News

Stay up to date with news and announcements in and around the church and community.

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Advent and Christmas Eve Services

On Sunday December 15, the Third Sunday of Advent we have a combined service at Stewart with all three congregations. We will be voting on the budget for 2025 and sharing a potluck finger food lunch after the service.

The Sunday before Christmas is the Fourth Sunday of Advent when we light a Candle for Love. We will be having a festival of lessons and carols in each community of faith— 9:am in Hillside, 10:15 in Dwight and 11:30a.m. in Dorset. We’d love to see you there.

In the evening on December 22 from 6-7p.m., weather permitting, there will be an outdoor celebration of the winter solstice around a fire at Megan McLeod’s place just down the hill from Pioneer Church. All are welcome.

On Christmas Eve we will have two candlelight services—one at 5 p.m. at Knox in Dorset and one at 7 p.m. at Stewart in Dwight. (N.B.Stewart and Pioneer alternate every year)

On Sunday, December 29 we begin our winter Sunday schedule at Pioneer at 10:30 with a combined service. Stay tuned to hear about plans for streaming the service to Knox in Dorset.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas with many blessings.

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Knox Community Room Movie Night

Join us for a Movie Night Thursdays at 6:30 in the Knox Community Room:

July 4 - Kung Fu Panda 1

July 18 - Despicable Me 1

August 1 - The Incredibles

August 15 - Ratatouille

Everyone is welcome. No charge to attend.

Contact: Vina Parker 705-766-1810

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Knox Community Room Art Group

Fun and relaxation using the art medium of your choice: acrylic, water colour or…..

Bring your own materials. Materials for beginners will be provided free for the first session.

Join us on July 4, 11, 18, 29 and August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 from 10:00 to 12:00 in the Knox Community Room.

Coffee/tea will be provided. Bring your own mug.

Everyone is welcome. No charge to attend.

Contact: Diana Scott 705-766-1254

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Knox Announces: United Church of Canada Foundation Seeds of Hope Grant

Seeds of Hope Grant Awarded

Knox United, a part of the Lake of Bays Pastoral Charge in Dorset, ON, is pleased to announce that we have received a $10,000.00 grant from the United Church Foundation. This wonderful grant was awarded to support our popular Knox UCW Food Rescue Program. The Kitchen, food prep areas and bathroom needed substantial renovations to enable us continue our support of the community and those experiencing food insecurity. Work began in late December and was recently completed with our kitchen operations resuming May 28th in the newly upgraded facilities.

This grant is made possible through the Seeds of Hope granting program administered by the United Church Foundation. We feel these seeds, having been properly planted, will provide hope for our community for years to come.

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Knox United Church New Horizons for Seniors Program Funding Announcement

New Horizons for Seniors Program Funding Announcement

In May 2024, Knox United Church, a part of the three-point Lake of Bays Pastoral Charge in Dorset, Ontario, received most welcome news of a $25,000.00 New Horizons for Seniors Program funding from the Government of Canada. This funding was awarded to assist the Knox UCW Food Rescue Program with much needed repairs and upgrades to better serve its mission of support to those experiencing food insecurity and food scarcity in the greater Dorset community area.

For several years the very successful Knox UCW Food Rescue Program has operated from the outdated and insufficient kitchen and food prep area of the old Church hall. Structural and practical repairs and upgrades were desperately needed. The work undertaken and supported in part by this grant accomplished this and more. The foundation was repaired, structural framing replaced, plumbing and electrical upgraded, underfloor heating and insulation added, sub floor replaced, new flooring throughout, and sink and counters added to complete the renovation. An added benefit was that when framing was exposed, the bathroom was made completely accessible with wide door and safety rails. In all, the work proceeded as planned and according to expectation and specifications.

There were many positives realized along the way that contributed to the success of the project. Perhaps most importantly were the number of Seniors who pitched in and supported both practically and financially. As the last church operating in Dorset, both town and area senior residents rallied and the venture took on a distinct community owned profile. This was most encouraging and we believe it will translate into further community participation and involvement of Seniors.

