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.
Obituary for Michael Simmons
Please click here to view an obituary for Michael Simmons, who passed away on September 15, 2024.
Cancellation Fall Retreat for Division of Regional Services & Support
Due to low registration, the Division of Regional Services and Support Fall Retreat scheduled for Oct. 8 and 9 is cancelled. We are sorry for the disruption in plans.
Young Clergy Event Cancelled/Postponed
Unfortunately, though there was some interest in a fall gathering of young clergy, it was not enough to meet the minimum required attendees and so we had to cancel the fall event. Those who had previously registered and paid will be reimbursed. If there is to be a gathering in the Spring of 2025, someone will be reaching out early in January.
On behalf of the planning team, we hope that you have a blessed fall season.
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Pastoral Relations News – September 2024
- Approved the Call of Mary Jo Harrison with Berwick Trinity Pastoral Charge, 30 hours/week, effective September 1, 2024. Don Sellsted, Liaison.
- Approved the Interim Ministry Appointment of Tom Woods with Knox United Church, Lower Sackville, NS, full-time, August 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026. David Hewitt Liaison. Heather Fraser, Region rep to the Transition Team.
- Approved the Appointment of John Den Hollander, Ordained Supply, with Clyde Carleton Pastoral Charge, 12 hours/week, September 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026. David Hewitt, Liaison. Carol Smith, Pastoral Charge Supervisor.
- Approved the Renewal of Appointment of Max Martin, Candidate, with St. Paul’s United Church, Spryfield, 30 hours/week, September 11 to December 31, 2024. Sean Handcock, Pastoral Charge Supervisor.
- Approved the amended Profile and position description for Orchard Valley United Church. Search continues, David Hewitt, Liaison.
- Approved the Request for Change in Pastoral Relations from Sally Shaw of Waverley Pastoral Charge, effective January 31, 2025.
- Approved the Profile and position descriptions for both full and part-time ministries for Wesley Methodist Church, Bermuda, and authorize Search. David Hewitt, Liaison.
- Approved the position description for Supply minister and the position description for Interim Ministry Consultant for Port Wallis United Church, Dartmouth. Kym Burke, rep to the Transition Team.
- Next meeting: Friday, October 25, 9:00 a.m.
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
“On September 30th we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or Orange Shirt Day. We witness and honour the healing journey of survivors, and families of the residential school experience, and we remember those who didn’t make it home…There is still a very long journey ahead of us as we seek to make things right. Racist or colonial policies continue to harm Indigenous children and their families.” (UCCAN) How can you embrace “Every child matters.”
Are you encouraging people to wear orange? We have an opportunity to be come better educated, to live into truth and reconciliation, to live in peace and friendship. Visit The United Church website for Indigenous Worship material. This is an Indigenous prayer adaptation of the Lord’s Prayer by Shane Goldie
Great Spirit, our Creator, who is in all places,
Sacred is your name.
May your wisdom guide us,
Your will be done in our lives, as it is throughout Creation.
Provide for us today the nourishment we need,
And forgive us our wrongs, as we forgive those who have wronged us.
Lead us on the path of understanding and respect,
And protect us from ignorance and harm.
For you are the source of all power, beauty, and love,
From generation to generation, forever and always. Amen” Keep making a difference. 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.
Fall 2024 granting round with United Church Foundation
If you’re curious whether your project is eligible for a grant, need support with your application or would like to discuss which program is the best fit, this is the perfect time to explore it together. Go right to our team’s calendar and schedule a time to chat via a video or phone One-on-one calls! Explore how the United Church Foundation might help
Clergy Day for Rest and Renewal
A Clergy Day of Rest and Renewal will take place on Friday November 8th at Sackville UC from 9:30am-4:30pm. Cost is $25/person, including lunch. Only 20 spaces available! To register contact Natasha Pearen at 506-529-3527 or rev.natasha.nb@gmail.com by October 18th. A great opportunity to relax with colleagues before taking in the Moderator’s Flourishing Workshop in Moncton on Nov. 9th!
Click here for a poster of the event.
Hey Cape Breton!
Have you been wanting to talk about ministry with Children, Youth and Young Adults? Maybe you have a thriving group and have ideas to share. Maybe you’re wondering if you might start something and need ideas. This will be the time for all of us to gather.
Join The Rev. Catherine Stuart, Regional Minister for Children, Youth and Young Adults on Saturday, September 28th from 1-3pm at United Protestant Church in Sydney River (1524 Kings Road, Sydney, Nova Scotia). Whether you’re clergy, lay, an interested parent, or youth with cool ideas, you’re all welcome to attend this free workshop. Questions? Email cstuart@united-church.ca
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.
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.
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
The Laramie Project – September 19 to October 5
St. James United Church is proud to be in partnership with Dartmouth Players in bringing The Laramie Project to life. It’s the Matthew Shepherd story and while it happened in 1998, it’s not hard to imagine the same thing happening to a trans person now.
