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.
To view upcoming events at the the Centre for Christian Studies please click here.
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council Committee Volunteer form.
Bermuda Nova Scotia Ministry and Personnel Committee Workshop
M&P 101
An introductory workshop for Ministry and Personnel Committee members will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Berwick Trinity United Church, 240 Commercial Street, Berwick. Lunch will be provided. The workshop will be facilitated by Regional Minister David Hewitt.
Topics will include:
• Purpose and function of M&P Committee
• Confidentiality and Accountability
• Record keeping
• Annual Reviews
• Conflict
• Leaves
• Resources
• Q&A
Please register here in order to confirm numbers for lunch and other arrangements:.
Please direct questions to Regional Minister David Hewitt dhewitt@united-church.ca
Learning Events:
As a commitment to providing connection and learning, Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council has asked committees to take a turn hosting webinars. Our November learning event is being hosted by the Affirm Committee: Please see information and registration below.
Zoom Webinar November 13, 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Are you looking to learn more about the letters in 2SLGBTQIA+?
Join us for a workshop offered by a representative from our Affirm team, Katie Logan. Katie is a candidate for ordered ministry serving on the South Shore of NS and member of the LGBTQ+ community. Katie will be offering an introductory workshop on romantic and sexual attraction & orientation. This workshop encourages brave discussions and questions to foster a space for learning why it’s important for us to recognize and respect people’s identity. This workshop aims to be accessible for those who are unfamiliar or those seeking to learn more about 2SLGBTQIA+ identities.
Register Now! Click HERE to register
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email, containing information and links to join the event.
Minister Emeritus Service
On Sunday, November 17th at 2 pm, the Margate Pastoral Charge will bestow the honorary title of Minister Emeritus upon the Rev. Ches Boutilier at Southwest River United Church and will continue to celebrate afterwards with refreshments. All are invited to attend.
Bridgewater United Church Music Director Position
Are you looking for an opportunity to share your musical talents in a creative and innovative spirit-filled environment?
If you are a caring teacher, passionate musician, well organized and looking to create something diverse, new and dynamic with your talents and the music community we are looking for you!
Bridgewater United Church; Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, an Affirming Church Community within the United Church of Canada, has undergone a process to review and revitalized its vision for the Music Ministry at our Church. As such this new position and the successful candidate will inspire the congregation in worship with highly executed, planned, appropriate, diverse and modern approaches to music to facilitate the spiritual experience of all ages by engaging and encouraging members musical talent, rehearsing musical groups, finding external musicians for worship and by providing caring musical direction to our musicians!
https://www.bridgewaterunited.ca/employment-opportunities-at-b-united
Covenanting Service for Rev. Nick Phillips and the St. John’s Pastoral Charge
The St. John’s Pastoral Charge invites you to join with us in celebrating the covenanting of Rev. Nick Phillips with our churches and community. The service will be November 17, 2pm at St. Matthew’s United Church, 78 Church Street, Inverness, with a light lunch following. The guest preacher will be Rev. John Tapscott.
Stewardship Update – November 2024
See the attached file here.
Church Property Network
The Church Property Network is an initiative led by the United Church of Canada and the United Property Resource Corporation (UPRC) to support communities of faith with property solutions. Starting November 13th, this monthly webinar series will explore topics to help increase the vitality of your church property. Topics covered will range from increasing revenue through rental strategies to energy efficiency, to how to start tackling that leaky roof. Bring all your questions to the Church Property Network so we can learn together.
What Can You Expect?
Monthly workshops and webinars
Peer-to-peer learning through discussion forums
Q & A where no question too big or too small
Expertise from United Church partners, such as The Toronto United Church Council and Faith and the Common Good
When?
2nd Wednesday of the month at 7 pm ET
Upcoming
November 13: Kick-Off Session – What are we asking? What are we hearing? What is most helpful?
Please click here for more information.
Monthly Ecumenical Clergy Gathering
Clergy are invited to the Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica glebe house at 11am on Thursday 28 November for coffee and conversation.
