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 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.
June 13 - A service in celebration of Pride month
June 20 - Pulpit Supply: Jeffrey Dale
June 27 - Pulpit Supply: Ruth McDonald

June is Pride Month! - Here are some videos, resources and events to learn more and celebrate!  Click here
 
Staff Away - Andrea Wheaton will be away on a week of Study Leave and a week of vacation beginning Mon., June 14 and returning to the office on Sun., June 27.  For emergency pastoral care during that time, please be in touch with Rev. Patricia Gale-MacDonald  or Rev. Colin MacDonald or Rev. Ruth McDonald, except 18th-19th.

Transition Team Update - With the recent release of the government’s Roadmap to Reopen, the Transition Team looked at strategies for our reopening.  In reviewing the government’s roadmap, there continues to be a lot of unknown.  There are guidelines for each step, however, the date of the beginning and ending for each step is dependent upon key public health and health care indicators. We are also aware of our part in helping to reduce the spread of the very contagious and severe variants of COVID-19.  We will continue to adhere to the protocols of our Safety Plan. 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, the Transition Team recommended to the Church Board that worship services from Sunday, August 8 to Sunday, August 29 inclusive 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.  Many thanks to the Transition Team:  Islay Scott, Alan McGee, Andrea Wheaton, Katie Pergau, Peter Sullivan, Jim Macfarlane, Edd Taylor and Brenda Young.

News from the Church Board - At a special meeting of the Full Church Board on Wed., June, 2, the the Affirm team presented findings from the recent congregational survey regarding affirming signage at the front of the church. Input from 100 church members was received, with support for option #1 receiving the highest ranking of the four options presented in the survey. The Church Board approved a motion directing the Affirm team to proceed with option #1, which is to affix a durable sign with a rainbow background on the front railing. This will demonstrate our affirming ministry commitment to be public, explicit and intentional in our inclusion of and welcome to members of the LGBTQ2 community and others.  A small ad hoc committee has been formed to research and develop design ideas for the sign.
 
United Church Condemns Attack on Muslim Family on June 6 - People in the United Church are invited to pray, to engage in acts of solidarity with Muslim neighbours, to take concrete actions to combat Islamophobia, and to participate in community vigils to honour the lives of those affected.  Click here for ways for United Church response and information 

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

Coffee Chats - Do you miss gathering after church each Sunday for coffee? Do you miss birthday cake or cookies awaiting you after Rainbow Club? Well, have we got some exciting news for you! Coffee Chats will be running on Zoom twice a month!  Join us Sundays at 11am for a time to gather. Drop-in as you wish, stay for a few minutes or the full hour! We would love to see your smiling faces again. Sorry, it is bring your own coffee/cookies though!  If you are interested in volunteering to host the zoom event for this please reach out to Maggie Haynes (or the church office! All you have to do is follow some sign-in instructions and stay on with everyone!  Please find the Zoom meeting invite below. We will be meeting on June 13th and 20th!   
Join Zoom

FINISH THE FENCE PHASE 2 - Open Hands United is looking to help the Central Moravian Church in Waspam finish their fence project.  This fence will provide safety for the children at the school during the day and deter vandalism at night.  There are 9 sections of fence left to complete this phase of the project. Each section is 3.60m long for a total of 32.4m  How can you help us help our friends in Waspam? By buying a section, a meter, a foot or a block!
Each section will cost $500.00 Cdn
Each meter of fence costs $140.00 Cdn
Each foot of fence costs $45.00 Cdn
Each block costs $5.00 Cdn
The total cost to finish the project is $4,500.00 Cdn
Donations can be made through your church envelopes, e-transfer or by cheque that is either mailed  or  left in the church mailbox. Please be sure to mark clearly that the donation is for  Open Hands United Fence Fund  Click here for pictures.

There are many demands on our resources of giving (to match the great need in our community at home and abroad) Although our “complete the fence” campaign is our focus for June at Burton Ave Unite, please consider contributing where possible to the Busby in the month of June to support our most vulnerable in our community.  The David Busby Centre is leveraging Canadahelps.org in the "Great Canadian Giving Challenge" for the month of June for a chance to win $20,000 as this month is a tougher month for charitable donations.  When you donate via https://www.busbycentre.ca/great-canadian-giving-challenge/  It automatically gives the Busby a chance to WIN $20,000.  Every dollar donated is a chance to win!  Encourage a friendly competition by nominating a friend to do the same via FB!   Thanks so much!

Barrie Native Friendship Centre - Seedling Exchange on June 18th, 2021 - for details Click here

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.

 Call to Stop the Violence - The United Church of Canada joins with others to renew the call to the Canadian government to intervene with Israel and de-escalate the spiralling violence in East Jerusalem and Gaza and negotiate its end. Moderator Richard Bott says, “I invite United Church people to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and to put faith into action by writing to urge Minister Garneau to uphold international law.”  Read the full statement.

Thank you - Veronica and Mark McCutcheon would like to thank the congregation for the their thoughts and prayers during those times Theresa was fighting this terrible disease.

FREE 8-week workshop series on mental health and wellbeing for 2SLGBTQ+ youth! This is a second round of workshops offered by Rainbow West and is for youth ages 16 to 24 and will run from May 14 to July 2, every Friday from 4pm to 5:30pm.  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! There is also a raffle for a $10 gift card at the end of each workshop.  Microphone or camera use are NOT required! Click here to find more information. Participants can register here or email rainbow.west.to@gmail.com for more info.  Follow our Instagram too for more updates!   
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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


From Open Hands United
*Hurricane Eta Update* (Appeal for Funds) Click Here for all infomation.

​​​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.
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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.