Who We Are
CMUC is a “memorial church,” founded by veterans. Our purpose as a congregation is to honour our heritage as a memorial church by living the call of Jesus to be peace-makers. Our church life revolves around discovering internal peace and creating peace in the world.
What does our commitment to peace-making look like? Well, sometimes it looks like a group of people sharing their talent to raise money for initiatives that make a difference in the world. Sometimes it looks like a small group gathered around a good book or a film that teaches us about environmental issues, refugees or something else we should be paying attention to. Sometimes it means a chat with the minister to get something off our chest and make room for God’s healing spirit. Sometimes it means belting out a good tune (we welcome those who can’t carry one!) or lighting candles and voicing a sincere prayer.
Our Values
Carleton Memorial United Church is a friendly and affirming Christian community welcoming to all. We support and encourage everyone to participate in all aspects of the life and work of our congregation: asking questions, exploring faith, and cultivating gifts. We are one family. Whether gathered for celebration and learning, or scattered in care and service, we seek to live out God’s love, peace, and justice with courage, humility, and joy for everyone and all creation. Welcome to a safe space and a diverse place with a variety of paths to belonging and becoming.
Our veterans served and sacrificed so that we can live in a community where people are free to be who they are and feel that they are welcome. We prayerfully build on this foundation and commit to continuing to grow. We further envision peace-making in an inward sense by being a spiritual safe-haven for all people, as we embrace differences in sexual orientation, gender identity, age, mental and physical ability, family status, economic standing and cultural background.
Where some see chaos, we find peace. Where some see despair, we find courage. Where some see fear, we find confidence. Come to Carleton Memorial and find the difference. Together, we can grow our better selves and build a brighter world. Thanks be to God.
NEW TO CARLETON MEMORIAL?
Visiting a new church for the first time can be a bit intimidating: When do I stand and sit? What should I wear? What will my children do? We want you to feel at home when you come to CMUC. Here are our responses to questions we are commonly asked. Just click on a question for the answer.
We want you to wear whatever you feel comfortable wearing. We are thrilled that you are joining us so come as you are. Some people wear jeans and a t-shirt. Others wear their “Sunday best.” Whatever you want to wear is perfectly fine … you’ll fit right in!
Your children worship with you for the first fifteen minutes of the service. After a conversation with the minister at the front of the church with the other children, they head to Sunday School. At Sunday School, they learn a Bible story, make crafts and play games. They’ll have a great time! There is a nursery available for little ones or if they would prefer to remain with you, there is a special place in our sanctuary with toys and games that the kids can play with while you take in the service from our comfy leather couch.
Don’t worry, our minister will invite you to stand or sit along with everyone else.
If you are visiting with us, we don’t expect you to put money in the offering plate and you are welcome to just let it pass by. If you want to support our ministry and mission, we’d love for you to prayerfully consider giving to Carleton Memorial United Church. You can give by cheque or cash during the service.
No two services are exactly alike at CMUC. We are eclectic in our worship style. That said, there is always music, prayer, scripture reading and a message. Generally, there are three “movements” during the service: a welcoming/centering time, a message, and a responsive time. Sometimes our services are “busy.” Sometimes they are more meditative. But we always strive to be relevant, and provide transcendent and transformative worship experiences.
There are no belief requirements for attendance at CMUC. Our congregation members hold a broad range of beliefs. Whether you have a lot of faith or a little, what matters most is that you come seeking the sacred.