{"id":1406,"date":"2020-08-30T16:11:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-30T20:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/?page_id=1406"},"modified":"2026-10-30T13:20:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T17:20:49","slug":"welcome-to-ssuc","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">God&#8217;s Love is for Everyone<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Whoever You are, Whomever You love, Wherever You are, <br>Wherever You find yourself on your faith journey,<br> You are welcome here at Sydenham Street United Church<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"382\" height=\"513\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SSUSteps.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12606\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SSUSteps.png 382w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SSUSteps-223x300.png 223w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SSUSteps-112x150.png 112w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 382px) 100vw, 382px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><sub>Photo courtesy of Dana Ruprecht<\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-vivid-red-color has-css-opacity has-vivid-red-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"who-we-are\"><strong>Who We Are<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We are a vital faith community and Affirming congregation within The United Church of Canada. We believe \u201cGod\u2019s love is for everyone.\u201d We celebrate diversity, inclusivity and abundant life, informed by Jesus\u2019s 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&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespirekingston.org\">The Spire<\/a>&nbsp;<\/strong>at 82 Sydenham Street in downtown Kingston, Ontario, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"worship-services\"><strong>Worship  Services<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sunday Services for Sydenham Street United Church are held at 11:00 (except in the summer<\/strong>)<strong>, in person in the Sanctuary of The Spire at 82 Sydenham Street, Kingston, with our minister, <a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/about-us\/our-leadership-minister-and-staff\/\">The Reverend Catherine Elsdon<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-vivid-red-color has-css-opacity has-vivid-red-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"line-height:0\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Note About Church Services: <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><strong>You are welcome to enter by the Sydenham Street or William Street entrance.<\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alternatively, you may join us&nbsp;<strong>online<\/strong>&nbsp;for&nbsp;our weekly worship services or at a later date on our  YouTube site <a class=\"maxbutton-5 maxbutton maxbutton-youtube\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"YouTube\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/SydenhamStreet\"><span class='mb-text'>Youtube<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"367\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-From-2026-09-04-16-15-12.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-From-2026-09-04-16-15-12.png 367w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-From-2026-09-04-16-15-12-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-From-2026-09-04-16-15-12-112x150.png 112w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 367px) 100vw, 367px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The weekly <strong><strong>Service<\/strong> <strong>Bulletin<\/strong>s <\/strong>are available on-line <a class=\"maxbutton-6 maxbutton maxbutton-bulleting\" href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/welcome-to-ssuc\/weekly-bulletins\/\"><span class='mb-text'>Bulletin<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>September 6th 2026 at 11am: Jesus Calls for Justice<\/strong>. Luke 4:14-30, Psalm 19:1\u20136. Rev. Catherine Elsdon presiding. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>September 13th  2026 at 11am<\/strong>: <strong>Season of Creation<\/strong>: <strong>Welcoming Everyone.<\/strong> James 1:27\u20132:8, 14\u201317, Psalm 125. Rev. Catherine Elsdon presiding. Communion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>September 20th 2026 at 11 am<\/strong>: <strong>Season of Creation: Caring for Those in Need<\/strong>. Matthew 25:31-46<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>September 27th 2026 at 11am: Season of Creation: Sisters Ask for Land.<\/strong> Numbers 27:1\u201311, Psalm 86.Rev. Catherine Elsdon presiding.<strong>Truth &amp; Reconciliation Sunday, JTRAG guest speaker<\/strong>: <strong>John Olthuis<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>October 4th 2026 at 11am: Season of Creation: Nathan Confronts a King &#8211; We can call leaders to account. <\/strong>2 Samuel 12:1\u201315, Psalm 1. Exploring the relationship between faith-based community and climate action.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>October 11th 2026 at 11am: <strong>Season of Creation:<\/strong> Living Thanksgiving<\/strong>. Acts 2:44-47, 1 Thessalonians 5:16\u201318. Rev. Catherine Elsdon presiding. Thanksgiving Sunday.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>October 18th 2026 at 11am: Season of Creation: Proclaim Jubilee &#8211; We can work for freedom and fairness.<\/strong> Leviticus 25. Rev. Catherine Elsdon presiding. Communion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>October 25th 2026 at 11am: Season of Creation: A Son Returns Home &#8211; We can confess when we\u2019ve harmed others<\/strong>. Luke 15:1\u20133, 11b\u201332.Rev. Catherine Elsdon presiding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>November 1st 2026 at 11am <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color\">(CLOCKS TURN BACK ONE HOUR!<\/mark>):<\/strong> <strong>Season of Creation: <\/strong> <strong>Zacchaeus Makes Amends- We can right our wrongs.<\/strong> Luke 19:1\u201310.All Saints\u2019 Sunday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>November 8th 2026 at 11am: <strong>Season of Creation: <\/strong><\/strong> <strong>Jesus Turns the Tables &#8211; We can act boldly when we see injustice. <\/strong> Mark 11:15\u201318. Remembrance Sunday.