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. To view upcoming events at the the Centre for Christian Studies please click here. Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council Committee Volunteer form.
Condolences – Lorna Huestis
Our condolences are extended to the family of Lorna Huestis who passed away yesterday. Lorna Huestis was a retired diaconal minister. A funeral service is planned for Monday, March 03, 2025 at 2.00 PM at Grace United Church, Dartmouth. The obituary can be viewed here.
BNS Regional Council Executive Meeting Highlights- December 05, 2024.
Please click here to see the highlights from the BNS executive meeting that took place on December 05, 2024.
Online Business Annual Meeting and In-Person Centennial Gathering
The Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council (BNS) will hold its business meeting online over two evening, May 14 and 15. A draft agenda for this meeting can be found on the Annual Meeting webpage .
There will be an information webinar held on Tuesday, May 6, please mark your calendar as we are hoping to have all members attend.
BNS and Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters (FSLDW) Regional Councils will hold an in-person Centennial Gathering in Sackville, NB on May 30-June 1. The draft agenda for this gathering can be found on the In-Person Gathering webpage .
There will be one registration form, opening mid-March, that will include registration for both the online business meeting and in-person gathering. There will be an announcement going out when registration is open. If you are unable to attend, please ensure you fill out the regrets form.
As information for both the online business meeting and in-person gathering become available it will be posted on the respective webpages.
Nominations are Open for President-Elect
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council is seeking nominations for President-Elect. This position is for a total of three years: one year as President-Elect, one year as President, and the last year as Past-President. The President-Elect will serve as a member of the Regional Executive, leading our Region in its work and ministry, within the bounds of the Region. Serving the Region in this way offers many unique and exciting opportunities to engage in its work and life. More information on the role of President-Elect, President, and Past-President can be found here.
As this election will take place through the Annual meeting held online, no nominations will be accepted from the floor, due to the nature of the online voting process. All nominations must be received by May 2, 2025 at midnight. Nominations are open to all members of the Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council, including ministry personnel and lay representatives. To submit your nomination, please fill out the form here.
Each nomination must include the names of two people who will move the nomination. These people must be members of Regional Council. The nomination does not need to come from the governing body of your local community of faith, it just needs to be 2 people from the Region who support the nomination.
If you have any questions, please contact Nominations Chair, Angela MacLean.
Elected Members to Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council
Please click here for a memo from Faith March-MacCuish, Executive Minister, with information regarding elected members to the Regional Council.
Annual Meeting Sunday Worship Service, June 1
If you are in need of worship suggestions for Annual Meeting Sunday, June 1, the Worship Team has put together the full service with reflection and options for music, as well as the bulletin version. These are posted on the Shared Annual Meeting webpage under the “Sunday Worship Service” header.
Cluster Conversations: An Invitation to Church Administrative Staff
Attention! All UCC Administrative Staff, Church Office Staff, Church Secretaries, or Office Administrative Staff! You are invited to a gathering on THURSDAY, MARCH 6 at Bedford United Church,1200 Bedford Hwy Halifax, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. This event is open to paid & volunteer staff – as long as you have a position description, you are welcome!
The purpose of the meeting will be:
• 1. To get acquainted,
• 2. To share good news stories & common concerns.
• 3. To consider the benefits of setting up an ongoing Office Admin Cluster.
PLEASE NOTE: If you’re interested in this but can’t attend on March 6th and/or if you’d be interested in meeting online via Zoom, please let Robyn know. Don’t hesitate to send along suggestions for conversation or any questions. To register (its free!) contact: Robyn Brown-Hewitt, BNS Cluster Animator, at RBrown-Hewitt@united-church.ca.
United Church Bookstore
These beautiful stain glass crests are for sale. We only have 2 available right now but can take orders for more. This piece makes a beautiful gift and will look fantastic hung in your window.
The measurements are 6 x 4. The cost is 51.95 tax included. Don’t miss out on this beautiful piece, contact Leona at llaundry@united-church.ca to get yours today. Remember if they are sold we can will take orders
SILENCE IS HARD TO INTERPRET – An update on the Regional Council Governance Evaluation project.
This week is the last week for submitting the surveys designed for members of the regional council. Regional Council members include – all ministry personnel and the lay representatives from communities of faith. Each group has their own survey which were sent out by email mid January. To date 22 surveys have been received from ministry personnel and 22 from community of faith representatives. These numbers are a small percentage of the total who could provide feedback on whether and how the regional council is living into its potential in supporting communities of faith and ministry personnel.
Silence is hard to interpret, so I wonder if the low response to the request for feedback from individuals about the regional council structure and functioning, means that regional council members are tired, discouraged or distracted, or you think the governance is running so well that feedback isn’t necessary. The regional council governance structure and functioning has an impact on our life together as we engage in God’s mission and ministry. Please take the time this week to fill out the survey. Your voice matters.
A reminder to Board/Council chairs and ministers serving communities of faith, that the community of faith surveys are due March 15, following discussion at a Board/Council meeting. The experience of those in the pews provides a reality check and measure of impact for those committing so much time and energy within the governance structure of the regional council. So far 9 of these surveys have been returned.
