Ebenezer United Church

Welcome to Ebenezer  Church!

Welcome to Ebenezer  Church!

We are open for in-person services at 10:00 am Sundays, as permitted by
local public health and provincial Covid-19 guidelines.


A community of faith located in Brookville, Ontario.

Celebrating 200 years as a gathering place for people and families!


Please contact us for more information,
by email at
ebenzeruc2274@gmail.com  or call our office and leave a message at 905-854-2423.

About Us


Thanks for checking out our website!

Our faith community welcomes Minister Rev. Jeff Werner.

 

Rev. Jeff is an ordained minister, called in April 2023 to serve the communities of Ebenezer United in Campbellville and Trinity United in Acton.

 

A message from Rev Jeff Werner:

Thank you for the invitation to come and join the journeyat Ebenezer United. There is a 200-year history of creating community and helping people with their lives through worship, spiritual practices and sacraments, friendships, breakfasts, seniors exercise groups and serving the community during times of need.

 

I bring 30 years of experience as a minister fromSaskatchewan, northern and southern Ontario. I met my spouse, Connie in the Sudbury area and we have raised two children in the Meadowvale part of Mississauga where my mother still lives. I enjoy traveling, going to the gym, being on the water with an SUP, and doing home renovations and yard work.

 

Prior to becoming the minister at Ebenezer, I completedan Interim Ministry course and did a year and a half atWasaga Beach United. While there, I saw a passion forfeeding hungry people at the food bank. I marveled that those who could least afford it were stepping up to support the ministry and mission that God yearns to see at work in a neighborhood.

 

Do you have gifts of music, inspiration, tears and compassion? Do you want to grow connections thatbuild better lives and a better neighborhood? There is aspiritual home for you here, at Ebenezer United. The future God intends is before us.



Services & Rentals


Sunday Services are held at 11:00 am. All are welcometo join us. Coffee is ready when you come in the door, and you can even bring it into the sanctuary if you wish!

Our services show that we have a blend of progressivelearning and roots in traditional practices as well.

 

Come to Ebenezer and experience the incredible talent of our amazing Jazz pianist John Zadro who accompanies our services. John plays a grand piano in addition to our magnificent Edward Lye Pipe organ(1950). We are blessed to have John as part of our church family.

 

Our church building is wheelchair accessible with anelevator available to all levels in the building. There is accessible parking and entry from the back entrance.

 

All are welcome to stay for coffee and snacks after theservice. It’s a great time to get to know each other and build friendships!

 

How to find us?

 

Ebenezer is located at 12274 Guelph Line, 10 minutesnorth of Highway 401, just north of 20 sideroad.

 

Please call and leave a message at the Ebenezerchurch office 905-854-2423 or email us at ebenezerucc2274@gmail.com

 

If transportation is an issue for you to come to church,let us know and we will do what we can to provide a ride for you!


Services

Sunday worship service at 11:00 a.m to Noon.

 

We are located at 12274 Guelph Line, 10 minutes north of Hwy 401.

 

Rentals

 

We have several great spaces available for rent.

 

Upper Level:

Sanctuary: Historic wood charm with a wondrous pipeorgan and large flat worship space with a grand piano.Can be used for concerts, theatre, guest speaker events.There are magnificent stained-glass windows to add to the ambiance of the space.  Seating up to 150.

 

The Den: A cozy room with a settee, chairs and coffeetable. Suitable for private counseling, tutoring or a small executive meeting. Seating up to 4.

 

Coffee Room: Informal gathering space with tables,chairs and a kitchenette. Seating up to 16.

 

Archive room: Small boardroom with table and chairs, suitable for small meetings

 


Lower Level:
Assembly Hall – Bright open space, suitable for banquets, parties, showers, family reunions, fitness classes, meetings, etc.  Tables and chairs can be easily configured for seating up to 150.  Attached to kitchen.
Kitchen – Bright, fully equipped, modernized and oversized, 3 stoves, dishware for up to 150 guests.

Please call and leave a Message at our Ebenezer Church office,
905-854-2423,  or email: ebenezeruc2274@gmail.com


Events & Activities


WHAT’S HAPPENING AT EBENEZER

 

Sunday Services @ 11am-noon: Inspiring sermons led by Rev Jeff and spiritual music with JAZZ pianist John Zadro.