Drive in at 5221 Spring Garden Road and park between the church and the red brick house. Come to the door under the canopy.
Please contact me at bmacmillan@halifaxyarmouth.org if you wish to receive reminders for future gatherings.
Father Brian Macmillan
Ecumenical Officer for the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
A small planning group is working on a series of services in HRM for WPCU 2025 using resources from here.
Sunday 19 January All Saints Anglican Cathedral.
Monday 20 January Resurrection Lutheran
Thursday 23 January Northwood Long Term Care
Sunday 26 January Saint Benedict Roman Catholic Parish
A UCC preacher has been identified and now we are looking for a UCC venue for Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday. We think this is important as it is your centennial year. Please get in touch with me if you can host on one of those days. The host church arranges for the service and the planning group can suggest a preacher from another denomination.
PAX
Father Brian Macmillan
Ecumenical Officer for the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth
Basic Income Guarantee (BIG-NS) / Guaranteed Liveable Income (GLI)
Come to a “Lunch and Learn” to find out how a Basic Income Guarantee could work to address poverty in our communities, and how we can be part of this economic change.
Guest speakers: Catherine Sweet, secretary of BIG-NS (big-ns.org) and instructor at DAL, and Waye Mason, former councillor with the Halifax Regional Municipality.
When: Sunday, Nov 24th at noon in the sanctuary.
Where: St Andrew’s United, Halifax (corner of Coburg and Robie)
RSVP: as a light lunch will be provided – (our Facebook link), or for those who don’t have FaceBook access, email andreaharrison.ucc@gmail.com.
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
What are your 360° observations today? Time to take a spin, turn around, draw the circle wider!
Imagine standing in a circle looking around at those you know, love and share faith with (but your backs are to those beyond your circle). Imagine looking out and reaching into the hurting world (but your backs are to those inside your circle). Now imagine that circle with all the people turning sideways to be able to look both inward and look outward. Send the wave of God’s love throughout, trusting the realms of impact to flow. During church refreshments, do a 360-degree spin before joining a table. Notice who might be alone at a table, off to the side, and join them, not the folks you might usually form a “holy huddle” with. Waiting for an appointment, in a line, on a walk, joining a group of people, notice who needs your moment of kindness and compassion, a smile and some hope in their day. The Newport Institute indicates: “Glimmers are tiny micro moments of joy—fleeting, everyday moments that elicit a rush of happiness, gratitude, calm, peace, safety, or goodwill.” Make giving and receiving glimmers part of your day!
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.
Questions for Election Candidates
When candidates come to your door or phone you for your support does your mind go blank on questions you would like them to answer? As people of faith, we would like to have candidates that reflect our values about respecting people and all of God’s Creation. For many elections, Grace United Church and Christ Church (Anglican) of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia have jointly hosted an All-Candidates Forum. Unfortunately our planned All Candidates Forum for Dartmouth South was cancelled as we were not able to get agreement from all candidates to participate. The questions we had developed, supplemented by some background information, are being made available as we feel strongly that questions about social justice need to be asked. If any church has an interest in conducting an All Candidates Forum, we would be pleased to share our experience and process with you. Please contact Shirley Hazen at shazen@gracedartmouth.ca.
Please click here to view the questions!
Institute of Health Joy and Excellence
EXCITING NEWS!!
We are excited to be introducing the INSTITUTE OF HEALTH JOY & EXCELLENCE to you. With two years of diligent work behind us by many leaders across our three Eastern Regions we are now ready to offer the initial learning opportunities.
The focus groups and extensive consultation process made it abundantly clear that you, our ministry leaders foremost desire opportunities to reconnect with your call to ministry and have opportunities to deepen your spirituality.
We could not be more pleased and honoured to be working with Janice MacLean of Prayer Bench Ministries to launch our first three planned events.
We will begin with an online Advent offering entitled: “Holding Space for Advent”. Click here for more information on the institute..
This event is sponsored by the Institute and FREE to you.
You must register and there are 30 spots available.
Here is the link to register: : https://ucceast.ca/87541-health-joy-and-excellence-education-event
