Dalston-Crown Hill United Church

Reflection by Pat Edmonds, March 17, 2019

Readings:  The Story of Abraham & Sarah  – Genesis 15:1-12

Have you noticed the advertisement for a new network on television – it is one devoted entirely to reality shows! Personally I don’t watch any so-called reality shows. Why do I refuse to watch them? Because I resent the use of the word “reality” for situations that are so far from being real! Is it real to have 10 beautiful women from around the world compete for the attention and love of one man who may or may not be a millionaire? Or is someone being dragged through a muddy, leech-infested swamp in the presence of a full camera crew an example of survival? Or the latest one where engaged couples are put in a situation where they may be tempted to change their mind or be unfaithful. I sincerely hope not!

Reality for most of us is much more mundane. Reality is caring for an ailing spouse or parent day in and day out because of love. Reality is getting up and going to work to support a family and loved ones when you don’t have a million dollars in the bank. Reality is babysitting a grandchild whose parents or parent is going through a very difficult time. Reality is getting out of bed every day even when it seems more tempting to lie there and dwell on the aches and pains of advancing years. Reality is facing each new day with renewed hope and a positive attitude. Reality is using our time, talents and treasure to help others less fortunate. These are the real actions of real people. These are the people we should be watching as they are the role models who help us live our own lives in a meaningful way.

As for reality shows – I like the one recorded in the book of Genesis – the one about Abram and Sarai. This Biblical story would make a really good reality television show.

Abram says, “ Sari, God has just spoken to me. God is going to carry out a great mission through us! He is going to create a new nation through us! We are going to start a whole line of God’s people! We are going to become part of history!” Can’t you just hear Sari, no spring chicken herself, saying “Abram. You must be dreaming! I didn’t hear anything! It’s bad enough you have dreams in bed, but now you’re daydreaming as well!”

But Abram insists, “No Sari, God is going to create a famous line of His people through us!”

“Abram,” says Sari, “get real. Have a good look at us! We’re old, really old and we’ve never had any children, let alone started a new race of God’s followers! How can this possibly be? You must be crazy!”

Then Abram tells Sari that God has promised she will become pregnant! – at her age, God must be kidding! Then they both fall down laughing at how unreal that would be! I’m not sure if I would have laughed had I been Sari. Looking after babies was hard work when I was 30, but now? No, thank you! A day or two with my young grandchildren and I’m totally exhausted.  But we know the rest of the story, in due time a son was born. They called him Isaac, which means laughter. And God’s promise to Abram and his descendants was fulfilled.

As I was preparing today’s message and checking the suggested lectionary passages I realized that in all 3 cycles – A, B, and C – the story of Abraham and God’s promises appears.  Although the Bible is full of stories about promises,   few Biblical stories appear in all 3 cycles of the Common Lectionary. To me this underlines the importance of the relationship between Abraham and God.

In today’s passage from Genesis, God reiterates his promises to Abram told first in Chapter 12 of this book. In the intervening chapters of the saga, many adventures happen to Abram and his wife Sari and time marches on.

God decides it is time to remind this elderly couple of his promises. God even seals the covenant this time by giving them both new names : Abraham and Sarah. For both Abraham and Sarah, the name change is a sign of God’s presence in their lives

God reminds Abraham of several promises: 1. Abraham will be the father of many nations. 2. God will make him very fruitful. 3. God will make nations of Abraham’s descendants and kings will come from them. 4. He will be their God and the God of all Abraham’s descendants. 5. The whole land of Canaan will belong to Abraham and his descendants forever. The promises of God continue to be passed on from generation to generation. “All the ends of the earth” and “all the families of the nations” shall worship God. The promises of God truly change the world for all time.

Of the 10 or so times I have preached on the story of Abraham and Sarah, and it is one of my favorites, my thoughts have always dwelt on the promises of God. But today I want us to look at a different perspective of this familiar story – that of faith and trust. We know God’s promises are true. They are not dependent on weather, surroundings or changing societal times. But God’s promises can only be fulfilled if we have faith and trust God. The promises come from God but in order for their fulfillment to take place we must trust God.

When I was young my mother often told me. “Seeing is believing!” In other words don’t tell me what you are going to do, do it and then show me! I guess she was trying to teach me not to make idle talk or empty promises and she was right. But God does expect us to place our trust in things that cannot be seen. We are asked to stake everything, our very lives, on something that no one can touch or see, something not described, something invisible. There is lots of evidence that God exists and does what He says He does. The Bible is full of people like Abraham and Moses and Noah who through their trust in God accomplished marvelous things. We need only look around us at the beautiful world God has created to believe in God’s awesome power and love. The other evidence we have that our trust is grounded in reality is the long list of witnesses prepared to testify about how their trust in God has changed their lives. Even more evidence is revealed when we experience other people helping those in need, loving everyone they meet, treating all peoples with love and kindness – in other words living out their life because they trust in God.

Any covenant is two-sided. God promised but Abraham had to have faith and trust in God. We also, as twenty-first century Christians, must trust in God. Trust is not something we might acquire and store away for a time when it is needed. Trust in God is more like manna that is reclaimed each day. Each day there are new questions, new uncertainties, and fears. Each day we are invited to reclaim our covenant with God and journey forth in faith.  Our faith provides a vision for a future church, a church without boundaries, a table where people of all ages, races, colors and classes, gather to worship God in love and peace. Through our faith, we receive God’s grace to build a church community that embraces the non-traditional vision of our younger members, cherishes the traditions of our past and prepares a place for all. When we fall short in our faith, God steps in because when our faith fails, God remains faithful. God cares about our FAITH! God cares about whether we believe and trust in Him even though God cannot be seen. God cares that we are trying to be faithful and answer the call even if we’re not sure exactly what that call is. Like Abraham and Sarah we are asked to have the kind of FAITH that trusts what we CANNOT see.

In Africa there is a rather small deer called the impala. This amazing little animal can jump over ten feet high and cover the distance of greater than 30 feet in one jump. Yet surprisingly these creatures can be kept contained in a zoo behind a wall no higher than 3 feet tall. Why? Because the impala will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will land. So they stay behind the 3 foot wall.

Recently I heard a speaker describe FAITH as “stepping into the dark and then taking yet another step”. This is what God asks us to do. God asks each one of us to go on a journey of FAITH – to listen to what we are being asked to do. Then God asks us to TRUST as Abraham did even though we cannot always see where God is leading us. We are asked to trust that God knows the right path for us and will be there leading us every step of the way. We are not to be like the impala. We are to obey God and take a leap of FAITH trusting in the God of our fathers who lead Abraham and Noah and many others. Sometimes the journey may be difficult, but we are to place our trust in God.

FAITH and trust are intricately woven together. Faith is not so much about knowledge as it is about action. By faith Abraham “set out”, which is to say he moved, he took action, he did something with his life. He believed God’s promises and trusted God. This does not mean he had some doubts. I am sure Abraham had many doubts during this long journey – particularly the one about he and Sarah becoming parents a ripe old age. But still Abraham had faith and trusted that God would do as promised.

In our day FAITH is often thought of as something we acquire through study and the gathering of information. Although it is true that learning and studying are important, FAITH in God and trust in his promises are more important for daily living. With trust we can look toward the future. From FAITH comes hope, and if there is just one calorie of hope, it is enough to nourish life in the anticipation of unseen tomorrows.

This year as members of the United Church of Canada we are being asked to step out in faith and trust God.  We are asked to be people of action: people who are risk-takers; a community of faith ready to journey where God leads us; people who dare to share the Good News with everyone we meet; people ready and willing to share God’s great love with the world. We are to trust the wisdom and work of our members who saw a new vision for our denomination.  We are dared to journey into the future trusting in the God who led Abraham in the past, who is with us here in this time and place and the God who will be with us forever.