This year is our 200th Anniversary! We are busy planning a special day in September to celebrateEbenezer’s presence in our community. Check out the history section of our website!

We will be providing tours of our beautiful church and a whole lot more! Watch for updates on our website – follow us on Facebook - come celebrate with us!

 

Other Activities & Events we offer:

MENS BREAKFAST: On the first Saturday of each month (except for July and August) men are invited to a hearty breakfast and a time of fellowship at Ebenezer Church. Breakfast is open to any man or boy wanting to take part. Men can be from another church or not be connected with any church at all. Lots of conversation is guaranteed and so is lots of food! We arrange for opportunities to learn about needs in the community and what is new in the area. There is no fee for this breakfast, free-will offering only, with proceeds donated to an agency or need of the group’s choice. For more information, contact Willy Van Arragon at vanarragonw@gmail.com or Mary Lou Fretz at edhaja@bell.net

For the following activities, please call our office for details 905-854-2423, watch our website, or follow us on Facebook

BID UECHRE: Ebenezer hosts a Bid Euchre tournament twice a year. This is a great time of fun and fellowship.

STRAWBERRY DINNER: this is happening when strawberries are ripe at the end of June, please call our office for more details.

BAKE SALE: Ebenezer supports Canada Food Grains with an awesome bake sale in the Fall each year. Stay tuned for more information when this date is schedule. You won’t want to miss it! 

MEAT PIE SALE: This spring Ebenezer held a bake sale of chicken meat pies that was a huge success! Our meat pies were sold out quickly, and we received great feedback about how delicious they were. We will be holding another meat pie sale in the Fall of 2023, this time with both chicken pies and beef. More information to follow.

CHILI SUPPER: Later in the year, Ebenezer will be hosting an amazing Chili supper, with a great assortment of chilis to choose from. We will also be providing pie for dessert, with pies also available for purchase. Stay tuned for details.





Life Passages


 

Weddings
At Ebenezer, we want your wedding to be special and uniquely yours.  A wedding is a life-changing event and we offer couples the opportunity to draw on the resources of our church to celebrate their wedding day.

 

Baptisms
There is no age requirement and no age limit on baptism. A person of any age is welcome to be a candidate for baptism.

 


Funerals
When a life comes to an end, we have a human need to express our thanks, our joy, and our grief.  Ebenezer is well prepared to support you at the time of a death. We offer this to anyone in our community, you do not need to be a member to call upon Ebenezer for a funeral, memorial or celebration of life service. We are available to support catering a luncheon as part of a funeral or Celebration of life.

 


 If you desire or need one of these services
please call and leave a Message at our Ebenezer Church office,
905-854-2423, or email: ebenezeruc2274@gmail.com

 


History


  • Ebenezer United Church, Nassagaweya — Est. 1823

    When most people hear the name Ebenezer, their thoughts turn to Ebenezer Scrooge, the bitter old miser in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Scrooge has come to embody the very soul of greed, of what Christians ought not to be about.

    And yet, long before Ebenezer ever became attached to Scrooge, the prophet Samuel used Ebenezer to name a memorial stone on behalf of the nation of Israel. God had delivered Israel out from under the mighty hand of the Philistines, and Samuel named a stone Ebenezer as a marker meaning, ‘Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.’ (I Samuel 7:12)


    Thus, this pioneer church, in a land rich in rock and challenge, was named.

  • Ebenezer — ‘Stone of Help’

    Ebenezer United Church is rich in tradition. Founded in 1823, it is likely the first congregation to meet in Nassagaweya. The pioneers held Methodist Services, conducted by travelling circuit preachers, in the home of William Trudgeon. Thomas Demorest and Rowley Heyland travelled the circuit (about 10 townships) as ministers from the United States Methodist Conference, preaching every two weeks in the Trudgeon home.


    Rowley Heyland had a twin brother who sometimes took his place. One time one of the brothers got lost in the bush between here and Acton. “And after wandering a long time, came across a small clearing with a haystack thereon, where he lay down to rest himself and, falling asleep, he caught cold from which he never recovered.”


    In 1832, the Trudgeons donated land for the log church. “It had a shingle roof and ceiling inside, well-chinked. Long planks on wooden blocks served as pews.” This church served as the local school until 1846.


