First Posted: 12/15/2014
DALTON — Members of the Dalton United Methodist Church hosted a mini crafting retreat for the community in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, Dec. 13. Craft makers Ron Lucas, Pat Purdy and Chandra Lenz, along with Pastor Lori Robinson, who is also the pastor of Factoryville United Methodist Church, invited the community to socialize with each other while making crafts.
“We modeled it (the retreat) after Sky Lake (a Methodist camp and retreat center in Damascus, NY), where people make quilts and scrapbooking,” said Purdy.
“The main thing is to get the community involved,” said Lucas. “Church is not a country club.”
This month, Lucas, with help from Purdy and Chandra, made and decorated Christmas items. Using a kit from a book, he made Christmas trees and penguins from flower pots and painted them. He also made crosses for necklaces which he will will try to sell to local arts and crafts shows. Proceeds from the sales will go to a church building project in Costa Rica and other missions in the United States.
Dalton United Methodist Church is currently hosting a coat collection called Dalton Clothes Closet. It is currently accepting new or gently-used coats, jackets, gloves, hats and socks. This clothes drive is open at 6 p.m. on Mondays and will continue year round.
Like the coat collection, the mini crafting retreat in Dalton United Methodist Church will continue once a month year round. Church members hope more people will attend to share their craft ideas or just visit and talk with each other.