Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the style of worship at Glenburnie?
- I have children. Is there a church school or nursery at Glenburnie?
- Is the building wheelchair-accessible?
- Can I get married at Glenburnie?
- Can I have my child baptized at Glenburnie? Can I be baptized?
- I am not a United Church member. Can I still worship at Glenburnie?
- How do I become a member of The United Church of Canada?
- Can I become more involved in the church life of Glenburnie?
- What is the committee structure at Glenburnie?
- May I read the minutes of Presbytery meetings?
- What are the responsibilities of the Elders?
- What are the responsibilities of the Stewards?
- Can I make my offering through pre-authorized payments?
- How can I give a gift that supports the church's Mission and Service?
- What is the Lectionary?
- Does Glenburnie United Church rent its facilities?
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What's the style of worship at Glenburnie?
The best word to describe our worship style at Glenburnie is "blended.� While there are many traditional elements in our Sunday services, there are "contemporary" aspects too. One moment you are enjoying Bach and the next you are listening to our choir sing an upbeat gospel number. Our congregation loves to sing hymns of a variety of styles and periods from soaring traditional hymns accompanied by the organ, to quiet, meditative numbers, to upbeat hymns from a variety of world cultures. We enjoy Voices United - the current hymn book of The United Church of Canada. We are blessed with a number of gifted instrumentalists in the congregation who contribute music for services and other events. We strive to be inclusive in the language and imagery of our worship, drawing on the deep wells of Christian tradition while also striving to expand our spiritual horizons. As a congregation that is trying to be inclusive of all ages and people, on any given Sunday you can see members from our youngest to our oldest involved in various ways in worship.
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I have children. Is there a church school or nursery at Glenburnie?
Yes. There is a nursery for infants and toddlers every Sunday morning, and we even have soft toys at the back of the sanctuary where infants and toddlers may play quietly under the supervision of one of their parents or another adult. Volunteer teachers run our church Sunday School every Sunday from early September to mid-June for children 3 to 11 years of age. Children join in the worship service in the sanctuary beginning at 10 a.m. and after about 15 minutes, proceed to Sunday School together. For one week each summer, Glenburnie United Church runs a popular Bible school. Please contact the church office to enquire about Vacation Bible School.
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Is the building wheelchair-accessible?
Yes. There are designated parking spots, and our one-level facility is accessible. Our washrooms are wheelchair-accessible. We have one wheelchair and one walker available for any member or visitor to use while in this facility. We can also provide hearing assist devices for the hard-of-hearing.
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Can I get married at Glenburnie?
Yes. Please contact the Church Office to enquire about our Marriage policies and guidelines.
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Can I have my child baptized at Glenburnie? Can I be baptized?
Yes. We embrace the opportunity to welcome children and adults into God's family through the Sacrament of Baptism. We believe that baptism is a sign or witness that the love of God embraces each person long before they are able to claim or name that love for themselves. Of course, it�s more than just a sign or symbol - it�s a sacrament, and thus there�s more than a hint of mystery about what happens in baptism, and we celebrate that mystery with joy!
At Glenburnie, parents of children do not necessarily need to be members of the congregation, nor of The United Church of Canada, but we will certainly encourage that relationship, and there will always be opportunity before baptism for parents and/or candidates to discuss with our minister the nature of their relationship with and participation in the life of the congregation. During the Baptism ceremony, the parents - or the adult being baptized -- are asked the following questions:
- Do you commit yourself to follow the way of Jesus in your public and private life?
- Do you profess your faith in one God, Creator, Christ, and Spirit?
- Will you promise to do your best to respond faithfully to the command of Jesus to love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself?
- Will you seek to nurture your child in such a way that he/she can know and sense God's love, and his/her rightful place in the community of God's people?
Accommodation can be made in the case of interfaith couples. In all but emergency or extraordinary circumstances, Baptism is celebrated in a Sunday morning service in the presence of the congregation. If you would like to discuss baptism for you or your child, please contact the church office.
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I am not a United Church member. Can I still worship at Glenburnie?
Yes, definitely! We strive to be an open and inclusive community. At Communion we have an 'open table' and invite worshippers - of all ages - to join in sharing the bread and cup. If you find that worship at Glenburnie nurtures your faith, supports you in your journey, or helps you wrestle with tough questions, you are welcome! People are not required to be members of Glenburnie United Church to be involved in our worship and in most areas of our congregational life. However, each year a number of individuals, of various ages, choose, after some study and reflection, to become members of The United Church of Canada. We will welcome any questions you might have if you are interested in exploring this path.
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How do I become a member of The United Church of Canada?
One becomes a member of The United Church of Canada through a local congregation. Although people are not required to be members of Glenburnie United Church to be involved in our worship and in most areas of our congregational life, many people come to a point in their spiritual journey when they wish to make a commitment not only to the local faith community, but through it to the larger denominational family, which for us is The United Church of Canada. Some at Glenburnie have made this commitment as adolescents through "Confirmation." Some adults have "transferred" their membership from other United Church congregations, and some, from various backgrounds, have made this commitment through "Profession of Faith." Adults who were not baptized as children may become members through adult Baptism. "Profession of Faith" and adult Baptism are not as imposing as they sound! The United Church of Canada admits as members those who make "a credible profession of faith." That could be as complex as the Nicene Creed or as simple as "Jesus loves me, this I know..." Mostly, those who want to be members of Glenburnie United (and The United Church of Canada) are those who have found a spiritual �home� - who have felt blessed, challenged and nurtured in the things of faith and the Spirit - among us.
