WESTLOCK – More than 60 people gathered Sunday morning, July 25, at the former Westlock United Church on Main Street in Westlock to hold what could be called a farewell service to the church that served the community for Sunday services, youth and women’s groups, weddings, funerals and other events for close to a century.
In recent years, the numbers attending the church dropped to the point where was no longer made sense to keep it operational and it was offered for sale. Kerri-lee Kostiw and her husband Darren saw promise in the building as a business venture and purchased it. With a lot of hard work, determination, and renovations, the church has been transformed into Kerri’s Café and Bakery. When COVID-19 closed so many activities down almost a year and a half ago, there was no opportunity for the congregation to say farewell to their beloved building.
When restrictions were lifted last month, Kostiw offered to open her establishment for a final service, and plans were made by the congregation. Invitations were sent out to former ministers and lay ministers, with several in attendance, who were identified and thanked for their service. The congregation Sunday included many who had attended the church, plus others from the Hazel Bluff United Church congregation and friends in the community.
Dave Lent was worship leader for the special service, which was titled, “Moving On – A Celebration of the Life of Westlock United.”
In many ways, it was a regular Sunday service, with music, singing and prayer. Sue Dupuis, who played music at the church for many years was at her piano for the hymns, with Phyllis Cramer doing a reading, and opening remarks by Phyllis Frick.
A church bulletin prepared for the special service reads: “This is a day with some sadness, as we say farewell to this building’s existence as a church, but it is a time when we can choose infinite hope for the future of the building, and for the future of the congregation that used to meet here, and soon will gather elsewhere. So long as we gather there is reason for hope. So long as there is hope, there is possibility.”
And as Lent observed, “The church is not a building, it's the people.”
Taking the role of the church building itself speaking, Arla Trueblood and her son Robert presented a comprehensive history of the building from its beginning in 1924 to when the doors closed and it was offered for sale in late 2019.
Kostiw, a former school music instructor, ended the service, noting how she had brought a singing group to the church a few years ago, and had observed the fine acoustics there. She admits that was one of the selling points.
Not only did she offer the building for the final service, she also provided a lunch in appreciation. Following, she also provided tours of the renovated building that includes a full bakery setup in the basement — it’s a new beginning and a new purpose for one of the town’s older buildings.