The promises of God do not change over time, however they exist in the context of faith, love, trust and commitment. God never reneges on his promises. God never goes back on his word, but God expects our trust and commitment in return. God says, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” And Jesus says, “Believe in God and believe also in me; Love one another as I have loved you.”

God renewed his covenant with Abraham and even renamed him. God promised to be the God of Abraham and all his descendants. We are descendants of Abraham. We are God’s people. God’s covenant with Abraham is still valid today. Are we able to trust in this promise by living lives of love, hope and service to others? God expects us to understand the true meaning of promise and commitment, to do our best, to be true to ourselves and others, to help others, to take care of the beautiful world God has created and to trust as Abraham did. We must trust in God’s promises and try our best to live up to the promises we make regardless of what others around us say or do. When we find this difficult we can call on God for help and forgiveness. Thanks be to God for his never-ending love and sure promises

Reflection by Pat Edmonds, January 13, 2019

Readings:  Isaiah 43: 1-7 and Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22

Today’s passage from Isaiah is a very powerful one. It speaks to the very core of who we are. “I have called you by your name – you are mine!” Our name is very important to us because it identifies us as an individual and as a member of a family group. It is how we are known , and to a certain extent, it helps to shape us into the person we are. Many children wish, at one time or another, that their parents had given them some other name. I remember wishing I had been called Penelope. It sounded so much more sophisticated and mysterious. I was sure that as Penelope I would have been a different person – more popular perhaps. prettier or even have curly hair! Today I can’t imagine being named differently. I am equally “me” as Patricia or Pat, but I am NOT Patsy or Patty! Those names don’t refer to me!

Our lives are shaped by our sense of identity, by who we think we are. Often people buy unthinkingly into identities thrust upon them by the world. – worker, consumer, sexual object, young person, teen, old person, inferior class, superior class, etc – and their lives are shaped, often negatively by the inherent expectations. But we have an identity that supercedes anything the world might impose upon us, an identity declared in our baptism. We are children of God! God who knows each one of us by name!

Those of us who were baptized as infants are unable to literally “remember our baptism”, so it’s helpful to have a day like Baptism of the Lord”, when we are reminded that we – like Jesus – have been declared a beloved son or daughter with whom God is well pleased. We are those of whom God says, “I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are precious in my sight.”

Baptism affirms our inherent worthiness in God’s eyes, but it also challenges us to live in a way that reflects who we are, so that we go beyond saying “I WAS baptized” ( that is something that was done TO me) to saying “I AM baptized – this is who I am.” Jesus’ baptism was the beginning of his active ministry and our awareness of our baptismal identity is a summons to a life of service to God.

Jesus was baptized by John not because He required baptism –he was already filled with the Spirit of God. But Jesus identifies with us, showing us by example how necessary baptism is in the life of a person who wants to lead a new way of life according to the will of God. So the baptism proceeds as usual until the moment Jesus comes up from the water – then WOW!! The heavens open, the Spirit of God descends like a dove and a voice from heaven says, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased!”

Because we live in the electronic age, we are accustomed to hearing voices of people we cannot see. Communication of this kind is no surprise to us. But Jesus’ baptism took place long before telephones, radios and computers. This was truly an awesome event – hearing a voice from an unseen source somewhere in the sky!

Let us stop for a moment and think about this voice. It was a voice that probably sounded foreign amid the other voices that the people were accustomed to hearing. This voice came from an unseen source. Yet this is the very voice that spoke creation and called our world into being. This is the voice that spoke to Moses and delivered the Israelites from their life of slavery. This is the voice that spoke through the ancient prophets foretelling the arrival of John the Baptist and the One even greater who would come after him. This is the voice the psalmist speaks of in Psalm 29 “The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” It is the voice of a heavenly parent affirming and revealing to the world the true identity of this holy child. It is the voice of a heavenly parent saying “You are my Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” and saying this before Jesus HAD EVEN BEGUN HIS MINISTRY – before he heals the sick, comforts the lost, gives sight to the blind or teaches the people. Jesus has not yet done any of His good works yet God declares Jesus is beloved and pleases God. Jesus finds favor with his heavenly Father not because of his works but because of unconditional love. This is the kind of love bestowed upon us by God – not because it is earned or deserved.

Baptism is the most beautiful and powerful of the various rites we practice in the Christian church. Baptism is one of the common threads that unite us as the global community of Christ. Whether we pour, we sprinkle, we immerse, or we dunk, doesn’t matter. The details are not important; what is important is that we baptize with water in the name of the Trinity. In baptism we commit ourselves to a life lived in response to this great love. In baptism, God claims us, adopts us, gives us a new name: My daughter! My son! In baptism God singles us out and says, “This one is mine! – and in the case of infant baptism this happens before the human created by God has had an opportunity to EVEN BEGIN MINISTRY! When we practice infant baptism, we affirm that even a young child is one of God’s beloved.

At any baptism, there are lots of voices: the voices of parents and godparents and the minister. If you’re baptized as an adult, maybe there’s your own voice. There is the voice of the congregation and of the liturgy and the scriptures. In the midst of all this, where is God’s voice? What is it that God says?

God says at every baptism exactly what He said at the baptism of Jesus  “This is my beloved, in whom I am well pleased.”

God’s voice speaks to us, calls us, blesses us and makes us children of God.  God’s word continues to work wonders and create a new thing in each of us every day, as we grow and mature in our faith and practice following Jesus. Few of us, in fact probably none of us, have experienced the opening of the heavens and the descending of the Spirit as Jesus did at his baptism. My experience is that God speaks to us in more quiet moments. God speaks in the stillness of our souls, in conversations with trusted friends, through the scriptures, in times of worship and when we are busy serving those we are called to serve. Sometimes God speaks to us in the shocks and surprises of life. Sometimes God’s voice is like thunder, like a sudden summer storm,  shaking us out of our complacency and prejudice. Sometimes God’s voice is soft and gentle, a comforting voice when we feel alone or distressed. Other times God’s voice is nagging, the little voice that plants an idea in our head and keeps on nagging and pushing until we act or walk the path God has chosen for us.

In baptism we are all given a ministry. As we seek to live out our baptism, we find ALL of life to be ministry. With our identity as beloved and the delight of God clearly in mind, we are able to do what God wants. Baptism leads to community and commitment. We baptize into the Christian community because we need each other. Living out our baptism is not easy. We need others to help us through life’s struggles. We need to explore with others what our baptism means to us in the various stages of life. We need the encouragement of one another when we find it difficult to live out our ministry. We need to celebrate with one another the joy of living a life that is full of purpose and meaning as we live in harmony with the purposes of God.

Martin Luther once said, “There is no greater comfort to a Christian than baptism.” Why? Baptism is an ever-present reminder of our salvation, our nearness to God as the result of what God has done. The same God who reached out and claimed us in our baptism continues to hold on to us in life. The source of our hope is in the active, resourceful love of God. Luther, in times of despair and depression, received comfort by touching his forehead where he had been baptized and saying to himself, “ Martin be calm. Baptisimus sum. I am baptized.” When we feel the water on our faces at the beginning of each day, it should be a reminder that we are baptized; we are God’s beloved.

