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 1st 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 3rd 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 10th 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 4th 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 12th, 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 15th 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 20th at 7:30 p.m. For more info call Karen Hilfman Millson at 705 325 7998.
June 24th 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 20th to 24th 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