85 Sandalwood Parkway East Ontario L6Z 4S3

(905) 846-7314 Website www.hluc.ca Facebook www.facebook.com/HLUCBrampton

Information Package – HLUC Search 2020

OUR LIVING FAITH STORY We deepen our faith each week through worship that is lively, biblically grounded and relevant and through our Sunday School (BLAST) and our Youth United Church Group (SURGE). has identified its mission: Our youth are eager to learn about the faith and to enter into thoughtful To live an active faith connecting God, conversation. We appreciate variety in people and community. worship through different uses of media, different music, a balance of We do this through a four-fold focus: words, silence, conversation and drama. Our sanctuary space allows for such Deepening faith, variety while providing a sense of the Connecting with each other, holy. Connecting with the community and Administration. We use our website to offer a weekly online Bible Study, and prayer This mission focus was developed with suggestions. We have a Book Club that the congregation over a number of reads faith focused books, an annual congregational meetings, Council Spiritual Retreat and an annual discussions and informal meetings. Vacation Bible Camp.

With this mission in mind, the We have shared opportunities for congregation of HLUC is looking for a deepening faith with other United minister to help us grow in this active Churches in the area. faith, connecting to our diversified community. Many of our members have lives that are full and fluid. New immigrants from Our mission focus and minister around the world bring their own opportunities: experiences of the Christian faith to our community and everyone is enriched by DEEPENING FAITH the diversity. Finding employment and achieving Canadian academic Deepening people’s faith is an essential qualifications add to the busyness of our goal of any church. People coming to already demanding culture. Social church are seeking a deeper, more media opportunities to deepen faith meaningful relationship with God. Our are important. faith enables us to achieve a balanced and meaningful life and to face the problems life brings.

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We rely on our minister to provide These planned gatherings are Content and guidance for our faith opportunities for us to get to know each development, interaction with the other and each other’s needs. Lots of congregation to identify their interests individual caring happens outside of and needs. Also, to provide worship (in them. The community around us is very partnership with our music director) fluid and new people with very diverse that teaches the bible, inspires hope, backgrounds and needs are coming lifts our spirits and motivates faithful through our doors. action. We need a minister who can relate to We rely on our minister to provide: people of all ages and backgrounds, both those with a mature faith, those  A meaningful relationship with God with little faith experience and those  Worship that is lively, biblically who are recovering a lost faith. grounded and relevant  Variety in worship Our minister needs to be able to support  Sermons that are enlightening and refugees and new immigrants and who relevant to our times can lead us in identifying and responding  Faith development alternatives to needs such as housing, finances, and  Involvement of youth in worship support both within and beyond our  Encouragement of youth congregation. participation  Delivery of the sacraments of We need someone who can reach out to Communion and Baptism those who attend sporadically, through phone calls, email and visits if CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER appropriate.

We are all part of the human race and as We know that social media, (Facebook, such we need to care for each other. For Instagram and Snapchat) and those of us who are participants at HLUC communication skills will continue to be the church is the focal point of our care. essential to our church.

We welcome everyone. We all belong. We are looking for a minister who can: We share each other’s joys and sadness, triumphs and struggles.  Be welcoming to a wide range of people We do this as we gather each week for  Be understanding of those from worship and through groups such as our diverse backgrounds Book Club, Women’s Night Out, Men’s  Relate to people of all ages and Breakfast, Walk and Talk, SURGE (youth) backgrounds activities and other social gatherings.

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 Connect and reach out through We need our minister to: social media  Contribute a “Message from the  Be a visible presence within the Minister” to our weekly email community, connecting with other mailing faith groups and other community  Be familiar with social media and groups (e.g. city government, other internet based options to conservation authority, mental expand these options health groups)  Help us respond to God’s call to be CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY a leader in our community

We believe the gospel of Jesus is worth ADMINISTRATION sharing and worth living and in order to do that we need to connect with people Our administration is simple and outside our church. efficient based on the needs of our people. Our Council, which meets We also know from our online survey monthly, assigns to each member one (2018) that loneliness is a major concern area of ministry for which they are an in our community. When we bring advocate. The council then encourages people in the outer community and supports ministry activities making together, it may result in people in the necessary decisions to enable the outer community coming into our inner mission. community. A part-time secretary and paid cleaning Our Community Engagement Survey and repair help keep the church indicated that the environment, mental functioning on a daily basis. We have health and violence were the most been dependent on a volunteer pressing concerns in our community. property coordinator and a volunteer This work has been done collaboratively treasurer to deal with rental issues. with other United Churches in the area and we value these relationships. We need a minister who:

We have a Food Cupboard and a  Has experience in supporting and Community Garden. We have facilitated coordinating volunteer groups Neighbour to Neighbour dinners at  Provides good leadership which we help people talk about issues  Coordinates and communicates relating to mental health.  Keeps us on track with our mission goals Our September Community BBQ and  Solicits both adult and youth annual Winter Craft Sale also provide involvement in worship and opportunities to the community to administration gather in our space. These activities  Will be a contributing member of show we care and want to help. Shining Waters Regional Council

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Community Engagement and Social DEEPENING FAITH and Media Projects CONNECTING WITH EACH

Our Council has received $15,000 grant OTHER monies for 2020 from the Shining Waters Regional Council and the Our History National Embracing the Spirit Initiative for Community Engagement and social media projects.

