On May 31, 2026. after our afternoon worship service in the lower level of Lutheran Church of the Cross concluded……. the Lutheran Urban Ministry Corp. (the Urban) had a ceremonial walk to our new location at First Lutheran Church, 580 Victor Street, also in the west end of Winnipeg. For fourteen years the Urban was a tenant of Lutheran Church of the Cross on Arlington Street. The congregation of Church of the Cross closed in the summer of 2025 and was gifted to Arms of the Cross Housing Inc. for planned renovation of the interior structure into affordable housing apartments for seniors. The Urban was very fortunate to have those 14 years there – but change does happen!

In the fall of last year, First Lutheran Church (five streets away) knew that the Urban needed to relocate and had invited the Lutheran Urban Ministry to make our home as tenants there. Lots of planning and preparations brought us to a memorable day on our last day on Arlington St. on May 31st. And what an amazing day it was! Pastor Barry Bence led our final afternoon Urban worship service – it was so heartfelt. Marlyn Martinez, musical director at First Lutheran Church provided wonderful accompaniment. I looked out over our Urban worshippers and saw all those dearly beloved familiar faces, from young children and youth to seniors. This was the final Sunday afternoon Urban worship service and many First Lutheran congregation members, along with Judy Dikkema, the Urban’s first Chair of the Board, as well as our Lutheran Urban Ministry board members were all there with us!

When the worship service concluded at 2:15 p.m., we all gathered outside Lutheran Church of the Cross for a symbolic walk to First Lutheran Church, our new home for the Urban! We stopped many times along our walk to First for prayers led by Pastor Barry.

This lovely day was also part of the First Lutheran Church ELCIC Day of Action!! Along with many FLC congregation members walking with us, they had planned a special welcome when we arrived! Outside in the courtyard: the prayers from our Prayer Bucket (from Easter to May 31) were placed in a sacred fire in the First Lutheran courtyard along with a prayer and a hymn. Vicki Catagas, our special advisor to the Urban Board provided a smudge ceremony afterward in the courtyard. Huge smiles from so many First Lutheran congregation members as we entered the parish hall to have iced tea – and cake!! provided by Pastor Barry! The tables in the church hall were full, and people sat and visited for a long time. I had heard so many times from First Lutheran congregation members, “we’re so excited about you coming”!

When the relocation was being planned, the Urban was invited to be a part of the worship community of First Lutheran Church on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Our Urban worshippers have been so warmly welcomed – and our Urban kids and youth are happy to have Sunday school and Youth Group! Coffee after church is a chance for us all to get to know each other during coffee time. To all be together in worship and fellowship on Sunday mornings – is a wonderful example of reconciliation in action right here in the Winnipeg’s west end.

Rhonda Gorham, Ministry Manager
Lutheran Urban Ministry Corp. (the Urban)
A partner ministry of the MNO Synod