Come share​ our Vision
 To know God through Jesus Christ and to reflect God's love as the church in a changing community and world.
Information on ways to make Donations click HERE
For letter from our Treasurer click HERE
For PAR sign up form click HERE
For PAR cancellation form click HERE
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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!

EXPLORE BURTON aVENUE uNITED church

What's NEW

Upcoming Livestream Worship. 
Click HERE for our YouTube channel link and look for the live video stream that begins at 9:50 a.m. with announcements and the service starts at 10:00 a.m.  If you miss the livestream you can watch the recording after it uploads.

Jan. 30 - Affirm Anniversary (livestream only)
Feb. 6 - Annual Meeting of Congregation via Zoom (no livestream worship)
Feb. 13 - Celebrating Black History Month

Annual Meeting of the Congregation - will take place on Sun., Feb. 6 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.  Watch for a separate email early next week which will contain the 2021 Annual Report, information on registering for the meeting, and guidelines for voting and protocols for discussion.
Annual Meeting and Annual Report
Thank you to everyone who submitted their reports. In preparation for the Annual Meeting we encourage you to read through the report carefully and send any questions that you might like answered at the meeting or answered in advance:
to the Board Chair, Alan McGee
or to the Treasurer, Cathy Manzato  as applicable. 

This does not mean that you can't ask questions at the meeting, it will just help us to be as efficient as possible at the meeting.

The Annual meeting will be held via zoom on Sunday, February 6, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.  This will take place instead of our regular worship time.   We are asking that you register in advance in order for those hosting the tech and counting votes to be well prepared.  Please register by Feb. 4 at this registration link.

Please click here to obtain our information sheet on zoom and voting procedures.  This is a first for us, holding our Annual Meeting this way and so while we might expect some glitches, we are hopeful that our pre-planning will make things run smoothly so that our meeting is almost as enjoyable as in person.

If you are sharing news with those who do not receive this email, please let them know that we will print and deliver a copy to those we know who need a print copy.
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Board Update - At the Board meeting of January 19th, the Board received a letter of resignation from Linda Gray, Administrative Assistant. The Board accepted Linda's resignation with regret. Linda's last day will be March 11, 2022. We appreciate the work Linda has contributed over the last year in maintaining the responsibilities of the office. Linda kept things going in these uncertain times and her support has been greatly appreciated. We wish Linda all the best in her future.

Note from Linda Gray - I started a new job January 10/22 at the National office part-time from home working with incorporated ministries for six Regions.  Although I will no longer be the Administrative Assistant for BAUC, this is my home church and I hope to be back in the balcony as soon as we can all be safely together. I have offered my support to the board as we make this transition so hopefully it can go as smoothly as possible.  

2022 Offering Envelopes -  have been delivered for everyone's safety! Thanks to volunteers Jon Dawson, Ken Down, Brenda McGee, Islay Scott, Greg Taylor, and Andrew Telford everyone should have their envelopes by now.  If for some reason you think you have been missed, please be in touch with  the office at 705-726-0401 ext. 221 or burtonaveunitedchurch@bauc.ca   If you have offering envelopes it is very important that you use them as it makes it easier for counting and database entry.  

Church Gardens - A SPECIAL THANKS  to Harmonie and Brian Barkell for their dedication to our church gardens. - 23 years – that is how long Harmonie and Brian have been nurturing our beautiful church gardens. They have decided the time has come to retire the garden tools. We are asking for volunteers in the congregation to help keep the gardens looking as good as ever. Hopefully, the narcissus bulbs Harmonie and Brian planted in the fall will blossom forth in the spring and allow the next set of “green thumbs” a good start to the new season of 2022. Please be in touch with Jim Macfarlane.

Little Food Pantry - Thank you to all who have been dropping by the church to add items directly to the pantry. Just a reminder that during the cold weather, appropriate food items are things that will not be adversely affected by freezing temperatures, such as canned goods with water. For a list of suggested contributions during the winter, please refer to the posters on the door and the side of the pantry or click here for the winter list.
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Epiphany Star Words 2022(Click HERE for all the details)
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Important Update from the Transition Team - In response to the highly transmissible Omicron variant, we have made the difficult decision to suspend in-person worship services effective January 2, 2022 until further notice. Our services will continue to be livestreamed from the sanctuary with essential participants, only.   We are taking these additional measures for the health and safety of our whole community. We are asked once again to make adjustments and we can.  This is not what we had hoped for this season, but we continue to gather in Spirit out of love for one another and all God's people.   
"Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.   1 Corinthians 16:13-14

2022 Church Calendars - limited numbers are now available from the church office to purchase for $10.00 each.

Book Club - Meetings continue to be held on Zoom at 7pm.  Upcoming Selections:  Feb 22: Falling by TJ Newman; March 29: Off the Record by Peter Mansbridge.  All are welcome to join; contact Islay Scott to add your name to the Zoom invitation list.

