Who Are We?

Love has a home here – and you can too! St. Paul’s is a liberal, outward-looking Christian community within the United Church of Canada where everyone is made to feel welcome, cared-for and valued.

It’s often challenging to keep up in today’s changing world. We provide many opportunities to deepen our faith and spirituality, share concerns and ideas, learn from each other, and create connections that strengthen and enrich our lives

as well as our larger community.

Music-filled Sunday morning services are held in our beautiful sanctuary and we take a holistic view of “attendance at church” that extends well beyond Sundays, touching the lives of everyone in our community from infants to seniors.



Our services are live-streamed. Our talented musicians provide ample opportunities for musical performances and outreach. Our cooks and volunteers ensure that the community is fed in once-monthly Monday night dinners, Thursday lunches in Café 55+, and on Saturday mornings at the famous Valley Town Breakfast. Our pastoral care team makes home visits for those unable to participate in worship. Our youth and children enjoy many fun activities throughout the week and at Day Camp in the summer.

In short, our kitchens and programs, and our arms and hearts, are open wide. 

If you would like more information, or would like a personal call please contact us. We look forward to meeting you!

Our Vision

St. Paul's vision is to be known across Dundas and the Hamilton area as among the most inclusive, welcoming and vibrant spiritual communities in the city.

We will nurture the spiritual and religious growth of our active congregation while fostering a healthy, compassionate community.

St. Paul’s is historically well established in having a loving, welcoming, and affirming spiritual community of faith. We believe that all people, without exception, are the beloved children of God. Our mission is to grow in faith, in love of God, all human beings, and the world God created.

We affirm and celebrate the rich diversity of people of all ages, ethnicities, spiritual commitment, economic circumstance, physical and mental abilities, family composition, and any other aspect of their life, which may have led to exclusion or marginalization within the church or society.

We publicly embrace, affirm, and celebrate the inclusion of people in the full spectrum of gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation in the life, work, and leadership of St. Paul’s United Church.

We are an intentional, equity-seeking community that open-heartedly aims to listen, learn, and act in providing: support, ongoing education, and a collegial listening forum

to all.

We explicitly strive to become a safe community where no one feels alone and everyone feels recognized for their own worth. We make every attempt to cultivate a sense of “Home,” to all who come through our doors, for, “Love has a home here”.

History

The Dundas Wesleyan Methodist Church opened for worship on September 30, 1855. Church union occurred on June 15, 1925, when the Dundas Wesleyan Methodist Church was named St. Paul's United Church.

A fire destroyed the church on August 4, 1931.

A cornerstone for the new St. Paul's was laid

on November 19th, 1932. The dedication for

the current church took place on November 12, 1933.

Committees

AFFIRMING: The Affirming Subcommittee (working with the Worship Committee) supports our process toward becoming an Affirming Community of Faith (designation by Affirm United in partnership with the UCC).

CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT:  The Christian Development Committee promotes the spiritual growth of the congregation by providing opportunities for education and study to all ages.

COMMUNICATIONS: The Communications Committee has overall responsibility for fostering a sense of belonging to a community in Christ - within St. Paul’s congregation and with the world around us - through communications that keep everyone informed and engaged. 

FINANCE:  Church finances are overseen by a Finance Committee, which is made up of members of the congregation with backgrounds in finance, accounting, compliance and risk management. The Finance Committee maintains overall responsibility for all matters and records pertaining to congregational finances.

MINISTERS AND PERSONNEL (M&P): 

The Ministry and Personnel Committee of the United Church has responsibility for hiring and support of church staff, including those in ministry. This responsibility includes the oversight of personnel policies, safe and harmonious working conditions, and continuing education of staff. 

OUTREACH:  The Outreach Committee promotes awareness of societal needs and concerns and encourages the congregation to seek a Christian response to such concerns by developing a program of education aimed at keeping mission concerns before the congregation.

PASTORAL CARE AND MEMBERSHIP:  The Pastoral Care and Membership Committee has oversight responsibility for the pastoral life of the congregation along with members of ministry.

PROPERTY: The Property Committee oversees the maintenance and use of the Church property through oversight of housekeeping, maintenance, repair and decoration of all Church properties.

STEWARDSHIP:  The Stewardship Committee is responsible for the overall level of Stewardship of the congregation by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute their time, talents and resources to help build a better Christian community.

UNITED CHURCH WOMEN (UCW): To unite the women of the congregation for the total mission of the Church and to provide a medium through which they may express their loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ in Christian witness, study, fellowship and service.

WORSHIP:  The Worship Committee has oversight and responsibility for all services of worship. The committee oversees the administration of sacraments, including preparation events for Communion and all aspects of Baptism services.