Tel: 705. 743.9911 | Contact Us
Please click on any of links below to explore Westdale United Church Unified Board Of Dirctors & working committees.
The M & P Committee is a confidential, consultative committee that is responsible for the clergy and lay staff of the church. The committee supports the Church Board, the church community, church staff and volunteers on personnel matters. The committee also serves as a confidential forum for the church community to provide input from the congregation on staff related issues.
Plan and direct the total programming of faith study of children/youth.
Plan and direct intergenerational programming for congregation and community at large under the headings of: Social, Spiritual, Learning, Leisure & Wellness, Outreach (in partnership with Mission & Outreach committee).
Manage all matters pertaining to finance, prepare and present the annual budget, prepare Narrative budget for Annual Congregational Report as well initiate, organize and promote regular special appeals for financial stewardship.
Co-ordinate special social gatherings for our Congregation. The Pastoral Care Team offer care and support to members of the congregation and the community at large during times of need and crisis.
Promote the United Church of Canada Mission & Service Fund within congregation membership. The Committee encourages and offers Mission education, both globally and locally, in the various areas of congregational life. As well the Committee develops liaison with agencies, groups, and congregations serving community needs and problem areas and supplements these efforts when the need arises.
The committee co-ordinates the maintenance, minor renovations, cleaning and improvements of the land, buildings and contents of the Church. Also, the committee oversees the establishment of rental fees and the control of the distribution of keys through the role of the Administrative Assistant.
The committee reviews any major changes in the order of worship as planned by the minister and music director. It is also the responsibility of the committee to review the list of special worship for the coming year and approve or suggest changes if necessary.
The worship committee assists the Administrative Assistant with a schedule of lay readers for each worship as well as a list of elders for each communion and ensures that all the roles within communion worship are fulfilled by elders. It is the responsibility of the committee to arrange for pulpit supply in the minister’s absence. The committee confers with the music director should there be any concerns or special arrangements with regard to the supply of music.
Coming soon!
Music is a central part of worship. At Westdale there is a professional music director who leads the choir all of which then lead the congregation singing a mix of traditional and modern hymns.
So to help you, we have provided ‘A Lexicon of Churchese: with English translation’!
Baptism is one of the sacraments of the Christian Church; that is, Baptism is a ‘visible sign of an invisible grace’. That grace is the creating, sustaining and saving love of God.
Baptism is a time to celebrate and recognize that our children are gifts of God, who loves them and intends for them to receive all the blessing God would give. As parents and as a congregation, we recognize that our children belong to God and the community of faith…they belong because we belong.
Baptism is a time when parents reaffirm their faith and once again choose Christ as the centre of their lives. At Baptism, promises are made by both the parents and the members of the congregation to do all we can to provide a ‘Christian’ home for our children, and that all the members of the Church will support the parents while, at the same time, accepting our own responsibility to provide the children with security, Christian nurture and the examples of our lives.
When our children are baptized, they are welcomed into the Christian Church. They belong to the Church because they are a part of a family within the ‘family of faith’. Therefore, it is desirable that one or both of the parents (or sponsors) be active within the Westdale congregation. If you are not now such an ‘active member’, you will want to discuss this requirement with the minister. If it is important for you that your child be baptized, then finding your own place in the church family will also provide you with support.
The arrival of children is one of those times in our lives when we think about some of the ‘big’ questions: about God, faith, and the kind of values we want for our children. This is also a perfect opportunity for you, as the parent, to think more seriously about what you believe and desire for yourself. Your spiritual life can be a great resource to assist in the raising of your children. Now is an appropriate time for you to renew or establish your faith. The minister will be glad to outline how this can become a reality for you.
Since it is the sacrament of welcoming into the church family, Baptism normally occurs in the congregation where the child will live and grow. However, there may be good reasons for holding the Baptism elsewhere. When this happens, it is with the understanding that the people of Westdale United Church are acting on behalf of the people of your church family where you now live. Accordingly, you will want to speak with the minister of the church you now attend. He/she may wish to personally describe the meaning of the sacrament with you and then announce to the people there that the Baptism is taking place on their behalf.
In the United Church all members of the church become your child’s ‘Godparents’ when they make their vows in the service. However, you may wish to include others who have a special relationship with your child. They are welcome to stand with you in the service, but have no special duty. Note: Their participation in the service is not recognized in law. Any arrangement concerning custody of your child in the event of death should be discussed with a lawyer and included in your will.
Introduction
The Parents Profess Their Faith
The Parents make their Promises –
The People make their Promises
Pouring of the water
Baptism of the Child(ren)
A Candle is Lit
Presentation of the Certificate
Prayers of the People
To arrange for the Baptism of your child:
Rev. Beverley Sumbler officiates’ Funerals and Celebration of Life Services at funeral homes in Peterborough as well as services that are hosted at Westdale United Church.
When you consider holding a Funeral or Celebration of Life at Westdale please note the following:
If you wish donations to be accepted, floral arrangements to be set out, boards’ made available for picture memories, ushering provided and memory cards given out, you will be required to hire a minimum of 2 staff from an established funeral home to perform these duties as the church does not provide anyone for these tasks.
