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NEWS AND UPDATES FROM BERMUDA-NOVA SCOTIA REGIONAL COUNCIL
Submission Request for Weekly Announcements
www.ucceast.ca
Staff Directory
It’s Your Call – Podcast
News from the Pews Newsletter
To view upcoming events at the Atlantic School of Theology please click here.
To view Continuing Education opportunities at the Atlantic School of Theology please click here.
To view upcoming events at the Centre for Christian Studies please click here.
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council Committee Volunteer form.
Jennifer Taylor is Retiring!
Jennifer Taylor, Executive Assistant to the Executive Minister for Regions East, has announced her retirement! As part of the Fall All-Staff gathering, we acknowledged Jennifer’s upcoming retirement with gifts from each Region. It is with gratitude that we thank Jennifer for her exceptional work during almost 15 years of service with The United Church of Canada. Jennifer’s last day in the office will be Friday, December 18, 2026. I know you all join us in wishing Jennifer the very best in her next adventure.
Children, Youth and Young Adults Survey – Deadline Extended to November 15, 2026
The Regional Minister for Children, Youth, and Young Adults would like to hear from you! Whether you are a leader, a minister, a parent/guardian, a grand-parent, a youth, a young adult or someone interested in knowing more, I’d like to know what you think is needed for ministry with these age groups in the region.
Please feel free to print this survey and mail the completed copy to the Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council Office, 21 Wright Street, Sackville NB E4L 4P8, c/o Rev. Catherine Stuart, or complete it online. Share it with folks in your community of faith, camp, campus ministry or after school program. Share it with neighbours who may have been connected with one of these ministries. The deadline for submission is November 15, 2026.
Questions or concerns? Email Catherine Stuart cstuart@united-church.ca
ADMINISTRY – Church Administrators’ Fall Virtual Check-In, November 2nd
All United Church Church Administrators (Office Coordinators, Secretaries, etc.) are invited to a virtual Zoom meeting on Monday, November 2, from 1:30 – 3:00p.m. No registration fee! We will be doing a general check-in and chat. If you are interested in participating, please contact Heather Spares at admin@unitedheritagechurch.com before Sunday, November 1st to receive login details.
Breaking the Silence delegation to Guatemala March 6th-19th, 2027. APPLY BY NOV. 6TH
Join us for the Breaking the Silence 2026 Delegation to Guatemala Sat. March 6th-Fri. March 19th. You will help build international solidarity and learn from our Rabinal partners: the New Hope Foundation’s culturally relevant, bilingual Maya Achí-Spanish high school and the Community Legal Clinic that seeks justice for genocide-cases and other crimes committed against communities in the Rabinal area during the Internal Armed Conflict. A meaningful part of the delegation will be an overnight visit to the community of Río Negro to learn about its history and how it has rebuilt following a campaign of destruction during the 1980s. You will have the chance to spend time with our mining justice partners resisting a Canadian silver mining project.
Applicants must attend the delegation orientation Nov. 21st, 10am-Nov. 22nd, noon at Tatamagouche Centre. To learn more about the 2027 Delegation to Guatemala, please contact Kathryn Anderson at kathrynande@gmail.com.
🌱 Invitation: Climate Motivator Program 2027
Greetings friends!
Here’s an exciting opportunity for Communities of Faith to host a young adult (18–25) for a paid 8-week placement from mid-May to mid-July 2027.
A Climate Motivator can work with your community to strengthen and grow your climate justice work, engage different generations, and bring new energy to your congregation and community. 🌍💚
This is a wonderful opportunity to begin, strengthen, or expand your climate justice ministry!
📅 Deadline: November 20, 2026
If your Community of Faith is interested, please consider applying and being part of this exciting initiative. For more information, click here.
Blessings,
Rev. Shepherd Munikwa
Minister for Justice, Mission & Outreach
Growth and Stewardship Ideas: Start Where You Are, Celebrate and Bump It Up!
Please click here to read the Growth and Stewardship Ideas from Sharon Ballantyne, Growth and Stewardship Animator, for October 28, 2026.
Contact your growth and stewardship animator Sharon Ballantyne sballantyne@united-church.ca
Services for Advent 2026 based on Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary
Last month more than two dozen lay worship leaders from across BNS and FSLDW regional councils gathered over two days at the Regional Council Office in Sackville, NB, to explore the principles and practice of EPIC worship leadership. The group also, collectively prepared worship services for the four Sundays of Advent and Christmas Eve based on the Revised Common Lectionary readings for Year B based on idea of holding space.
You can find those services here. It was the request of those who prepared these services that they be made available to the wider church for adaptation and use in local pastoral charges. May Advent be a time of holding space for the coming of hope, peace, joy and love among us.
Request for Worship Resources Year B
The Faith Formation and Education Committee of the FSLDW Region has a project that gathers worship resources from ministers, combines them, and makes them available on our FSLDW Website for congregations without ministry personnel.
We will make Worship Resources for Advent 2026 available on the website shortly, and we are currently working on Worship Resources for the Christmas Season and the Season after Epiphany. If you have sermons, hymn selections and prayers for Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary, please email those to: fsldwffe@gmail.com
2027 Canadian Church Calendars – Pre Orders
Get ready for the new year with the new 2027 Canadian Church Calendar!