Previous grants have allowed us to complete a Community Engagement Survey and act on the results. This led to outreach initiatives on mental health and environmental concerns that included community dinners and The congregation of Heart Lake United discussions, as well as additional Church (HLUC) in the north end of information sharing through social Brampton was founded in the 1980’s by media. a small group of people initially meeting at the local Terry Fox School. These programs have enabled us to partner with other local United This dedicated congregation grew and Churches and non-church goers to grow eventually in 1993 helped in the awareness in the community of these construction of its own place of worship issues. on Sandalwood Parkway.

These new funds will allow us an option We have continued to grow and serve to create an additional contract position the community of Heart Lake providing a to continue this work. safe place for worship as well as running an Outreach food bank. Whatever role the minister takes in this program, they are expected to work We also help other Christian closely and collaboratively with this communities to grow by providing our position. worship and building space for their growth. ______

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Our Congregation The number of children attending can vary depending on their parents’ busy The congregation lives, but they are encouraged to join in reflects the diversified the service and participate with us with community of the songs and the Lord’s Prayer before Brampton Heart Lake having their own time in Sunday school. area which is made up of new families to the The Sunday school program consists of a area, newcomers to BLAST program for younger children and Canada and older a SURGE program for our older children. members who have lived in the Brampton area for some time. Our Children’s Ministry

This brings those who may be new, not HLUC has a strong just to the United Church, but to the children’s ministry Christian Faith itself. Those who do that has used a come with a previous Christian variety of programs background, often come from other over the years. Christian traditions. The Bible Learning Due to this diversity of Faith Adventure Stations program (BLAST) is backgrounds, our worship style blends presently used. This is focused on a familiar traditions along with new forms rotational format with Bible stories, of worship. games, crafts and other activities being utilized for each age group. The busy lifestyles of our surrounding community with the challenges that this The Students brings is apparent within our Understanding & congregation. We have many who juggle Reaching God’s busy personal and work lives but who Expectations still regard HLUC as their place to (SURGE) program ground their Faith. Consistent worship is in place for our attendance is sometimes not possible older children who also meet for special and we strive to provide additional programs outside of Sunday worship. worship resources outside the Sunday service. The youth also lead us in the occasional Sunday worship. The current program is We see children as vital to our run by a group of volunteers. continued growth and HLUC continues to provide children’s education for them.

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Our Worship – Music and Audio Visual Bible Camp

Over the years, the A week long summer Bible Camp for congregation has made children 4 to 12 has been an annual it clear that music is a event for many years. This has used the very important part of Group VBS curriculum with 30-40 what they are looking campers usually attending along with 5 for from their to 7 adult volunteers and about 15 to 20 experience with HLUC. teen volunteers.

John Chalmers was hired as our Music Campers rotate through different Director in 2008 and has helped us have stations of Bible Adventures, Craft music as a key focus of the worship Imagination, High Energy Games and Kid experience. John is a music educator Stories from children around the world. who has worked with musicians of all ages, from preschool children to senior The camp is well attended and is citizens. available to the community at large. Previous years’ attendees are now The HLUC music team, under John’s returning to help out and join in the fun direction, makes use of piano, guitars, drums and occasionally additional This year’s camp is titled instruments as part of regular worship. Rocky Railway. Campers will have mountains of fun The vocal team makes use of Voices on a faith-filled adventure. United and More Voices hymn books Camp will be held August along with other music sources. There is 10-14, 2020. also a large file of contemporary songs available. Our Groups

Extensive use is made of our projection Our present groups include our Book capabilities, having songs available on Club, Women’s Night Out, Men’s screen for the congregation. The Breakfast, Walk and Talk, SURGE (youth) technical team is made up of volunteers activities and Cards Night. trained to use the audio and visual equipment. During worship, they control These groups are run by their microphones, projector and lighting. participants, and welcome all who want to just join in from time to time.

Additional informal gatherings are often arranged around particular interests that arise.