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>November 15th 2026 at 11am: A Widow Insists on Justice &#8211; We can be persistent in seeking justice<\/strong>. Luke 18:1\u20138. Affirming Anniversary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-vivid-red-color has-css-opacity has-vivid-red-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Growing Spirits<\/strong> is our weekly program for children (ages 4-13) who meet Sunday mornings with Grace, for stories informed by the Bible and other sources, as well as games, crafts and various activities.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1007\" height=\"499\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Garden-of-Love.jpg\" alt=\"Garden of Love\" class=\"wp-image-8927\" style=\"width:504px;height:250px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Garden-of-Love.jpg 1007w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Garden-of-Love-300x149.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Garden-of-Love-150x74.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Garden-of-Love-768x381.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Love One Another<\/em>, Jesus advised his disciples in his final days on earth. &nbsp;<em>In<\/em>&nbsp;<em>Growing Spirits&nbsp;last week, we created a<\/em> \u201cGarden of Love.\u201d&nbsp;  2022 05 29<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-vivid-red-color has-css-opacity has-vivid-red-background-color has-background aligncenter is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/ukraine-appeal.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11393 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/ukraine-appeal.jpg 640w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/ukraine-appeal-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/ukraine-appeal-150x113.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/united-church.ca\/news\/peace-and-ukraine-ecumenical-letter\">Concern for Ukrainian Communities<\/a><\/strong>: The United Church of Canada invites communities of faith to express solidarity with their Ukrainian neighbours and <a href=\"https:\/\/united-church.ca\/social-action\/act-now\/ukraine-crisis?utm_source=E-Newsletters&amp;utm_campaign=40ef16dbf6-ES220308&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_53a49c9e28-40ef16dbf6-188558753&amp;goal=0_53a49c9e28-40ef16dbf6-188558753&amp;mc_cid=40ef16dbf6&amp;mc_eid=c0f77228fb\">to support<\/a> those most affected by the war. Providing&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/united-church.ca\/stories\/gifts-vision-work-ukraine\">emergency food and hygiene kits<\/a>&nbsp;is one way your generous support of Mission &amp; Service partners is helping support Ukrainian refugees.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-vivid-red-color has-css-opacity has-vivid-red-background-color has-background aligncenter is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Receive comfort and inspiration from the words, music and images of our worship leaders through recordings of<strong> <span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Our Worship Services<\/span> <\/strong> available by 11:00 hr every Sunday on our YouTube site <a class=\"maxbutton-5 maxbutton maxbutton-youtube\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"YouTube\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/SydenhamStreet\"><span class='mb-text'>Youtube<\/span><\/a>&nbsp; <br><br>Please contact us with comments or general questions about Sydenham Street United Church, the website, getting on the mailing list, etc via Email: <strong><a href=\"mailto:web@sydenhamstreet.ca\">web@sydenhamstreet.ca<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-vivid-red-color has-css-opacity has-vivid-red-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:21% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/every-child-matters-logo_3_orig-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7584 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/every-child-matters-logo_3_orig-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/every-child-matters-logo_3_orig-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/every-child-matters-logo_3_orig-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/every-child-matters-logo_3_orig.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>On September 30, wear an orange shirt to remember and <a href=\"https:\/\/united-church.ca\/social-action\/act-now\/honour-children-who-attended-residential-schools?utm_source=E-Newsletters&amp;utm_campaign=e9c0ce9fab-ES240917&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_53a49c9e28-e9c0ce9fab-188558753&amp;goal=0_53a49c9e28-e9c0ce9fab-188558753&amp;mc_cid=e9c0ce9fab&amp;mc_eid=c0f77228fb\">honour Indigenous children<\/a> who were taken from their homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\"><em>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.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A call to mourn, <a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/community-outreach\/jtrag\/\">LEARN<\/a>, support and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/community-outreach\/jtrag\/remember\/\">REMEMBER<\/a>! This link also includes the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-vivid-red-color has-css-opacity has-vivid-red-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_4919-resized.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_4919-resized.jpg\" alt=\"The Spire Sign\" class=\"wp-image-3750\" style=\"width:539px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_4919-resized.jpg 800w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_4919-resized-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_4919-resized-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sydenham Street United Church at The Spire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>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 M\u00e9tis, 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.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Sydenham-Street-United-Church-228916980495947\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Updated 2026 10 30<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>God&#8217;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 &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1406","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1406"}],"version-history":[{"count":1332,"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13042,"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1406\/revisions\/13042"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}