Time capsule from 2000 at Glen Rhodes United reveals Star Wars pop cans, details on becoming an affirming congregation

By MATTHEW STEPHENS

A recent time capsule opening at East End United’s Glen Rhodes Campus has uncovered limited edition memorabilia, old letters and photos, historic merchandise, and a classified ad the church placed in the Toronto Star 25 years ago.

“The contents of the box were amazing. There were limited edition pop cans from Star Wars Episode I’s release (although, I could have gone without seeing Jar Jar Binks again),” said Rev. Bri-anne Swan, minister at East End United Regional Ministry.

“There were letters people had written to the future with so much hope for the future. There were T-shirts from when the Glen Rhodes United Church and the United Church of Canada marched in the Pride Parade, a celebration of Glen Rhodes becoming an affirming congregation, photos from Blessing of the Animals, and even a classified ad Glen Rhodes placed in the Toronto Star, with a handwritten note of how much it cost.”

On Thursday, Sept. 25, members of the community gathered at the Glen Rhodes Campus at 1470 Gerrard St. E. for a potluck dinner, special liturgy, and to witness the unveiling of a time capsule from the year 2000, which was placed to commemorate the new millennium.

Swan was disappointed to find that there wasn’t a Beanie Baby, a popular kid’s toy from the late 1990s-early 2000’s, inside the time capsule. However, she was happy to see letters from the past.

“I am terribly disappointed that there was not, in fact, a Beanie Baby. I had been expecting to find some letters to the future and was not disappointed,” said Swan.

She was also happy to see that the church has supported members of the 2S and LGBTQIA+ community for more than 25 years.

“What struck me most was how many of the items in the time capsule spoke to Glen Rhodes as a safe and sacred space for 2S and LGBTQIA+ folks to be in spiritual community. Glen Rhodes was ‘affirming’ before that language was even widely embraced within the United Church,” said Swan.

“Even by the late 1990s, only a handful of congregations would consider ordaining an openly gay minister. That this community was so intentional about naming God’s love, care, and affirmation for everyone—and made that a core part of how they wanted to be remembered—was incredibly moving to me.”

Alongside the items found inside the box, Swan discovered a note from the person who created the wooden time capsule, who requested that the box be reused as a new time capsule for the next generation.

“We discovered a note that was left by the gentleman who created the wooden time capsule. On the underside of the lid, he left very clear instructions that the box was to be reused to plant another time capsule for the community. The youth are already discussing what they might include in a time capsule that would be opened in 2050,” said Swan.

She said it was important that the community come together to determine what will go in the next time capsule.

“This community is so much more than their minister and will exist long after I leave,” said Swan. “I would want the community to decide for themselves what about East End United Regional Ministry they’d like to preserve and have others know.”