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Trinity United Church is the only United Church in the City of Vernon. Trinity lives in an abundantly diverse neighbourhood of single family homes, apartments, senior’s highrises, condominiums, schools and community activities.
Three other Christian churches are our next door neighbours – Knox Presbyterian, New Beginnings, and Our Lady of Peace Catholic. The Alexis Park area is as ecumenically diverse as it is economically diverse.
As a congregation within the rich tapestry of the United Church of Canada, Trinity United Church, Vernon, is part of a network of 3,300 congregations.
The largest protestant denomination in Canada, the United Church was created by an act of Parliament of the Government of Canada in 1925 on the hope of uniting a nation and creating a Christian country. While history has proven such an idea was not, and is not, conducive to freedom of religious expression, the United Church of Canada does have a history of participating in and sometimes leading in the creation of the social structures that have turned Canada into one of the noblest and socially conscious countries in the world.
In Vernon, Trinity United church began as Vernon Presbyterian Church in 1882 – a small white clapboard building servicing a congregation of some 20 families under the spiritual leadership of Reverend Paul Langill.
Eventually, this church became St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church – which in 1925 became St. Andrew’s United Church.
The Vernon Methodist Church at the time of the union in 1925, became Central United Church.
In 1929 the Methodist and Presbyterian churches amalgamated to become Vernon United Church, with a new building dedicated in 1955. In 1962 the church became “Trinity United”.
A devastating fire in 1985 destroyed the 27th Street complex. Trinity’s congregation graciously accepted the generosity and compassion of brothers and sisters in Christ in other churches. Worshiping in the Anglican church sanctuary, celebrating congregational feasts in the Mormon church hall and hearing the compassionate concern from others in the Christian community, Trinity learned what it meant to become adaptable, to become flexible, to experience generosity.
The present building located on Alexis Park Drive was dedicated in 1987. It has fulfilled the intention of the congregation to develop our own ministry and to serve as a resource to our community.
In addition, since 1921, the people of Trinity United Church have been called to serve the children of the Okanagan through the ministry of camping in a variety of locations in the Okanagan region.
Camp Hurlburt is a quiet place where families, campers, and groups of all kinds can retreat for rest, fun and relaxation.
You are invited to come just as you are, make friends forever, and grow in relationship with God from deep within your heart. Camp Hurlburt is an embodiment of the outdoor ministry at Trinity United Church.
When the adventures on the beach are finished for the day .. you'll also discover that Camp Hurlburt is a place:
- where you can ask any question, even when there may not be an answer...
- where all are encouraged to be all of who you are and all that you can become...
- where people play with you, learn with you, and create with you...
where the Spirit of God hangs in the air like the needles on the pine trees...
CAMP HISTORY
Today, Trinity United Church owns and operates Camp Hurlburt - a 2.5 acre camping facility on Okanagan Lake.
For 77 years, Camp Hurlburt has consistently, effectively, and with humility built relationships with thousands of children and youth that have taught them the sacredness of their own lives and God's creation.
And today …
We are a congregation that is united in the following Vision and Mission Statements.
Vision Statement
“one congregation – two locations – strengthening sacred relationships”
As we live into our vision, we will
• live our core values • engage in sacred relationships • embrace a new understanding of “sacred place” and “sacred time” • live with awe, wonder, and respect in creation • live in the world with an attitude of generosity and gratitude
Mission Statement
a community of faithful and nurturing disciples of Christ, exploring ancient wisdom and spiritual experience, to strengthen sacred relationships with self, others and all of creation.
In response to the invitation of discipleship, as part of Trinity’s Mission Statement, we strive to:
• pray daily • participate in weekly worship • read and study the scriptures regularly • serve others within the church community and in the world • grow spiritual friendships which encourage the spiritual growth in others • give generously and freely of time, talents and financial resources
We understand ancient wisdom to include the Bible and all of its translations, ancient and contemporary church traditions, ancient and contemporary literature; and the combination of any and all academic disciplines. We open our hearts, our minds and our bodies to direct experience of God through spiritual practice.
