NEWS AND UPDATES FROM BERMUDA-NOVA SCOTIA REGIONAL COUNCIL
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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.
To view upcoming events at the the Centre for Christian Studies please click here.
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council Committee Volunteer form.
Condolences – Rev. Jim Crooks
Condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Jim Crooks, who passed away last week. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, November 17, 2024 on the stage of the Imperial Theatre in Saint John from 2 pm to 4 pm. An obituary will be posted once it is available.
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.
Executive Minutes – June 20, 2024
The minutes from the June 20, 2024 meeting were approved at the September 11-12, 2024 meeting of the Executive and are now available on the BNS website.
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Pastoral Relations News, amended – 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.
- Approved the Profile and position description for the Ecumencial Shared Ministry of Sheet Harbour Pastoral Charge (United) and the Parish of Tangier (Anglican) and authorize Search. David Hewitt, Liaison.
- Next meeting: Friday, October 25, 9:00 a.m.
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!
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.
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. 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. Register for this event by completing the form at: https://ucceast.ca/86920-discipleship-webinar-series.
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.
Register for this event at https://ucceast.ca/86920-discipleship-webinar-series
JP Cormier Concert – Hillside United Church Nov 2, 2024 7:30 pm
Talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, J.P. Cormier will be performing at Hillside United Church 12 Flamingo Drive, Halifax, NS, on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 pm! He is a Juno-nominated, Canadian Folk Music Award-winning and multiple ECMA-winning artist whose genres span bluegrass, folk and Celtic music! Tickets are $35 in advance ($40 at the door if we’re not sold out!) Tickets may be purchased through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/hillside-united-church-92366953153 or through the Hillside office, office@hillsideunited.org, 902-443-2947.
“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.
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
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.
Covenanting Service for Woodlawn United Church in Dartmouth
Woodlawn United Church invites you to a celebration of ministry as Bethe and I Covenant with our faith community in a more formal way on Sunday, November 3rd at 2 pm in our sanctuary at 54 Woodlawn Road. We hope you can come, there is no need to RSVP.
Finally, here is some exciting news, the preacher at this Covenanting Service is usually a UCC minister, but Bethe and I have opted instead to invite Shaureen Taweel, our foodbank coordinator, to deliver the sermon that afternoon. We are very excited she said yes! Shaureen is a lay member of St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Dartmouth.
If you ever have any questions for me, my cell is 902-817-2782, email kevinlittle@woodlawnunited.ca. You can find Bethe’s contact information on our website. Peace, Kevin Little
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
Deepen spirituality, strengthen invitation, offer radical hospitality and make the first minutes of worship count! Have you considered having refreshments available in the sanctuary, and making them available before, during and after worship? Some communities of faith are finding this a very welcoming, inclusive invitation of hospitality. One person said, “That hospitality helped me feel I might be able to fit, to belong here.” Research is showing that people are most likely to make a decision about their comfort in the first twelve minutes of worship. Focus on worship at the beginning. Announcements moved to the end of the service, help people remember announcements and be able to speak to others while it is fresh in their minds. In the book “Thriving Churches,” United Church ministers Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd and Tammy Allan, describe thriving churches, both urban and rural as: Visionary, vital, having positive energy, offering radical hospitality, willing to be changed, able to welcome and embrace new opportunities. This or other “thriving church” focused books might be a great read for individuals, leadership or book study discussions. Contact me if you want some book ideas, or perhaps you would like to do a spiritual health questionnaire with your community of faith? Ideas from people like Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd and Mitchell Anderson, might help your community of faith make new discoveries. 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 – October 2024
Please click here to read the Stewardship update for October.
