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Burton Avenue United Church is a dynamic Christ-centred community of faith. For over 135 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 December 16
Join us for Sunday Service at 10:00am!
Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 10:00 A.M.
Advent 3 – JOY
CHILDREN'S MUSICAL - "WE THREE SPIES" TODAY!!!
 
Visitors or new-comers   Join us this Sunday and please make yourself known to one of us and sign our guest book in the foyer or at the front door.
 
Children & Teens will remain in worship today.   Caregivers with toddlers & babies can make use of the Rainbow Club room or bring them to the lower level Nursery where care is provided.  An usher can help you find your way.
 
Outreach Committee would like to thank everyone for their support of the Canadian Mental Health Association for their Christmas gift campaign, as well as the Samaritan House Snowflake Christmas campaign.  Your generosity is appreciated!

Refreshments are served downstairs after worship during a time of conversation and visiting. 

Newsletter - The latest edition was emailed on Friday.  If you receive a paper copy, it is in the mailslots in the foyer. If you are not on our list to receive the newsletter, sign up in the foyer or contact the office. Extra copies are in the foyer. Click here to read it online!

2019 Church Offering Envelopes - available in the foyer today.  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. 
 

Thursday December 20
Longest Night Service - 6:30pm
Acknowledging sadness, loss, struggle, despair…
….amidst a season of celebration.

 Upcoming Events and Announcements

Advent  Worship
Sunday, December 23
9:50 a.m. – Christmas Carols
10:00 a.m. - Advent 4 – Love
 
Monday, December 24
5:00 p.m. – Pageant of the Nativity
Presented by our children & youth
 
Monday, December 24
10:00 p.m. – Candlelight Communion
We are so pleased to once again welcome
Classical Guitarist Tim Beattie.
Tim will be playing immediately prior to the service, as well as providing special music during the service.
Come out and enjoy some quiet Christmas Eve thoughts as we continue this wonderful tradition.
 
Sunday, December 30
10:00 a.m. – 6th Day of Christmas
A service of story and song. 
You are invited to bring a Christmas gift to show.
No Rainbow Club for children and youth today.
 
Sunday, January 6
10:00 a.m. Epiphany Sunday
No Rainbow Club for children and youth but come and learn about the magi.

2019 Church Calendars – are now available from the church office to purchase for $8.50 each.
 
Annual Reports – Please submit your annual report to the office by Sunday, Jan. 6. 

Men’s Lunch Group – meets next on Tues., Jan. 8 at noon at a new location - Wickie’s Pub, 274 Burton Ave.  Newcomers welcome!
 
Women’s Spirituality Group – Will meet next on Wed., Jan. 9 for a potluck at 6:00 p.m.  Watch for details.  The journaling scheduled for that date will be moved to Jan. 23.

Men's Breakfast?  A group of men are looking to start a monthly men's breakfast get together. Many of us would love to attend the regular Tuesday lunch that is already running but our work schedules do not allow it. So we are going to get together for some food and fellowship on Saturday mornings. If you are interested in attending, contact Tom Nayler after church. Our tentative date for our first breakfast will be Jan 12. Location to be determined.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – The Barrie United Churches are planning a shared worship on Sun., Jan. 20 at 4:00 p.m. at Grace United.   There will be a shared service and pizza dinner for youth on Wed., Jan. 23 from 6-8 pm at Grace United.  Adults are welcome to attend.
 
Affirm Celebration Service – at our regular worship on Sun., Jan. 27 we will be officially designated an Affirming Ministry.  There will be a guest from Affirm United and sweet treats following worship. Please be sure to join us on that day for this celebration service.
 
Book Club Due to inclement weather, the November Book Club meeting was cancelled. Our next meeting will be Tues. Jan. 29, 2019 at 7:30pm  when we will be discussing The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. Our host is Linda Morris.  All are welcome.
 
Be a Piece of the Whole Picture We are ever grateful for your incredible support in completing the Whole Picture. We raised $14,706.50 for the ministry we share and completed the 1014 piece puzzle. 

lend a helping hand

Outreach Committee would like to support CMHA this year for their Christmas gift campaign. They are in great need of small stocking stuffers and hygiene items for their clients. Many of these clients do not have families so the gifts they receive from CMHA will be all they get for Christmas. The most needed items are toiletries and winter items such as scarfs, hats, gloves etc. Some luxury items such as hand lotion, chocolates, a coffee mug, deck of cards, a book, puzzle would also be nice... Thoughtful little items that will bring some Christmas cheer.  They deliver their gifts on Dec 19, so we are asking for them to be returned to the church by Dec. 16 at the latest.

Meals on Wheels – More volunteers are needed to deliver meals to the frail and elderly in our community.  Our commitment is every 5th Thurs. afternoon.  If interested or for more information, please contact Rose Thomson.

Youth Haven - in need of men’s and women’s underwear & men’s clothing (shorts, shirts & t-shirts) as well as toilet paper.

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.

Busby Street Centre still needs us to make/deliver sandwiches to them on Wednesdays between 9:00 and 2:00!  We are also looking for a list of drivers and people interested in donating supplies. Signup sheet is in the foyer. Please Note: Delivery is now to the former Central United Church!
 
Busby Street Center  - in need of tents and sleeping bags. 

Barrie Food Bank -  in great need of canned goods, pasta and sauce, non perishable goods etc…

             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

Rides 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.

Bibles – for those who wish to use a Bible during worship, there are several copies available at the front of the sanctuary near the entrance.  Please return them to this location after the service.

Our Daily Bread – This daily devotional is available outside the sanctuary doors.  Pick one up and spend a few moments each day reading a scripture passage and a reflection.

2018 Church Offering Envelopes   If you are regularly using visitor envelopes, please consider asking for an envelope number by calling the church office.

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.