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Knox United ChurchInternational's Mission:
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Knox United Church, North Portal, SK and First Presbyterian Church, Portal, ND alternate hosting church services. The newly renovated manse is located in North Portal with the minister's office in the nearby church. Our junior Sunday School and Youth Group fluctuate annually depending on numbers - both are handled by members of the congregations. Both churches have very active women's groups.
History
The church that was built in 1898 by the Presbyterian congregation became Knox United Church It was dedicated by Reverend George Roddick of Brandon who donated the pulpit. Previous to the erection of the building, services were held in the pioneer homes and also at the waiting room of the railway station. In 1893, a sod church two miles to the north of North Portal (18-01-04 W2), was put into use by the Methodist parishioners. Later the Methodist congregation held their services in the newly erected Presbyterian Church until they built their own in 1903. With the shortage of clergy during the First World War, the Methodists and Presbyterians had combined services. Prior to becoming the local United Church in 1925 when the United Church of Canada was formed, this worshipping community became the Union Church in 1921, with the old Methodist Church building being then used as the church hall. Thus, the spirit of cooperation and mutual assistance that led to the inauguration of the United Church of Canada in 1925 was alive and well in North Portal long before that.
In 1935, the North Portal/Bienfait Pastoral Charge was formed with Bienfait, Roche Percee, Taylorton and Britannia School District. In 1958, a new manse was built to replace the manse built in 1903. Earlier that decade, an addition was made to the church building with the purchase of the former Canada Customs building which was used as the church hall for Christian Education, meeting space, and community functions.
The International Pastoral Charge was formed with the North Portal/Bienfait charge joining with the Presbyterian Churches of Portal and Flaxton, North Dakota in 1965. 1966 saw the beginning of shared services whereby the congregations of First Presbyterian in Portal and Knox United in North Portal worshipped together, but altered locations every other month.
In 1993, at the time of Knox United Church’s centennial celebration, it was becoming evident that the church building was in need of major repairs and renovations. With generous bequeaths and donations from the congregation, it was evident that a new church building project was feasible without an arduous and prolonged fund raising campaign. Services began in the new building in November, 1997.
Knox United joins with First Presbyterian Church of Portal, ND for worship each Sunday, alternating service location monthly between Portal and North Portal. The time of the service changes each spring and fall when North Dakota goes on daylight savings time. Attendance at worship varies from 20 to 30. Special services – Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, World Day of Prayer – some of which alternate yearly with Bienfait or other denominations, have been held. The Royal Canadian Legion and Auxiliary have a Remembrance Day service at Knox every year. Holy Communion is offered approximately eight times a year at an open table.
Sunday School is offered although the number of children attending worship has been decreasing so Sunday School is not always necessary. The church also has a Youth Group Centre that is open to all young people, whether church adherents or not. Although activities are scheduled about twice a month from September to May or June, the number of youth attending has declined sharply in the past few years.
There is an active UCW that meets monthly. They organize fundraising activities as well as look after the food for any church activity or function. They give a gift to every new baby arriving in the community, as well as pay a visit to new families taking up residence in the North Portal area. The congregation contributes donations of food for Christmas hampers for the needy. For the past seven years Knox United Church has been the site and host of a Christmas Cantata presented by an inter-denominational singing group with members from North Portal, Portal, and several other communities, bother American and Canadian. There is a coffee hour (when there is not a meal for a special event) preceding or following church service every Sunday. This has helped to create fellowship and a sense of welcome to all. Church attendees are warm and cordial, and, although it would be nice to see more people there, particularly young people, all are grateful to God for the many blessings.
History
The church that was built in 1898 by the Presbyterian congregation became Knox United Church It was dedicated by Reverend George Roddick of Brandon who donated the pulpit. Previous to the erection of the building, services were held in the pioneer homes and also at the waiting room of the railway station. In 1893, a sod church two miles to the north of North Portal (18-01-04 W2), was put into use by the Methodist parishioners. Later the Methodist congregation held their services in the newly erected Presbyterian Church until they built their own in 1903. With the shortage of clergy during the First World War, the Methodists and Presbyterians had combined services. Prior to becoming the local United Church in 1925 when the United Church of Canada was formed, this worshipping community became the Union Church in 1921, with the old Methodist Church building being then used as the church hall. Thus, the spirit of cooperation and mutual assistance that led to the inauguration of the United Church of Canada in 1925 was alive and well in North Portal long before that.
In 1935, the North Portal/Bienfait Pastoral Charge was formed with Bienfait, Roche Percee, Taylorton and Britannia School District. In 1958, a new manse was built to replace the manse built in 1903. Earlier that decade, an addition was made to the church building with the purchase of the former Canada Customs building which was used as the church hall for Christian Education, meeting space, and community functions.
The International Pastoral Charge was formed with the North Portal/Bienfait charge joining with the Presbyterian Churches of Portal and Flaxton, North Dakota in 1965. 1966 saw the beginning of shared services whereby the congregations of First Presbyterian in Portal and Knox United in North Portal worshipped together, but altered locations every other month.
In 1993, at the time of Knox United Church’s centennial celebration, it was becoming evident that the church building was in need of major repairs and renovations. With generous bequeaths and donations from the congregation, it was evident that a new church building project was feasible without an arduous and prolonged fund raising campaign. Services began in the new building in November, 1997.
Knox United joins with First Presbyterian Church of Portal, ND for worship each Sunday, alternating service location monthly between Portal and North Portal. The time of the service changes each spring and fall when North Dakota goes on daylight savings time. Attendance at worship varies from 20 to 30. Special services – Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, World Day of Prayer – some of which alternate yearly with Bienfait or other denominations, have been held. The Royal Canadian Legion and Auxiliary have a Remembrance Day service at Knox every year. Holy Communion is offered approximately eight times a year at an open table.
Sunday School is offered although the number of children attending worship has been decreasing so Sunday School is not always necessary. The church also has a Youth Group Centre that is open to all young people, whether church adherents or not. Although activities are scheduled about twice a month from September to May or June, the number of youth attending has declined sharply in the past few years.
There is an active UCW that meets monthly. They organize fundraising activities as well as look after the food for any church activity or function. They give a gift to every new baby arriving in the community, as well as pay a visit to new families taking up residence in the North Portal area. The congregation contributes donations of food for Christmas hampers for the needy. For the past seven years Knox United Church has been the site and host of a Christmas Cantata presented by an inter-denominational singing group with members from North Portal, Portal, and several other communities, bother American and Canadian. There is a coffee hour (when there is not a meal for a special event) preceding or following church service every Sunday. This has helped to create fellowship and a sense of welcome to all. Church attendees are warm and cordial, and, although it would be nice to see more people there, particularly young people, all are grateful to God for the many blessings.