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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 – Jean Cameron
Our condolences and prayers are extended to the family of Jean Cameron, Charlottetown, widow of Rev. Ranald Cameron, who died on March 27, 2024. An obituary can be found here.
Condolences – Joan Sutherland
Our condolences and prayers are extended to the family of Joan Sutherland, widow of Rev. Donald Sutherland, who died on May 1, 2024. Her obituary can be found here.
Executive Minutes
The draft Executive minutes from the April 11, 2024 and April 19, 2024 meetings are now available on the BNS website.
Celebration of Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region Becoming An Affirming Ministry
The Affirming Committee of Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region would like to invite everyone to join in celebrating this region becoming an Affirming ministry within the United Church of Canada. Due to limited space, we invite you to join us online on the UCC East YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@ucceast7807/streams). The service will be held on Saturday, May 11th at 8:30am.
Celebration of Ministry Service – Link to Live Streaming!
The Celebration of Ministry service for Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council will be held at the conclusion of the annual meeting on Sunday, May 12, 2024 at 10:00am
At this service, Katherine Ruth Gamble, Dianne Kempt, James MacNaughton, Norma Mills and Carol Joy Shatford will be ordained as ministers in The United Church of Canada; Sandra Irving will be recognized as a Designated Lay Minister; and Rev. Donna Tourneur will be installed as President of Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council.
All are welcome to join via links to the live stream, in order to witness these milestone events!
May 12, 2024 at 10:00am (Atlantic)
Service to be held at Dalhousie Agricultural College, Truro, NS
Live Streaming on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9m0i4iudZEdE4Ts1dr1CQ
Clergy Reception at Region AGM
Your Association of United Church Clergy invites all clergy to a time of refreshment and fellowship prior to the Annual meeting of the Region.
Place: St. Andrew’s United Church, Truro
Date/Time: May 9th from 1:00p.m.-3:30p.m.
1:30-2:30, special presentation from United Fresh Start on Clergy Wellness.
Come and greet your fellow ministers and share refreshments, conversation, and supportive fellowship. The aUCC includes all clergy: diaconal, DLM, and ordained — retired, retained, and active — as well as candidates in any stream serving a congregation. More information can be found at yoursanctuary.ca
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
What size do you need? Do you ever find the supersize amounts of items for purchase are too much for one or two people, or even family size is too much? Do you have people who find it hard to shop due to time constraints, transportation challenges, mobility limitations, or just don’t enjoy it? Could a new ministry of resizing and packaging be part of your community ministry? How might you reimagine a ministry of repackaging, resizing to fit needs and the potential cost savings? Can you reimagine a group coming together for coffee and fellowship and having a productive task of working together to repackage items to meet the needs of your congregants, or in your neighbourhood? Perhaps it could supplement existing food bank needs in your neighbourhood? Perhaps items could go into a tiny pantry outreach that you have or another place in your neighbourhood has? Perhaps you could add a special ministry such as the birthday bag ministry in your local clothing or toys and games outreach? Imagine loot bags available with cake mix, icing, and perhaps other decorative toppings to sweeten the package. Perhaps you can create a community partnership with your local grocer, bulk food supplier or other business in your neighbourhood? Does your community of faith have a gift card program? Selling gift cards for things like food, gas, restaurants, retail stores not only provides ease of shopping and gift giving but your community of faith gets some money from the sale of every card. Be deep, bold and daring to imagine something new, or reimagine becoming more with what you already do. Do you have other ideas. Share them with me and it might spark something beautiful in the imaginations of other ministries. You can reach me by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca or by phone 705 875-8837. Let’s grow together with deep spirituality, bold discipleship and daring justice
Stewardship Update – May 2024
Please click here to read the latest Stewardship update.
Are you considering retirement?
If you are considering retiring or have retired since our last annual meeting, please see our Regional retirement resource. If you have made the decision to retire please fill out the form.
Thank you.
Learning Opportunity!
This program is suitable for ministry leaders, admin staff, lay leaders, and students (in any program) … come learn with us!
What’s next for you and your organization? Are you trying to solve a problem, run an effective meeting, guide a special project, or help a group make decisions to advance from “A to B”? Do you need some further coaching and encouragement to help you move things forward?
