God’s Love is for Everyone
Whoever You are, Whomever You love, Wherever You are,
Wherever You find yourself on your faith journey,
You are welcome here at Sydenham Street United Church
Photo courtesy of Dana Ruprecht
Who We Are
We are a vital faith community and Affirming congregation within The United Church of Canada. We believe “God’s love is for everyone.” We celebrate diversity, inclusivity and abundant life, informed by Jesus’s teaching and The Bible. We are committed to spiritual development, social justice and artistic expression. We welcome all and strive to build healthy, nurturing relationships with each other. We seek to build community locally and globally. Sydenham Street United Church is located in the building rebranded as The Spire at 82 Sydenham Street in downtown Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Worship Services
Sunday Services for Sydenham Street United Church are held at 11:00 hr, in person in the Sanctuary of The Spire at 82 Sydenham Street, Kingston, with our minister, The Reverend Catherine Elsdon!
Special Upcoming Event
In the midst of a loneliness epidemic, how can we find greater personal purpose? How can we cultivate meaningful connections and communities? Join us for a FREE Saturday morning workshop and Sunday morning worship service exploring these questions and more with Rev. Dr. John Pentland.
John is an author, speaker and minister who deeply values curiosity and connection. He has been in ministry at Hillhurst United Church (Calgary) for over 20 years. He is known for connecting faith and culture, as well as his commitment to “good public theology.” He completed a doctor of ministry at Chicago Theological Seminary in 2004. His dissertation, entitled “Speaking Faith in Public Space,” tackled the question of how to talk about faith outside of church.
He writes as a columnist with the Calgary Herald, regularly contributes letters and opinion essays to The Globe and Mail, and in 2015 published a book about the journey of his thriving community of faith.
The Hilliker Preaching Lectureship, a weekend-long learning event, is co-hosted by Sydenham Street United Church and Chalmers United Church.
Register HERE for the workshop
Check out these articles about John’s career and congregation: https://broadview.org/john-pentland-united-church-moderator/
Read more about John’s book on congregational renewal, Fishing Tips: How Curiosity Transformed a Community of Faith: https://ucrdstore.ca/products/fishing-tips-how-curiosity-transformed-a-community-of-faith?srsltid=AfmBOooONsiWLhCV1M7NKyRUJu3_vuO04KrV1B0-0y7E4kpya8Qwm3rX
Note About Church Services:
- You are welcome to enter by the Sydenham Street or William Street entrance.
- Alternatively, you may join us online for our weekly worship services or at a later date on our YouTube site Youtube
2026
The weekly Service Bulletins are available on-line Bulletin
- March 1, 2026 at 11 am: Contemplative Practice: “Here I Am” Prayer, Psalm 32, Matthew 4:1-11 – The temptation of Jesus
- March 8, 2026 at 11 am: Contemplative Practice: “Prayer of the Heart”, Psalm 121
- March 15, 2026 at 11 am: Prayer Practices: Body Prayer & Praying for the World, Psalm 95
- March 22, 2026 at 11 am: Prayer Practice: The Three Directions of Forgiveness, Anointing, Psalm 130
- March 29, 2026 at 11am: Palm Sunday. Contemplative Practice: Ignatian Imagination Prayer, Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 & Matthew 21:1-11
Growing Spirits is our weekly program for children (ages 4-13) who meet Sunday mornings with our new teacher Chelsea Houston for stories informed by the Bible and other sources, as well as games, crafts and various activities.
Concern for Ukrainian Communities: The United Church of Canada invites communities of faith to express solidarity with their Ukrainian neighbours and to support those most affected by the war. Providing emergency food and hygiene kits is one way your generous support of Mission & Service partners is helping support Ukrainian refugees.
Receive comfort and inspiration from the words, music and images of our worship leaders through recordings of Our Worship Services available by 11:00 hr every Sunday on our YouTube site Youtube
Please contact us with comments or general questions about Sydenham Street United Church, the website, getting on the mailing list, etc via Email: web@sydenhamstreet.ca
On September 30, wear an orange shirt to remember and honour Indigenous children who were taken from their homes.
If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, you can contact the Indian Residential School Survivors Society for counselling support available at 1-800-721-0066. People can also access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.
A call to mourn, LEARN, support and REMEMBER! This link also includes the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports.
The lands on which we meet are the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Peoples. We acknowledge their enduring presence on this land, as well as the presence of Métis, Inuit and other First Nations from across Turtle Island. We deeply respect the many generations of people who have cared for this land, and whose spiritualities, teachings and ways of knowing are closely tied to it. We seek to build right relations with these Peoples, to learn from them, and to live together on this land with respect and gratitude.
Updated 2026 03 13