    In 1847, a frame church was erected on the east corner of the present cemetery. A 15' x 30' addition in 1879 included a central entrance, two classrooms, and a gallery. Two box stoves provided the heating, and lighting was by oil-burning bracket lamps. The siding from this church is the wainscoting of today's church, and the pews became the window ledges. The Choir sat in the West corner of the front, with the organ. The South front corner had pews facing the side of the pulpit. The penitent rail was important (especially for the revival meetings).


    An orchestra accompanied the choir - John Easterbrook, bass violin; Thomas Easterbrook, clarinet; George Easterbrook, flute; and George Norrish with his violin. For tea meetings and special services, Mr. Norrish would bring his melodeon and ‘play for the edification of the congregation.’


    In 1892, the Church acquired new land and erected sheds. The sheds were sold in 1960, thus making space for our parking lot.


    The present church was constructed in 1915. The $10,000 budget was fully covered without a mortgage. Building: $8,600. Interior equipment, fence & sidewalk: $1,400.


    The laying of the cornerstones on May 24th was the social event of the year with attendance of 1,000 people recorded by the Acton Free Press. Seven cornerstones were laid, by members of the church and local residents, to symbolize our traditions within the community.


    1. Rev. Jeffries of Oakville, age 92, who had been pastor from 1859-60.
    2. Rev. Easterbrook of Burlington, commemorating the first log church of 1832.
    3. Mr. Gundy of Toronto, commemorating the Frame Church of 1847.
    4. Judge Elliott of Milton, a stone etched with AD 1915.
    5. Mrs. Carter of the Ladies Aid Society & wife of the pastor. She was also the unofficial building contractor throughout the building process.
    6. Duncan Campbell, Reeve of the Township and Warden of the County (a Presbyterian) to remind people of their responsibility to community and church.
    7. Frank Sayers, who owned a sawmill on 5th Concession, the stone etched with May 24th.

    Through the years, many changes have occurred - the installation of the magnificent Edward Lye Pipe Organ in 1950, and the replacement of the coal furnace with oil in 1960. The well was also drilled in 1960 and the kitchen was built in 1961/62. In 1968, the basement floor was laid.

  • Other Milestones

    In 1925, Ebenezer Methodist Church became part of The United Church of Canada at the time of church unification.


    Until 1906, Sabbath School was held in the afternoons with an attendance of about 100. From 1860-1932, Sabbath School was offered 12 months of the year. In 1965, the rolls showed 90 enrolled, with an average attendance of 70.


    The Ladies Aid Society started in 1832. With unification in 1925, it was renamed the Women’s Association and, in 1962, became United Church Women.


    In 1991, a significant and exciting change occurred. Recognizing the needs of our developing area and the opportunity for outreach, the members dedicated a 5,000 square foot addition. The Corner Stone, dated 1991, was fashioned from a portion of one of the original corner stones, covered in the construction. The corner stone was ceremoniously laid by Audrey Kitching, Henry Weideman, Eli Daigle, and Rod Blair. Time Jars rest behind the stone.


    The ‘Stone of Help’ and Commemorative Plaque dedicated at the 175th Anniversary service rests over a Time Capsule for future generations. Members and friends of Ebenezer provided special items - photos, articles, letters, and memorabilia - for inclusion in this capsule.


    Ebenezer is called today to serve, in the pioneer tradition of nearly two centuries ago, as a gathering place for people and families. The first congregation was symbolic of faith and hope among the hardships of their new land. Today our Community faces pressures similar to many rural areas in transition and our families face challenges different from those of our ancestors - new, but not necessarily any easier.


    Ebenezer remains a symbol of faith and hope

    … a Stone of Help.


Contact Us


Church Office

Address:
12274 Guelph Line, R.R. #1
Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0     
(Just North of 20 Sideroad)
Church Office: 905-854-2423

Minister: Rev. Jeff Werner

Music Director: John Zadro




Click here to follow us on Facebook:

Contacts

For Pastoral Care, Baptism, Weddings, Funerals:
Please call and leave a Message at our Ebenezer Church office,
905-854-2423, or email: ebenezeruc2274@gmail.com

For Church Rentals and Catering:
Please call and leave a message
at our Ebenezer Church office,
905-854-2423,
or email:
ebenezeruc2274@gmail.com

For interment arrangements at Ebenezer Cemetery:
Please contact Susie Davies
For additions to church bulletins:
P
lease contact Anita Ouellette
anitaouellette@hotmail.com

Photo Gallery


Strawberry Social

Men's Breakfast

Mother's Day

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