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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 November 18
Join us for Sunday Service at 10:00am!
Welcome to our Anniversary Guest  Captain, The Reverend  Audrey Brown, has been an ordained minister for 24+years.   She has served Congregations in Alberta (Grimshaw/Berwyn) and Ontario (Lion’s head/Pike Bay, Wellington, Midhurst and Markdale.)   In 2014 she became a Canadian Armed Forces Reserve Chaplain and served with 32 Signal regiment in Borden/Toronto. In June of 2018 she became a Regular Force Chaplain and is currently serving at CFB Trenton with 820 members under her care.      Audrey is a life-long United Church member and is a product of Rural church, small Sunday school, Explorers and CGIT; Camps; Presbytery, Conference, and National Youth Events; and Youth diversity initiatives.  She enjoys driving, spending time with her family, pets and whenever possible, prefers to be outside, in the woods or by the water.   Despite her insistence that she doesn’t like meetings, she has served as Secretary of Living Waters Presbytery, and is Currently the President of Toronto Conference.   Audrey is a person who believes strongly in bringing peace and love to places of turmoil and chaos.
 
145th Anniversary Lunch Please join Congregational Life downstairs after the service today for a potluck finger food lunch. 

Fund Raising Day Trip to see the Nutcracker
Sold out!  Will take names for a waiting list.  Payments are due in full today. Needed: All the names in your party, contact phone number & place of departure. Please make your cheque payable to “Hamilton Tours Ltd.”  and mark Dec. 22 in the memo line.    Cost: $156.00 for adults & $140.00 for youth (15 yrs & under) (Includes HST) Tour departs:   1) Barrie, Bayfield Mall behind Canadian Tire Store at 9:00 a.m.,   2) Burton Ave. United Church at 9:30 a.m.  3) Tour Office at 10:00 a.m.  Thanks for your wonderful support of this fundraiser!

Monday November 19
Holy Spirit Study  You are invited to 2 sessions with Bob Clay and Andrea Wheaton, where we are NOT going to answer the question of who the Holy Spirit is and how it works in a mechanical, categorical fashion.  The intention is to explore. We will take the ideas of scripture and other folks and roll them around, try them on, sit with them and let the Holy Spirit move our beliefs like the wind moves the leaves. These sessions will lead to additional sessions in the new year.   Please sign up in the foyer if you wish to attend on Nov. 19 and Nov. 26 from 7:00 – 8:30 pm in the Lounge.

Wednesday November 21
Women’s Spirituality Group – meets on Wed., Nov. 21 at 7:00 pm in the Lounge.  We will be working on individual vision boards.  See the link below to learn more and to help you prepare by going through magazines in advance.  If that does not work for you, no worries… you can begin that night.  Please RSVP to Alita Morgan letes3588@gmail.com  so that she knows how many boards to prepare for us. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iamZEW0x3dM

Saturday November 24
LGBTQIA2S+ Community Day – a day of community building, worship, conversation, potluck and connection for LGBT+ people and allies. Guest speaker: Kathleen Wynne All are welcome!   Sat., Nov. 24 from 10 am to 3 pm at Richmond Hill United Church.  Sponsored by Living Waters Presbytery.  Please email Andrea Wheaton if you would like to attend.

First Light at St Marie Among the Hurons  On Sat., Nov. 24, the Lifelong Learning Committee is planning a trip to First Light at St Marie Among the Hurons in Penetang.  The cost is $10 per person plus a donation to the food bank.  We are looking to car pool for those that are not able to drive and to save on the number of cars traveling up.  We would meet in the church parking lot at 3:45 pm and arrange the car rides.  There will be a sign-up sheet downstairs starting next week.  We look forward to a fun night out.

 Upcoming Events and Announcements

Snowflake Christmas Tree – The Outreach Committee invites you to participate in this gift giving project.  The tree covered in snowflakes (each containing the name of a child, age and a small Christmas wish list) is set up in the foyer today.  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. 9, unwrapped with the snowflake (name) attached. I’m often asked what dollar value for the gifts - your best discretion.  What value can be put on a smile on a child’s face on Christmas morning?  Any questions contact Devon Williams - 702-220-2633 (call or text).
 
Be a Piece of the Whole Picture Our Fall fundraiser celebrates the 145th anniversary of our congregation. You are invited to “buy” puzzle pieces ($14.50 per piece – Burton 145!) to complete the 1014 piece puzzle of who we are as BAUC.  Each piece of the puzzle represents the many ways we live out our mission & ministry as God’s people in the world. Our aim was to finish the puzzle in time for our anniversary celebrations today.  To date we have had people “buy” anywhere from 1 piece to 34 pieces for a total of 565 pieces and a total of $8,204.  Our goal is $15,000.   We are ever grateful for your support and encourage you to participate as you are able.  Contribution envelopes are available in the pews or in the foyer at the display.

Poinsettias The Worship & Music Committee will be taking orders for poinsettia plants through Bradford Greenhouse.  Memorial plants can be purchased in memory of a love one(s) and they will be used initially to decorate our sanctuary on The Longest Night Service, Thurs., Dec. 20 and Sunday Service on Dec. 23.  A list of all the memorial names will be published in the Dec. 23 bulletin.  Plants can also be ordered for your own use.  Plants can be picked up after service on Dec. 23.  This is a fundraiser for the church as well as being a tribute to those we remember at this time of the year.  Order forms available on the following Sundays Nov. 25 and Dec. 2.

Book Club meets Tues., Nov.  27 at 7:30 pm. This month’s book selection is The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. Through the library we have borrowed a book club kit. Contact Christine Nayler, for a copy of the book. We will be meeting at the home of Linda Morris.  All are welcome.

Ushers and Greeters Scheduling for the 2019 list of greeters and ushers will soon be done.  We always need more people! We like to have enough people so that everyone only commits to two sessions of two-week segments in the year.  Scheduling can be arranged according to your availability. Please seriously consider serving here – we have 52 weeks to cover and any training needed can be arranged. Current people please notify Linda Hudson of any changes to your date preferences for the upcoming year. 

Trinkets & Treasures Room - In conjunction with Victorian Tea – we are gratefully accepting: Jewelry, Jewelry Boxes, DVDs, CDs, Purses, Cook Books, Novels, Children’s Games, Seasonal Decorations (Christmas/Halloween) – In good condition please!  Bring your items to the church or call Brian Barkell.

Nicaragua Action Packet - Open Hands United had to cancel their planned mission trips because of the situation in Nicaragua. Living Waters Presbytery decided to take action with a packet that includes a petition calling on the Canadian Government to support the people of Nicaragua, information on how to write a letter to your MP and more.  Copies of the packet are in the foyer and on our website.  We are asking that you share this information, especially the petition.  Click here for more information, or go to  https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-1800

Congregational Vote 89% of those who cast a ballot voted YES that Burton Avenue United Church should become an Affirming Ministry through membership in the network of Affirm United and in doing so: Adopt the BAUC Marriage Policy, Adopt the BAUC Affirming Vision Statement and Seek to live out the BAUC Affirming Ministry Action Plan.

lend a helping hand

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…

 Leftovers to Share - Are you able on occasion to make a little extra to share?  We are accepting meal donations to have on hand in the freezer for people in our congregation, who for a variety of reasons, would be happy to receive a home cooked meal, either on a temporary or more long term basis.  If making a soup, stew, chili or any other meal that freezes well, why not make an extra portion or two.  Please label it, with what it is and your name and date, and leave in the church freezer.  We will make sure it gets delivered to someone.  If you have a question, or know of someone who would benefit from receiving a meal, please speak with Lois Delaforce.

             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.

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.