As a result of the structure and discipline of our Senior project team, the planning and budgeting, fund-raising, construction phases, material orders and deliveries functions were all managed to the expectation, thereby eliminating surprises. Our project was completed by May 20th 2024, on schedule and on budget.

In terms of outcomes, in the short term we were able to put our renovated kitchen, food prep area and community hall immediately back into service as soon as the contractor, tools and materials were cleared away. Our first scheduled day for pie baking on May 28th, brought 17 Senior volunteers together to our new facility and we produced 54 pies. (see photos) Prior to renovations the ageing floor would not have held up such a crowd of happy and productive volunteers.

Long term outcomes anticipated includes an increased number of volunteer participants. With this we will realize an increase in the number of food items prepared and offered to the general public in need. We further anticipate increased use of the renovated space as we open the Community room to other user groups such as yoga for seniors, art classes, book club etc. Along the way it is our belief that the Knox congregation, UCW and Food Rescue Program will all gain widespread popularity and support.

During the life cycle of the project, from the initial planning phase right up through the completion of the work, we noted that it engaged Seniors and inspired them to sign up and suit up to assist. In many cases, people who had not darkened the door of the church were now actively participating in the work and taking pride and ownership of what was being accomplished. A new wind was blowing and Seniors were energized in new and exciting ways. So far, we have exceeded our program goals and expectations.

Surely, we have a good story to tell and it has a happy ending. Shortly after we received confirmation of this funding, we sent out the good news to all volunteers and supporters, being sure to tell them of the partial funding from the New Horizons for Seniors Program. This story will soon be posted on the Lake of Bays Pastoral Charge site and Facebook page. In addition, we invited all donors, supporters and general public to an open house community event on Sunday, June 30th, which was widely attended.

We are very grateful and thank the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program administrators for this vote of confidence and support.

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Knox Community Room Events

We at Knox United Church in Dorset are proud to promote our newly renovated community room. The success of our Revitalization Project enhances and increases the capacity of Knox United Church for community programs. This will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of our church members and the community at large. Our grand opening is on Sunday, June 30 at 10:30 with guest speaker Lorna Bywater sharing a message of Faith and Healing. We will celebrate the Knox revitalization and renovations with an Open House after the service. Finger food snacks and a cake will be provided by members of the Charge.

Mark your calendar with the Art Group and Movie Night events.

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June Worship Services

Rev. Meg Jordan is on a well deserved combined Study Leave and Vacation in June. We will have guest preachers and speakers at our churches while Rev. Meg is away. We hope that you will join us!

June 2- Guest Minister: Rev. Jane Haapiseva for all 3 services: 9:00 at Knox, 10:15 at Stewart and 11:30 at Pioneer

June 9- Guest Minister: Rev. Nina Fulford for all 3 services: 9:00 at Knox, 10:15 at Stewart and 11:30 at Pioneer

June 16- Guest Minister: Rev. Jane Haapiseva for 2 services: Knox at 9:00 and Stewart at 10:15. Pioneer is welcome to join either of those services.

June 23- Guest Speaker: Dr Karen Mock in a Shared Event at Stewart Memorial 10:30 am. Her theme is Between a Rock and a Hard Place- A Jewish Perspective on Healing the Polarized World. A catered sandwich lunch from the Beacon will be enjoyed after the service. Members are asked to provide a potluck dessert.

June 30- Guest Speaker: Lorna Bywater with a message of Faith and Healing. A Combined Service of all churches at Knox at 10:30 will celebrate the revitalization and renovations at Knox United Church. Join us for an Open House after the service until 1:00 pm. Finger food snacks and a cake will be provided by the members of the Charge.

July 7- Rev Meg returns for the summer with services at all three Churches.

For pastoral care emergencies when Rev Meg is away in June, please contact our Voluntary Associate Minister, Rev. Donna Bowman-Woodall at. 705-571-1992.