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
Picture
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 on 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.

July 25 - Ninth after Pentecost
Aug. 1 - Tenth after Pentecost

The Pandemic is not over until it is over for everyone.  Pay it forward is part of the church’s COVID-19: Global Response. The campaign urges people to advocate, donate, and buy a vaccine to be administered in the Global South, where pandemic-related suffering continues to increase. Pay it Forward offers the chance to buy a vaccine for just $25 for someone in a country where vaccines are in short supply and are distributed through UNICEF’s networks.  Until Sept. 6, each vaccine will be matched by the Canadian government. While people in Canada are receiving COVID vaccines, people in many other parts of the world have no way to get them. Providing vaccines to these countries is only part of the story—the vaccines also have to get to the people who need them most. Support the worldwide effort to protect people from COVID-19, one vaccine at a time.

Small Group Gathering - if you or someone you know would benefit from a visit to the church to gather with Andrea Wheaton and others on Mon., July 26 from 10:00 -11:00 a.m. please contact the church office. This is especially intended for those who cannot access the online activities or who live alone. We are limited to a maximum of 25 for in-person gatherings and we have to maintain physical distancing and masking.  We can have a visit and/or those who cannot access the online worship can worship by watching the recording from the previous Sunday.

Summer worship - Excerpt from recent Transition Team Update - For the month of July, worship will be broadcast from the sanctuary, with a gradual phase in of PowerPoint and lay leadership. There are many things to consider as we develop our plan for reopening.  We have had to make changes in the past and will continue to do so in order to safely accommodate in-person services and gatherings.  In order to provide adequate time for planning and thinking through re-entry into church life, worship services from Sun., Aug. 8 to Sun., Aug. 29 inclusive will be suspended.  This will also give much needed time for rest and rejuvenation for the dedicated tech team and worship planners.  Ministry Personnel, staff and essential volunteers will gradually return to the building for their work. The building will remain closed to others.

 With Gratitude - we were so pleased to share the incredible wisdom of Samantha & Abby Pergau through two their Operation Eco-Friendly videos last Sunday. To subscribe and/or watch more of their videos and learn how you can make a difference click here to go to their YouTube channel.

PowerPoint Team - is looking for volunteers to help with preparing the PowerPoint and/or presenting. If you are interested, PLEASE contact Jody Lee at 705-728-8664 or by email at jazzmusic@hotmail.ca

Are You Ready for Summer 2021 - The Go Project is announcing Day Camps! - For all the information and to register click here

Residential Schools Resources - Here is some recommended reading for those that want to educate themselves and learn more about residential schools.  Click here.

Truth & Reconciliation
 Here is a link from Simcoe County Kairos to some resources that can help all of us take active steps towards reconciliation. The goal of the ON Canada Project is the following: We harness the combined potential of young people, volunteerism, and social media to broadly disseminate credible information that is critical, conversational, and compassionate.  

Our Daily Bread - Are you missing your daily reading with "Our Daily Bread"?  As the church building is still closed, you may find the most recent edition available in the Little Library outside of the building.

Summer Hours - Beginning July 1, 2021 the administrative assistant's hours move from 20 hours per week to 9 hours per week so you will only receive responses Tues/Wed/Thurs. and at various times from the office during the summer.  Responses may take a little longer.  The building remains closed, but Andrea will be available by phone and email for her regular hours (please note that she takes Friday as a day off).

Office Shredding - one of the things we will be working on over the summer is gathering documentation from volunteers and perhaps past volunteers that are confidential in nature that should be shred.  If you have any of these in your home, please be in touch with the office.  In line with this is items that should be archived.  For United Church guidelines click here.  Here is an example:  copies of minutes are public, but a corrected original set of minutes needs to be in the minutes book signed by the chair and secretary.  If you are not sure, please be in touch with the office. 

Zoom Coffee chats - are taking a break for the summer months! Hope to see you all again in the fall.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATES - Rainbow West is happy to launch the last of our FREE 8-week virtual workshop series on mental health and wellbeing for 2SLGBTQ+ youth across Ontario! This last round is for youth ages 20 to 29 and will run from July 15 to August 26, every Thursday* from 4pm to 5:30pm (*except for the second workshop on June 30, as July 1 is a public holiday).  - Topics change weekly and participants can expect to make art, listen to guest speakers, get connected to resources, or just hang out as a community! At the end of the series, participants also have a chance for a $20 gift card.  Microphone or camera use are NOT required!  Participants can register here or email rainbow.west.to@gmail.com for more info.  Follow our Instagram too for more updates!

 Book Club - will reconvene Tues., Sept. 28 at 7 pm on Zoom.  We will be sharing our recommendation of a favourite book we have read over the summer.  At that time we will review the possibility of returning to “in person“ meeting based on the current Covid protocols.  All are welcome to join us; contact Islay Scott to add your name to the Zoom invitation list.
Picture
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


​​​​Masks for Sale - I am making and selling fabric face masks.  I have 2 sizes available (child and adult) and several colours and fabric designs.  These masks have a wire insert for fitting around the nose and a pocket area where you can add a filter if you wish.  They are available for pick-up or delivery (in Barrie).  They are $10 each with 100% of sales going to Burton Avenue United Church.  To order, please email Cate F.D. through the office or directly if you have her contact info.  Thank you to all the people who who have ordered masks.  Your support has been amazing!  Thanks, Cate.

​​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.
\

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

 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.