{"id":3271,"date":"2020-09-22T17:03:09","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T21:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/?page_id=3271"},"modified":"2024-05-29T12:45:36","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T16:45:36","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"metaslider-id-3333\" style=\"max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-107-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-3333 ml-slider has-dots-nav ms-theme-default\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"About US\" data-height=\"450\" data-width=\"600\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_3333\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_3333\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3334 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2020-09-24 09:02:47\" data-filename=\"IMG_7013-600x450.jpeg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_7013-600x450.jpeg\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" alt=\"SSUC Sanctuary\" class=\"slider-3333 slide-3334 msDefaultImage\" title=\"IMG_7013\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3335 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2020-09-24 09:02:47\" data-filename=\"Pride-581x436.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Pride-581x436.png\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" alt=\"Affirming poster\" class=\"slider-3333 slide-3335 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Pride\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3336 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2020-09-24 09:02:47\" data-filename=\"SSUC-interior2-credit-Jennifer-McKendry-20Jan2016-002-1-600x450.jpeg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/SSUC-interior2-credit-Jennifer-McKendry-20Jan2016-002-1-600x450.jpeg\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" alt=\"SSUC Sanctuary\" class=\"slider-3333 slide-3336 msDefaultImage\" title=\"SSUC-interior2-credit-Jennifer-McKendry-20Jan2016-002-1\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3337 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2020-09-24 09:02:48\" data-filename=\"IMG_7604-1-600x450.jpeg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_7604-1-600x450.jpeg\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" alt=\"Concert in the Sanctuary\" class=\"slider-3333 slide-3337 msDefaultImage\" title=\"IMG_7604-1\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3338 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2020-09-24 09:02:48\" data-filename=\"DSC00459-2-scaled-600x450.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/DSC00459-2-scaled-600x450.jpg\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" alt=\"Worship Service at SSUC\" class=\"slider-3333 slide-3338 msDefaultImage\" title=\"DSC00459-2\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3339 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2020-09-24 09:02:48\" data-filename=\"Social-distancing-scaled-600x450.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Social-distancing-scaled-600x450.jpg\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" alt=\"Prayer Shawl Group on the lawne La\" class=\"slider-3333 slide-3339 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Social-distancing\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Knitting on the Lawn<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3341 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2020-09-24 09:02:48\" data-filename=\"Spire-Entrance-510x382.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Spire-Entrance-510x382.jpg\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" alt=\"SSUC front steps\" class=\"slider-3333 slide-3341 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Spire Entrance\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3342 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2020-09-24 09:02:48\" data-filename=\"baskets1-450x337.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/baskets1-450x337.jpg\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" alt=\"SSUC Christmas Baskets\" class=\"slider-3333 slide-3342 msDefaultImage\" title=\"baskets1\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3343 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2020-09-24 09:02:48\" data-filename=\"4pics480-426x320.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/4pics480-426x320.png\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" alt=\"SSUC Activities\" class=\"slider-3333 slide-3343 msDefaultImage\" title=\"4pics480\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3344 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2020-09-24 09:02:48\" data-filename=\"prayershawl2-350x262.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/prayershawl2-350x262.jpg\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" alt=\"Busy Knitters\" class=\"slider-3333 slide-3344 msDefaultImage\" title=\"prayershawl2\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Busy Knitters <\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3345 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2020-09-24 09:02:48\" data-filename=\"3-emmaus-300x225.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/3-emmaus-300x225.jpg\" height=\"450\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-3333 slide-3345 msDefaultImage\" title=\"3-emmaus\" \/><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"about-us\">About Us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">Sydenham Street United Church is located in&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespirekingston.org\">The Spire<\/a><\/em>, a barrier-free heritage building, at 82 Sydenham Street in downtown Kingston, Ontario. We strive to be radically inclusive and welcoming to everyone regardless of age, ancestry, race, ability, orientation or economic background.  Further information on the building\u2019s inclusivity and accessibility is available<a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/life-at-our-church\/accessibility\/\"> here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You  can also get a great sense of our church building, and what it offers to the congregation and the greater Kingston community by viewing the many Instagram photos and videos <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thespirekingston\/\">here<\/a>! (Note that an Instagram account is required to view images).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"our-vision\">Our Vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sydenham Street United Church\u2019s Vision Statement reads: <\/p>\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-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>As an Affirming Congregation, we seek to be a vital faith community within The United Church of Canada:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\" id=\"block-35883d1b-9402-4eff-9431-466f7b3345ac\">\n<li><em>engaged in spirituality, justice and creativity<\/em>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>informed by Jesus Christ and the Bible<\/em>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>and discerning the call of the Trinity<\/em>, <em> <br>as we celebrate diversity, inclusivity and abundant life.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"our-mission\">Our Mission<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sydenham Street United Church Mission Statement reads:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>We are committed to:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>following Jesus\u2019 example as we embrace people of all ages, racialized groups, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, ethnic origins, political beliefs, economic circumstances and differing abilities and challenges in the ministry and life of Sydenham Street United Church<\/em>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>deepening our spiritual relatedness and honouring the worth of each individual by extending hospitality and pastoral care, and sharing relevant and meaningful worship, spiritual practices, and small group ministry<\/em>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>broadening our outreach\/social justice through existing programs, advocacy and new initiatives to address local, national and global needs; and to welcoming the use of our space by those involved in outreach\/social justice seeking to live lives of compassion and peace<\/em>, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>being nurtured by the arts within the congregation and wider community by encouraging&nbsp;use of our facilities&nbsp;by those engaged in any and all artistic endeavours.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This Mission Statement resulted from a discernment process involving broad community consultation in 2008. This commitment was renewed in 2014, with the addition of the first statement above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At that time, we also committed to maintain the building as an asset that would continue to support local community needs. The building, now known as&nbsp;<strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespirekingston.org\">The Spire<\/a><\/em><\/strong>,&nbsp;is home to more than 20 not-for-profit groups, including Sydenham Street United Church.&nbsp;&nbsp;More details of the transformation of the church into a&nbsp;<em>Community Building&nbsp;<\/em>dedicated to building community can be viewed <a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/community-outreach\/\">here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"annual-general-meeting\">Annual General Meeting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sydenham Street United Church hosts an annual general meeting, normally in June.&nbsp;&nbsp;At that time, a new slate of executive officers and committee chairs and members are approved for the next twelve months.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In advance of the meeting, the annual report is circulated to all members of the Sydenham Street United Church faith community. It provides a comprehensive record of the church\u2019s activities, priorities and resources over the past year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-Annual-Report.pdf\">2020 AGM report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/2021Annual-Report.pdf\">2021 AGM report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Annual-Report-2021-22.pdf\">2022 AGM report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2023-06-06-Annual-Report.pdf\">2023 AGM Report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Annual-Report-2023-2024.pdf\">2024 AGM Report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Updated 2024 05 29<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About Us Sydenham Street United Church is located in&nbsp;The Spire, a barrier-free heritage building, at 82 Sydenham Street in downtown Kingston, Ontario. We strive to be radically inclusive and welcoming to everyone regardless of age, ancestry, race, ability, orientation or economic background. Further information on the building\u2019s inclusivity and accessibility is available here. You can &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/about-us\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;About Us&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":8,"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-3271","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3271","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=3271"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3271\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11461,"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3271\/revisions\/11461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sydenhamstreet.ca\/ssuc1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}