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.
Executive Minister’s 2024 Christmas Message
Please take a moment to view the 2024 Christmas Message from the Executive Minister, Rev. Faith March-MacCuish, by clicking here.
Regional Council Office Holiday Hours
The Regional Council Office will close on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 4:30 PM for the Christmas holidays. We will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 8:30 AM.
If there is an emergency, please call Faith March-MacCuish, Executive Minister, at 1-709-691-3524.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Pastoral Relations News – December 2024
• Approved the Call of Chris Matheson with Windsor United Church, full time, effective March 1, 2025. David Hewitt, Liaison.
• Approved the Supply Appointment of Jeff Chant with Fort Massey United Church, Halifax, 20 hours/week, January 1 to June 30, 2025.
• Approved the Renewal of Supply Appointment of Valerie Taylor, retired, with Windsor United Church, 30 hours/week, January 1 to February 28, 2025.
• Approved the Profile and position description for Saltspring Scotsburn Lyons Brook Pastoral Charge, and authorized Search for full-time ministry personnel. Jack Canning, Liaison.
• Approved the Request for Change in Pastoral Relations for Krista Elizabeth Winn of Shubenacadie Pastoral Charge, effective December 31, 2024.
• Approved the Profile and position description for Interim Ministry at United Protestant Church, Sydney River, and authorized Search. Stephen Mills, Region rep to the Transition Team.
• Approved the Supply Appointment of Mary Lynne Whyte with Port Wallis United Church, Dartmouth, 30 hours/week, effective January 1, 2025.
• Approved the collaborative ministry agreement of Brunswick Street United Church, Truro, and Community United Church, January 1 to June 30, 2025.
• Approved the Renewal of Supply Appointment of Ruth Gamble, retired, with the collaborative ministry of Springhill Pastoral Charge and River Philip Pastoral Charge, 30 hours/week, January 1 to June 30, 2025.
• Next meeting: Friday, January 24, 2025.
Executive Minutes
Advent Message from the President of Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council
Please click here to read the Advent Message.
General Council Youth Forum 2025
Register here!
Ecumenical Clergy Gathering
Clergy in and near Halifax are invited to the Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica glebe house at 11am on Thursday 19 December for fireside coffee and conversation. Please share this invitation with others who may be interested.
Drive in at 5221Spring Garden Road and park between the church and the red brick house. Come to the door under the canopy.
Let me know if you wish to be added to my email list.
PAX
Father Brian MacMillan
Ecumenical Officer for the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth
Call for Nominations – Board Vacancies
Church Extension Board of Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region
The Church Extension Board of BNS Region (the Board) commenced its activities in 1955 with a Halifax Presbytery mission and focus. The Board’s mandate and mission was expanded to include a BNS Region mission and focus during 2021. Accordingly, the Board is now actively seeking to recruit Board members from across BNS Region to better represent the interests and opportunities that are present across the Region. We currently have 2 (two) vacancies.
The Board is a United Church incorporated ministry within BNS Region whose mission is to provide financial assistance to faith communities within BNS Region, primarily in the form of low interest capital loans and to assist these communities in meeting their dreams and aspirations. More detailed information on the Board, its governance, processes and mission can be found at its website, through the link below:
https://www.cebhalifax.com/index.html
A member’s term is for three (3) years beginning on July 1 in the first year of the term and ending on June 30 of the third year of the term. A member may serve up to three consecutive, 3-year terms.
The full Board meets annually in March of each year to deal with its annual general meeting obligations. The Board also meets on an as required basis to consider loan applications, governance issues or other financing proposals brought forward by the Board executive. In recognition of potential travel burdens by volunteer members, these meetings are usually conducted via Zoom.
Folks who have experience or gifts in any of the following areas may find the work and mission of the Board fulfilling and worthwhile. While these gifts are helpful, they are not mandatory, especially if you have had experience with faith community governance.
• Property management and/or development
• Energy management projects
• Faith community property reviews/visioning
• Financial reporting
• Financing, banking, investing.
• Legal
If you are interested or would like to nominate someone from amongst our faith communities, please contact us at: cebhalifax@gmail.com
or call 902 717-5588
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
Invitation takes many forms. A minister closes each sermon with an intentional invitation, such as next week our focus will be on …. Over this week, consider who might find our topic helpful and invite them to accompany you in joining us at next week’s service.” Within the spoken announcements, the script offers intentional invitations to find ways to inspire the congregation to pray and ponder who God might be putting on their heart to invite to come take part. We need practice inviting. Develop intentional inviting as part of our own growth mindset and faithful expression. Have take -away notes prepared ahead of time and ready for people to Invite to join in an event. When we are anticipating, intentional and ready for inviting, it is like we are intentionally preparing the soil and ready with our seeds of invitation. How can you be ready with invitations and follow through to bring even more people to your Christmas Eve services. Are you ready also with the next event that follows for your community of faith? Do you have special events/activities in January. Give people information to get them to come and then to have interest and purpose to come back! Stay open, and don’t overthink with those little voices that can say “they would never want to come. They are probably busy, and all the other ways we might dismiss possibilities of who to invite. Check out the video on welcoming and invitation to Christmas Eve, in three different outcomes, from growth animators Scott and Tori. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlhsGiDELHk
Celebrate the season with strengthening invitations and planting seeds for growth! Merry Christmas. Blessings to you. I look forward to connecting with you in 2025. Reach out and connect with me as part of your New Year “to do list.” What will your invitational plan be? 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.
