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.
Forms Related to Retirees and Jubilarians
Please click here for a memo from Faith March-MacCuish, Executive Minister, with information regarding forms related to Retirees and Jubilarians.
Service of Celebration
The three churches of the Caledonia Pastoral Charge, Caledonia NS have amalgamated into one community of faith to be known as Caledonia pastoral Charge.
We are having a service of celebration at the Caledonia United Church on May 4, 2025 at 2pm. There will be special music and our guest speaker is Rev, Carol Smith. After the service there will be a time of fellowship and refreshment in the church hall. Please come and join us in this joyful time.
REMINDER: Annual Pastoral Charge Information Form 2025
To improve the speed and accuracy of communication between BNS Regional staff, committees and our pastoral charges we are asking each pastoral charge to complete and submit the Annual Pastoral Charge Information Form (click here) as soon as possible after your 2025 annual meeting. This updates the Region with the names and contact information of your current leadership and regional council representatives.
The form is fillable online but can be printed and mailed or faxed if the individual designated to complete the form does not have internet access. Any paper copies may be mailed to the Regional Office at 21 Wright Street, Sackville, NB E4L 4P8 or faxed to 506-536-2900. Any questions you may have about the form can be directed to Seyi Adeyemo, Communications and Office Administrator, at sadeyemo@united-church.ca or 1-506-306-0494.
Centennial Service for use in Communities of Faith
The Centennial Worship service was written by Rev. Penny Nelson of Bermuda-Nova Scotia and Rev. Michelle Armstrong of Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters. This service is now posted on the national website to help in your planning your Anniversary Sunday celebration. We hope you are blessed by this work.
You will find the service: Northern Lights: A Centennial Worship Service for the Wider Church. On the Centennial Worship page.
Webinar – In Peace and Friendship (Calls to the Church- Next steps together)
April 17 2:00-4:00pm (Atlantic); 2:30-4:30pm (Newfoundland)
Centre for Ethical Land Transition with Women of First Light and Tatamagouche Centre
Tatamagouche Centre was first approached by Indigenous people to work together around racism and exclusion of Indigenous people over 25 years ago. The United Church of Canada (UCC) has consistently shown leadership on Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. The UCC was one of the first to apologize to Indigenous peoples for colonization in 1986 and Residential schools shortly thereafter. Tatamagouche Centre has played a key role in that bold leadership. It has been a long journey of friendship, harm, repair.
This is an opportunity for UCC leaders, Ministries, Pastoral Charges and friends to step into Treaty responsibility, justice and faith grounded in love and spirit. We have invited land justice facilitators from Centre for Ethical Land Transition to share their insights from other “reparative land” initiatives, particularly how settlers of faith can step into their sacred roles and meet this moment.
Click HERE to register now for this webinar.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
United Churches Are Going Green! Host or Attend a Faithful Footprints Retrofit Tour!
The United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program has funded green renovations for more than 285 United Church buildings nationwide, supporting communities of faith to become more energy-efficient and reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
As part of the 100+ United Church of Canada’s events in Together For the Love of Creation Earth Week 2025 (April 20-27, 2025), the Faithful Footprints program is calling past and current program participants to host in-person retrofit tours. The tours provide the opportunity for communities of faith to celebrate the building upgrades they have achieved thanks to the support of UCCan’s one-of-a-kind retrofit grant program as well as a chance for others to get a closer look at the renovations. Inspire others by sharing your experience, lessons learned, as well as the positive impact your project has had on your community.
Learn more, sign up to host a tour, and find details on upcoming tours near you.
Earth Week Activities for Communities of Faith
Earth Week is around the corner. Churches can play an impactful role in celebrating Earth Week from April 20-27, 2025, by focusing on creation care, environmental stewardship, and the interconnection of faith and nature. What are your plans as a Community of Faith. Why can’t you try this?
Please click here to view the earth week activities for Communities of Faith.
Rural Routes Through the Holy 2025 June 12 -14, Sackville NB
Rural Routes Through the Holy has its usual beautiful mix of things to enliven and encourage those of you touching or touched by Rural Ministry. Are you a lay person looking for others with similar stories, similar laments and longing? Are you in paid accountable leadership looking for a time to be in conversation with a wider community of lay folks? Would you like to hear about what others are doing, to worship together and to talk about themes and brief presentations we provide?