If we will listen, the voice of God sounds throughout our lives. Jesus came to remind us to listen to that voice above all others. God’s voice announces, affirms and commissions. We hear the Master’s voice above the chaos and storms of daily living. We are the body of Christ; we are beloved; and when we function as that body, certainly we must know God is pleased. As we hear God call to us – “Beloved, beloved, beloved” – we see the revealing of God’s power to effect change in us and in our world. Baptism happens just once. The confirmation, the fulfillment happens over and over and over. God’s gift of love is limitless. Thanks be to God.

DALSTON-CROWN HILL and FOREST HOME UNITED CHURCHES

As I write this, the wind is howling and the brief sunshine is now hidden by heavy clouds. I think snow is on the way! Possibly by the time you read this, we will already have had some snow storms, but I’m still hoping for a few weeks of “mild, sunny Fall weather”, which we don’t seem to have had much of this Fall.

Fall is such a busy time, and at our churches, it’s no different. We welcomed our new Minister, Rev. Will Haughton and his family to our churches, started up Kid Zone and Godly Play again, a Meditation Circle at Forest Home which will start again in January (for info – 705-329-1709), and now the children have been welcomed into the choirs, which they’re very excited about.

Will’s first 4F Event (Food, Friends Faith on Friday!) was held in October with an attendance of 28 – the largest gathering to date. This is for Families with children and Grandparents with grandchildren. Children are also invited to bring friends with them. Come to enjoy an evening where all you have to do is show up to enjoy a meal, share the company of good people, play a game, hear a story and reflect on life. The next FH will take place on January 25^th at FH church from 5:30 – 7:30. Please call Debbie (705-329-1709) or Will (249-877-0393) if you are coming.

The Dalston Fall Supper was held on Nov. 3 and was again another huge success.

Close to 200 people were served a delicious Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings and there were plenty of “Home Made Pies” for everyone! The members of our congregation would like to thank our patrons from the Community and Forest Home United Church for their continued support.  Watch for further information about our “Ham Supper” to be held in early May.

Our Advent/Christmas services:

• Dec. 2^nd – Advent 1 worship with Communion – regular worship times
• Dec. 9^th – Advent 2 – White Gift service at D-CH, and Gifts for the Community at FH during our regular morning worship.

In the evening a Candles of Remembrance service will be held at Dalston-Crown Hill U.C. at 7 p.m. for those who find this time of year painful from the loss of loved ones;

• Dec. 11^th (Tues.) – Candles of Remembrance service at Forest Home church at 7 p.m.
• Dec. 16^th – Advent 3 – Christmas Pageants will take place in both churches – 9 a.m. in Forest Home, and 3 p.m. at Dalston-Crown Hill church;
• Dec. 23 – Advent 4 – regular worship times
• Dec. 24^th Christmas Eve offers two services – 4 p.m. Family Service at FH, Communion Service at 7 p.m. at D-CH.

On Saturday, Dec. 8^th at 2 p.m., the Dalston-Crown Hill church is offering a

“From Generation to Generation – Bake a Pie Together” afternoon of fun for all ages and levels of experience. Participants will learn how to make a homemade pie and then take it home to enjoy. A free-will offering will help to defray the cost of ingredients. For more info, or to register (so we’ll know number of participants for ingredient purchases), please contact Will at (249) 877-0393 or howareyall2@gmail.com

Men’s Breakfast – The men of the Dalston-Crown Hill Congregation will be hosting their next “Meet, Greet, and Eat Men’s Breakfast” on Wednesday, January 16, at 9 a.m. at the Dalston church.  Hopefully you were able to attend the one held a few weeks ago. These breakfasts welcome men of the Congregations and from our communities.  If you would like to attend, please contact either Al @ 705-737-2552, or Joe @ 705-722-6965.

The next Chit-Chat, Sip’n Snack conversation time for women is scheduled for the Spring. Watch for the date in upcoming issues. All women are welcome!

A few words from Rev. Will…..

As I write these words, it has been a wonderful first two months at Forest Home and Dalston-Crown Hill United Churches! I have received a very warm welcome and enjoyed meeting folks from the congregations as well as from the community. Everyone has made me feel so comfortable I feel like I’ve come home.

This upcoming holiday season I look forward to experiencing the joys of Christmas through carol singing, pageants and fellowship and also to walking alongside those for whom this time of year is painful at Candles of Remembrance service.

The new year will bring some personal rest for me and also our exciting 4F program and a rumoured murder mystery dinner.

I would love to get to know you or be helpful in any way I can. I look forward to meeting you or hearing from you, so please get in touch with me – (249) 877-0393 or howareyall2@gmail.com.

Until then, I wish you and your families a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.

On Sunday mornings everyone is welcome to gather for worship at Forest Home United Church in the village of Forest Home at 9:00 am and at Dalston Crown-Hill United Church in the village of Dalston at 10:30 am. Sunday mornings our choir at Dalston practices at 9:45 before the 10:30 service……preparing for a few weeks at a time. If you love to sing, please join us!

Dalston Crown-Hill has been newly renovated to be accessible. Come check out the facilities that are available for a variety of gatherings, whether for community or private events. For details call Al at 705-737-2552.

To stay tuned to upcoming events, follow the postings on Facebook at Forest Home United Church and Dalston Crown-Hill United Church or check out the websites at: www.DalstonCrownHillUnitedChurch.net  or  email dalcrown@gmail.com 
www.ForestHomeUC.ca  or email foresthomeunitedchurch@yahoo.ca
or contact Rev. Will Haughton at (249) 877-0393 or howareyall2@gmail.com.

Christ Our King

Text of Reflection given by Guest Worship Leader, Pat Edmonds, on November 25, 2018 based on Jeremiah 23:5-8 and John 18:33-37.

Whether or not you are a fan of classical music, there are a few pieces which cannot help but stir the soul in a profound way. One such piece is Handel’s Messiah, the Hallelujah Chorus in particular. The chorus opens with the magnificent lines “Hallelujah, Hallelujah, the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth” and then quiets down “The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever.” Not only is the music overpowering but so are the words.

Today is Christ, the King Sunday or the Sunday of the Reign of Christ. This is a day to reflect on our claim that Jesus, the humble carpenter from Nazareth, is the true king, the promised One, whose life and teachings announce the coming of the kingdom of God. It is a day to celebrate the sovereignty of God’s love in our lives and world.

The image of Christ the King, or of any king for that matter, is not an easy image to appreciate in this 21^st century. The role of king has certainly been downplayed in our Canadian society. Most of us probably view a king as a slightly archaic carryover from the pre-democratic era. Most modern kings or queens live far above the common existence of their subjects and are little more than political and media celebrities with very little actual power.

How then do we relate to this claim of Christ as our King?

Each of the lectionary readings for today touches on a different dimension of messianic kingship or divine leadership. What type of king DO we follow?

In our Old Testament lesson Jeremiah addresses a people who had suffered under the rule of unethical leaders. We can certainly imagine the people’s frustration. Even today the daily news reminds us of situations in which those charged with the responsibility for the political and social well-being of our society use their positions for personal gain and unethical profit. Yet Jeremiah envisions a time when the corrupt and unethical leaders of ancient Israel would be replaced by a good and true king. “The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” What a concept! – a king who would serve not for personal gain but for the common good – a leader who would lead the people by EXAMPLE and not by harsh rule. To imagine a leader whose actions could be characterized by wisdom, justice and good relations sometimes seems like an unattainable fantasy – and yet this was the vision of the prophet Jeremiah.

