Article Written by Janet Panting for North Simcoe Life
On Saturday, November 5th the Dalston Crown Hill United Church held their Annual Fall Supper. Once again it was well attended with two “Sold Out” sittings. Over one hundred and seventy patrons were able to enjoy a delicious Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings. This also included a great variety of homemade pies. This was certainly an inspiring and uplifting experience for our Church Community. We would like to thank members of our community and especially members of Forest Home United Church for their support. It was greatly appreciated!
Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 6th when once again Dalston-Crown Hill United Church will be holding their annual Ham Supper. This will be a “Continuous Seating” Dinner where we will be serving locally raised Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Veggies, and Home-Made Pies. Further information will follow in the next edition. Stayed tuned!
“Chit Chat, Sip ‘n Snack” is a Women’s Group that we’ve just started, where we go to talk while having a cup of tea/coffee and treat. It was started as a means of meeting our friends and meeting new people just to chat. As we all have a lot of commitments, it is nice to have a time where we can meet with a group that doesn’t have a chairperson, secretary and/or treasurer. An invitation was extended to those attending the church, which was held on Thursday, Nov. 10th with an attendance of 11 people. The second one, held on Wednesday, Nov 23rd invited people who do not attend, but have a connection to the church. There was an attendance of 13 people. We will advertise more for our next get together in February when we will extend an invitation to the community. We would like to establish the best morning of the week to meet. We are not sure how this group will grow but it has been an interesting start.
Our Christmas pageant was well received. We appreciate all the efforts of everyone who participated in, or helped with, the “Quiet” Christmas play written by Cathy Todd.
A small group of nine songsters provided wonderful choir music during our Advent season. This enthusiastic group of singers has committed to providing special music during the season of Epiphany ……we are choosing ‘golden oldies’ so that the congregation ……and maybe even YOU…..can sing along with us!…Sundays at 10:30!
On Wednesday, January 11th, despite the weather conditions, the men of Dalston- Crown Hill United Church held a “Meet, Greet, and Eat” Men’s Breakfast. This was an opportunity for men of the Dalston-Crown Hill and Forest Home churches and the community to meet, socialize and enjoy a fabulous breakfast. Over 25 men of all ages attended.
Great News!
Renovations are taking place in our kitchen and washroom areas at the church. Phase One includes installing a wider automatic entrance door to the lower level, building an indoor ramp with handrails and guards, installing a Universal Washroom with call system, automatic lighting and barrier free push button. These changes will make the lower level meet current accessibility standards. Once these renovations are completed, we hope to install a lift between the lower level and the sanctuary. We are truly thankful to have the funds to make our little country church in Dalston fully accessible…for both community events and for Sunday worship…..it’s at 10:30…. please join us!
Now that our celebrations of Christmas are behind us, we are invited to continue to focus on our growth in faith, and on the challenges we face when we try to put that faith into practice. The faith communities of Dalston-Crown Hill United Church and Forest Home United Church seek to be places where everyone is welcome to explore the many ways in which God is inviting us to grow. We seek to be places where we can grow with the support and companionship of other fellow travellers.
In the month of February, our worship services will take another look at how much the followers of Jesus learned about God’s love and God’s presence in the world through the work and teaching of Jesus. That is the work we are invited to do during the season of Epiphany. Then on the first Sunday of March, the season of Lent begins. Lent is the time in our Church Year that we set aside to get ready for Easter. We do not rush through these preparations. We take six and a half weeks to reflect, to explore, and to ask faith-filled questions. Lent, of course, does not end, and our preparations for Easter do not end until after Holy Week which, this year, is in the middle of April.
Dalston-Crown Hill and Forest Home churches send out our very best wishes to everyone for a happy and a healthy winter season. May your patience with the cold and the snow be rewarded with renewed energy and new life as the days get longer and as the earth, once again, supports the growth of life all around.