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.
Condolences: Rev. Rupert Joseph Manchester
Our condolences are extended to the family of Rev. Rupert Joseph Manchester, who passed away on Wednesday, December 15, 2024. The obituary can be viewed here.
Annual Meeting Information Webinar Recording Posted
The recording of the information webinar has been posted to the Annual Meeting web page. We look forward to seeing everyone at the online business meeting May 14 and 15. If you have registered to attend the online business meeting but have not received the memo with the Zoom link please contact Seyi Adeyemo.
Display Spaces Available – Celebrating 100 Years of the United Church of Canada
We’re getting ready for a big celebration—and we’ve got room for 10 display spaces as part of the event! If you’d like to set something up, just let us know. It’s first come, first serve, so don’t wait too long! Deadline to requests your space is May 9.
You can grab a spot by filling out this quick form here.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
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.
Invitation to Covenanting Service
Bedford United Church warmly invites you to attend our covenanting service with Rev. Beth Hayward on Sunday May 25th.
Come early for a casual supper in the hall and stay to witness the service in the sanctuary. Community Meal from 4:30-6:00. Covenanting service at 6:30. We’re located at 1200 Bedford Highway. Entrance for supper is at the side of the building where our rainbow flag is flying. If coming just for the service, entrance is at the front of the building at the Worship doors. Please explore our website.
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
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, May 24, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Church, 1944 Church St, Westville, NS B0K 2A0. Lunch will be provided at no cost. Freewill donation appreciated. 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 click here to register in order to assist in planning and meal preparation. The deadline for registration is Friday, May 16, 2025.
Please direct questions to Regional Minister David Hewitt dhewitt@united-church.ca
Summer Employment Opportunity
BETHANY UNITED CHURCH WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER YOUTH SUMMER EMPLOYMENT THIS YEAR. WORD WAS RECEIVED FROM CANADA SUMMER JOBS THAT AFTER ASSESSING OUR APPLICATION, THEY WERE EXCITED TO INFORM US THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO OFFER US FUNDING AT THIS TIME. YAY!!!
Apply to be our
Older Adult Ministry Leader
WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL TO HAVE FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE SUMMER OF 2025.
LEARN MORE BY CLICKING HERE.
Deadline to apply – Friday, May 9, 2025 at 11:59pm.
APPLY WITH A COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO OFFICE@BETHANYUNITEDCHURCH.CA
Save the Date! One-Day Conference for church Administrators/Secretaries.
United Church Office Administrators, Church Secretaries, Administrative Assistants (however you are named!) are invited to attend a one-day conference on Monday, June 16th at St. John’s United Church, Fall River, NS. In the morning we will focus on the increasing variety of expectations on us for Communications and in the afternoon we will connect around the variety of people skills needed and experiences we have managed so far in our work.
The morning session will be a hybrid of in-person and Zoom participation while the afternoon session will be for in-person attendees only.
We encourage anyone in this role to attend in person as an important part of the conference is the comradery and community we build throughout the day. Lots of information to follow! For information contact Robyn Brown-Hewitt rbrown-hewitt@united-church.ca. For now, just save the date and plan to attend!
Annual Meeting Delegates, Don’t Miss Marie Wilson Book Launch Thursday, May 29th 7pm
The FSLDW and B-NS Regions Justice, Mission and Outreach Committee, along with the Mount Allison University Centre for Indigenous and Critical Canadian Studies, is honoured to host a book launch for North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner on Thursday evening May 29th, 7pm in the Grand Room, Windsor Bldg. 1st floor. Marie Wilson will read from her moving, personal account of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Don’t miss this privileged opportunity to hear from Marie Wilson, as we live out our Residential School Apology.
New Schedule for Marie Wilson Book Launch Tour, Author of North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner, Speaks in the Maritimes May 15th-30th
North of Nowhere, Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner by Marie Wilson May 15-30 Maritimes Book Launch Tour
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 updated itinerary below. Please announce this in your bulletins and from the pulpit, strongly encouraging people to attend.