Tickets are only $20 or $17 for seniors and students.
Available at the door or through Ticketpro.
St. James United Church
181 Portland Street
Dartmouth, NS
Parking available on the street and at Mattatall’s Funeral Home.
One Day’s Pay — Truth Then Reconciliation
We started as a small group of friends and colleagues, both settlers and newcomers, who wanted to do more than reflect on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – we wanted to act. We knew we were not alone in this. We have started the One Day’s Pay campaign to actively support Indigenous Non-profits across the land.
Please join us by donating one day’s pay or donating what you can to Women of First Light in eastern Canada to share native spirituality and traditional teachings. Their purpose is to heal their communities, families and society by remembering and returning to the the traditional ways of our ancestors.
https://www.womenoffirstlight.com/contact-8
Seniors For Climate Action – Later is too Late!
There is a climate emergency: Antigonish is joining Seniors across Canada for a day of climate action with a multigenerational event on Tuesday, October 1 beginning at 11:45 AM at the corner of Main and Hawthorne. We will be walking along Main Street with stops at the Town Hall and at the MPs office with music at locations along the way. Everyone is welcome to join us. Our Facebook group is Seniors for Climate-Antigonish. A documentary is being made of all the Canadian communities participating including ours.
Seniors and Climate – Later is too Late!
There is a climate emergency – Later Is Too Late!
Seniors For Climate!
October 2nd we will be part of a National event on Seniors and Climate (mostly on) Oct 1, 2024 in 60+ locations across Canada. You are invited to come to an event in Halifax!
Date and Time: Wednesday Oct 2nd, 2024 12pm – 4pm
Location: St Andrews, United Church Hall — 6036 Coburg Rd (At Robie) Halifax
Speaker Topics: The NS Situation, Carbon In the Ocean, Energy Future and Affordability, Using the law to fight climate change, Fighting increasing pension investment in fossil fuels and carbon production.
See Exhibits with info and actions (not a complete list): Council of Canadians, Epilog, East Coast Environmental Law, Save Our Old Growth Forests, KAIROS Halifax, Coastal Protection Act, Save Our Wetlands, and more…
Halifax Facebook Event listing: https://www.facebook.com/events/528488506253907
Sponsored by KAIROS and NS Federation of Union Retirees.
“Where Olive Trees Weep” – Sept 29, 7:00-8:30pm at St Andrew’s Hfx
This powerful 2022 film is an exploration of the life of Palestinians in the West Bank (https://whereolivetreesweep.com/).
On Oct 6th, view one of 23 conversations curated by the film makers in June 2024 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGXoQUSYzWk).
Click here to view a poster for the event.
Help us celebrate 15 years of being an affirming ministry!
On Oct 3rd, it will be 15 years since the congregation of St Andrew’s United, Truro, voted to live into the responsibility of being an Affirming Congregation! Since then we have taken that responsibility seriously. Join us at our Sunday worship at 11 AM on Oct 6th to recognize this milestone!
First United Church Presents “Hannah’s Boys in Concert”
Saturday, October 12th at 7:00pm at the First United Church, 81 High Street, Trenton.
Entrance is by donation at the door. Light snack to follow the show.
Everyone is welcome!
Click here to view a poster for the event.
Adult Discipleship Growth
There’s still time to enroll your community of faith in AST’s exciting new Atlantic School of Discipleship! Designed in consultation with Regional staff, this year-long program provides a solid foundation in Christian knowledge focussing on what difference that makes in the lives of followers of Jesus. Designed for congregational groups (up to five) or individuals, you will learn in the company of AST’s world class, ecumenical faculty. Registration deadline is fast approaching. More information and registration at Atlantic School of Discipleship.
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.
Discipleship Webinar Series lead by Rev. Dr. I Ross Bartlett
The Faith Formation and Leadership Development Committee of the Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region is pleased to announce a series of weekly Webinars lead by Rev. Bartlett starting on Monday October 21st at 7pm Atlantic through to November 11th; each session will be approximately 1 hour in length with some time following for general discussion afterward. Registration information will be forthcoming, in the meantime the registration fee for the series will be $40. There is no text book for the series however Rev. Bartlett’s book “On Holy Ground – You and Your Faith Story” is a recommended companion/resource for the series; this book may be ordered at the time of registration for $10 plus $5 postage and handling or it is readily available, in several formats, from Amazon.ca. A link for registration will be provided in next week’s announcements.