Thanks for your attention to this opportunity to shape the life of the regional council such that your ministries are enhanced.
February Ecumenical Clergy Gathering
Ecumenical clergy in the Halifax area are invited to the Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica glebe house at 11am on Thursday 27 February.
Drive in at 5221 Spring Garden Road and park between the church and the red brick house. Come to the door under the canopy.
PAX
Father Brian MacMillan
Ecumenical Office for the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth
Sherbrooke Lake Camp AGM & Annual Report
As Sherbrooke Lake Camp gears up for our 2025 season, we’ve been reflecting on the highs and challenges of 2024. We’ll be holding our AGM on February 22nd at 10 a.m. at St. Luke’s Church, and we would love for you to join us! Despite facing leadership transitions and the impact of Blue-Green Algae this past summer, our dedicated team came together to create an unforgettable experience for our campers. As we look to the future, we’re excited to announce upcoming fundraisers and a capital campaign for a new kitchen, which will strengthen our camp’s foundation for years to come. Your continued support is vital, and we can’t wait to work alongside you to make 2025 even better. Please read our annual report for all the details!
FSLDW Affirm Webinar Recording-February 19, 2025
Dementia and Spiritual Care: A Challenge That Affects Us All
Angela King shares her expertise in walking with those who want to support people living with dementia. Her heart commitment and vast experience bring us a very practical and helpful introduction to being supportive, respectful and helpful as we welcome and get to know people living with the varied impacts of dementia. We had two Pastoral Care teams join the group for this webinar. Maybe your team might want to visit/ revisit this webinar together.
Please view the recording here.
Ministry Personnel Position
Beacon United Church, an affirming ministry in a single point charge in beautiful Yarmouth, NS, is seeking a full-time minister to lead us into the future. Beacon offers a well-maintained, accessible facility that acts as a community hub for up to 40 community groups. The congregation is vibrant and financially stable. Yarmouth is a historic sea-faring town that is experiencing growth in an area with a moderate climate. Please see our profile and the position description on ChurchHub.ca. Questions and expressions of interest can be emailed to sollowsd@gmail.com.
Record Keeping Reminder
The Archives, Records and History Committee went to remind the Governing Body of the Communities of Faith that all church records belong to the United Church which have historical and legal value. A record is recorded information.
Some of the records created by congregations which have archival value are:
offical minutes of church courts
offical minutes of congregational meetings
baptismal, marriage, burial and membership registers
historic and member rolls
annual reports and financial statements
When preparing the annual report this is a good opportunity for committees to review what records are on file that are no longer regularly needed and placed in the archives
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
What else really needs me now? Is it time for a new question to explore?
Have you experienced some early signs of spring? Bird songs? Melting? Sun feeling warmer? Temperatures on the rise? If you have not started thinking about your property uses, it is time to start dreaming.
What is your curbside appeal? How will your property be used this spring/summer/fall? Who might use this space? How? Is there a potential for a community garden? A quiet space to contemplate? A children’s play space? A floral garden? An activity space? A tiny pantry? A tiny library? An e-charging site, an outside gathering space to meet and chat? A way to better use your green space to engage with your neighbourhood? Who are the community partners your community of faith can work together with? Consult with those who regularly use your building. Have them tell you what their needs are. Take another prayer walk. Notice what is up with your neighbours. Connect with the community to discover their needs. Too often we can miss the critical step in developing ideas, which is consultation with the people we want to connect with. We can’t assume someone might have certain needs. We have to ask them. What new ministry is yet to emerge? Let’s get growth animated together. Call Sharon at 506-306-0500 or by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca as together, we keep being bold, deep and daring!
Join the United Church Rural Ministry Town Halls
ATLANTIC SEMINAR IN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION 2025
Atlantic Seminar in Theological Education
Tatamagouche Centre
May12 to May 15th.
COMING HOME TO EARTH
Embracing Kinship, Creation and Community with Rev. Dr. Allen Ewing-Merrill & Rev. Hannah K. Sotak
In 2025 how do we make meaning, and how shall we think about a faithful response to global conditions?
During this ASTE 2025 gathering, with Rev. Dr. Allen Ewing-Merrill and Rev. Hannah Sotak as our guides, we’ll consider the sacred invitation to embrace kinship, Creation, and community — to encounter all life with reverence, to reclaim our place within natural and social ecosystems, and to pursue the unique roles that faith leaders and spiritual communities can play.
Through inspiring lectures, small-group discussion, conversation over meals, and contemplative practice in nature, we’ll explore what it means to take our place within a great web of belonging, inviting interdependence and reciprocity to inform our theological understandings, our spiritual practice, and our life in community. Join us for this time of deepening spirituality, as we seek to strengthen our relationships with one another and with all of Creation.
Harry Thurston, nature writer and poet, will be joining us Tuesday evening for the Levy Lecture.
Join us in Coming Home to Earth.
More information and registration links are on our website: Atlantic Seminar in Theological Education
We are aware of the conflict with Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional meeting and have arranged our schedule so allow you to join this meeting Wednesday evening.