The Westdale United Church Membership Committee may be able to provide a catering service for receptions following Funerals and Celebrations of Life that are held at the church. The Committee will require an estimate of approximately the number of people attending the reception. A quote based on that estimate will then be given for the reception catering expenses.
Please contact the Church Office at 705-743-9911 for contact information of a Membership Committee representative.
Please know that you are welcome to engage an outside catering company if you choose not to engage the Westdale Membership Committee. They will be able to access the church building an hour prior to the service.
Below is listed a schedule of the other fees if you choose to hold a Funeral or Celebration of Life at Westdale United Church:
The fee for the Music Director, or designate, for playing at the service is $200. An additional fee of $25 is charged for each soloist.
The fee for the Church custodian is $85. This includes cleaning, opening and closing the church. The custodian will be available 1 hour prior to the service to accept any floral arrangements being delivered to the church.
The fee for the minister is $250.
Office administration fee is $40.
Reception Hall set up $50.
Congratulations on your coming wedding! We hope it will be a joyous and memorable occasion for you and your families. To help make the event run as smoothly as possible, we offer the following guidelines and pieces of information for your wedding to occur at Westdale United Church.
The Christian Church is involved in marriage because we believe that the commitment of marriage and the love and trust learned in the family relationship is of critical importance in our development as mature individuals. Furthermore, it is through our self-giving love and commitment to one another that we appreciate the depths of God’s love and care for us as revealed through Jesus Christ.
It should be remembered that the Marriage Service is an act of Christian Worship. Everything about it therefore (the words, music, symbols etc.) should be consistent with a service of worship.
Westdale United Church has an inclusive wedding policy and welcomes the opportunity of sharing with you in making your wedding plans. This booklet is offered in the hope it may aid you in your wedding plans.
The first step in arranging a marriage to take place in Westdale United Church is to consult with the Church office regarding the date and hour you have in mind. This will of course be a tentative booking, for all weddings are subject to the approval and availability of the officiating minister. Once this has been arranged, a $40.00 deposit must be received to confirm the booking (this deposit reflects administration fee, noted in fees below).
An interview with the minister should be arranged at the time of booking a date and subsequent interviews will be expected two or three months prior to the actual date as well. During these interviews, details of the ceremony will be explained and worked out under the guidance of the minister. Ordinarily, weddings performed in Westdale are conducted by its minister. If another minister is to be invited to conduct or share in the service, the minister of Westdale United Church should be contacted.
You will need to purchase a license so that your marriage can be registered in Ontario. You may purchase the license up to 90 days before the wedding date and you MUST have it as least three days prior to the wedding. We are responsible for filling in the information on the back of the license, so we ask that you bring your license in to our office one to two weeks before your wedding. You can pick up your license at the office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 500 George St. North, Peterborough 705-742-7771, or at the town or city hall in your area. Call ahead as there is documentation you need to take with you.
At Westdale, we have both an organ and a piano. Please ask for contact information so that you can arrange the music details for your wedding with our music director. We also have a sound system available if you prefer to use selections from a CD.
Any photographer desiring to take pictures of any aspect of the wedding is asked to discuss their plans in advance with the officiating minister. NO photographs may be taken during the actual marriage ceremony; for example, during the vows or exchanging of rings. There are appropriate times in which pictures may be taken; for example, during the processional, during the recessional and during the signing of the register. These guidelines apply to not only your designated photographer, but also to your guests at the wedding. We are concerned that everyone remember that the wedding is a service of worship and must not be disrupted.
Videotaping of the wedding is permitted at Westdale; however, the video camera must be placed in a permanent position for the entire service.
NOTE: Special arrangements must be made in advance if you would like to stay after the service for photos inside the church.
It is important that the number of attendants and relationships be identified to the officiating minister prior to the wedding rehearsal to assist in setting guidelines for their participation. Note: Alcohol shall not be consumed by anyone in the wedding party, nor by your guests, prior to the wedding or on church property at any time.
The sanctuary of Westdale is really quite beautiful, and further decorations tend to detract rather than add to the Christian symbolism of the Church. However, if you wish to have some flowers, please make arrangements with the office for a time they can be delivered. Also, there are times when the church itself will be decorated for various seasons during the year, so you should note this when planning your wedding.
Pew bows should be put on with elastic or string. NO tape!
Note: It is expected that NO rice or confetti will be thrown within the building. Thank you!
The schedule of fees relating to wedding in Westdale United Church is as follows:
All the above fees should be placed in separate envelopes indicating the person for whom they are intended, and delivered to the church office a minimum of two weeks prior to the wedding. If fees are not received within these guidelines the booking date will be jeopardized.
Ad Hoc Committee
An Ad Hoc Committee, as approved on May 6, 2018 by the congregation, is investigating the possible sale of a portion of the church property and is interested in speaking with any Westdale member(s) who may have professional experience in the area of design and build projects. If anyone has such past experience and would be available to consult with the Ad Hoc Committee please speak to Mary-Lynn Koekkoek, Chair of the Unified Board or Ross Fitchett, Co-Chair of Committee.
One Roof Dinner Service
Thank you to all those who donated their time and energy to prepare, serve and clean up a dinner service at
One Roof on May 31st. Your generosity and commitment makes a difference and is greatly appreciated!
