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Burton Avenue United Church is a dynamic Christ-centred community of faith. For over 145 years, we have served the community of Allandale and the surrounding Barrie area, through meaningful worship, spiritual nurture and outreach into the community and wider world. We are inclusive, open, welcoming, willing to push the boundaries and take risks in order to be the hands and voice and heart of Christ. If you are looking for a church home where you will be welcomed, nurtured and challenged, Welcome to Burton Avenue United Church!

What's Happening this week!

EXPLORE BURTON aVENUE uNITED church
Sunday Nov. 17
Join us for Sunday Service at 10:00am!
  • Children and Youth are invited to Rainbow Club following the children’s song. Caregivers with toddlers & babies can make use of the Nursery, located off the Rainbow Club, where care is provided.  An usher can help you find your way.
  • Congregational Life Committee – invites you to our Anniversary Sunday potluck finger food lunch after the service today. 
  • Buy a Plank!  Build a Strong Foundation – is this year’s Stewardship Fundraiser.  Over our history the foundation of this church has provided a place where  generations have “reflected God’s love in a  changing community and world”.  People have walked on the floor of the lower hall for youth group, Open Hands events, funeral receptions, AA groups, Samaritan House, suppers and more.  No wonder we have had to restore a well-used foundation so that we can continue to share our mission & ministry.  We invite you to Buy a Plank! Build a Strong Foundation.  Each plank costs $15.  Buy one or two or 10 or 100 or ½.  You choose how you can help.  Use the special envelope in the pew or foyer.  Drop it off at the church office, put it on the offering plate or return by mail. We will mark our progress as the planks are purchased!  With gratitude for all support.
  • Snowflake Christmas Tree – Outreach Committee invites you to participate in this gift giving project.  Each snowflake on the tree in the foyer today contains the name of a child, age and a small wish list.  Take one or more snowflakes and sign the sheet.  Gifts for these children, identified through Samaritan House, will be due back at the church by Sun., Dec. 8, unwrapped with the snowflake (name) attached. What dollar value for the gifts? Your best discretion.  Any questions contact Christine Nayler cnayler@gmail.com
Wednesday Nov. 20
  • Kitchen Club – Our next date is Wed., Nov. 20 from 9:30 – 12:30 downstairs in the kitchen. Recipes:  shepherds pie, creamy sweet potato coconut soup, and buttery dinner rolls.  Join our small group who are sharing the work of cooking and taking home meals at a cost of $2 per serving (or as able).  Let Nancy Sawyers know you will be there so she can prepare for numbers. nancysawyers@msn.com  Everyone is welcome! 
  • Women's Spirituality Group - meets Wed., Nov. 20 at 7 pm.  Our guest speakers will be Ruth McDonald and Bob Clay, local beekeepers. They will share the business of bees and their importance to us.
Friday Nov. 22
  • Advent: The Gift of Giving To celebrate the beginning of the Advent season, the Life Long Learning Committee is hosting an evening of Christmas craft making.  Come join us on Fri., Nov. 22 from 6:30-8:30 pm.  The cost is $10 per person (as you are able) and will include four Christmas craft stations and some light refreshments. At the end of the evening, all the crafts will be divided into gift bags and donated to an Outreach program. Come help put joy into the hearts of others through the "gift of giving".
Sunday Nov. 24
  • Backwards Sunday – Nov. 24 we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion.  This means it will be a backwards Sunday for Rainbow Club.  They will begin in their classes and join their families just before Communion.
 

