Friends,
We received this email and request from Ron Anderson, Past-President of AOTS from Trinity United Church in Ontario (Newmarket), and we share it as part of our United Church history.
Dear Regional Councils of the UCofC.
We trust that the Subject “100th Anniversary for Men of the United Church of Canada”, has raised eyebrows, given that it precedes that of our United Church by 2 years. The explanation is in the message (below), which we are asking that you kindly share with all communities of faith in your Region, which in total – number over 2,500.
As the National Executive for the AOTS Men’s Clubs is no longer active, we are prayerful that this message will be seen by tens of thousands  across Canada during May – with the help of all Regional Councils. This will ensure that many hundreds of former members will be reminded as having belonged to what was, – a national association of United Church men’s clubs under the historic and iconic title: AOTS!
May God’s Blessings be felt by all who learn of this historic and spiritual message.
Ron Anderson
AOTS: As One That Serves
In 1923, a men’s ministries club was formed at Kerrisdale Methodist (later Ryerson United), Vancouver. That club adopted the name – AOTS – which was derived from what Jesus was quoted – saying to His Disciples in Luke 22 vs 27 – I am among you As One That Serves. That first club, continued through the Union of churches that we know as United Church of Canada. The formation of clubs spread across Canada. In 1981, a club was formed at Trinity United in Newmarket, Ontario. With the decline in membership over the past 20 years, especially, and the recent suspension of the National Executive (2019), the continuation of AOTS lies with any remaining clubs. At this point, Trinity United Newmarket’s AOTS Club may be the lone survivor. The purpose of this outreach via e-mail, is to call out to any United Church Member who remembers AOTS, or – better yet, was a member of AOTS in their local church.
On June 4th of this year, our club will celebrate its 42nd year since it was chartered, as we have done each year with our Annual AOTS Church Service. We will also celebrate this centenary for AOTS and invite any who are receiving this message through their local church, from St. John’s to Victoria, to join with us as we thank God through His Son, our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ for what AOTS has meant to thousands of His faithful men across Canada and Bermuda over one hundred years.
This message of faith has been prepared with the hope – and prayer, that it will be received by every United Church of Canada community of faith, across our beautiful Canada for which we are blessed to call home. For any who may wish to acknowledge that AOTS has not been forgotten, we can be reached at aots@trinityuc.ca. (website aots.ca)
Thanks be to God.
En 1923, à l’église Kerrisdale Methodist à Vancouver (maintenant connu sous le nom de Ryerson United) un groupe d’hommes religieux a été fondé. Ce club a adopté le nom AOTS qui vient des paroles de Jésus Christ en adressant ses disciples (Luc 22 :27) : …je suis au milieu de vous comme celui qui sert. (En anglais : As One That Serves).
Ce premier club a continué même après la naissance de l’Église Unie du Canada en 1925 (la fusion de l’Église méthodiste, congrégationaliste, presbytérienne et d’union). Plusieurs clubs AOTS ont été fondés à travers le Canada, y compris Trinity United à Newmarket en Ontario en 1981.
Durant les vingt dernières années, il y avait moins d’inscriptions dans les clubs AOTS, et en 2019, l’Exécutif National a été suspendu. Alors, la survie du concept du AOTS reste dans les mains des clubs qui existent encore. À ce moment, le club AOTS à Trinity United, Newmarket est peut-être le seul en existence.
Notre objectif, en envoyant ce courriel, est de voir s’il y a des membres de l’Église Unie du Canada qui se souviennent du AOTS, ou encore mieux, qui ont été membre de ce groupe dans leur église locale.
Le 4 juin 2023, notre club célèbrera son 42e anniversaire. Comme on le fait chaque année depuis sa conception, nous aurions un service spécial pour reconnaître notre club AOTS. Nous allons aussi célébrer le centenaire de l’AOTS général. On invite ceux qui reçoivent ce message dans les églises locales de St-Jean à Victoria de venir reconnaître cet anniversaire spécial avec nous!
Nous remercions Dieu et son Fils, notre Sauveur et Seigneur, Jésus Christ. Son exemple de service a inspiré des milliers d’hommes religieux du AOTS de différentes parties du Canada, et même des Bermudes, durant les cent dernières années.
Ce message de foi a été préparé avec espoir et avec prières qu’il sera reçu par chaque communauté de l’Église Unie du Canada. Quel beau pays que nous sommes bénis d’appeler chez-nous. Pour ceux qui veulent reconnaître que le club AOTS n’a pas été oublié, vous pouvez nous contacter au courriel suivant aots@trinityuc.ca (site web: aots.ca)
Grâce à Dieu.