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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 programs at the Tatamagouche Centre please click here.
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.
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council Committee Volunteer form.
Condolences – Delphis Joseph Roy
Condolences are extended to Rev. John Roy (FSLDW), and family, whose father Delphis Joseph Roy passed away on September 13, 2023. The obituary can be viewed here.
Rev. Lorna MacQueen – Obituary
An obituary is now available for Rev. Lorna MacQueen, who passed away on September 13, 2023. The obituary can be viewed here.
Covenanting Service for Rev. Penny Nelson
You are invited to a worship service celebrating the new ministry between Rev. Penny Nelson and Avon United Church in Hantsport, NS. As Avon United steps into a new future of evangelism, community outreach and engagement, our congregation would appreciate your prayers and support for our new ministry!
When: Sept. 24th, at 2pm
Where: Avon United Church, 17 Prince Street, Hantsport
What to bring: we encourage you to bring a donation of non-perishable food items or toiletries to support the Hantsport Food Bank, and/or a financial donation to the Mission & Service Fund.
Covenanting Service for Reverend Linton Worrell
You are invited to a worship service celebrating the new ministry between Reverend Linton Worrell and the Tatamagouche Pastoral Charge. Tatamagouche is a three-point charge, comprised of Brule Union, Bayhead Union and Sharon United churches. This covenanting service will take place with the Tatamagouche Pastoral Charge, Bermuda – Nova Scotia Regional Council and Reverend Linton Worrell. Reverend Connie McNamara will preside at the service and the Bermuda – Nova Scotia Region will be represented by Jack Canning. We invite you attend this celebration of “Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship and Daring Justice.”
Date: Sunday, September 24, 2023 at 2:00pm.
Location: Sharon United Church, 15 Church Street, Tatamagouche, NS. B0K 1V0
We are an Affirming Congregation
We are pleased to announce that we at Trinity-St. Stephen’s United Church in Amherst, NS have been approved as another Affirming Ministry in Nova Scotia.
As a result, we are having a service of celebration on Sunday, September 24th, 2023 at 10:30am to which all are invited to join us. Please come as we continue our steps of working toward education, advocacy and support of all.
Executive Minutes
The draft minutes from the September 13, 2023 Executive meeting are now available on the BNS website.
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region Pastoral Relations News – September 2023
- Approved the short-term Supply Appointment of Katie Aven with Bedford United Church, full-time, September 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024.
- Approved the position description for Supply ministry at Aylesford Pastoral Charge and authorize Search for part-time ministry personnel.
- Approved the position description for Supply ministry at Rockingham United Church and authorize Search for part-time ministry personnel.
- Approved the Profile and position description for Whycocomagh East Lake Ainslie Pastoral Charge and authorize Search for full-time ministry personnel. Dianne Kempt, Liaison.
- Approved the Profile and position description for half-time Supply minister of Congregational Care at Bedford United Church and authorize Search.
- Approved the position description for half-time Supply ministry personnel at Shubenacadie Pastoral Charge and authorize Search.
- Next meeting: Friday, October 13, 2023
- For more information, please contact Regional Minister David Hewitt
A Reminder about 2023 Self-Assessment Forms
This is a reminder from your Faith Stories and Community Covenant Committee to please complete your 2023 Self-Assessment Form as soon as possible.
If you have already done this, thank you.
If you have yet to do this, please click here to complete the form.
Deadline for completion is Friday, Sept. 22nd, 2023.
Thank you.
Stewardship Update
New Fall dates for the Stewardship Best Practices Program (bold). Read all about the program and how to register here: Stewardship Best Practices
Also, registration has opened for the Bequests and Estate Giving Program (bold), scheduled for October 11th and October 25th. See here for more information and a link to register: Estate and Bequest Giving
Any questions, contact Roger Janes (rjanes@united-church.ca).
Should I be grieving?: Disenfranchised Grief and the Caring Professions
Tuesday, September 26th at 7pm AST
Cost: $15 plus Eventbrite Fee
Format: Online
This online workshop aims to explore grief among clergy, chaplains/spiritual care practitioners, and healthcare professionals. These groups lose parishioners or patients but often wonder if it is okay to grieve. Not grieving, though, can lead to burnout, and grieving ourselves can help us to be more connected to those we serve. This workshop will cover recent research on disenfranchised grief amongst ministry personnel and healthcare workers. It will also provide ways to grieve and time for participants to share wisdom from their own experience. Click here to view the poster.