News and upcoming events

  • Book Club – Will meet Tues., Nov. 26 at 7:00 pm (note time change) The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.  At the home of Miriam Oben. January’s book will be Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.  All are welcome! 
  • VICTORIAN TEA Takes place on Sat., Nov. 30, running from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Admission – $12 for adult and $6 for children under 12 – is charged for the tea room. Admission to the other areas is free.  Thurs., Nov. 28 & Fri., Nov. 29 are preparation days. 
  • Victorian Tea Bake Sale - We are looking for volunteers to bake and donate baked goods for the Bake Sale.  We also accept jams and preserves.  There is a suggested list of baked goods in the foyer.  Your baking can be brought to the church on Fri., Nov. 29, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm to 7 pm.  It is helpful if the name of the baked goods is included.  We do the cutting and packaging, but if you wish to package your baked goods, that is  helpful.  (Islay Scott, Baking Convenor)
  • Chili & Chowder Lunch To show our appreciation for all of the hard work put into making the Victorian Tea a success, some of us are putting on a lunch after the service on Sun., Dec. 1. Enjoy your choice of seafood chowder, chili, vegetarian options & vegan soup. Freewill offering gladly accepted.  
  • The Presence Project Week 5 – There are ongoing weekly handouts in the foyer for those who need a printed copy. They are emailed to those on our email list. You are invited to write a few notes about your experience of God’s Presence and drop it in the basket in the foyer.  Pause in your day, in your church groups and meeting, wherever you are to say “Surely God is in this place!  Help me notice.” 
  • The Outreach Committee needs someone to look after our Busby Centre Sandwich Schedule - ensuring that someone is signed up each week and making an announcement when needed. If interested contact Christine Nayler cnayler@gmail.com We also need  someone to look after subscriptions for Broadview Magazine (formerly the Observer). Responsibilities incl. renewing & taking new subscriptions and cancelling them. Bulk of duties take place in Feb./March. See Joan Carruthers if interested.

lend a helping hand

Barrie Food Bank -  is in need of juice, jam and toilet paper.

Busby Street Centre - needs toiletries, toilet paper, coffee, sugar, cream, powdered milk, peanut butter, oatmeal, juice boxes, granola bars, tear top pastas and soups and bottled water. Or sign up in the foyer to make/deliver sandwiches to the Centre on Wednesdays.

Youth Haven -  They need school/work snacks, Mr. Noodles, pasta (not spaghetti) Chef Boyardee type meals, soups, canned veggies/fruits, deodorant, socks, underwear. Items are used in the shelter and provide food packages to youth living on their own. Donations can be dropped off at 22 Wellington St. E.  

Listening Post Barrie We nurture listeners and create spaces in Barrie where people can be heard one-on-one with compassion, respect and in confidence because listening is a gift for both the sharer and the listener. To volunteer email Ruth McDonald at listeningpostbarrie@gmail.com.

The Open Hands Mission Team is supporting a number of projects in Nicaragua including the building of a school.  Donations in support of the Nicaragua Mission should be made payable to "Open Hands United Mission.

             ON THE WEB
Website Update – our website has been redesigned.  Note that the address has changed from .ca to .com. Please email blindalleyarts@rogers.com for corrections, changes, or additions to the website.

Burton Avenue United Church Facebook Page
Please feel free to invite your friends and family to like the page and join us at our events.
https://www.facebook.com/BurtonAvenueUnitedChurch/

On Going

 Name tags  If you do not yet have a BAUC name tag (or have misplaced yours 😊) please add your name to the list in the foyer, or speak to Lois Delaforce

Resource Corner - Both the Affirm Team and the Truth & Reconciliation Committee have compiled books and other resources that you can borrow or keep. On the bulletin board right outside the sanctuary the Outreach Committee have posted information about Mental Health Awareness – take any flyers or information that you need.

2019  Church Offering Envelopes - in the mail-slots in the foyer.  If you wish to have envelopes, please call Stacey at the church office.  If you regularly use visitor envelopes, please consider asking for an envelope number as it makes it easier for our office to record your donations for tax receipt purposes.

Car Pool to Church – Are you able to occasionally offer rides to church for those needing them?  We are wanting to collect a list of those able to offer rides.  If you wish more information or are able to offer rides, please speak to Andrea Wheaton.

Your Givings Are Safe With Us – If you plan to be away from church over the summer, please consider the use of preauthorized remittance (PAR) or leaving your church envelopes with post-dated cheques in a larger envelope available from the church office, Alan McGee or Devon Williams. They will be securely stored and put on the offering plate on the appropriate Sunday.

Pre-Authorized remittance program (PAR) - It is a convenient way to replace having to remember to bring envelopes to church or playing catch-up at the end of the summer while you were away.  Forms are available in the foyer or call the office.

Parking Lot - Did you know that on Sundays there is parking on the other side of the school next door to us?  There is also the lot behind the school which can be accessed from Cumberland St. or there is now a road from our lot to it. Please leave the parking spaces closest to the church for those who have difficulty walking a further distance.

People with hearing aids!!  The sanctuary is equipped with a loop system which works with your hearing aids.  You must have a “T coil” installed and activated.  Set your hearing aid to “T coil”.