Today’s gospel reading is central to our recognition of how different God’s realm is from what the world views as important. The passage from John appears at first glance to be more suitable reading for Holy Week or Easter. In the gospel lesson, we encounter Pilate, Rome’s governor in Judea who ruled on the emperor’s behalf and commanded Rome’s troops in Judea. Hence Pilate sits in judgment as the agent of the Roman power. This interrogation of Jesus by Pilate follows the questioning of Jesus by the high priest so Pilate has already been told Jesus is a criminal. But an even more serious allegation, or rumor, is that Jesus is “the King of the Jews”. The trial and outcome hinge on this charge against Jesus as King.

In this encounter, Jesus uses the same words as Pilate – king, realm, truth – but they are not speaking of the same things. They are like people from two different worlds, using words common to both but having very different meanings based on their own life experiences and missions.

So Pilate begins by asking Jesus directly, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

If Pilate was hoping for a simple “yes” or “no” answer he was disappointed. Jesus responds in a way consistent with his answers throughout the Gospel of John: Jesus answers a question with a question. Then Jesus reminds Pilate that his kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. Jesus says to Pilate, “My kingdom is not from this world.” Jesus’ kingdom is not political or geographical, but spiritual. The kingdom of God proclaimed and ushered in by Jesus is the reign of God’s love, justice and peace. We are part of this kingdom when we follow the way of a Savior who lives and dies for us. The Reign of Christ unfolds wherever people choose to live under God’s authority.

But Pilate won’t let go of his original question and asks again, “So you are a king?” Jesus then baits Pilate by answering , “I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” Pilate takes the bait and asks his famous question, “What is truth?” Again Jesus doesn’t give Pilate a clear answer. This time his response is silence. We, the readers, are expected to know the  answer for Jesus said earlier in the Gospel of John, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

What is the truth about Jesus, the King of the Jews? Jesus never was a king in any recognizable sense. He had no kingly trappings. Jesus’ crown was a crown of thorns. He didn’t ride triumphantly into battle on a great steed. He walked about in a simple cloak or rode on a donkey. His throne was a cross.

Yet the Gospels present Jesus as a king. How is this possible? Jesus is a king  when we are his loyal subjects. It is only when we obey Jesus and worship him that we truly understand the nature of his sovereignty.

In Jesus’ time, many Jews were hoping for a messiah or king who would lead their nation in defeating the Romans, who were an occupying force in Palestine. They were looking for a strong warrior who would establish a theocracy and usher in a new age of peace. However Jesus didn’t fulfill these messianic expectations. Instead, Jesus fulfilled the messianic role of “suffering servant” who willingly and obediently did God’s will.

In Jesus the Christ we see a God who isn’t a remote, distant sovereign but a God-with-us. Jesus suffered physical and emotional agonies during his passion. By so doing, he reveals a God who knows our suffering, and shares it. What we are offered is the “true” king who eases our suffering by sharing it.

As Advent and Christmas near, the time is right for each one of us to truly reflect on and meditate on the idea of Christ as the image of the invisible God. Jesus reveals to us what God is like. The infant of the manger, the young boy in the Temple, the humble carpenter of Nazareth, the wise teacher and healer of Galilee, the rebel against religious authority, the breaker of bread, the feeder of multitudes, the friend of the outcast, the servant washing his disciples feet, the broken criminal on the cross – each of these images teaches us, helps us see, something of the very nature of God. They also epitomize a King who leads by EXAMPLE.

The Gospel reading reveals the true nature of Christ’s kingship – and also the true challenge of following Him. This is the paradox that exists at the very heart of our faith – that Christ the King is Christ the common criminal; that Christ the victor is Christ the crucified; that Christ the image of God is

Christ the broken image of humanity; that Christ the Risen Lord is Christ the dying servant. The cross is the true revelation of God in this world – the coronation of our King – for it was on the cross that the nature of his kingdom was revealed. The king of wisdom and justice, who had encouraged his followers to walk in the ways of peace, mercy, forgiveness and love, had been denied and abandoned by those followers at the moment of his greatest need.

The “true” king is Christ; the head of the body, the Church; He is the One in whom and through whom reconciliation with God is made possible. His ways are just and wise; his tender mercy and forgiveness invite us to follow him through the shadow of death into a new dawn of hope and peace. To follow him allows us to pass from darkness to light as we catch glimpses of God’s glory in him.

On Christ the King Sunday we are invited to take our part in God’s kingdom by living out the truth. Our Lord promised that He would be found amongst the poor and the naked, the sick and the imprisoned, the stranger and the hungry. Such a promise leaves each one of us with a challenge. The faithful Christian life is one that becomes familiar with human despair and tragedy, one that stands in solidarity with and in service to those who suffer and thus becomes familiar with the reality of God’s power at work in this world. To follow Christ the King is to embrace a life of discipleship, a life of giving our lives to others.

Only then will “The kingdom of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and He shall reign forever and ever.”  Amen

DALSTON-CROWN HILL and FOREST HOME UNITED CHURCHES

Welcome to Fall. After this extreme summer, let’s hope we have a great stretch of moderate temperatures until Winter comes calling.

Summer temperatures such as we’ve had this year, create an uncomfortable sanctuary in these heritage church buildings, so at Dalston-Crown Hill, we moved to the church hall in the basement for the summer. It was quite comfortable there, as long as the blinds remained down on the south windows.

We were so appreciative of Lay Leader – Pat Edmonds, and Ministry Student, Joy Cowan who led our worship services throughout the summer, along with one Sunday led by a member of our congregation.

Rev. William Haughton, or “Will”, joined us as Minister on September 1st. Will lives in Barrie but is no stranger to Oro-Medonte. His family has had a cottage in the area since before he was born and he enjoys the amazing cycling available all over the township throughout the good weather.

Will has previously served churches in Cambridge, London, Dundas, Norfolk County and Barrie, all in Ontario. He loves working as a minister and helping people connect to the God who loves us in good times and in bad.

When he’s not working, Will loves reading, cooking, playing different sports and spending time with family.

Will looks forward to serving our communities and enjoying many good times with us!

At Dalston-Crown Hill Church, a “Camp Awesome” was held August 20-24, for children ages 5-12.  Living Waters Presbytery supplied the leaders, while members of the church handled the registration and snacks. The 9 children and a few of our youth who assisted throughout the week, had a lot of fun, playing games, creating some amazing crafts, learning songs (which they performed for parents/grandparents on the last day), and seemed to work up quite an appetite for the snacks. The theme of the camp was “Water of Life”, with each day focusing on some aspect of water. One day, the children packed up bags, each with a full meal’s ingredients, along with the recipe for the meal, which went to the Native Friendship Centre in Barrie, for their food bank. We had quite an assembly line going! The campers learned a valuable lesson on giving to those less fortunate.

Forest Home’s annual Corn Roast was held on August 24 at the church. The weather was superb, the food good, with hot dogs, salads, corn and lots of wonderful desserts. The Bake Table had a lot of great home baking for people to purchase for the week-end. Besides the great food and fellowship, live music entertained the crowd throughout the evening. A great time for all who attended!

It’s Fall and that means our Annual Fall Supper will take place at the Dalston United Church on Saturday, November 3rd.  We are located at 1734 Penetanguishene Road (County Road 93).  This is a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings and home-made pies. There are only two sittings this year, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m., so you will want to reserve your tickets early. Adults are $20 and children under 12, $8.  For your tickets call Joe and Susan at 705-722-6965 after Oct. 1.

On Sunday mornings everyone is welcome to gather for worship at Forest Home United Church in the village of Forest Home at 9:00 am and at Dalston Crown-Hill United Church in the village of Dalston at 10:30 am. Sunday mornings our choir at Dalston practices at 9:45 before the 10:30 service……preparing for a few weeks at a time. If you love to sing, please join us!