About the Speaker:
In 2022, Ginny Wilmhoff graduated with an MDiv, specializing in pastoral care and counseling, from Acadia Divinity College. She is an ordinand with the Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and she has completed her third unit of clinical pastoral education at the Moncton Hospital. During her clinical training, she has served palliative and hospice patients. Her previous experience includes 2.5 years as a case manager to the formerly homeless and 4 years providing student support at the University of King’s College in Halifax.
To attend, please register at this link.
Palestine Land Exercise Opportunity in Halifax
Dear Friends,
St. John’s United Church Halifax invites you to participate in the Palestine Land Exercise on Sunday, October 1 after the service at 11:30. This event offers a participatory learning opportunity, similar to the Blanket Exercise and we think you will find it to be thought-provoking and absorbing. It is designed to help us understand the history and current context of Palestine and Israel.
It is important to register by emailing office@stjohnsunited.com.
The deadline for registration is September 26.
Full details can be found on the poster attached.
There will be a light lunch before the Land Exercise begins for those who register. Feel free to invite friends or family members (they don’t need to attend the service beforehand — but are of course welcome to join us). For more information contact lesleygriffiths77@gmail.com.
Mini Music Matters for UCC EAST
Music Leaders are invited to a one-day conference Saturday Sept 30th at Knox United Church in Sackville.
This workshop day will feature time to worship together, mingle, share ideas, to share stories. We’ll form new friendships as part of our region music ministry network.
Our keynote speaker is Rachel Lutz, director of the “Halifax Newcomer Choir”. She will speak to us about offering welcome in our church ministries, with an eye to diversity and inclusion. In addition, there will be a hymn sing from the new sampler for Then Let Us Sing!
Pianists, organists, choir leaders, band members and choir members, in fact anyone who is interested in the church’s music is invited to attend.
You will need to bring your lunch or there are several nearby local restaurants for lunch out. Snacks will be provided. There is no cost for this event, but donations will be accepted to help defray the costs. Don’t miss out. For those who are coming from afar, an inexpensive accommodation option ($60/night) on either Friday or Saturday night is available in downtown Halifax at the Barat Spirituality Centre.
The day will begin at 10:30 am and conclude at 5pm. There is no registration cost to attend this event.
Please help us know how many people to expect please get your FREE tickets by clicking here. There is a complete schedule of the plan for the day on the Eventbrite listing.
For more information email musicucceast@gmail.com
2024 Church Calendar
The United Church Bookstore is taking pre-orders for 2024 church calendar. Please submit your order to Leona at llaundry@united-church.ca by September 29, 2023.
Worship Resources
A series for worship, including a leader’s guide and ten gatherings rooted in scriptures that open us to reflection on how places shape us and our relationship to God. This series was originally and primarily focused on small gatherings that take place around a table where a meal is shared but they are being used in small more traditional worship gatherings. Everything is included for a simple worship time together. They are especially helpful for a self-led congregational worship.
Although the series moves from September through July/August, you can enter the stream anywhere, beginning with whatever suits your community.
You can purchase the series here and you can also view a sample.
Autumn Rambles Starting Soon
Join Caroline from New Zealand and Janice as they walk the streets, beaches, woods, and bush and collect their favourite autumn signs & sightings and share their memories of Autumn. Look in on the wisdom this season lends them in their journey of faith.
Use their ideas as a starting point for your own meanderings. Take a camera, a sketchbook, a journal or a basket for gathering as you ramble around your place.
Ease into Autumn. Enjoy slowing. Ramble with pleasure and gather your own collection of autumn impressions, images and sensations to guide you on your path.
Each day for 14 days you’ll receive a curated digital scrapbook page to inspire your ramble and set you off on your own autumn discoveries. View a sample here.
Autumn Rambles is available for Individuals ($20) or Groups ($50 unlimited numbers). Visit the Prayer Bench for more information (and scroll down).
Rambles begin September 30th with the Welcome Email.
Rural Routes Through the Holy Day Away: Save the Date
On November 18th, 2023 from 10:00 – 3:00 we’ll be gathering for a Rural Routes Day Away at the beautiful St. Ann’s Anglican in Westcock, NB (just on the edge of Sackville).
We’ll be offering the usual mix of presentations, Rural Café conversations, worship, workshops and good food. We’ll have more specific information out soon. You can register at https://hemofthelight.com/registration-rural-routes-day-away-2023/.
For those who’ve attended any or all of our annual Rural Routes Through the Holy 3 day gatherings, this is a chance to reconnect. For those who’ve been curious, this is a chance to experience a gathering of those involved in, rural concerns, rural voices, rural hopes and rural laughter. To read about earlier gatherings visit https://hemofthelight.com and hover over Rural Ministries.