Program Overview: For followers and disciples of Jesus Christ, recognizing and understanding the workings of God in our lives and the world is both gift and challenge. The gift of trusting that we are not alone and that this is God’s world and the challenge to see the work of God in creating and re-creating our lives, our communities, and all creation. But how do we do celebrate that presence and understand that work? In this four-part series, participants will be introduced to a number of ideas and practices designed to facilitate spiritual reflection on our experiences and events in the world around us. They will gain greater clarity on their spiritual journey to this point and develop a comfort in talking about their faith in gentle and inviting terms. The program will combine small group conversation, opportunities for personal reflection, as well as input, ideas and challenges to grow in our walk as followers of Jesus.
About the Instructor: After 35 years of congregational ministry, the Rev Dr Ross Bartlett was appointed United Church Formation Director at Atlantic School of Theology in 2018. He has been involved in lay education and retreat direction for more than 25 years as well as working with ministerial candidates. A spiritual director and certified life coach he is committed to helping individuals recognize the presence of the Divine in every life. Ross is the author of several books and is frequently sought out as a speaker, workshop leader, and preacher.
Rural Ministries Town Halls Connecting Us Nationally and Regionally
Rural Ministries and Rural Town Halls Connect Us Nationally and Regionally
On CHURCHx (the United Church’s online learning platform), register for free here: Course: Rural Ministry Town Halls (churchx.ca)
Upcoming dates: Wednesday, September 25, 1-2:30 pm ET
Wednesday, November 27, 1-2:30 pm ET
Wednesday, January 22, 1-2:30 pm ET
Wednesday, March 26, 1-2:30 pm ET
Wednesday, May 28, 1-2:30 pm ET
*Please log on up to 30 minutes prior to the start of any meeting to have some social time!You can share information, updates and questions on CHURCHx between town halls.
Contact Bronwyn Corlett, Rural Ministry Coordinator,
bcorlett@united-church.ca416-231-7680 | 1-800-268-3781 | ext. 3022
Orchard Valley United Church Seeks a passionate Youth, Young Families & Senior Minister
Orchard Valley United Church in the beautiful Annapolis valley of Nova Scotia is looking for a Student or newly ordained/commissioned/recognized individual who falls in the UCC Salary Categories A or B. If you are a more seasoned Minister and wish to only work 30 hours per week then let us know. Our ideal individual will be passionate, enthusiastic and joyful about Youth, children and Young families. The position encompasses 55% to programming work. This will include a large focus on our younger generations but also some work with our seniors in supporting their needs. The position will spend 30% of their time with our current Minister for Pastoral Care mainly in our senior populations. Outreach will be another passion that our ideal candidate.
You can find our profile on Churchhub.ca. We look forward to hearing from you.
Minister Job Description
Profile Team Report
New from Prayer Bench for Creation
In this creation retreat, we draw on the profound insights of Emily Carr, a West Coast Canadian artist and author, exploring her deep connection to the landscape and the powerful sense of place she found in nature.
Learn more about Canvas of the Soul: https://prayerbench.ca/product/canvas-of-the-soul-retreat/
Use this resource:
as a worship resource for season of creation;
as a resource for a fall gathering of leaders or clergy cluster;
print or email and share with friends or a community of faith;
as a retreat day — personally — or with a group;
as a basis for a Con Ed days.
Pricing: $20-$40. See: https://prayerbench.ca/product/canvas-of-the-soul-retreat/ or email: Janice (at)prayerbench.ca
2025 United Church Calendars
The United Church bookstore is taking pre-orders for the 2025 United Church Calendars.
the cost is as follows:
An order of 10 or more the cost is $6.50 each tax included plus shipping
An order of less than 10 the cost is $6.75 each tax included plus shipping
There is a limited supply ordered so get your order in soon. To order contact Leona at llaundry@united-church.ca or call 1-800-268-3781, ext. 6141
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
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.
Forms and Reports – A Reminder to submit
There are a number of Pastoral Charges that have not yet submitted their 2024 Pastoral Charge information forms and Annual Reports for 2023.
Please click on the link below to complete the 2024 Pastoral Charge form (if you have not already done so). If you have not had your annual meeting, and have the same people serving in the governing body, we ask you to still fill out the information forms.
BNS – Pastoral Charge 2024 Information Form
Annual Reports for 2023 – any pastoral charge still to submit their 2023 Annual Report is asked to email the report to the Regional office info4RC15@united-church.ca at your earliest convenience.
We thank all Pastoral Charges who have already provided these documents to Regional Office, if unsure if your pastoral charge has submitted the form/report please email info4RC15@united-church.ca to confirm.
Camp Director Job Posting
Camp Quin-Mo-Lac, a United Church camp in southeastern Ontario, is seeking a full time, permanent Camp Director — someone who is excited to lead a hardworking and fun-loving team, make a positive difference in the lives of children and young adults, and continue making Camp Quin-Mo-Lac the best camp ever! The Camp Director oversees camp operations and programming throughout the year. For more information, please see the PDF attached or go to https://quin-mo-lac.org/camp-director-job-posting. The deadline for applying is October 14, 2024.