Join Dr. Shawn Jolemore for a practical, three-part webinar series (May 9, 16, and 23) designed to explore the challenges of leadership, organization, and facilitation of “strategic convenings”. Shawn will offer real-world personal and professional insights while exploring tools, mindsets, and methodologies that will help you deepen your collaborations and achieve meaningful results. [IF YOU MISS A SESSION, IT WILL BE RECORDED FOR YOU.]
Retirement Open House – The Rev. Ivan Gregan
Join Us for a Retirement Celebration to honour the Rev. Ivan Gregan
36 Years of Faithful Service to the Congregation of Port Wallis United Church!
Open House – Saturday, May 25th from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Port Wallis United Church, 263 Waverley Rd, Dartmouth NS
902-435-3644
Bethany’s Bargain Bonanza & BBQ
Come have some fun in our welcoming community space and discover some “new to you” goodies at a bargain. This is a family friendly fundraiser being hosted at Bethany United Church.
What you will find… gently used goods, a BBQ, and kids activities.
General Admission: $2, Children under 12 FREE
https://www.bethanyunitedchurch.ca
On the day of the event we will also doing a special quilt raffle draw.
“Sunday School Quilt Draw” tickets in support of “Out of the Cold” .
DRAW DATE: MAY 25, 2024 – $10 A TICKET OR 3 FOR $20
A project of care for our community. Quilt has been designed and stitched together by 17 members of our Sunday School. Each square has a touch of their loving grace.
The Other Side of the Wall Book Study
People around the world have seen and heard the Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac’s Christmas Sermon “Under the Rubble”.
Now the Just Peace Working Group are inviting you to hear more from this extraordinary theologian.
Tuesday evenings in June, at 7:00pm Atlantic, join us while we study Munther’s book “The Other Side of the Wall”. The book can be purchased from Amazon or you can order it through your local bookstore.
You can register for the book study by emailing PLEMoncton@gmail.com or by clicking on this link.
Financial Assistance for Ministerial Candidates
First United Church Trenton has a memorial fund that provides financial assistance to Ministry Candidates. The Fund is able to grant up to $1,500.00 to accepted ministerial candidates for the United Church of Canada who are studying in an approved School of Theology. If the congregation does not have a Ministry Candidate the Pastoral Charge has graciously opened the grant to other Ministry Candidates in the Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region.
Applications for assistance should go to:
EBS Miller Fund
First United Church
PO Box 325
Trenton NS B0K 1X0
Getting Started: Becoming an Affirming Ministry
Our April 18th webinar, led by Kim Curlett, is now available on the FSLDW Website under Resources or Affirm. Here is the link: https://ucceast.ca/84652-fsldw-affirm-getting-started-becoming-an-affirming-congregation
Our Affirm Committee will offer a workshop at the Annual Meeting, sharing some insights from the experiences of those who have been in, or are working through, the Affirming process.
It’s Time to Support the PEI Basic Income Project
You could help Coalition Canadian in your capacity as a faith group leader. Last November we published the PEI Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) report. This report has changed the landscape for guaranteed basic income advocacy. It has addressed key issues on how to implement a GBI. This has led to many serious conversations with senior policy people and politicians. It has led, for example, to a window opening between a federal and a (PEI) provincial Minister for an early stage ‘working group’ to be established to discuss data, administrative, and tax issues. This is huge step for GBI. Policy Options/IRPP has published an article about the work.
In a few weeks we will be sending a letter to a small number of MPs who will be involved in the election platform planning process for each Federal political party, asking them to put the PEI GBI demonstration project on their party’s platform. Your support is important. It will indicate to the MPs the breadth of support from people and organizations who understand how a GBI could affect the lives of people.
Please read and sign the letter. If you can, please share with your colleagues in the faith community.
Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvgQbs_WEYhjV9Nr60UKzsZfVhK03hv997bdp3YszgmZLPhQ/viewform
May is Gaelic Nova Scotia Month
May is Mìos nan Gàidheal | Gaelic NS Month and a host of events are planned.
For more information on Gaelic Month happenings or on Gaelic culture, please visit Comhairle na Gàidhlig The Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia’s website.
Taing mhòr.
