age groups, from singles, married, young, middle aged to retired.

The members of St. David's represent a wide variety of theologies. In a focus group of eight adults from the congregation, there were five different theological approaches identified. Generally the congregation would be considered as liberal in its theology, with a very deep concern for both prayer and action in the world. Theological differences are respected and add to the rich diversity of the church's ministry.

Worship

Worship and music remain an important focal point for the congregation. We follow the lectionary with a scripture based service encompassing every day life. We often have lay people and youth involved in our church services, with "inter-generational" worships services held periodically. The scriptures for morning worship are read by lay people. Lay people also volunteer to conduct and preach at the summer worship services while the minister is on holidays.

Music ministry is a very important part of our worship.. Our music director, who is both organist and choir leader, directs a senior choir of about 25 members.  Our music director has treated us to many different styles of music. We have a total of three pianos and a full pipe organ.

Our Church building is completely handicapped accessible. Church services start at 10:30 a.m. A fully staffed nursery is available except during summer months. A "crying room" equipped with sound at the back of the sanctuary is available to people who want to keep their children with them during the church service, but are more comfortable in a private setting.

There are approximately 250 to 280 worshipers at the Sunday morning service from September to mid-May.  Following church coffee, cookies and fellowship are smilingly served in Kirk Hall. Through the summer months the attendance drops to 100 - 150. In summer we usually have a congregational picnic, including a church service, potluck and games, held at Southside Park in Woodstock.

Christian Education

Christian Education Mission Statement

• To provide Biblically based and Christ centered education that leads to life application and service.
• To commit ourselves as a church family to recognize the ever changing Christian Education development needs of all ages.
• To journey together through inter-generational participation and sharing of talents to foster and nurture spiritual growth.

Sunday School

Our Sunday School uses an exciting new rotational model using drama, crafts, kitchen time, story time and computers to relay the stories found in the Bible in real and meaningful ways. We have  repainted the classrooms in bright, bold colors chosen by the children themselves. The response that the teachers have been receiving from both children and adults has been terrific! This new format isn't just fun for the kids, it's also a lot easier and more enjoyable for the teachers and we are seeing an increase in attendance.

We have also been getting a lot of support from some of the teens in our congregation. They are an important part of our teaching teams. They move with the younger children and help them to finish crafts, lend a hand in the kitchen and run the nursery school, making Sunday morning run smoothly.

Youth Group

St. David's also has an active youth group with two adult leaders and an attendance of twelve to fifteen. It meets Sunday evenings, twice a month. Once a year they hold a "thirty hour famine" which raises $500 to $1,000 which goes to the Mission and Service fund, to the Food Grains Bank or to Operation Sharing.

Outreach

Perhaps since St. David's was a church of the 1960's, making a difference in the world has always been an important part of its ministry. The United Church Mission and Service fund is a high priority for many in the congregation. The yearly contribution remains at just over forty thousand dollars per year. In addition, annual contributions are made to Operation Sharing (approximately $10,000), the Food Grains Bank. ($1,000), the Healing Fund, and a house construction project in Mozambique.

Operation Sharing was started in the early 1980's by the five United Churches in Woodstock to help low income families through an economic recession. It began as a drop-in centre and food bank, and has now expanded to include among other things, an adult education centre, a job resource centre, a chaplaincy, a summer program for children.  St. David's has had its minister and one lay person serve on the board since Operation Sharing opened.

Volunteers from St. David's also provide and serve meals at The Adelaide Soup Bowl two weeks a year and work at The Christmas Place, a shopping project for the disadvantaged. The congregation has brought food to church each Sunday for the last six years for the Meeting Place, a project of Operation Sharing.

St. David's began sponsoring refugee families in the 1970's and continues to do so. We have sponsored six refugee families through the years. The last 2 families from Eritrea still make St. David's their church home We have assisted them through housing issues, language, education, and job orientation. Most have found jobs, but one family was supported by St. David's for three years at twenty thousand dollars per year. Unable to find employment in Canada, the family returned after the war to Bosnia, their home country.

Our U C W contributes to many charities in our community and overseas, as well as servicing Funeral luncheons and other reception held in our Church building.

We also have a "tape ministry" which provides an audio tape of the Sunday worship for those unable to attend. Six to eight people receive these tapes, along with a visit, on a weekly basis.

Spiritual Nurture and Fellowship

Our Minister encourages spiritual growth and concern for people everywhere. One of the spiritual resources of St. David's is a prayer group and prayer chain which meets bimonthly for prayer. They pray daily and "connect" the prayer chain when prayer concerns are given to any one of the members between meetings. At any given time they are praying for as many as eighteen individuals or families. Names are given to the group from the congregation and from the wider community.

An adult Bible study has been held for sixteen weeks fall and spring led by a layperson in the congregation. An additional Faith or Bible study is held during Lent and is led by the minister.

St. David's has an active UCW with three units. Unit 4 meet at 9:30 a.m the third Tuesday of the month.  Unit 2 meet at 1:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month.  Unit #3 meet at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month. Unit leaders and a program committee plan the general meetings. The UCW has its own very active visiting program.

For the men, a men's breakfast club meets at the Quality Inn on the first Sunday in each month for fellowship. On occasion they arrange speakers and plan projects.

The second breakfast group meet at 8:30 a.m. the second Sunday of the month in Kirk Hall. Guest speakers are available each meeting. Everyone is invited to participate in this breakfast.

Fellowship is also encouraged through an adult group called "Simply Friends", which meets monthly for friendship. Such events as a dinners, theatre, canoeing and camping weekends, boat cruises, car rallies, corn roasts, etc. are held with from twenty-five to seventy-five people participating.

Other Items of Interest