Coldest Night of the Year Fundraiser: Walking In Support of Youth Haven - It's cold out there and on Sat., Feb. 26 our team is going to do something about it! For several years now a team of BAUC walkers joins Canadians across the country to raise funds and awareness to support and serve people and families experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger in our community. We are walking in support of Youth Haven, the only youth shelter in Simcoe County. We are looking for eager BAUC walkers to join our team. This year you have the option of walking together as a team on Feb. 26 or completing your walk on your own anytime during the month of February. If you would like to support our efforts but don't want to walk you can donate to our teams fundraising efforts or support one of our walkers. To join our team or to donate, click on this: CNOY LINK.  Check out this site Coldest Night of the Year 2022 - Barrie (cnoy.org) or contact Angela Kerr for further information.
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Meet Burtie Church!  Burtie uses they/them as their pronouns.  Burtie is interested in learning about Burton Ave United Church and especially how we are living into being an Affirming Church.  If you would like to have Burtie come visit your home to help answer and ask questions, please be in touch with Andrea Wheaton. Burtie fits in a envelope and comes with a journal for questions, answers, drawings and photos of time spent with you!  Then they travel to the next family so more about us can be added to the journal!

ONGOING News


​​​​​​​Pastoral Care - many of us have been keeping in touch through phone calls, emails and even snail mail. What a blessing it has been that we can still connect to one another in those ways. This has been a good time for so many of us to get to know others in our church that we did not yet know! Remember that Pastoral Care is a ministry that all of us share and need to participate in, however we can.  Whether you are making contact or receiving contact, we are caring for one another. Whether you are on the prayer list or you are praying for those on the list, we are caring for one another.  Whether you are listening to someone's concerns or you are voicing your worries, we are caring for one another.  As we continue to be apart, we will need to continue to stay in touch and care for one another in all the ways that we can. ​

lend a helping hand

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

Youth Haven residents have been moved to a motel for their health and safety and that of their staff. The shelter will remain open for EMERGENCY services only. Due to current COVID19 measures they are only accepting financial donations at this time. Financial donations can be made online at youthhaven.ca 

The Busby Centre is in need of the following items. Men’s boots sizes 10 -11 ½, Men’s track pants medium and large preferred, small accepted as well, coffee whiter and sugar, pasta sauce. Items may be dropped off at the centre from 10-2 Monday to Friday.

Baked Goods for Busby Centre - Those interested in contributing baked goods or store bought snack items for the Busby Outreach Team, please contact Andrew Telford for specifics. The Busby Centre would like to coordinate donations with other organizations and the existing sandwich program. This is in addition to the Breakfast Program as there is a great need in our community!  Appreciate any help you can offer.
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Knitters wanted - In follow up to the Getting To Tomorrow dialogues, our friends at the Gilbert Centre are looking for ways to keep the dialogue going, bridge gaps, and build connection between people who use drugs and the community. They have asked me to reach out to my friends in the faith community to help do this. In preparation for the  upcoming cold Canadian winter and the Christmas holidays they have asked if we have some knitters that would be interested in knitting wool socks, and mittens for their clients. Receiving hand knitted items by members of their community will do more than keep hands and feet warm, it will help those that receive them feel cared for by their neighbours. If you are able to knit something  contact Christine Nayler or Sarah Tilley  from the Gilbert Centre for more information.
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VOLUNTEERS needed for Burton Avenue United SPRING FLING 2022! - I know the idea of another Burton Avenue United Church SPRING FLING may seem like a LONG way off from now but in order to set up this BIG fundraiser for our Church, we need to put together a Spring Fling Committee fairly soon in order to set the wheels of planning in motion. This event is especially needed with a larger than usual deficit in our operating funds due to the Pandemic. Please consider stepping up and being part of this committee. We need your help in order to make this possible. If interested, either let Alan McGee or Greg Taylor know ASAP.

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
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



During our time out of the building due to Covid-19, these announcments may not apply

Cancellation of Sunday Worship for Inclement Weather or Other Emergency: Should you need information about possible Sunday Worship cancellation, please check the church website www.burtonavenueunited.com, the Burton Avenue Facebook page or the recorded church telephone message. Should there be a power outage such that tech devices cannot be used, members of the congregation should use their good judgement considering the weather conditions or nature of the emergency.
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 Nametags – If you would like a nametag or you need a new one please sign up in the foyer or let the office know.  Children & Youth can have nametags too.  If parents prefer just first names on the children’s tags let us know.  And remember to wear your nametag.  It helps us get to know one another.

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.

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.

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”.

Notice to Church Members and Guests Our services and events may be photographed or videotaped for the purpose of informing our members or the public.  If you have a concern about your image being used in these situations, please let us know. 

​Didn't receive what you wanted in your stocking this Christmas season?  Contact Katie (705-717-8682 or kpergau@gmail.com) to get a copy of   "Ministry of Music - Covid Comfort" to bring some musical comfort to you and/or your loved ones.  It's available as a CD or playlist download link and it's just $20!  All proceeds support our church.  Payments can be sent to treasurerbauc@outlook.com
(*Note "Music CD" in comments) MOST PREFERRED OR by cheque (made out to Burton Avenue United Church) *Note "Music CD in comments". If paying by cash, please submit the exact amount of $20 per order. Cheques or cash can be dropped off at BAUC in sealed envelopes in the mail slot beside the doors (parking lot side of the church).

​“Random and Nebulous” Update !! from Janis Constable - The bulk shipment of my Psalm-based book “Random and Nebulous—Nuancing the  Psalms” has arrived—2 WEEKS EARLY !!! I am so excited, and so ready to connect with all of you, regarding the purchase of this book!  Please call/email/text/pm me and we’ll connect for sure!!  Please join me up here on my cloud!! Please join me in my happy dance and song!!!  🎶 Life is good. God is good. Amen! 🎶