Pre-orders are now being accepted. If you would like to order any calendars, please email details to FDEE@united-church.ca. Please include in your email the quantity you would like, and your preferred shipping address.
The cost of the calendars are:
1-10 calendars: $7.00 tax included
10 or more calendars: $6.50 tax included
(Please note: shipping costs will be an extra charge)
Ministry Mentorship Survey: Reimagining Theological Education (RTE) Across The United Church Of Canada Affiliated Schools: Confronting The Narrative Of Decline
In an effort to address the changing landscape of ministry, Vancouver School of Theology received a grant of $9,923,200 USD from Lilly Endowment Inc. in December of 2025 to help establish Reimagining Theological Education (RTE) Across The United Church Of Canada Affiliated Schools: Confronting The Narrative Of Decline.
Rooted in collaboration among the eight theological institutions affiliated with the United Church of Canada—including Atlantic School of Theology (AST)—the RTE project closely aligns with the denomination’s Toward 2035 strategic plan.
Part of this grant includes developing and implementing a mentorship program for new ministers. This program will allow recent graduates to continue to gather regularly with their peers and with a trusted mentor, someone with experience in ministry and training in mentoring. They can bring their hopes and concerns to this group and receive support, ideas, and affirmation.
We would appreciate if you could complete a survey to give us insight into the areas you believe to be important for ministers in their first five years. This can be from personal experience or observation.
You can read a recent interview with Rev. Dr. Heather McCance about the grant here.
Covenanting Service
St. George and St. Andrew United Church in Annapolis Royal is very pleased to announce that a Covenanting Service for our new student minister, Shiloh Minor will be held on Sunday, January 10th, 2027 at 3:00 P.M. at the church. For more information, please contact us at stgeorgeandstandrew@gmail.com
2027 Salary Changes for Ministry Personnel
The 2027 Minimum Salaries & Reimbursements for Ministry Personnel document is now available online. You can find it in the Downloads section at the bottom of the Ministers’ Salary Schedule and Cost of Living Groups webpage.
The increases to salaries of ministry personnel are not automatically made by ADP. General Council Office staff do not update ADP with minimum salary data. Your pastoral charge ADP administrator must update the minister’s salary in TeamPay or inform ADP of the new salary amount for the pay period beginning January 1.
If ministry personnel have moved up a salary seniority category (A–F) for 2027, they need to inform the treasurer and ADP administrator in their pastoral charge of this change so that their 2027 salary is accurate, based on years of eligible service. Please ask your ministry personnel if they are moving up a salary category in 2027. Ministry personnel are now able to check their salary category information in their ChurchHub account.
Young Adult Night: Cozy Fall Night
Come enjoy a cozy fall evening with supper, faith conversations, and some Halloween fun, including pumpkin carving! All young adults are welcome. Come as you are, bring a friend, and join us for a relaxed night together. RSVP here.
Take Out Turkey Dinner
Thursday, Nov. 5th, Aylesford United Church is holding a take out turkey dinner for $20. Includes roasted turkey, seasonal vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce, a roll, and apple crisp. All tickets will be presold For tickets call the church at 902 847- 9624, Nadine at 902 341-2232 or Sarah at 902 680-5379. All tickets will be presold. Pickup is 4:30 to 5:30 pm
In an effort to recognize that some families may not have the means to purchase a delicious dinner at this time of year, a limited number of “pay what you can” tickets are offered , to support the community that supports us. These requests should be directed to Sarah.
A Night of Comedy at the Silent Movies featuring “Sherlock Jr.”
On Friday November 6th at 7:00 PM ~ Bethany United Church, Halifax. Organist Shawn Whynot provides a live and thrilling soundtrack for the 1924 silent movie classical comedy Sherlock Jr. starring Buster Keaton.
Tickets Regular $15 and Child (16 and under) $10 are on sale from the church office during open hours and on Eventbrite.
A night at the silent movies has become a ‘fun for all ages’ annual event. Hope to see you all at the movies!
Lobster Take-Out Supper , Friday, Nov. 20th, 2026, 4PM-6PM
Lobster Take-out Supper – Friday, November 20th, 2026, 4 pm-6 pm Pick-up at Berwick Trinity United Church,240 Commercial Street, Berwick, NS.
Tickets – $40.00 per person – Final Date for ticket sales: Wednesday, November 18th, 2026 . For tickets call: Anne (902) 538-0703 Payments by
e-transfer: bertinpc@eastlink.ca- Delivery available within town limits. Dinner includes: Lobster, potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, roll and dessert.
Pre-School Program at Trinity United
The Christian Education Centre at Trinity United Church is providing a home for a pre-school program serving about fifty children. The top floor of the centre is rented to Chances, an organization providing child care in Charlottetown. The organization has been able to access grant money to upgrade the building and improve the energy efficiency with heat pumps and insulation. Generous members of the congregation helped by sponsoring the installation of new high efficiency windows.
For us it has been a win-win situation, improvements to our building, rental income and the opportunity to help provide a much needed service here in Charlottetown.
It is heart warming to walk past the outdoor play area and see the flurry of activity there and then to enter the foyer and see fifty pairs of little shoes, all lined up.
