Time capsule from the year 2000 to be opened this week at East End United Regional Ministry’s Glen Rhodes Campus

By MATTHEW STEPHENS

Time capsules offer younger generations a chance to experience life and culture from an earlier era. With just a small collection of items such as newspapers, photos, letters, toys, and personal items from the past, time capsules allow people a chance to revisit a moment lost in time.

On Thursday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m., East End United Regional Ministry invites members of the community to come together and revisit the year 2000, with the unveiling of a 25-year-old time capsule at their special evening service of The Spark hosted at the Glen Rhodes Campus at 1470 Gerrard St. E.

“This time capsule belongs not only to the church, but to the whole neighbourhood,” said Rev. Bri-anne Swan, minister at East End United Regional Ministry.

“Opening it together is a way of honouring the people who came before us while daring to imagine how we might keep living love out loud in this community.”

The ceremonial time capsule was placed in the Glen Rhodes Campus on Sept. 24, 2000, to commemorate the new millennium.

“No clue what’s inside, but I’m hoping for something like a VHS tape, a church bulletin, a few local newspaper clippings, and maybe a note from someone who really believed they were writing to the future,” said Swan.

“Fingers crossed for a Lunchable to see if they really do last forever, or a Beanie Baby. Purely for historical purposes, of course.”

East End United is hoping to connect with anybody who played a role in creating the time capsule, or who may have been present when it was sealed 25 years ago.

This Thursday’s special event will begin with a potluck dinner, followed by a special liturgy to honour the history of Glen Rhodes Campus, celebrate the community that has gathered at the church since 1906 and look ahead to the future in the Coxwell/Gerrard neighbourhood.

Guests attending Thursday’s free event are encouraged to bring a contribution to the potluck or a food bank donation.

Serving the community with food justice outreach since the 1980s, Glen Rhodes United Church continues to provide support to those in need, with access to the Nourish East End market style food bank, which currently feeds more than 650 people per week, as well as their community dinners, which serve over 100 meals every month.

In 2018, Glen Rhodes United joined with Cosburn United Church and Eastminster United Church to form the East End United Regional Ministry.

East End United Regional Ministry later partnered with multi-service agency Applegrove Community Complex in 2019, to further their mission to support the community with the East End Food Hub, which is located at the Glen Rhodes site.

For Swan, opening the time capsule signifies reflection and togetherness as a community.

“A time capsule connects the past, present, and future. It’s a love letter from another era. Unveiling it gives us a chance to reflect on who we were, who we are, what was and is important, and who we’re becoming together as a community,” said Swan.

For more information about East End Regional Ministry, head to their website at https://www.eastendunited.ca