Learn more, click here to find the schedule and register.
Please note the change in this online registration address. Some people are still trying last year’s address. And, note that while registration continues until May 29th, Early Bird registration rates end April 18th. We’re so looking forward to seeing you!
An Invitation from the Atlantic School of Theology
The Atlantic School of Theology is preparing an application for a major grant from the Lilly Endowment to assist the school in responding in a focused and supportive way to the current ministry (lay and ordered) needs of churches. The Rev. Dr. Steven Chambers is consulting with the school on the preparation of this application and invites you to a conversation at one of the following locations and times:
Bedford United Church, 1200 Bedford Hwy, Bedford, 9:30 – 11am on Tuesday, April 8. Meeting will be in the church parlour, entrance off Sullivans Hill.
Woodlawn United Church, 54 Woodlawn Rd., Dartmouth, 1:30-3pm on Thursday, April 10. Meeting will take place in the Community Room. Use the front entrance, with elevator available.
St. James Anglican Church (Armdale), 2668 Joseph Howe Dr. Halifax, 7pm-8:30pm on Thursday, April 10. Church Hall entrance and parking lot off Joseph Howe.
For more information contact: steven.chambers@astheology.ns.ca
Worship 101
Worship is integral to the life of a church. The Faith Formation and Leadership Development committee of Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region offers educational opportunities to support lay persons who are interested in learning about the basics about worship in the United Church tradition. Whether you offer occasional worship leadership in your congregation or are looking to broaden your understanding of worship, we are presenting a series of webinars entitled Worship 101. Weekly web sessions will be provided by experienced worship leaders familiar in our Region on Mondays from April 28th to June 2nd inclusive except for Monday May 19th (Victoria Day). Each presentation will begin at 6:30 pm and run about 1 hour in length with an additional 30 minutes allowed for general discussion and questions. Registration is open now. Click here to register: the registration fee for the series will be $50. The five sessions, their leaders and topics are:
– The Person in the Pulpit – April 28th – Rev. Robyn Brown Hewitt
– Liturgy – May 5th – Rev. Dr. Andrew O’Neill
– Music as Worship – May 12th – Mr. Kevin Parks
– Bringing a Word – May 26th – Rev. Dr. Ross Bartlett
– Prayers of the People Workshop – June 2nd – Rev. Janice MacLean
Upon registration you will receive an automated email with additional information on how to pay your registration fee. A few days later you will receive a welcome email from the committee with the zoom link for the sessions and an outline of the course. You will also receive a reminder email before each session with the link and session outline.
Seeking Full-Time Minister
The Saltsprings-Scotsburn-Lyons Brook Pastoral Charge is seeking a full-time minister. This combined pastoral charge is rural in character, but minutes away from the towns of Pictou and New Glasgow, and short drives from Truro and Antigonish. The area is teeming with history. The congregation is supportive of ministerial, church and community initiatives and hopes to attract a candidate that will bring combined appreciation of church teachings with guidance for modern times.
Please check us out at our community of faith profile at ChurchHub.ca or pass the word to your friends and contacts. Questions and expressions of interest can be emailed to us at search.sssblb@gmail.com
Guatemalan liturgical stoles available
As always, the Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network is selling Guatemala liturgical stoles, with both Christian and Mayan symbols. In recent years, we have sold out at the Annual Meeting, disappointing those who were hoping to purchase for themselves or as gifts. So you may wish to order in advance. and I will bring them to the Annual Meeting. (No mailings though you can pick one up in Antigonish.)
These stoles are especially meaningful, as Father Stan Rother developed this project with impoverished women in the community of Santiago Atitlan. He died at the hands of the military because of his deep identity with the people he served, and has been named a Martyr by the Catholic Church.
Cost. $50.00. Contact Kathryn Anderson, kathrynande@gmail.com
Centennial Gathering Casting Call!
