NEWS AND UPDATES FROM BERMUDA-NOVA SCOTIA REGIONAL COUNCIL
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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.
Live in Concert: Catherine MacLellan at Port Wallis United Church
Catherine’s music is rooted in folk and roots. Born and raised in Prince Edward Island, her songs reflect her deep connection to the land and the people that call it home. Her passion for songwriting runs in the family; her father, Gene MacLellan, wrote beloved hits like “Snowbird” and “Put Your Hand in the Hand.” From heart-wrenching ballads to uplifting anthems, her music has a universal appeal that speaks to life’s struggles, triumphs, and joys.
Tickets $35: https://portwallisunitedchurch.ca/events/catherine-maclellan-concert
Covenanting Service – River Philip Pastoral Charge and Springhill Pastoral Charge
The covenanting service between River Philip and Springhill Communities of Faith, Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council, and Rev. K. Ruth Gamble, will take place Sunday, September 29th, 1:30 PM at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, Springhill, NS. Please join us as we celebrate this new collaborative ministry relationship.
Service of Celebration Becoming an Affirming Congregation
St. John’s United Church, Fall River invites everyone to join for our service of celebration of becoming an affirming congregation.
Sunday, September 29th at 4:00pm.
Guest preacher: Rev. Rick Gunn. BBQ reception to follow.
3360 Highway #2, Fall River, NS
Contact: office@sjucfr.ca or sjucfr.ca for more details.
Godly Play Core Training
Oct 18-19 and Nov 15-16, Sackville NB
Training is offered in modules over two weekends:
Friday 4-9pm to Saturday 8:30am-5:30pm.
We will explore Godly Play as a creative approach to nurturing children’s faith. A workshop to empower and inspire.
For more information and to register, and please contact:
godlyplaymaritimes.com or
registrargodlyplaymaritimes@gmail.com
Please register by Sept. 30th
Click here for the event poster.
Licensed Lay Worship Leader Annual Gathering October 24-26 in Sackville
The 2024 LLWL Annual Gathering for Bermuda-Nova Scotia and FSLDW Regions will take place at the Regional Office on Wright Street in Sackville October 24-26, using the Coastal Inn (next door) for accommodations. This event is available to LLWLs, those who are currently training to become LLWLs, and anybody interested in exploring the LLWL program.
Our instructors this year are Mary Taylor and Pix Butt. And there’s a field trip planned to get us out of the meeting room
In the past, this has been a valuable time for additional training, education, and inspiration. We really enjoy being together, too. Hope you can join us.
Here is the link to register: https://ucceast.ca/86546-licensed-lay-worship-leader-llwl-program-registration-october-2024
Living Faith Story Workshop
What is a Living Faith Story?
Why does our church need one?
How can it do everything from define and enliven our mission
to help us find a new minister?
How can we make one that’s uniquely our own and that we’ll actually use?
If your community of faith has been asking these questions recently, you are invited to gather a group together and join us for the next Living Faith Stories workshop, which will be held in person at Orchard Valley United Church, 130 Cornwallis Avenue, New Minas, NS on Saturday October 26, 2024 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Lunch will be provided. This workshop is open to all and may be of particular interest to those faith communities located in the Annapolis Valley area.
Click here to register: https://ucceast.ca/82701-2024-fall-living-faith-story-workshop
For more information, contact Daniel MacDonald,
Chair of Faith Stories and Community Covenant Committee,
at centralminister@bellaliant.com
“Faith in a Time of Genocide” – UNJPPI Conference
“Faith in a Time of Genocide” November 1-2, 2024 is the United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel (UNJPPI) national gathering in Toronto. There is a hotel room discount available until October 4th. Scholarships are available for students. People can also register for the pre-conference: a training on the Palestine Land Exercise. Please register here.
We have an exciting line of up of speakers and leaders for the conference, including Shadia Qabti, Tarek Al-Zoughbi, Ilan Pappé, Allison Tanner, Bailey Eastwood, Rabbi David Mivasair, Beisan Zubi and Ron Dart.
Profiles of the speakers and more information can be found here.
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
What are your best practices with keeping in touch… with family, with friends, with people in your community of faith, with renters and groups using your building, with neighbourhood, with community partners or potential community partners, with other denominations in your area, with multifaith groups, with organizations that have care priorities like hospitals, hospice, retirement and long-term care settings, local seniors groups? Perhaps a team or committee might think of someone to check in on within your community of faith, a group you have connected with but not recently, perhaps even pre-Covid, and someone new to reach out to and be in touch with. Being in touch helps plant seeds to begin or strengthen relationships. If you are hosting welcome back events, who can you be in touch with to give a special invite to come join you? If you have special events for the fall, add a component of being in touch with others to be intentional to invite people. Help your congregation with some cards, postcards or letters to be invitation and help keep in touch. If your community of faith does not have a pastoral care team, it is a great time to explore how being in touch can help people stay connected. Phone calls or visits can really brighten a person’s day. Notice your neighbours on the street you live on and be in touch. A neighbourhood street got brave and hosted a potluck and what a success it was. Can your community of faith host a neighbourhood potluck for your church’s street? Need some more ideas in your context, or want to share how your community of faith is keeping in touch, 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.
