RIVERSIDE UNITED CHURCH

WE WELCOME YOU!!

The history of our congregation is measured best, not in terms of the number of years of our existence, but rather by the ministry which has been provided by the members of our congregation over the years. That ministry has blessed the lives of countless people in the community and beyond, and continues to be enriched by the gifts of every person who chooses to be a part of our church family. We invite you to come and see if you would like to be a part of our community of faith.

THE HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE UNITED CHURCH

On November 4, 1962 the first worship service of the newly formed Riverside United Church was held in Brookfield School. Property had been purchased on Riverside Drive just south of Walkley Road by the Ottawa Presbytery of the United Church for the construction of a new United Church, and the members of Riverside United began exploring the building of a church. At that time, the United Church of Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada were negotiating a possible union of the two denominations. We thus entered into conversations with local members of the Anglican Church who were also contemplating building a new church in the Mooney's Bay area. Although church union did not come about, an agreement was reached on a common facility, and in 1969, our two congregations, Riverside United Church (RUC), and the Anglican Church of the Resurrection (COR) completed construction on the existing building which we continue to share.
This partnership has endured and has served our two congregations well. We are able to benefit from the unique gifts we each bring to the relationship in an attitude of unity in service to Christ. Our two congregations equally own and maintain the church building and property except for a portable building, constructed in the 1990's, which is owned solely by Riverside United. Our church building consists of a multi-use sanctuary which seats up to 300 people used for Sunday worship and for church dinners and other functions. We have several meeting rooms, some of which house the Riverside Park Nursery School. We have a large parking lot and plenty of green space around the church which is directly adjacent to the south end of Mooney's Bay.

CHURCH OPERATIONS

• We are a congregation of about 450 members and adherents.


• We have 75-80 people in attendance on an average Sunday.


• There are, on average, between 10 and 15 children registered in our Sunday School.


• We have a full-time Minister, and a part-time Music Director, part-time Office Administrator, and part-time Children and Youth Co-ordinator.


• We strive to be a very friendly and supportive community of faith.

Our Worship Services

Occasionally, the Anglican and United Church congregations join together for worship, but on most Sundays, the Church of the Resurrection holds services at 8:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m., and Riverside United at 11:00 a.m. During July and August, joint services are held with the Anglicans at 9:30 am., and on four other occasions during the year, joint services are held with the Anglicans usually at 10:00 am. Other special services are also held throughout the year. Please call the church office or check the News/Current Announcements page on this web site for more information.

Our Ministry Staff

Our Minister, Reverend Paul Dillman transferred from the Saskatchewan Conference in the summer of 2003 to be our full-time Minister, and continues to this day. Bill Loveless is our Director of Music, Julie Strike is our Office Administrator, and Miriam Illman-White is our Children & Youth Co-ordinator. Please see the “RUC Staff” page for photos and short bios of our church staff. They are always more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

RIVERSIDE UNITED CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT

At Riverside United Church, we bring a Christian perspective to life through the provision of:

• Worship Services



• Christian Education



• Spiritual Nourishment



• Friendship



• Support and Comfort



• Outreach to Others

DECORATIVE WALL HANGINGS

Since 2008, the church sanctuary has featured several decorative, large wall hangings produced by Georgina Gray, a RUC member, as part of a Riverside Churches project. Click here to read about the hangings.

COUNCIL & COMMITTEES

Updated February, 2012

Listed in the table below are the Riverside United Church Trustees appointed as members of the Joint Holding Corporation, also known as Riverside Churches of Ottawa, Inc. The Joint Holding Corporation consists of five trustees from Riverside United, five from the Church of the Resurrection, one from the Ottawa Presbytery and one from the Anglican Ottawa Diocese. There is no set term and appointments are confirmed annually.