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CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY Refugee Sponsorship

Community Food Cupboard

The Heart Lake

Community Food

Cupboard has been

supporting our

community with food At the start of the Syrian refugee crisis assistance for the HLUC completed fundraising to help past 7 years. Over these refugees as they arrived in these years, we have Canada. supported individuals and families who, for a multitude of different reasons, The process moved very slowly with the seek our support. complications of the Federal

government’s change in procedures. In 2019 we served approximately 40 During this time we also participated in different families or individuals. Quite a joint sponsorship with other local United few of the newer families are Church congregations. newcomers to Canada, arriving within the past 2 years. Over this period we helped in the

sponsorship of two Syrian families and The north of Brampton continues to be their children. We were also honoured an underserviced area in terms of the to assist two other families, from Africa, availability of food support such as food who were reunited in Canada. banks and food cupboards.

In 2019 we fulfilled our refugee Support to the food cupboard, in the sponsorship program obligations to our form of financial donations and grocery sponsored families. supplies, continues to come from HLUC members, individual donors, and from a All families are now successfully settled number of organizations, other local in their new lives in Canada. United Churches, Building Blocks

Nursery School, Boy Scouts and a local We still have a small amount of money Rotary Club. left in our Refugee Fund. Our Council is

recommending that we use this as Our volunteers continue to come from necessary for any emergencies that HLUC members, as well as individuals come up in 2020. If funds are still from other United Churches and from unused in September, they will be the wider community. distributed to our families to help with

back to school expenses.

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Community Engagement Heart Lake Run

Our social media presence continues to A number of our members helped with grow. the coordination of Brampton’s 2019 Heart Lake Run that raised awareness of Our plans are to continue to use our food hunger, environmental issues and New Ministry Initiative Grant to support climate action. Its focus was on local our social media and the online initiatives that can make a difference in presence of Caledon East United Church these important issues. and Mayfield United Church. We have agreed to be a partner in the Our Community Engagement Survey has 2020 Heart Lake Run community walk previously identified two important set for June 6th, and will use this event concerns to people in our community: to raise money for our Food Cupboard mental health and the environment. as well as to increase our presence in the community. We held four community dinners and discussions on mental health issues with participants coming from the Community Garden community and from the congregation. We began an expansion to our To promote environmental awareness, a community garden in 2019 with the help monthly newsletter continues to be of our refugee families and other distributed to some 200 people who had participants from the community. This participated in earlier meetings. This allowed our Food Cupboard to provide newsletter is used to inform and fresh produce to families in need. encourage action on environmental issues. Topics included: reducing waste, growing local food, voting for the Plans for 2020 environment, having a green holiday celebration. Our Council has received combined grants totaling $15,000 from the Shining We have recently included Knox United Waters Regional Council and the in Caledon and Cheltenham United in National Embracing the Spirit Initiative. our shared social media postings to promote connections between our These will be used to continue and church groups. expand our Community Engagement and social media projects.

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OUR BUILDING

Office Support Building Design

A fully equipped minister’s office and The building was designed to be able to secretary’s office is available. be used for many functions other than worship, with a number of additional Our secretary is a part-time paid meeting rooms also available. position presently based on four days a week. The secretary duties are presently Details of the building are as follows: as a supporting role of office administration and management in • Sanctuary: 2925 sq. ft. with addition to providing support for the capacity for 300 minister. • Four (4) wheel accessible pews in sanctuary Our secretary, Helen Spence, has been • Fellowship room: 1500 sq. ft. with the Church secretary for many years and unlicensed capacity for 360 is a member of HLUC. She has brought standing, 192 in chairs and 152 to the position a strong ability to with tables and chairs. (Licensed organize and knowledge of computer events for 240 standing and 130 systems. Helen is able to maintain with tables and chairs) strong friendships within the • Board room: 260 sq. ft. with congregation, while still maintaining the comfortable capacity for 12 confidentiality that is required in the under its present configuration role of Church secretary. • Kitchen: 320 sq. ft. capable of serving 80. Two sink areas (one single and a triple sink). Industrial dishwasher installed • Nursery: 240 sq. ft. with capacity for 14 • Minister’s study: 220 sq. ft. • Church office: 190 sq. ft. • Four (4) additional meeting rooms • Narthex area: 895 sq. ft. with ample coat hanging facilities • Washrooms: 1 women’s, 1 men’s and 1 wheelchair accessible • Two (2) storage rooms • Fully heated and air conditioned throughout the building

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Use of Building Sharing of Worship Areas

An early education provider, Building A number of other congregations use Blocks Nursery School, uses the building the sanctuary area for worship on the for a morning and afternoon program weekend and during weekday evenings during the school weekdays. Building based on an annual contract basis. Blocks pay a rental fee for use of the facility based on an annual contract, These include Welcome Home renewable yearly. Evangelistic Ministries, Word to World Ministries Canada, Brampton Adventist Other groups also use the building Church, Living in Christ Church, and Door during evening and weekends. These of Hope Community Church. uses include Girl Guides, our Food Cupboard Group, our Cards Night group, On occasion, joint services have been occasional HLUC functions and other arranged with these congregations to worship groups. allow us all to join in common worship and get to know each other better. Rentals of various rooms are also made available to outside groups that fit within our specified uses.