Dalston Crown-Hill has been newly renovated to be accessible. Come check out the facilities that are available for a variety of gatherings, whether for community or private events. For details call Al at 705-737-2552.

To stay tuned to upcoming events, follow the postings on Facebook at Forest Home United Church and Dalston Crown-Hill United Church or check out the websites at: www.DalstonCrownHillUnitedChurch.net  or  email dalcrown@gmail.com

www.ForestHomeUC.ca  or email foresthomeunitedchurch@yahoo.ca

Dance! Dance!  

Text of Reflection given by Guest Worship Leader, Pat Edmonds, on July 15, 2018 based on 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

Last November we invited our two granddaughters, 7 and 12, to vacation with us in the Dominican Republic. They had never been to a tropical resort so there were many new sights and sounds to experience. We had chosen a particular resort because it was family-friendly and had a good program for children. In addition to the beach and swimming pools, every evening there was an outdoor stage show geared for children. My younger granddaughter particularly enjoyed sitting with me in the evening for this show. Prior to the performance some young children would climb up on the stage and do an impromptu dance or song or just enjoy the freedom of clowning around on a stage. The last night, Deirdre, without a word to me, suddenly got up from our table, ran to the stage and performed an amazing solo dance of several minutes to the Latin music that was playing – much to the delight of everyone there. Then just as suddenly she stopped, ran back to the table, sat down, covered her face with her hands in embarrassment and declared, “Nana, I can’t believe I just did that!” Apparently she had been so overcome with joy that she could not help but express her emotions by dancing with great abandonment. For me it was a truly magical moment.

Dancing is a universal act across the world and has been since time began. People dance to express emotions, to entertain, to educate, to attract other people or to bring good fortune such as in the rain dance. Dances for centuries have been connected with religion and worship. Dancing has always been an important expression of joy, a beautiful form of communication.

In today’s Old Testament lesson we encounter an intense and vivid celebration, a spontaneous expression of great joy. King David marks his kingship and victory over the Philistines by bringing the Ark of the Covenant, which was captured by the Philistines when they defeated Israel in battle, back to Jerusalem. The ark was seen as the as the embodiment of the presence of God among the people. It was said to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. It was seen as a unifying presence for the people. This ark symbolizes for the people of Israel their covenant with God and God’s presence among them. It is a great cause for celebration that the Ark is being brought to a new permanent home in Jerusalem.

As the Ark moves along the parade route there is much rejoicing. Thirty thousand people vigorously dance before the Lord, using all manner of musical and percussion instruments. It is a picture of wild enthusiasm and celebration. Finally the ark is brought to the city of David to a special tent. Here the celebration also involves ritual sacrifice of animals and David, the king, dances before the ark wearing, not his royal robes, but a priestly garment, the linen ephod, associated with the priestly activity of offering sacrifices. The celebration here also includes blessings and the distribution of food to the people. David recognizes God’s blessing on him, his kingship and the people of Israel and he responds with celebration, dancing, ritual sacrifices and food.

David and the people dance because, after a long journey, the Ark representing God’s presence has come back home to Jerusalem. David dances to celebrate having achieved the task God had placed on his life. That is, to be King of Israel and to bring God back to Israel. David dances to honour God. He knows he has not become king because of his great abilities but because of God. David dances to teach the rest of Israel the importance of honoring and serving God through the trials of life. David dances because he has joy overflowing from his heart. He wants to express his gratitude to the Lord for this great moment of praise – definitely a time for dancing!

As I have sat through countless meetings in the past year and listened as others have expressed much angst and bemoaned the whole idea of change and the sweeping changes to come in the UCC, I have asked myself is this not also a time for dancing? I see in this denomination of ours much to celebrate, much to dance about.  I want to dance when I know that our leaders and members have spent much time in discernment and prayer about how this church can better be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. We have come to the realization that we cannot continue as we have in the past: that the millions of dollars spent on holding meetings at four levels of governance and transporting people to them can be better spent; that the real work of the church happens close to home in our congregations and local communities: that these local communities of faith can accomplish greater things by working in clusters and networks  than they can on their own; that restructuring allows room for creativity as we begin new programs and ways of being church.

Secondly we should  feel like dancing when we experience the events and activities that are encouraging all of us to become better educated in order to live out the principles of Truth and Reconciliation; that the story of the residential schools is now part of the Canadian history curriculum; that more secondary schools, colleges and universities are offering courses of study about indigenous peoples; that these courses have been developed in consultation with our indigenous brothers and sisters.

Thirdly I feel like dancing when I visit a church that is totally accessible, where all can safely access the sanctuary for worship and other areas for fellowship; that our denomination has made accessibility a priority and has made funds available to assist with these projects.

We should all dance in celebration with all the LGBTQ people who are welcomed into our church at all levels; that conferences, presbyteries and congregations have declared that they are affirming; that all are welcome in our denomination.

Knowing there are thousands of dedicated volunteers across our denomination caring for one another, teaching Sunday School, nurturing the youth, enhancing worship with their musical gifts, visiting the shut-in’s and countless other wonderful supportive things church people do should have all of us dancing with joy in the aisles and the streets.

Every time I work on the Toronto Conference Interview Committee and meet the students who are willing and able to offer their God-given gifts for ministry in our denomination I want to dance. Meeting these enthusiastic faith-filled individuals is one of the highlights of my faith journey.

When we learn of the amazing variety of projects and activities supported by our donations to the Mission and Service Fund we should all dance alongside the recipients of our generosity. Lives are changed for them and for us.

Whenever I meet with UCW members and realize that in the past year women across Canada donated more than 1 million dollars to M &S, that in celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of UCW more than $260 000 was raised to train midwives in Africa, I want to dance with thanks and praise.

Most important I feel like dancing because I know through all of these changes, all of these ways of being church, God is with us. God is leading as we learn the new dance steps needed to be successful disciples in this 21^st century. We all know in any dance there can be only one leader. If each partner tries to lead chaos can result. We need to let go and let God set the rhythm and the beat. In order to succeed as modern day disciples as we live through the upcoming changes, we must pay close attention to the instructions in God’s dance manual, the Bible.

It is important that others see our dance – that we dance to give praise and thanksgiving – that we dance with our heart, mind and soul as well as our bodies. Dancers need to be flexible, not rigid and dogmatic. They need to be strong in  their faith in order to communicate the message of joy and celebration that a life in tune with God can bring.

I know some of you are sitting here thinking “My dancing days are over”. I can no longer cut the rug as I used to. But let me share with you the fact that not only have I not been gifted with an ability to sing but my sense of rhythm is terrible. I hear the beat in my head but it doesn’t translate to my feet. Fortunately when I was a teenager my future husband played in a dance band so I was able to sit, listen and enjoy the music without embarrassing myself or him on the dance floor very often. However this has not prevented me from dancing with my heart and soul when the occasion arises. I often dance in my head. My arms and body sway with the music even in church. To be a graceful, beautiful, athletic dancer would be amazing. But that is not to be for me and many of us. However this fact does not prevent us from being a healthy, spiritual dancer for God. We can all dance with joy even if we have limited mobility or lack rhythm.

I still recall participating in Renovations 2000, a United Church event at a large downtown church in Toronto. The lively hymn “Go Make a Difference” had just been published and most of us were hearing it for the first time. Spontaneously the entire sanctuary of participants rose to our feet, danced in the aisle, out the door and down the broad steps of this large church, carried on across the street and into Allan Gardens. I am sure the residents of the neighborhood were amazed and wondered what on earth was happening. But we were so filled with the spirit we danced our joy for the world to see.

“Dance then wherever you may be.I am the Lord of the dance, said he!”

