DALSTON-CROWN HILL UNITED CHURCH
“Growing Spiritually while Celebrating Diversity”
Great things are happening at the Dalston-Crown Hill United Church. We are looking forward to welcoming our new supply ministers – Rev. Ruth McDonald, and Rev. Karen Hilfman-Millson, who will share the ministry not only with us, but also with Forest Home United Church for the next year. Rev. Tim Dayfoot, our interim minister, completed his contract at the end of June. A farewell joint service with Forest Home United Church was held on June 18th at Scout Valley, near Orillia, with worship in the log cabin, followed by a barbeque and picnic lunch. We wish him well in his next contract.
Our renovations for accessibility are ongoing, with a lift to be installed this summer, making the sanctuary accessible from the hall. This now makes the whole building wheel-chair accessible. In the first phase, an accessible washroom, ramp, and automatic doors were installed in the basement, and now the next phase is proceeding.
As we celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday, we are also celebrating a new life opportunity for many refugee families that have come during this past year.
Members of the Dalston-Crown Hill community donated funds to help settle a young Syrian family……two parents and five children arrived in Canada on February 28th. In four short months they have experienced a snowy Canadian winter, a wet Canadian spring, and a FEW days of our short Canadian summer!
The two youngest children participate in the new Canadians’ day care centre while parents attend daily English classes at the YMCA Immigration Centre, and the three older children attend elementary school. Our language is very difficult for them. Even the tracking: left to right, top to bottom, that we use for reading, deciphering calendars etc. is new……and the letters and numbers do not match at all!
Ventures to grocery stores, doctors, dentists, pharmacy all needed drivers, translators, and the support of a whole team of volunteers. Summer activities include family literacy day camp, YMCA week long camps for soccer, art, and crafts, swim lessons, catch-up for doctor and dentist appointments, learning to navigate the Barrie transit system, and learning to ride bikes! Vacation time!
The challenges ….for the family, and for the volunteers, are many.
As we celebrated Canada Day, it was heartwarming to hear: “Canada is so young…..but so welcoming…..we are thankful that you are helping us….that you have invited us into your safe country…..it is truly the best in the world”.
It is easy for us to become discouraged. Daily we see pictures and hear news reports of the conflict, the wars, and the devastation around the world. Many of us have fears and challenges that sometimes consume and overwhelm us…….life is not always easy.
In Canada, we have family issues, health concerns, financial demands……and we also have crazy weather!
We celebrate diversity. We are free. We are loved. Canada. Home.
“Chit –Chat Sip ‘n Snack” Women’s Group
- There isn’t a chair person
- There isn’t a secretary
- There isn’t a treasurer
- There is TEA/COFFEE, TREATS AND GOOD CONVERSATION
In November of last year, we held our first women’s get-together. Due to the winter weather and other activities at our church, there has been a delay in re-starting. Our plan is to begin again this fall. Our gathering involves conversation, snacks, and beverages. Hence the name ‘Chit – Chat Sip ‘n Snack. On researching the word ‘Chit – Chat’ we found that it means ‘inconsequential conversation’. We beg to differ. When is any conversation ‘inconsequential’? Ahhh – possibly a topic of conversation at our next get-together. Refer to the next edition of North Simcoe Life for the date of our next gathering. Hope to see you there. (Held at Dalston-Crown Hill United Church – 1734 Penetanguishene Rd., Springwater)
Mark your calendars: DALSTON FALL SUPPER – Saturday, November 4 – more details in the next issue.
Worship and Contact Info:
Dalston-Crown Hill U.C. – Worship Time: 10:30 a.m.
www.dalstoncrownhillunitedchurch.net or Janet Panting – Secretary 705-737-2552
Forest Home U.C – Worship Time: 9:00 a.m.
www.foresthomeuc.ca ww.facebook.com/foresthomeuc