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BRAMPTON Brampton is a fast growing community, with a large and diverse ethnic background.

The racial profile of Brampton is very

mixed, with a large South Asian

population. Although English is the

predominant language spoken, many

different languages are also spoken.

Brampton Demographic Data Profile of Brampton

• 4th largest city in Ontario Citizenship: • 3rd largest city in GTA 86% Canadian • One of Canada’s fastest growing 13% Non Canadian cities • Population of 593,638 in 2019 Immigration: • Average age of 36.5 – youngest of 52.5% born outside Canada Canada’s largest cities • High annual growth rate (~6.6%) Birthplaces of immigrants to Brampton: due mostly to immigration, Asia 63.2% especially within the Asian The Americas 20.0% community Europe 11.4% • Community has more than 234 Africa 5.2% distinct backgrounds with approximately 115 different India is the most common birthplace of languages spoken the immigrant population of Brampton, • Excellent access to highways 410, approximating over 40% of the total 407, 403, 401 & 427 population born outside of Canada. • Easy access to Toronto Pearson International Airport Cultural Profile: • 8,900 acres of parkland and 217 East Indian 33.4% recreational trails Canadian 10.8% • Network of sports and recreation Jamaican 7.8% facilities English 7.4% • 2 hospitals Scottish 5.1% • 7 public libraries Irish 5.3% • Easy access to transit Punjabi 5.0% (, Zum, Via Rail, Italian 4.3% GoTrain/GoBus, – with links to Portuguese 4.1% Mississauga Transit) Filipino 3.7% (All information from Census Canada (2016) and City of Brampton information.)

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Religions in Brampton Brampton Health Care

There are a number of different religions The and the practiced, with Christianity being the Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated most common religion. Health and Wellness, both sites within the William Osler Health System, are Religious Profile: located within easy reach of the Heart Lake area. Christian 50.5% Sikh 18.8% The Brampton Civic Hospital serves Hindu 12.1% Brampton and the surrounding areas in Islam 7.1% emergency care and together with the No religious denomination >10% Peel Memorial Centre provides a wide range of patient care for both admitting and outpatient visits. Church buildings in the Heart Lake area: Brampton also has many walk-in and • Heart Lake United Church after-hours clinics within the city, and • Heart Lake Baptist Church there are several long-term care • Heart Lake Presbyterian Church facilities in Brampton. • St. Leonard’s (Catholic) • Church of the Holy Family Brampton Transportation (Anglican) • Coptic Orthodox Church Brampton Transit provides a network of buses to serve the whole of the There are also a variety of church groups Brampton area. These bus routes are meeting in schools, recreation centers or linked through four main terminals that alternative locations in the area. also provide links to other Ontario transit agencies.

The GO Transit train system provides daily train service to Toronto. GO Trains are used extensively by Brampton residents working in the downtown Toronto areas.

A population usage estimate of transportation means to work: (All information from Census Canada (2016) and City of Brampton information.) 14.0% rely on public transit 75.9% use car/truck etc. 10.1% use other methods

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Brampton Employment Trends Recreation & Lifestyle

Median household Income $ 87,290 Brampton residents have access to many recreation and sport centers These economic sectors are important throughout the city. A wide range of within Brampton’s infrastructure: activities are available for all ages through the centers. Heart Lake offers • Advanced Manufacturing easy access to these close-by amenities: • Retail Administration and Logistics • Food and Beverage • Loafer’s Lake Recreation Centre • Health & Life sciences (under renovation until Fall 2020) • Business services • Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre • Brampton Soccer Centre Brampton is home to the headquarters • Cassie Campbell Community Centre of 80 organizations. There are also a large number of Major employers in the Brampton area organized sports opportunities for youth include: and adults throughout the city.

• Rogers Communications Schools & Daycare • Chrysler Canada • Loblaw Companies Many schools are available in the Heart • Maple Lodge Farms Lake area covering Kindergarten, Junior • Canadian Tire and Senior schools in both the Peel • Coca-Cola Bottling Company District School Board and the Dufferin- • Amazon Distribution Centre Peel Catholic District School Board. • Indigo Distribution Centre • Air Canada A number of daycare facilities are also • Peel District School Board available locally. • Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board Housing in Heart Lake (All information from Census Canada (2016) and City of Brampton information.) The general housing mix is townhouses and single dwelling housing.

At present there are no large apartment buildings in the immediate Heart Lake area, however one is under construction close to HLUC. This building will create a significant increase in the local population density. The close proximity to HLUC may bring opportunities of membership growth.

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