Telling our story, singing our song! Will you be attending the Centennial Gathering of BNS and FSLDW Regional Councils in Sackville NB, May 30 – June 1? Do you enjoy play-acting and storytelling? During the the Centennial Gathering five short plays will be presented – each one reflecting a 20-year period in the United Church’s 100-year history. An enthusiastic cast of volunteer actors is required to bring our story to life, so please, pitch in! There will be an opportunity to read-through each script via zoom rehearsals, held prior to the Centennial Gathering. Interested? Contact Robyn before May 1st at RBrown-Hewitt@united-church.ca.
North of Nowhere, Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner May 15 -30 Maritimes Book Launch Tour with Marie Wilson
The Maritime Regions Justice, Mission and Outreach Committee and Women of First Light are honoured to host the Maritimes book launch tour for North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner. Marie Wilson will read from her moving, personal account of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which recorded the history of forced residential schooling for Indigenous children.
Don’t miss this privileged opportunity to hear from Marie Wilson, as we live out our Residential School Apology. See her itinerary below. Please announce this in your bulletins and from the pulpit, strongly encouraging people to attend. Note the launch at Mt. Allison on Thurs. May 29th, the eve of the Annual Meeting.
ITINERARY *Books are available for purchase and signing at all locations.
Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Thurs. May 15th 7:30pm St. Andrew’s United Church
Mahone Bay Fri. May 16th 7pm St. James Anglican Church
Kjipuktuk/Halifax Sun. May 18th 10:30am Marie speaks at St. Andrews United Church worship service
Membertou/Sydney Tues. May 20th Times, locations TBD
Nalikitquniejk/Antigonish Wed. May 21st 7pm Coady Institute, STFX
Piktuk/Pictou Thurs. May 22nd 1pm Pictou Library/DeCoste Centre
Truro Fri. May 23rd 11am Brunswick St. United Church
Takumegooch/Tatamagouche Fri. May 23rd 7pm Tatamagouche Centre
Charlottetown Sun., May 25th 1pm Spring Park United Church
See-dahn-sis/Fredericton Tues. May 27th, 7pm Wilmot United Church
Kwipew/Sackville Thurs. May 29th 7pm Mount Allison University
Moncton Friday May 30th 11:30am (en Itinerary Books will be available for purchase and signing at all locations.
Ecumenical Clergy Gathering
Clergy in the Halifax area are invited to come to the Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica glebe house at 11 am on Thursday 24 April 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.
PAX
Father Brian MacMillan
Ecumenical Officer for the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth
bmacmillan@halifaxyarmouth.org
EVERYTHING you need for Camping Sunday worship!
Whether you are celebrating Camping Sunday on April 27, or another Sunday this spring, here is everything you need for a service that celebrates the incredible ministries happening at our camps, and how they impact the lives of children, youth and families in Nova Scotia. Attached are 1) a full intergenerational liturgical resource , and 2) a 20 minute sermon-film, which bring the mission that camps are living out right into your sanctuary! Please read the instructions for downloading the film. It cannot be streamed, but we have provided full instructions (with pictures!) to explain how to download the video directly to your church’s computer.
This resource was made to help re-build the relationship between congregations and camps, and to highlight the way in which camps are providing valuable ministry and mission to the children, youth and families who will be our future leaders. If your church is looking for ways to support the youth in your area, please consider supporting one of our camps! There are so many ways!
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
The United Church of Canada’s, “Then Let Us Sing” project, is giving us all a gift of music and celebration from now until the United Church’s official one hundredth birthday June 10 2025.
Click here for more on the Let Us Sing Celebration Package
This package can only be accessed and used until June 10, 2025.
Reach out and let others know how you are commemorating this one hundredth birthday. Whether it is your pastoral charge doing an event(s), getting together with other churches, inviting the whole community, making it an ecumenical event, I’d love to hear what you are planning and who you are inviting to your party.
Are you exploring about the life and work of your community of faith and its outreach for the rest of this year, next year, in a few years or more long term? Connect with me and share your thoughts.
Diana Butler Bass in Halifax!
Tickets are now available to attend live lectures with Diana Butler Bass in Halifax on May 7 & 8! Butler Bass is a renowned author speaker, and public theologian known for her insightful and accessible work on spirituality, religion, and culture. Full details, including lecture titles, can be found here
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear her speak in person and engage in meaningful conversations!