Canada Day 2018 Message by Pat Edmonds

Pat Edmonds, guest Worship Leader,  gave the following reflection at Dalston-Crown Hill on Canada Day based on  the following bible passages:

Genesis 18: 1-15
Matthew 10:40-42

When my granddaughter was a toddler one of her favorite books had wonderful buttons to press, and since she was very young you can probably imagine that she found  it necessary to press the buttons  not once, but as many times as possible. Unfortunately the favorite button in the book was the one that imitated a ringing doorbell! Can you imagine what my wee dog did each time she pressed that button! Right! He went flying to the front door, panting and barking with his little stubby tail wagging furiously for he was the official greeter of our household and took this position very seriously indeed. Usually I had to end up going to open the door so he could see with his own eyes that there was no one on the doorstep. Only then would he give up the awesome responsibility of host and continue his daylong nap.

What do you do when your doorbell rings? It usually depends upon who it is, doesn’t it? If you are expecting a friend you will make your way quickly to the door and welcome him or her inside. If not, you may proceed cautiously – perhaps peering through the peephole or the curtain before you open the door. If it’s a stranger you probably won’t be very accommodating, at least until you find out what the stranger wants. Anyone who has canvassed door-to-door for a worthy cause or has tried to make a living as a traveling salesperson knows only too well the variety of receptions you might get in just one neighborhood.

What would you do if God were at the door? How would you receive him? Would you invite him in, peer cautiously out the peephole or sneak out the back door hoping he would think you were not home? The fact is God IS at your door and my door. Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 “ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.” So what should we do now that we know God is at the door? Let’s take a look at what Abraham did when God arrived at his door.

Our Genesis story unfolds as Abraham was sitting in the doorway to this tent in the heat of the day when he noticed three men standing a little ways off from his tent – no ringing doorbell here. They were strangers and therefore the protocol of the day dictated that they not approach the tent until invited to do so. Abraham leaped to his feet and hustled over to them. Once in front of them, he bowed low to the ground and said, “If I have found favor with you, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way- now that you have come to your servant.”

Let’s look at the way Abraham greeted these strangers. Even though he was rich and powerful, Abraham bowed before them and offered his services. Abraham’s humility teaches us that our neighbor is someone to be served, not taken advantage of!

Once the guests are seated and water brought for them to wash their feet, Abraham scurries off (Don’t we wish we could scurry off at age 90+?) and asks Sarah to make bread for the guests. Then he picks out a choice calf for the meal and provides his guests with milk and cheese. Then he stands aside, attentive to their every need. Abraham was a gracious host indeed.

Abraham may have discerned that there was something special about these visitors due to their sudden appearance in the middle of nowhere, but he has yet to discover that one of these men is the Lord himself. Abraham shows hospitality to strangers and entertains angels, and even God himself, unaware that he is doing so.

Alma, a lady in her 80’s, remembers living in her parents’ home during the Great Depression. Men riding the rails in search of work or food often found their way to her village in the Ottawa valley. It was not unusual for Alma’s

mother to make a sandwich or two for a hungry stranger who knocked on the back door of their house in those dark days. When Alma asked her mother why she helped them, when other people just complained about these “dirty, lazy men” she was told,” You never know. We might be entertaining angels unawares.”

The Latin word that is generally translated as “host” can also be translated as “guest”. These two things, rather than being opposites, are profoundly inter-connected: being a “host” and being a “guest”, that is. Guesting and hosting. Being received and receiving others. Being welcomed and welcoming others. These things are intricately linked in human life, since no one gets to play the role of guest until someone else indicates the willingness to play the role of host. What does Sarah and Abraham’s encounter with God say to us as members of the United Church of Canada as we celebrate Canada Day?  I think it has several very clear messages for us today. In the first place, it says to me that angelic, divine messengers come in many forms to ordinary people.

When I read this story and today’s passage, I immediately think of Matthew 25: 40 which says “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.” This is a passage about Christian hospitality. We learn hospitality from God, not Martha Stewart or the Food channel. God, through Abraham, shows us how to treat all people who cross our path even if they are strangers.

It is with the role of host that we Christians need to be especially concerned about these days. There is no denying the fact that this congregation and that of my home church are aging congregations, not at all atypical of our aging denomination and many other denominations in this 21^st. century. We need to place a high premium on hospitality and spend some time and energy learning and practicing the habits of the good host.

Do you recall the front page story that ran in the United Church Observer a number of years ago? It described the exploits of a couple who were on vacation somewhere in Ontario, and decided to worship with a local congregation. They were not greeted at the door on the way in. They were not greeted at the door on the way out. Alas, nothing that transpired between the time they walked through those doors on the way in and the time they walked through those same doors on the way out amounted to an acknowledgement of their existence, let alone a word or gesture of welcome. Which is why they experienced unmitigated joy when they arrived, shortly after church, at the local Tim Horton’s, where immediately upon their entrance, the server flashed them a warm and welcoming smile. It appeared to them that they were more welcome at a donut shop than in a house of God. I am also reminded of the series of workshops entitled “More Franchises Than Tim Horton’s” presented a couple of years ago by our denomination. We may have more franchises, but are we more welcoming?

I usually am very delighted with the welcome I receive as I visit 25 or so United Churches annually. But my position is quite different. I am welcomed as a person who has come to perform a service – to fill the pulpit as it is. But once I attended a service as a guest and had a rather unsettling experience. I arrived, was handed a bulletin and chose a pew about halfway up the sanctuary on the left hand side. But as I when to sit down I noticed in the hymnbook rack the name tags of several members. It appeared to me that these places were reserved – by those who had left their name tags there the previous Sunday. So I quickly went to another pew but found the same scenario there. It took several tries before I found a spot that did not appear to be reserved by the presence of name tags. I did not feel particularly welcome and wondered if I should have called ahead for a reservation as I do at my favorite but very busy restaurant. The irony was that a month or so later I was called to do pulpit supply there and would you believe the theme of the lectionary passages that Sunday was “Hospitality”? God does work in mysterious ways.

As Christians and Canadians what are we challenged to do and be in this 21^st century? Are we being challenged to be gracious hosts like Abraham to strangers and immigrants and refugees? Are we challenged to trust in God’s promises for our lives, our church community and our country as we face major changes in our denomination? Are we challenged to use our God-given gifts and talents rather than dwell on our inadequacies? I believe we are being challenged to do all these things and more. We are challenged as Christians and Canadians to not only show God’s love to the world but to journey into the future with acts of love and kindness trusting in the God who led Abraham and Sarah in the past, the God who is with us here in this time and place and the God who will be with us forever! Thanks be to God!

Pat Edmonds, July 1, 2018

Dalston-Crown Hill and Forest Home United Churches

With summer on our doorsteps signs of new life are all around us calling us to the backyards, woods, meadows and lakes of our lives. Nature is a great soother of the soul, nourishing us with images and insights. Summertime often shifts our schedules creating time to gather with others who lift our spirits and connect us in community. One of our greatest needs is the need for connection; to nature, to our authentic self, to community that is safe and life-giving.

Though life slows down in the activities of the church in summertime there are still opportunities to connect with others. Upcoming opportunities include:

A special event for those in their 20’s and 30’s and 40’s is happening on June 1^st at Grace United Church in Barrie. This is an event sponsored by all the Communities of Faith in the United Church in the area. Our Better Selves (ourbetterselves.org) is a workshop to allow for the opportunity and conversation for growth and change. Do you want to make a change in your life but not sure how to go about it? Most of us believe that each change or growth we make must be monumental, but the reality is that change comes from small individual steps towards the future. To find out more go to facebook.com/events/149011565946633/

On Sunday June 3^rd there is a special gathering of the community at the Dalston Union Cemetery Memorial Service at 2 p.m. for a time of pausing, remembering and lifting up gratitude for the goodness that has been shared with us through the lives of our ancestors.