ITINERARY *Books are available for purchase and signing at all locations.
Join Rambles 2025
Join Prayer Bench & Kereru Publishing (NZ) this May for Rambles. Explore shades in the garden, forest, water, and street as we walk beaches, woods, bush, and neighbourhoods together.
Mondays in May: Receive a beautifully curated digital scrapbook page to inspire your weekly ramble.
Thursdays: Enjoy a behind-the-scenes email conversation between Janice and Caroline.
Sundays: Reflect with a guided email based on the week’s theme.
All week: Share stories and photos in our Ramble Facebook Group—and help create a final community scrapbook on May 26.
Sign up by May 5. Learn more here.
Financial Services your Church may Need
In case you didn’t know there is an Incorporated Ministry called the Financial Services of Maritime Conference. This organization can help your Community of Faith with investing their funds in an ethical, secure and supporting way. If you have interested in further information you can check out their services available from either the Fundy St Lawrence Dawning Waters or Bermuda Nova Scotia’s Cross Region page and then under Financial services.
Greetings Growth Seekers from Growth Animator Sharon
The final week of April was volunteer appreciation week. It is with deep gratitude I offer thanks to all of the ways you give of yourself in the caring for, with and about others. You give in so many ways that go unnoticed and unacknowledged, but is appreciated beyond measure. Please see the Moderator’s thank you here! Thanks for all you do.
If you have not written down any of those key learnings of where this is kept, or how that is done, or when this happens, or why we have a thing or do a thing, make sure you have it all recorded. Whether it is the UCW list of how many potatoes are needed to serve two hundred people, those cherished tried and true recipes, or certain idiosyncrasies of making a thing work well, who the fix-it contacts or the labelling of all the breaker switches or where that special used only once a year thing is stored, an inventory is so important.
If your community of faith has not done so recently, it is also a great idea in your spring cleaning to see what needs to be sent to the archives to keep preserving the stories of our faith. Don’t forget to capture your stories of this one hundredth. Are you capturing and collecting the stories told by your local members, who have great wisdom? Do an interview series, collect up photos and tell the stories of your artifacts. As you think about thank you and stories of your community of faith and your neighbourhood, what new thing might emerge to better connect. Is it time for a local recipe book for 2025 family favourites gathered throughout your city, town or village? Perhaps you are reminded of old-fashioned outdoor games and picnics and a neighbourhood gathering in the local park might happen? Is there a local cause you can be a community partner with to support and grow awareness and advocacy? Check in with your neighbours on what might be an uplifting thing to do together this spring and summer! 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!
Seeking Full-Time Minister
The Salt Springs-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 teaming 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
Event – Documentary Screening and Discussion
Please see the poster, providing all the necessary information, for the event.
Celebrate Mother Earth on this Mother’s Day: Faithful Footprint Roadshow at Grace United
Come celebrate Mother Earth on this Mother’s day at Grace United. The Ecology Action Centre will be on their 6th and last stops of the Faithful Footprint Roadshow on Sunday May 11th from 3pm to 5pm at Grace United Church in Dartmouth at 70 King St
The Ecology Action Centre has been going around the Maritimes the past 2 months connecting with United Churches and celebrate the many Atlantic churches who took part in the Faithful Footprint program and encourage other United Churches to apply for the grant and retrofit their building.
All are invited to attend and hear stories directly from Grace United about how they proceeded with their energy retrofit as well as learn more about the Faithful Footprint program, take a building tour, and ask any questions that you have about the grant and energy retrofits. Food, coffee and tea will be served.
The Faithful Footprint program is a grant program by the United Church to encourage United Churches to retrofit their buildings and help them to be more energy efficient and get off oil. Our next and last stop will be on Dartmouth May 11th
If you have any questions, please reach out to Shreetee at shreetee.appadu@ecologyaction.ca or 902-429-2202 ext 152