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Can I become more involved in the church life of Glenburnie?
Yes. There are many opportunities to be involved, from singing in the choir, greeting at the door on Sundays, reading scripture or leading in prayer in worship, working with the UCW, serving on one of our committees, helping in our Sunday School or with our Outreach activities, being part of our Prayer Circle, taking part in any of our adult study or fellowship groups, or coming to Games Nights, Movie Nights, and much more. Just ask around if you�re looking for ways to become more involved. Perhaps you�d like to help out with our Annual Turkey Dinner? Just ask!
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What is the committee structure at Glenburnie?
If you would like to know how the committee structure functions at Glenburnie United Church, please consult the Governance Guide. If you would like to know what the current issues are, minutes from meetings of both Session and Stewards can be found in the church office. If you have a question or are looking for other information, please ask someone from the Official Board and they will be happy to get the information for you or refer you to the person who can answer your question.
If you were looking for The United Church Manual 2013, you can buy a copy of it here, or download a PDF version of it here.
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May I read the minutes of Presbytery meetings?
Yes. Minutes of the meetings are put into a binder that is accessible in the Church Office, and anyone interested can peruse them there. Presbytery meets on the third Tuesday of the month, September through June.
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What are the responsibilities of the Elders?
Elders are members of Session and share in the government and the pastoral care of our church. They have responsibility for the worship of God in our church; for the administration of the sacraments; for the Christian nurture of the people of all ages on their faith journey; for keeping the roll of members and for the outreach of the congregation into the community and the world. Elders also support the Stewards in the care of the church edifice and in the development of Christian stewardship among the members and adherents of the congregation. Acceptance of such tasks as these requires a strong faith and trust in God's power, wisdom and grace.
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What are the responsibilities of the Stewards?
Stewards give leadership and look after the financial affairs and the buildings our congregation holds in trust for The United Church of Canada. They collect and disburse monies collected for the church and our missions and ministries. They are also charged with keeping the church buildings in good repair.
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Can I make my offering through pre-authorized payments?
Yes. We encourage those who would like to contribute financially to Glenburnie United to consider doing so with pre-authorized monthly payments. Forms for PAR are available at the church. For those who prefer weekly envelopes, these are available also.
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How can I give a gift that supports the church's Mission and Service?
Our congregation has multiple copies of Gifts with Vision: A Gift-Giving Catalogue. This catalogue is from The United Church of Canada and is for everyone to use and share. If you would prefer to peruse the catalogue online, you can do so here.
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What is the Lectionary?
Both Hebrew and Christian lectionaries developed over the centuries. A lectionary will go through the scriptures in a logical pattern and also include selections chosen for their appropriateness to particular occasions.
The lectionary is organized into a three-year cycle of readings. The years are designated A, B or C. Each yearly cycle begins on the first Sunday of Advent (the last Sunday of November or the first Sunday of December). Year B follows year A, year C follows year B, then back again to A. Each year focuses on one of the Gospels as follows:
- Year A: Gospel of Matthew, November 30th, 2025 through November 28th, 2026
- Year B: Gospel of Mark, November 29th, 2026 through November 27th, 2027
- Year C: Gospel of Luke, December 1st, 2024 through November 29th, 2025
The Gospel of John is read throughout Easter, and is used for other liturgical seasons including Advent, Christmas and Lent, where appropriate. So over any three year period, all of the significant readings of the Bible will be commented on by your clergy person.
The lectionary readings are listed on pages 998 through 1012 of our hymn book, Voices United, in the larger version with musical notation for the hymns. Online, the lectionary is available here.
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Does Glenburnie United Church rent its facilities?
Yes. Subject to congregational activities, our climate-controlled facilities are available for ongoing programs or meetings or for one-time use, such as birthday parties or other receptions. Both the church hall and the sanctuary are available, within certain guidelines, for approved users. Groups regularly using our building include exercise classes, Women�s Institute and others. The acoustically amenable sanctuary has been used for a variety of music recitals and concerts. The sanctuary is equipped with a 2 Manual Allen Digital Organ, an upright piano, has a public address/recording system (with fixed and cordless microphones), more than adequate lighting for daytime or evening use, and has a comfortable seating capacity of 220. The larger church hall can be set up for small or large banquets, and there is a fully-equipped kitchen with both electric and gas ranges and ovens. A CD and MP3 player is available for those who prefer to use their own recorded music for events either in the sanctuary or in the hall. There is a Conference Room for smaller meetings, a nursery and Sunday School room for even smaller meetings. All users must abide by the posted regulations. Our generous parking areas can accommodate up to 75 vehicles.
For current rates, availability and guidelines, please email or phone (613-542-4773) the church office to ask for our Booking Coordinator.