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.
Call for Nominations – Board Vacancies
Church Extension Board of Region 15
The Church Extension Board of Region 15 (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 Region 15 mission and focus during 2021. Accordingly, the Board is now actively seeking to recruit Board members from across Region 15 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 Region 15 whose mission is to provide financial assistance to faith communities within Region 15, 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
Regional Council Governance Evaluation Update
Further to the announcement in the newsletter of December 4, 2024, we are preparing the surveys evaluating the governance of your regional council for distribution. There are 4 surveys that will be distributed in the next couple of weeks. Seyi Adeyemo is responsible for the distribution and can be reached at sadeyemo@united-church.ca.
Communities of faith will be provided a link to the survey evaluating the governance of Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council next week. Your voice is important so please include a conversation about these questions at your next Board/Council meeting. In order to provide time to analyze the data coming in from the communities of faith and still report to the regional council annual meeting in May, we have set March 15 as the deadline for receipt of the community of faith surveys.
The governance evaluation will include perspectives of regional council members and those appointed to the governance of the regional council as well as communities of faith through your Board/Council. Members of the regional council – all ministry personnel and the appointed representatives of each community of faith will receive their own survey.
Responsibilities of the Regional Councils are laid out in The Manual 2024 section C. https://united-church.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/the-manual-2024.pdf and described in your regional council governance handbook.
Please note that a denomination-wide evaluation of structural change is underway separate from this effort. In a month or two, you will be asked to provide information to the General Council Evaluation Task Group for this work. As much as possible, we are coordinating our efforts including sharing survey data. Thank you for participating in the surveys when you receive them, and enhancing our life together in this 100th year!
Consultant to UCC East Governance Evaluation.
Bermuda Nova Scotia Ministry and Personnel Committee Workshop
M&P 101
An introductory workshop for lay members of Ministry and Personnel Committees will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bridgewater United Church, 87 Hillcrest St, Bridgewater, NS, B4V 1T2. 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 to assist in planning and meal preparation. The deadline for registration is Monday, February 10: CLICK HERE to register.
Please direct questions to Regional Minister David Hewitt dhewitt@united-church.ca
Second Health Joy Excellence Event Offering January 2025
Only a month ago we introduced the INSTITUTE OF HEALTH JOY & EXCELLENCE to you.
I hope you will reserve your spot today by registering right here.
Click here for more information about this event.
COVENANTING SERVICE – PORT WALLIS UNITED CHURCH
SAVE THE DATE – JANUARY 19TH @ 1:00 pm
All are welcome to attend…
The Covenanting Worship Service to be held at Port Wallis United Church, 263 Waverley Rd, Dartmouth NS on Sunday, January 19th at 1:00 pm for
The Rev. Dr. Ross Bartlett and The Rev. Mary Lynne Whyte.
Reception to follow.
Share Your Climate Story: You May Be Featured in The United Church of Canada’s 2023-2024 Sustainability Report
Calling all United Church communities of faith, The United Church of Canada (UCCan) will be releasing its 2023-2024 Sustainability Report next Spring. We are looking for submissions of stories, initiatives, and events from 2023 and 2024 to be featured. Submissions should align with one or more of The United Church of Canada’s Climate Pillars: Putting Our House in Order; Raising Our Spirited Voices; Reconnecting with the Earth; or Responding to Climate Impact.
Learn more about the UCCan’s Sustainability Pillars and read previous Sustainability Reports here.
Please click to Share your climate story
HRM UCC Youth Event – Friday, January 24th
All youth and leaders are welcome to an HRM youth event! Friday, January 24th from 6-8pm at Bedford United Church! It’s giant games night with human hungry hungry hippos, axe throwing, giant Yahtzee, scrabble and more! 🎲♟🎈
Bring a snack to share, a friend, and some good old friendly competition. A great chance to see friends from Youth@Region and Rendezvous! Contact Natalie Moyes (natalie.moyes@bedfordunited.com) for more details.
Please click here to register.
Hope to see you there!
Stewardship Update – January 2025
Please click here to read the Stewardship update for January.
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
Are you looking for ways to be bold disciples and invite others? Bold discipleship takes many forms. Some stories are really spontaneous and creative. A person renewed their YMCA membership and in the hot tub of their local Y, struck up a conversation with a dad who had three teenagers. Our bold disciple shared they attended the United Church. The dad indicated he had attended a United church in the past but would have no idea where he and his teens would be welcomed. The person suggested, not their own church, but another United Church in their local area, explaining why they might find it a better fit and offering to make a connection with the minister there! Keep inviting people! Invitation can happen when small groups are creative about where and when they gather. Can your small groups be more public and visible in where they gather? There has been growing shifts to meet in more public spaces, such as meeting in a coffee shop, restaurant, rather than in a person’s home or at the church building. Arrange to meet in a retirement residence, long term residence, common room of an apartment complex, community centre, gym facility, recreation complex, common spaces of educational facility, library, or whatever public settings are in your area. Are there events in your building that you can connect your event with another? For example, looking to connect with children and youth and your! church hosts Scouts, Guides or other groups. Plan a community supper or children’s group that happens before. If parents and caregivers need to drop off young people for an event, offer a coffee social, time for them to stay and wait. Maybe offer a spirited conversation, such as Broadview article study or topics of interest to be hosted while another event is happening. Start a cooking club in your church kitchen or craft group or cards group for family members to be encouraged to stay and wait for the 60-to-90-minute event, children and youth are taking part in. Are there creative ways to double up, or combine to make time twice as nice? Need some ideas specific to your context. Let’s talk how we can grow community connections in your community of faith. Get growth animated by calling Sharon at 506-306-0500 or by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca as together, we keep being bold, deep and daring!
Service of Celebration for Rev. Dr. Sally Shaw’s Retirement
St. John’s United Church, Fall River warmly welcomes you to attend the final service for Rev. Dr. Sally Shaw on Sunday, January 26th 11am. Rev. Sally has faithfully served the Waverley Pastoral Charge for over 6 years with strong dedication, compassion and leadership. Rev. Dr. Rob Fennell will be preaching. All are welcome to attend, and stay for the luncheon to follow. We wish Rev. Sally all the best in her retirement, and are grateful for her ministry with us.
Please reach out to office@sjucfr.ca or 902-860-4000 with any questions.
St. John’s United Church, Fall River 3360 Hwy #2 Fall River, NS B2T 1J2
An affirming congregation of the United Church of Canada
Bethany United Church – Affirming Ministry Celebration Service
Bethany United Church welcomes all people to participate in a diverse community of faith, to learn together, to recognize, experience, and share God’s transforming love.
We strive to be a Christ centered community as we embrace people of all ages, colour, race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, and social and economic status in the full participation of all areas of our ministry.
All are welcome to this special time of worship for our community of faith.
Sunday, January 19, 2025
10:30am, Sanctuary
7171 Clinton Avenue (entrance)
Please stay afterwards as the festivities move into a time of fellowship with cake!
For more information about this event, contact: office@bethanyunitedchurch.ca or 902-455-0521, x.221 OR CLICK HERE
The service will be livestreamed and recorded for later viewing on our YouTube Channel.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Four ecumenical services and a public lecture “Nicaea as a cornerstone of Christian ecumenism” are planned for Halifax 19-26 January. Details can be found at the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth website. You may have to scroll down.
Sunday 19 January 4pm All Saints Cathedral
Monday 20 January 7pm Public Lecture, Resurrection Lutheran
Tuesday 21 January 7pm Saint John’s United
Thursday 23 January 2pm Northwood Halifax Campus
Sunday 26 January 3 pm Saint Benedict Catholic Parish
