DALSTON-CROWN HILL UNITED CHURCH
“Growing Spiritually while Celebrating Diversity”
&
FOREST HOME UNITED CHURCH
“A Little Church with a Big Heart”
Dalston-Crown Hill United Church (DCH) and Forest Home United Church (FH) are nestled into the rural landscape of North Simcoe. Both congregations celebrate their rural roots and their love of community.
A particular goal for their ministry in the coming year is to reach out to the wider community through programs and opportunities that provide connection and meaningful engagement. Two events that have already been planned include a special Friday evening event for Families, and Monday evening Meditation Circles for six weeks this fall.
DCH and FH have an ongoing and unique cooperative partnership. They have welcomed two new ministers this fall – Karen Hilfman Millson and Ruth McDonald who have taken on different rolls that draw on their unique gifts.
A bit about Karen….
Karen Hilfman Millson
Karen values the opportunity to have meaningful conversations in order for the wisdom and creativity within us and amongst us to emerge so that our life together in community can be inspired and enhanced by all who gather. Her role in the new team as Coordinating and Vision Minister will focus on enlivening and supporting the congregations’ vision of reaching out to the community in creative, life-giving ways. In these very early days of her ministry, one event that has been planned is a Meditation Circle in response to a longing that people have identified for nourishment in the midst of busy lives. The Circle will be on Monday evenings at 7:30. There will be six open sessions between September 25th and November 13th (not on Thanksgiving or October 25th). The location is in the main floor Hall at Forest Home United Church. For more information please contact Karen at 1 800 446 4729 ext 6233 or karenhm@sympatico.ca. Karen has lived in Orillia since 1996, raised her kids here, loves the opportunities to direct musicals and be part of so many of the amazing events of this area. She delights in the fact that her kids and young grandkids all live in this area. She and her family enjoy being close to lots of provincial parks where Karen and her husband Alan head out to camp as often as they can.
A bit about Ruth…
Ruth McDonald
Ruth values contemplative, creative and joyful worship and has a passion for pastoral care and godly play storytelling. As such she has taken on the role of Minister of Worship and Pastoral Care. She leads a weekly reflection group called Engaging Worship and Wonder to look at scripture and connect it to life experience and world events. Another regular event she is part of is called 4F (Fun, Food, Faith on Friday). It is a gathering for children and their families (including grandparents and grandchildren) that meets 4 times a year in Forest Home. It is a community oriented event meant to care for and nurture busy families and includes a shared meal, some “get to know you” games and a child-friendly and playful discussion about living God’s way. The first 4F gathering is October 27 from 5:30-7:30 pm. If you or your family or someone you know might be interested in exploring more about either event please contact Ruth at 705-229-6513. Ruth is also a trained Spiritual Companion which allows her to journey with people who want to listen deeply within for the Spirit’s movement in all aspects of their life. This side of her ministry is done on her own time along with her other joys which include beekeeping, singing and tandem bicycle trips with her husband Todd.
It’s Fall and that means our Annual Dalston Fall Supper will take place at the Dalston United Church at 1734 Penetanguishene Road (County Road 93) on Saturday, November 4th. 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. Starting in October, you may call Joe and Susan at 705-722-6965 to reserve your tickets.
Dalston church hall and sanctuary are now wheelchair accessible, with the installation of a lift (elevator style) from the hall to upstairs taking place this summer. We can now accommodate you and your mobility device, through our accessible door going into the kitchen, where a ramp will take you into the hall, and from there can transport you upstairs. At time of writing, we await the required TSSA inspection of the lift before it becomes operational. Our downstairs washroom has also been upgraded to meet accessibility code.
The congregations each have two special events to celebrate Christmas. Sunday, December 10th at 9 a.m. at FH is a Christmas Pageant led by children and youth followed by a pancake breakfast. Later that same day at 3 p.m. is the Christmas Pageant at DCH in Dalston led by multi-generations. FH will have a 4 p.m. Christmas Eve service. DCH will have a 7 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Everyone is welcome.
For more information about the two congregations you will find Forest Home United Church on Facebook and Dalston-Crown Hill United Church on their website – just type in their name to search. The community gathers on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. in Forest Home and at 10:30 in Dalston. The doors are open to welcome anyone who would like to come.