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Our Churches

St. Andrew's United Church (Westwood)

Established 1833 | An Affirming Ministry within The United Church of Canada

 

176 Centre Line, Westwood, Ontario

(at the corner of Country Road 38 and Centre Line)

 

St. Andrew’s United Church, Westwood was established in 1833 and built as a brick and mortar church in 1852. Our beautiful historic building is still in weekly use more than a century and a half later!  Its exterior is much the same as it was, but there have been many renovations inside as they were needed:

 

  • a basement, dug in 1952 with kitchen and fellowship hall

  • extensive redecoration of the Sanctuary in the 1960's

  • a restroom (upstairs)

  • a chairlift to make the downstairs more accessible

  • rainbow colored glass enhancing the sanctuary windows​

Our congregation is:

  • small, warm and friendly

  • rural and progressive

  • active in many aspects of community life, quietly the hands and feet of Christ in the world. 

 

We sing from:

  • Voices United

  • More Voices

 

Our choir is:

  • faithful and enthusiastic!

  • small and mighty  ​​

St. Andrew’s United Church, Westwood

Established 1833

 

176 Centre Line, Westwood, Ontario

(at the corner of Country Road 38 and Centre Line)

​Coffee Hour:

Coffee hour is hosted by one or other church committee usually on the 3rd Sunday of the month 

 

Volunteers:

Our volunteers organize luncheons for funerals or special occasions.

 

Our Social Functions Committee, comprised of women and men, is very active in its endeavors to support the work of our congregation (and all who help have lots of fun in the process!).​

We are an Affirming Congregation:

In October 2016, in an "Open Meeting" of the Session, the congregation agreed that the Affirming Vision Statement prepared by our "Re-Affirm United Study Group," and adopted by the Session in September 2016, reflects "who we have been, are, and wish to be at St. Andrew's United Church (Westwood)." We will continue to refine our Action Plan as we live it out as an Affirming congregation with The United Church of Canada. Being "Affirming" means we intend to show our commitment to diversity and inclusion through our actions, actions that are public, intentional and explicit. We put into action our conviction that God’s love welcomes all, without limit or restriction. We deliberately declare our congregation to be a safe haven for all who are on the margins. Our very joyful Affirming Ministry celebration was held on Sunday May 7, 2017! 

 

Affirming Vision Statement 

We, the people of St. Andrew’s United Church, Westwood are striving to be a Christian community.

 

We live our faith by worshipping God together in Christ, respecting and caring for all people regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, ethnic background, and economic circumstance, welcoming all into full participation in the life and work of our ministry.

 

We are learning and growing in the Spirit, valuing our heritage, nurturing our children, and extending ourselves beyond the church walls into the world.

 

* Adopted by The Session of St. Andrew's (Westwood) on September 14, 2016, and agreed to by the people of St. Andrew's at an "Open Session Meeting" on October 2, 2016 as reflecting who we have been, are, and want to be, as a congregation.

 

Note: The Affirming Vision Statement is inspired by, and additional to, the Mission Statement of the Norwood-Westwood Pastoral Charge.

 

St Andrew's United Church, Westwood is looking for a musical director/pianist/organist. Call the church office with inquiries. 705-639-5216​

Norwood United Church

Established 1836

 

P.O. Box 443

4264 Highway 7, Norwood, Ontario

(at the corner of County Road 45and Hwy 7)​

Our Worship:

  • includes all ages/stages

  • is inclusive

  • most Sundays, juice/coffee is served before church, many come early to enjoy a social time

  • the Sunday School joins in the first part of worship before proceeding downstairs

  • has a play area at the rear of the Sanctuary where younger children can play quietly (with an adult to supervise)

  • is more about relationship than technology (though we use it when appropriate)

  • has hearing assist devices available, for those who need them

 

​Our Music:

  • accompanied by organ and our concert grand piano (given through the generosity of donors, including the Sunday School, in 2012) 

  • we sing from Voices United & More Voices

  • our small but capable Choir participates in Sunday worship and leads on other occasions, and will always welcome new voices!

  • Kerstin Walsh, lifelong member of our church, has been our Organist and Choir Director since 2013 members of the church often contribute music  with guitars and other instruments too​​

 

Our Sunday School:

  • is enthusiastic

  • meets weekly during the school year

  • welcomes children from toddlers to pre & early teens

  • has a nursery area with toddler toys

  • has dedicated (police-checked) volunteer teachers for different age groups

  • hosts occasional well-attended After-School Programs for our students and children in the community

  • meets in recently re-decorated spaces

  • Hajni Hos-Ross  is our Coordinator of Children and Youth Ministries

  • sings various times during the year at church and other places, and some who are learning to play musical instruments participate in pre-service recitals

 

​Our Church Building:

  • was dedicated in 1954, the year after a fire completely destroyed the previous limestone building

  • is visibly at the center of the community and made available (often) to various community groups and activities, including concerts and ecumenical services

  • is accessible (mostly)

  • level side-entrance

  • equipped with an elevator,

  • has 3 mobility friendly gender neutral washrooms (one downstairs)

  • a diaper changing station on each level

  • has paved parking (2014)

  • is well maintained

    • ​Stained-glass windows renewed (2014)

    • Masonry was re-pointed (2015)

    • Chimney capped (2016)

    • Narthex, Sanctuary and Chancel re carpeted (2017)

 

Stained Glass Windows & Art:

In the 1980's several families donated colorful stained glass windows that, in daytime, pour brilliant light through all sides of the Sanctuary. The windows illustrate scripture from Genesis to the Book of Revelation! Two expansive murals, depicting the Nativity and Crucifixion of Jesus, hang on the real wall just below the balcony.

Norwood United Church

Established 1836

 

P.O. Box 443

4264 Highway 7, Norwood, Ontario

(at the corner of County Road 45 and Hwy 7)

 

​​Our Congregation:

  • is vibrant and friendly

  • increasingly diverse

  • joyously includes children

  • greets long time members and many who have come to the community more recently

  • loves to eat

  • in addition to "church" activities, our members are active in many aspects of community life, quietly the hands and feet of Christ in the world

​Accessibility

 

​Are the churches accessible?

The sanctuary at St. Andrew's United (Westwood) is served by a ramp, and a chair-lift gives access to the church hall downstairs.  (The washroom at St. Andrew's is not currently wheelchair accessible.)

​

​At Norwood, the side door closest to the parking area is at ground level. Two washrooms, adjacent to the Sanctuary, have recently been renovated to make them more accessible.  One of the upstairs washrooms, and the lower level washroom, have diaper changing stations. An elevator gives access to the lower level, where there is an accessible washroom. All washrooms are gender neutral.  

​

​Both churches have public address systems.  Wireless hearing assist devices (FM headset receivers) are available. “Words only” copies of our hardcover hymnbook (“Voices United”) are available and have larger print.  On request, we can produce larger print Orders of Service and words of hymns selected from "More Voices."  Please contact the Church  Office to request larger print worship materials.

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