Sermon in the Paramount: Pentecostal church eyes historic Jasper Ave. vacant theatre as a perfect venue for its eclectic flock

Edmonton Journal
Monday, April 17, 2006
Page: A10
Section: Cityplus
Byline: Ben Gelinas
Dateline: EDMONTON
Source: The Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON - The last time Heidi Zimmerman was in the old Paramount Theatre on Jasper Avenue, she saw the movie Titanic.

On Sunday, a show of faith brought her back.

Zimmerman is a member of the City Centre Church, a Pentecostal group with more than 400 members, which held its Easter service in the Paramount.

The church's usual space in the University's Telus Centre wasn't big enough to accommodate the congregation, as well as visiting family members, guests and passersby.

As the church continues to grow, its leaders are considering a new home. They would like to bring their casual brand of communal faith to the vacant Paramount on a full-time basis.

It's an ideal venue, said founder Ken Solbrekken. "God wanted us to be in the core of the city, but we ended up across the river."

In October, the Paramount and surrounding buildings were bought by Procura Real Estate Investment Limited for an undisclosed price.

The church group said it has been in negotiations with the new owners but no deal has been reached.

Solbrekken and 12 friends started the church in his Edmonton home back in January 2004.

On Sunday, hundreds of parishioners crowded into the Paramount. Many grabbed cups of Tim Hortons coffee and some Timbits, then found comfortable spots among rows of navy plush seats, while members of the church prepared for a service that included rock songs and interpretive dance numbers.

"The congregation is very arts focused," said lead pastor Kevin Fricker.

The church attracts mostly college students, younger families and urban professionals.

The message focuses on young people and works its way up the age brackets, unlike most churches that work their way down, said Solbrekken.

"This is a very natural venue for us."

While congregation members lined up for an Easter communion of bread and grape juice at the front of the theatre, founding church member Josh Tetford sipped coffee and chatted with David LeDressay.

"I've never been in the Paramount," said Tetford. "It's really sad this building isn't being used."

When the Paramount opened in 1953, it was the best place on the Prairies to see new movies.

It remained the biggest movie house in Edmonton for nearly 50 years.

Sunday's service was the first time a church service was held in the Paramount since former premier Ernest Manning broadcast his Sunday Back to the Bible Hour radio shows from there in the 1950s.

The Paramount has been largely unused since the summer of 2003.