Invitation to Online Prayers Weekly Strengthening Invitation United In Prayer
Each Thursday at 12pm Eastern the Growth Department prays for and with communities of faith in our shared ministry of Strengthening Invitation.
Let us know how we can pray for your community of faith.
Are you planning a special service to invite your neighbours?
Are you reaching out to your neighbours through an event?
Are you asking hard or exciting questions about your future?
Join us and pray for others.
Send your prayer request to growth@united-church.ca (you can send a request even if you’re not attending)
Register to join us here.
Join the New Church Tech Best Practices Network
Come to discuss, share, bring questions and learn about tech for your community of faith. Discover what other communities of faith are doing? Does your community of faith use tech to improve sound, offer PowerPoint, share videos, connect with people via livestream, or Zoom, or record for later posting to your website or YouTube? Maybe you don’t use tech now, but are wondering if this is a possibility for you? Maybe your community of faith is doing something new and innovative, connecting with other communities of faith to share worship using technology. The new Church Tech Best Practices Network: Course: Church Tech Best Practices Network (churchx.ca) on CHURCHx is worth checking out. If you have questions, connect with Bronwyn Corlett in our growth department. You can email her at bcorlett@united-church.ca or contact your growth animator Sharon Ballantyne sballantyne@united-church.ca
To Hope and Act With Creation: Season of Creation 2024
Beloved Communities of Faith. Participating in the Season of Creation is a powerful spiritual way for churches to deepen their faith and connection with God’s creation. As we enter the Season of Creation, we are invited to embrace a profound journey of faith and stewardship. This sacred time offers us a unique opportunity to reflect on our role as caretakers of the Earth and to celebrate the beauty and diversity of God’s creation. In participating in this season, we align ourselves with the divine call to nurture and protect the world around us. It is a chance to renew our commitment to living in harmony with nature and to advocate for a more just and sustainable world. Let this be a season of awakening and action. Through prayer, education, and community initiatives, we can make a tangible difference. Each small step we take—whether it’s adopting more sustainable practices, supporting environmental justice, or simply spending time in nature—contributes to a greater tapestry of love and care for our planet. May our efforts be inspired by the beauty of creation and guided by a spirit of reverence and responsibility. As we come together in this season, let us celebrate the gift of the Earth and commit ourselves to being faithful stewards of all that God has entrusted to us. With hearts full of hope and hands ready to act, let us journey through this Season of Creation with faith, purpose, and joy. [HOPE AND ACT WITH CREATION] is the theme for season of creation 2024. Click here to see resources from Kairos Canada.
KAIROS is a Greek word meaning an opportune time to act for justice: Join us!
KAIROS Halifax is related to KAIROS Canada uniting 10 Canadian churches and religious organizations in a faithful ecumenical response to the call to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). KAIROS educates and advocates for climate/ecological justice and for human rights locally and globally.
KAIROS has developed and leads groups in the “KAIROS Blanket Exercise”, an experiential learning method raising awareness of Canadian history from the Indigenous peoples’ perspective. Inspired by the Blanket Exercise, we’ve developed the “Palestine Land Exercise” which is experiential learning of a history seldom heard.
KAIROS Halifax meets monthly, on zoom. Join us! Contact Linda Scherzinger lindakseven@gmail.com
Stewardship Update – September 2024
Please click here to read the Stewardship update for September.
Windsor Nova Scotia Seeking
We are actively seeking a minister to join our journey of faith.
Windsor United Church is a meeting place for Christian fellowship, a place of worship and service, and a celebration of life. We have a strong and active faith community with a vibrancy as the congregation participates in the many activities to achieve their role of having a positive impact on each other and the life of our community. We seek to make a difference in our community and the world! Windsor United is embracing the challenge of the times and seeking a dynamic and visionary leader and spiritual advisor to join us and to guide us on our journey.
Where we live in the beautiful Annapolis Valley has much to offer and has easy access to Metro and the airport .
Please check out our profile and position on ChurchHub. If you like, contact us directly at WUC_searchteam@outlook.com to express your interest.
North Highlands Pastoral Charge Seeking
We are seeking a minister to journey with us along the beautiful and world famous Cabot Trail. We three churches are small but mighty and invite you to share your faith journey with us. We even have a manse for you to live in!!! Check out our profile on the Church Hub. Our search is now listed. We look forward to hearing from you.
