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.
Picture
Burton Avenue United Church is a dynamic Christ-centred community of faith. For 150 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!

Acknowledgment of Treaty Lands We acknowledge that Burton Avenue United Church meets near water and on land that is part of Lake Simcoe-Nottawasaga Treaty #18, of 1818. This treaty is part of the church’s relationship with the Indigenous Peoples of this land. We acknowledge that both Indigenous Peoples and all Canadians are treaty people.

From Worship & Music

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. 
  
Worship Schedule 

Sunday, December 7 - 2nd Sunday of Advent (Christmas Song Singing at 9:50 am)  Welcoming of New Members
Come at 9:50 am to enjoy our pre-service carol sing!
Senior Choir
Rainbow Club
Advent Calendar Colouring Page - Please click here to download a digital copy of the Advent Calendar or pick up a copy in the foyer.

Thursday, December 11 - Service of Comfort - 6:30 pm - This is a quiet service to give space to acknowledge sorrow and struggle in the midst of celebrations.  This service is not livestreamed.

Friday, December 12 - 7:00 pm - Star So Bright - BAUC is pleased to host a presentation of Star So Bright: A Journey of Faith. The story, which consists of readings and ten original pieces of music, is about a fictitious woman who is called by God to go to Bethlehem during a time when women did not travel on their own.  With great courage and faith, she does as she is asked, and discovers, not only a miracle, but her purpose in life.   The music will be performed by the Star So Bright band, and the story will be told by women from our congregation. A free will offering will be collected with proceeds being shared between the BAUC Benevolent Fund and the band.  This event will not be livestreamed.
​
Sunday, December 14 - 3rd Sunday of Advent (Christmas Song Singing at 9:50 am)
Senior Choir
Rainbow Club

Sunday, December 21 - 4th Sunday of Advent - 10:30 am PLEASE NOTE change in service time 
Come at 10:20 am to enjoy our pre-service carol sing!
We welcome St. George's Anglican Church to our service today as we present a shared telling of the Christmas Story in a musical, composed and arranged by Father Ken McClure & Carol Hardy!
Rainbow Club

Christmas Eve - Multi-generational service at 6:30 p.m.
ALL AGES are welcome to take part in telling the Christmas Story.  Sign up in the foyer to be in the story.  No lines!
​
Christmas Eve - Candlelight and Carols at 9:00 p.m.


Memorial Poinsettia - Poinsettia will again be placed in the sanctuary on Sun., Dec. 21. The plants will remain in the sanctuary for the duration of the Christmas season to help beautify our Sanctuary and will NOT be taken home.  Should you wish to have loved ones remembered during the service on Dec. 22, please CLICK HERE to fill out the form and submit online  OR  pick up a form on your way into service and leave the completed form on the offering plate. Forms must be submitted by Mon., Dec. 15. Should you wish to donate to Memorial you may do by;
1. Using your offering envelope indicating Poinsettia beside “Other”
2. Using etransfer to [email protected]. Please note on the e-transfer what your donation is for and also complete the form so that we have the correct wording.


Stewardship

Flourishing into the Next Century Stewardship Campaign - Stewardship Campaign - We are pleased to announce that we have exceeded our campaign goal of $50,000 and our puzzle is complete! Thank you so much for your bold generosity!

Holiday Tea & Bake Sale - It takes a community of dedicated people to make any event a success. As Brenda and I began organizing the Holiday Tea and Bake Sale, we called on many to help us, and were well received.  There were so many who helped in big ways and small -  callers, bakers, shoppers, packers, platers, servers, decorators, set up and clean up crews, sellers, dish washers, cream and jam makers, tea brewers, lift operators, greeters, and customers - all made it a success.  Thanks so much. From Brenda McGee & Susan Cole.  We are pleased to announce a profit of over $2,400 from this event, which goes towards the operating costs of BAUC.

Stewardship Second - "The path to peace has many routes. Giving generously is one of them." 

Financial Snapshot - As we approach the end of our Church year, we are grateful for the faithful giving of our Church family.  Local offerings are currently well above last year’s level, which has created a better financial position than last year at this time.  With your help during the remainder of the year, and particularly with your generosity to the Flourish Campaign, we look forward to a positive year-end and the ability to start 2026 hopeful for a wonderful year ahead.

2026 Giving Envelopes - Both weekly and monthly giving envelopes are now available for pick up in the foyer for those who requested them.  If you would like giving envelopes for 2026 (either monthly or weekly), please contact the office.  If you are able to deliver a box of envelopes, please take them with you and indicate on the sheet of paper next to the box your name and who you will be delivering them to.
​

Congregational Care & Connections

Men's Lunch - We will be having lunch together at Wickies Pub (274 Burton Ave.) on Tues., Dec. 16 at noon, in the back room as per usual.  Please join us for fun, food, and fellowship!  Everyone is welcome.

Outreach & Social Justice

Samaritan House “Snowflake” Christmas Tree - thank you to everyone who has already picked up a snowflake to support Samaritan House in their annual Christmas gift program. 48 of you have already signed up to help a child experience a joyful Christmas. That leaves just 12 snowflakes to go! Snowflake tags bearing a child’s name, age and some gift suggestions will be available for one more Sunday in the church foyer. Please choose a snowflake from the tree and fill out the form with your name and snowflake number. A gift value of $50 is suggested.  We recognize that this price point might not be right for everyone. Donations of smaller gift items like books, school supplies and home made hats and mittens will be gladly accepted and used to augment other gift bags. Perhaps consider sharing the cost of a snowflake gift with a couple of friends? All gifts need to be new and unwrapped, and returned by Sun., Dec. 14. Thanks for participating in this special giving opportunity and sharing the joy of the season! See Cate Fletcher Down or her family if you have questions. 

Church Office

Email - [email protected] or [email protected]
Phone - 705-726-0401  
E-transfer Address: [email protected]
​​
​Office Hours - Church Office is open Mon. - Fri. from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.​

2025 Donations - For your donations to be counted for the 2025 tax year, all donations (including etransfers) must be received by the office no later than end of day on Dec. 28.

From the Wider Community

King Edward Choir Concert - Sat., Dec. 6 at 3:00 pm - Collier Street United Church - $30 for adults / $15 for students  Please speak with Jalise Henderson, Sky Henderson, Colin McDonald, Peter Sullivan, or Katie Pergau for tickets.

"Believe" Barrie Concert Band Concert - Sat., Dec. 13 at 2:00 pm - Collier Street United Church - $25 for adults / $15 for students.  Please speak with Jackie Ainsworth or Mike Ainsworth for tickets.

Movember Thanks - Burton's Movember participants 'Burton's Mo Men' thank those who donated to individuals & the team in their fundraising efforts for Movember. It is greatly appreciated.

Lend a helping hand

OPEN HANDS UNITED MISSION ​
The 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"

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.

​Ongoing
​CANCELLATION OF SUNDAY WORSHIP FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER OR OTHER EMERGENCY:
Should you need information about possible Sunday Worship cancellation, please check the church website, 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.

​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.

​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.

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.

​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.

PASTORAL CARE
We keep in touch through phone calls, emails and even snail mail. What a blessing it is that we can connect to one another in those ways. 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.  
​ ​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/

​