NEWS RELEASE
LIVING HOPE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
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On Sunday, April 11, 2021, the members of the First Christian Reformed Church of Orillia unanimously voted to change our name to Living Hope Christian Reformed Church, Orillia.
When the church was established in 1953, it served a predominantly Dutch immigrant community, proudly calling itself the First Christian Reformed Church of Orillia. Since those early years, the church has shed its ethnic roots and has become fully integrated into the Orillia community.
Today, the name Living Hope reflects our ongoing mission:
- To glorify God in all we do;
- To gather people around God’s word;
- To grow ever-deepening relationships with God and each other.
More than ever, we want to share that Jesus Christ offers living hope to all people.
The people of First Christian Reformed Church of Orillia were walking through the early days of the pandemic when they chose to have hope. And they voted to change the name of their church from “First” to “Living Hope.” They felt that “Living Hope” sent a truer message of what lay at the core of their church and at the centre of Jesus’ teachings.
The new sign was in place, standing tall, by Saturday, June 20, and on Sunday morning the congregation was out on the front lawn offering thanksgiving and praise and celebrating with a potluck lunch.
In the background of the new sign logo, you can see a circle representing the whole world. And you can also see the cross where Jesus died. But the most vibrant part of the sign is the brightly coloured leaves of the tree. The many colours represent the diversity of people that Living Hope Christian Reformed Church hopes will find refreshment, newness, peace, friendship and, of course, hope and the love of God through the church.
In many ways this church is a community church, seeking the welfare of the neighbourhood. There is a new Little Free Library at the front of the church and a bench to sit on and find rest if you’ve just climbed the hill. Their current plan is that the church’s neighbourhood summer barbecues will resume this year in the month of August.
On Sunday at the celebration, Pastor Jane Porter spoke of the Tree of Life, which is for “the healing of the nations.” God’s love is for everyone.
We invite you to join us in worshipping the living God, who fills us with living hope through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.
Worship services take place Sundays at 10 a.m.
For more information, visit the new website: livinghopeorillia.com.
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