Forest Home Community Cinema presents The Lego Movie Friday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Forest Home United Church. It’s an all age adventure about embracing life and celebrating the gift of our uniqueness. Bring your families of all ages and enjoy hanging out with friends and munching popcorn over a good movie! Let Ruth know you are coming at ruth.arla.mcdonald@gmail.com or 705-229-6513.

June 10^th is the anniversary of The United Church of Canada and will be celebrated at the services at 9:00 a.m. at Forest Home and 10:30 a.m. at Dalston Crown Hill.

The 4^th session of The Speaker’s Series at Dalston Crown Hill United Church in Dalston continues with Darlene van Oorschot on the topic of The Challenges of Aging and Maintaining Health and Independence on Tuesday, June 12^th, 2 – 4 p.m. No cost for tickets, free-will basket available for contributions if you wish.

A Gala Celebration will be happening on June 15^th to which everyone is invited. The plans are for an evening of fun and getting to know each other better. It begins at 6:30 with savoury finger foods at Dalston-Crown Hill Church followed by a road trip to Forest Home Church where sweet finger foods will be shared starting at 7:45. Two hours of just hanging out together. Great for all ages.

On the eve of First Nations Day here in Canada and the eve of Summer Solstice, a meditative circle will gather just down the road from Forest Home at Regan House in Scout Valley. The reflective focus will be on the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Report. We will gather on Wednesday June 20^th at 7:30 p.m. For more info call Karen Hilfman Millson at 705 325 7998.

June 24^th is a Church picnic at 10 a.m. at Regan House in Scout Valley. It is a celebration for both congregations and the wider community at the culmination of the year of leadership by Ruth McDonald and Karen Hilfman Millson during which time the churches searched for their permanent minister(s).  For Ruth and Karen it has been a year of delight with these two communities of faith who we both love to hang out with and marvel at their enthusiasm and sense of commitment to the community around them!

A HUGE summertime event is CAMP AWESOME Vacation Bible Camp for ages 5 to 12 happening at Dalston-Crown Hill UC. The theme is “Waters of Life”. Come for the games, stories, crafts, songs, fun and adventure! It’s happening the week of August 20^th to 24^th 9 a.m. to noon. For more information or to register, call Pat Hastings 705 487 3502.

Mark your calendar for  a Celebration of the Communities of Faith in the United Church’s Living Waters Presbytery at Camp Big Canoe on Saturday September 22 from 11 am to 5 pm. Games, singing, hikes, crafts, food, poster boards of history of the congregations in this area, and a big worship service to end the day. All are welcome!

Worship times throughout the summer will be the same as usual, 9 a.m. at Forest Home in the village of Forest Home and 10:30 a.m. at Dalston Crown Hill in the village of Dalston.

This past spring has been filled with rich community times of the ham supper, conversation for women at chit chat sip ‘n snack, men’s breakfasts, meditation circle,  4 F on the theme of Growing where the multi-generational gathering got hands dirty together creating flower planters for the front of both churches, kitchen table conversations about faith and life, joyful noise service to celebrate earth day, children and youth leading worship, speaker’s series looking at world religion with a particular focus on Islam and building consensus in community from the wisdom of a First Nations elder, great conversations, good food, deepening relationships.

For upcoming events and links to videos of sermons at Dalston Crown Hill see us on Facebook and check out our websites: www.ForestHomeUC.ca  and www.DalstonCrownHillUnitedChurch.net.

Have a wonderful summer!!

Submitted by Karen Hilfman Millson

Dalston-Crown Hill and Forest Home United Churches
North Simcoe Life Newsletter for April to June 2018

In the quiet months of winter, connections, conversations and actions have been stirring within the United Churches in the villages of Dalston and Forest Home. Amidst the activities, plans have been hatching to reach out and engage people in topics of interest, opportunities to build relationships and activities that are meaningful. Be sure to read to the bottom to find out about the yummy Dalston Ham Supper, time for Meditation and new Speaker’s Series!

Through the winter months there have been wonderfully engaging moments such as:

• the Men’s Breakfast in February where 27 men of the community gathered at Dalston-Crown Hill for a buffet of eggs, sausages, baked Beans and hash browns followed by guest speaker Brock Godfrey on the informative and interesting topic of “Fraud Awareness For Seniors”;
• 4F gatherings in January and March at Regan House in Scout Valley when a group of families and friends met to share a meal, and reflect together in January about the intentions we want to bring to this new year and in March to consider the gift of “Diversity” through games and storytelling;
• the Open Hands Youth Mission to Nicaragua hosted a Fundraising Bonspiel Club in February where it was a delight to hear from Nicaraguan hosts Elizabeth and David;
• over the six weeks of Lent a group of 10 enjoyed gathering weekly around a kitchen table to talk about issues that have energy like – What does it mean to be Spiritual but not Religious? What is prayer? And how do Random Acts of Kindness change us?;
• hilarity abounded as a cast of characters from high school days of the sixties of the follower, the nerd, the home-coming queen, the jock, the cheerleader, the biker, the flirt and the rock band leader created an evening of dinner theatre improvisation as a story from decades ago was relived in the basement of Dalston-Crown Hill Church;
• the premiere opening of “Forest Home Community Cinema” when a bunch of folks of all ages from all around the community enjoyed popcorn and the movie, “The Lorax”;
• the Meditation Circle for Women on Wednesday evenings at Forest Home has been rich in conversation and significant in the experiences of connecting to our authentic self deep within, where wisdom and clarity about our life path emerge;
• a Lenten project to support the Hunger to Hope Initiative at Barrie Native Friendship Center including guest speakers Brianna Laws and Meagan Lortie who shared how their work at the BNFC brings meaning, and changes lives, through relationship and access to healthy food who invited us to be part of their work.

So what are some of the ideas that have been developing to invite people to engage in meaningful conversations and actions, and build relationships filled with times of laughter, deepening friendships, and provide opportunity to work together to make the world a better place?

A new Speaker’s Series began in March. The first speaker was Brian Carwana, Director of Encounter World Religions Centre in Guelph who will speak again in May. The theme for March was “To See, To Be, To Do” which provided an insightful map for navigating the landscape of the world’s religions.  It compared and contrasted how diverse faith traditions understand fourteen underlying principles on such central issues as: What is the Ultimate, How is Truth Obtained, Attitudes towards Humanity and the World, Causes of Suffering, How is Deliverance Achieved … and much more. We learned about the traditions of the world, of our neighbours, and perhaps even more about our own views on this fascinating and complex topic.

In May Brian will return on Tuesday May 22 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Dalston-Crown Hill United Church with a focus on Islam. Come learn about the life of Muhammad, the rise of a civilization, the split of Sunnis and Shi’as and the teachings, practices and sources of authority that undergird Islam. We will explore history and ritual, while learning about modern issues prominent in the news including secularism, violence and the role of women. Often reduced to platitudes and caricature, we will aim to gain some depth on this influential monotheistic faith.

The Speaker’s Series on April 24^th at 7 p.m. will present an evening of insight with First Nations Elder Mark Douglas from Rama Mnjikaning. The focus of his presentation will be on a method for communal decision making of a model to build consensus which helps us find the eighth way, the way of the Creator. It is a process that invites us to add together all our ideas in order to build a plan that becomes our plan. The talk is called “Seven Twice is Eight”. Mark’s insights about this way of being in community together have enhanced the life and conversations of many people.

