By calling all to participate, Zion-Memorial United made its 100 Tables project a celebration, earning invaluable community support
This summer, Zion-Memorial United Church, our community of faith in Carleton Place, Ontario joyfully participated in the United Church of Canada’s 100 Tables initiative, a nationwide celebration of community building for the denomination’s 100th anniversary. What began as a plan to construct one picnic table quickly blossomed into a project three times larger, thanks to a generous partnership with our local RONA store here in Carleton Place. RONA not only supplied an additional two tables, but also reached out to Sico Paints Canada on our behalf, resulting in a full donation of the paint required for the project.
On a sunny Saturday morning, members of the congregation and neighbourhood gathered on the church lawn for a hands-on building and painting party. Children, parents, seniors, long-time congregants, and new friends worked together—rarely in silence, often in laughter—as three sturdy, colourful tables took shape. What surprised many of us was how quickly the work turned from “a project” into “a celebration.” The simple act of building something together created a profound sense of connection.
Once the tables were installed on the front lawn, immediately welcoming to passersby, they became a gathering place almost overnight. To make the project even more meaningful, we invited the children of the church and the community groups that use our building throughout the week to add their painted handprints to the benches. The hope was that the benches would slowly fill with handprints until the original paint colour disappeared under layers of colour and belonging.
Today, those tables continue to be used by families, neighbours, walkers, church members, and community groups alike. They have quickly become a symbol of hospitality, creativity, and shared purpose.
Our congregation chose to participate in the 100 Tables Initiative because the project so clearly expressed what we believe the church is called to be: a community that builds, shares, and gathers. Zion-Memorial United Church sits in the heart of Carleton Place, a growing town with diverse needs and opportunities. We saw the initiative as a way to say, in a visible and practical way, “You are welcome here.”
We also recognized that anniversaries are most meaningful when they invite participation. Constructing something together gave our congregation a tangible way to honour the United Church of Canada's 100th anniversary, by creating spaces that will serve people far beyond our own membership. The tables are not just furniture; they are a living expression of the United Church’s long-standing commitments to community engagement and hospitality.
Another reason we took this on was our desire to strengthen relationships within the congregation after several years of disruption brought on by the pandemic. The act of gathering, with tools, paintbrushes, and sunscreen, allowed people of all ages to reconnect in a joyful, hands-on way. It reminded us that community ministry does not always begin with worship or committee meetings; sometimes, it starts with a screwdriver and a paint can.
Finally, inviting children and community groups to add their handprints symbolized our hope for the future. We want our church property to be used, enjoyed, and marked, literally, by the people who share life with us. As the benches slowly fill with colourful handprints, they stand as a reminder that the church is strongest when it bears the imprint of all who gather, not only those who belong to it formally. In short, we built these tables to celebrate the past, strengthen the present, and welcome the future.
—Andrew Valley is Church Administrator and Office Manager at Zion-Memorial United Church, Carleton Place, Ontario
To read more stories like these, take a look at our map of 100 Tables projects nationwide.
The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.