Guest speaker at the June Speaker’s Series will be Darlene van Oorschot from Bone Zone. Darlene will speak on The Challenges of Aging and Maintaining Health and Independence. She will discuss ways of maintaining physical and emotional health as well as tips on how to live each day as fully as possible.

The Speaker’s Series are $10/person or $15/2 or $25/4 or what you can afford. You can call ahead and reserve a ticket or ask questions by calling Al at 737-2552 or George at 835-2750.

May 11th is our next 4F from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Regan House in Scout’s Valley off Line 15 north of Forest Home United Church. We will be celebrating “Growing”. Our time together includes building community, playing games, expressing our creativity and a meal! This is for families with children and grandparents with grandchildren and their friends. For more information and to pre-register so dinner can be prepared call Ruth at 705-229-6513 or Debbie at 705-329-1709.

The next series of the Mediation Circles for Women runs on Wednesday evenings from April 11^th to May 16^th from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Forest Home United Church.  The focus is on listening and discerning signs of hope and new life and how we can help shift life on the planet through our daily actions and attitudes to create well-being for all. For more information call Karen at 705-325-7998.

Earth Day is Sunday April 22. Each Congregation will be having an all-age friendly service called “Joyful Noise”. Come to enjoy making music together as we celebrate the Earth that sustains and supports us at 9:00 am at Forest Home and 10:30 am at Dalston-Crown Hill.

At Dalston-Crown Hill U.C., there are periodic gatherings for the Women’s Chit-Chat Sip ‘n Snack. Our gathering involves conversation, snacks, and beverages (hence our name.) Watch for details on our website dalstoncrownhillunitedchurch.net, or send us an email (dalcrown@gmail.com) with a request to be put on the email list so you will be notified of gatherings. You can also check our Facebook page.

Also watch for opportunities to be part of a series of Re-Skilling Events which could include things like developing skills such as cooking economical meals, knitting, canning or other skills people want to learn. Let us know and we’ll see if we can find someone who can teach the skills that interest you!

Dalton-Crown Hill Annual Ham Supper is Saturday May 12, 2018. Dinner will be locally raised ham, scalloped potatoes, vegetables, coleslaw, home-made pies. There will be continuous seating from 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. Adults are $18, children under 12 are $8. For tickets call 705-722-6965.

On Wednesday June 20^th people are invited to gather for a time of pausing to celebrate and delight in the longest day of the year, summer solstice, and to honour the First Nations people of Canada on the eve of our national First Nations day.  Everyone is invited to gather at Regan House in Scout’s Valley off Line 15 so we can be close to the earth for a Circle of Meditation filled with our longings for light to guide us on a path toward living the ways of wholeness.

On Sunday mornings everyone is welcome to gather for worship at Forest Home United Church in the village of Forest Home at 9:00 am and at Dalston-Crown Hill United Church in the village of Dalston at 10:30 am.

Dalston-Crown Hill has been newly renovated to be accessible. Come check out the facilities that are available for a variety of gatherings, whether for community or private events. For details call Al at 705-737-2552.

To stay tuned to upcoming events, follow the postings on Facebook at Forest Home United Church and Dalston-Crown Hill United Church or check out the websites at www.DalstonCrownHillUnitedChurch.net and www.ForestHomeUC.ca or send an email foresthomeunitedchurch@yahoo.ca or dalcrown@gmail.com .

submitted by Karen Hilfman Millson

Dalston-Crown Hill and Forest Home United Churches
North Simcoe Life Newsletter for February to March 2018

One of our deepest longings as human beings is to connect in a meaningful way to our world, our community, others and ourselves. We know from countless research that healthy life-giving relationship is a key to living lives that are fulfilling.  Something we seek to nurture and focus on at Dalston Crown-Hill and Forest Home United Churches is the quality of relationships and opportunities to connect. Martin Buber, an Austrian philosopher, observes “When two people relate to each other authentically and humanly, God is in the electricity that surges between them.” Creating opportunities for people to connect is rooted in our sense of purpose to be a reflection of love in the world.

In the teachings of Jesus about the Kindom of God we hear a vision of the way the world can be when all are welcome and treated as ones who matter.  From the Old Testament we hear the Isaiah vision of a time when deserts will flow with water, when swords are turned into ploughshares to ensure all are fed, and when the lion and the lamb will lie down together. The focus of the Isaiah vision is reflected in the goal of “creating a human presence on earth that is environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually fulfilling” that comes from the international group Pachamama Alliance for which one of our ministers, Karen, is a facilitator. Our activities and invitations to the wider community are rooted in our desire to create space that is filled with caring, connecting, meaningful conversations, enquiry into the big questions about life, and fun. Check out the Facebook pages or websites or send an email to get updates on details for the variety of gatherings.

A focus at Dalston Crown-Hill this year will be to create a Speaker’s Series and explore creating Re-Skilling opportunities to reclaim some of the long-time skills that are being forgotten. Some of the topics being considered for the Speaker’s Series include things like focusing on recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Report, deepening awareness of different world religions, developing ways to deal effectively with the stress and demands of a busy world. Re-Skilling options could include canning, quilting, knitting, building a birdhouse. If you have ideas for topics we are open to suggestions.  Send them via Facebook or email or call Karen at 705-325-7998.

A Meditation and Conversation Circle for Women is happening at Forest Home on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm. It is a time to reconnect to the source of power within you and to engage in conversations that explore insights about life. For more information call Karen at 705-325-7998.

During the season of Lent there will be a Lenten Coffee and Conversation.  You’ve heard about the spiritual practice of doing without something for Lent, well, we would like to invite you to add something to your life for the season of Lent! We want to meet weekly over coffee to talk about some faith questions that are relevant to our lives. You get to choose the topics. Interested? We will gather on Wednesday afternoons during the season of Lent from February 14 to March 28. For more information call Ruth at 705-229-6513.

At Dalston-Crown Hill there are periodic gatherings for Men’s Breakfasts and Women’s Chit – Chat Sip ‘n Snack.  Both provide an opportunity for connection and leisurely conversation. Watch for details on Facebook or send us an email with the request to be put on the email list so you will be notified of gatherings. Also watch for details about the Ham Supper coming up and the lunches after church to support a young person to go to Nicaragua to work with communities there.

4F: Fun, Faith and Food on Fridays! In March 4F “Celebrates Diversity” on Friday March 23^rd from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Families…imagine a Friday evening…you are tired out from your busy week…you need a recharge! All you have to do is show up for our fun event for families with children and grandparents with grandchildren and friends of the children. We enjoy a meal together, play some games that get us connected and reflect together on our lives with a faith story in an all age setting. Save the date on your calendar! We will gather at Reagan House in Scout Valley to ensure the space is accessible for everyone. For more information call Ruth at 705-229-6513.

On Sunday mornings everyone is welcome as people gather for worship at Forest Home United Church in the village of Forest Home at 9:00 am and at Dalston Crown-Hill United Church in the village of Dalston at 10:30 am. There will be special mid-week services for Holy Week.

Dalston Crown-Hill has been newly renovated to be accessible. Come check out the facilities that are available for a variety of gatherings, whether for community or private events. For details call Al at 705-737-2552.

To stay tuned to upcoming events, follow the postings on Facebook at Forest Home United Church and Dalston Crown-Hill United Church or check out the websites at www.DalstonCrownHillUnitedChurch.net

and www.ForestHomeUC.ca or send an email foresthomeunitedchurch@yahoo.ca or dalcrown@gmail.com .

Submitted by Karen Hilfman Millson