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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.
Updated Regional Council Staff Directory
Please click here for a link to the updated Regional Council Staff directory.
Executive Minutes
The minutes of the BNS Regional Council Executive meeting held June 20, 2025 were approved at the October 29-30, 2025 meeting of the Executive and are now available on the BNS website.
St. Andrew’s United Church, Truro, is turning 150! (Sunday, November 16)
For 150 years, St. Andrew’s has been serving God’s mission in our community.
We’ve worshipped in different locations and buildings, and even as different denominations — but one thing has never changed: our ministry of faith, justice, love, and hope.
Join us for our 150th Anniversary Celebration
– “On the Corner of History & Hope” –
Sunday, November 16th
Worship at 11:00 a.m., with a Cold Potluck to follow
St. Andrew’s United Church, 55 King Street, Truro, NS
Come for a joyful service featuring dramatic monologues that share the stories of the people who have made us who we are today, along with inspiring music and celebration.
All are welcome! Come celebrate our story and help shape the next chapter!
Please click here to view a poster for the event.
Final Service- St. Paul’s, Spryfield
The congregation of St. Paul’s Church, 173 Old Sambro Road, Spryfield will hold its final worship service on November 23, 2025 at 2:00. There will be a light lunch at 12:00, in the lower hall. All are welcome to join us.
The building and property will be held in trust by the Region. The important mission of St. Paul’s Family Resource Centre will continue.
Retirees Support Committee
Are you recently retired, either as Clergy, Secretary, Custodial, and would like to be connected with other Retirees in the Bermuda-Nova Scotia Region? Please send me an email at kathjohngamble@gmail.com.
I am the current chair of this committee and our general connection is via email, perhaps a cluster or two as weather permits, and phone calls are always welcomed. Send me an email, and I will connect you with the group. We do have retirees that are currently serving in ministry. All are welcome.
Hoping to hear from you-not all addresses are updated in the directory, so hopefully this connects with those interested. Blessings. Rev. K. Ruth Gamble, Chair, Retirees Support Committee – 902-664-8794
Does your Community of Faith need a loan or have money they wish to invest?
Are you looking to invest some of your Community of Faiths funds are do you need a loan? Then why don’t you reach out to the Financial Services of Maritime Conference of the United Church of Canada to see what they can offer you. Interest rates for investments are managed on an annual basis and loan arrangements can be an opportunity for your Community of Faith to further some work they wish to do. If you are looking for more information you can find it at the following link: https://ucceast.ca/financial-services. The Treasurer is Ann Thompson, and the Chair is Jack Logan. Their information can be found at the link mentioned above.
Growth Ideas 101: Time to Invite Urgency
Days are ticking and it’s time to get inviting with urgency to act to share hope, peace, joy and love. We know about countdowns in Advent, but what about the countdown to Advent? “A single invite can do what 100 posts can’t….It’s not about reach. It’s about relationship. The churches that are growing right now aren’t just producing content. they’re equipping their people to invite their people.” (Rich Burch, Nov. 10, 2025) What do you need to move from talking about inviting, to taking action. Write down a list of all the people you could invite. Mentally go through your contacts, people you contact in your daily life, family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, people in other groups, interests you are a part of. Don’t overthink why you could or could not invite them, just make that list of names. Pray for the people in that list. Connect with others through worship, meeting with a team, group or committee and have a practice time inviting one another. Practice saying “yes” and practice saying “no” in the practice invite. Share feelings. Share your stories of experiences, feelings as you go through the season. focus “God moments” or “celebrations” to share about experiences of inviting to encourage each other. Develop “invite culture.” Let faith’s light shine. Recall how people showed up in the stories of Jesus’ teachings. People told people to “come and see. “The Advent and Christmas season is a time when there are many special events in our churches and in the wider neighbourhoods. Look for opportunities to invite people to come and see as you respond to invitations to join activities in your wider community. Contact your growth animator, Sharon Ballantyne at 506-306-0500 or by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca
Stewardship
Hear the words from our young adults as they reflect on how to create peace in our neighbourhood, towns, country and world. These were shared this past Sunday at my local Church:
Be open minded, smile, show kindness, be thankful, considerate of others, be generous, be grateful, have empathy and learn others’ struggles.
How are you living in peace and stewardship?
Transgender Day of Remembrance
We will remember/nous nous rappellerons. We will remember/nous nous rappellerons.
November is a month of remembrance. Transgender Week of Awareness culminates in Transgender Day of Remembrance. The week takes place from November 13- 19. We will share a story of an historical Transgender or Non-Binary person or event each day in podcast and written formats. They will be posted to the Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble social media and website. (www.affirmunited.com)
On November 20 at 3 pm, you are invited to a service of remembrance online. The service will be pre-recorded, but we will have a time after the service for anyone who wishes to talk. The service is a time to remember the 331 people who died by violence or by their own hands. People who died for trying to be themselves in a world of hatred.
We will remember them/nous nous souviendrons d’eux
This November let us all remember those who have lost their lives by violence or suicide. Let us remember those from the past who never stopped being themselves. Let us remember and share their light.
Churches of Chignecto 100th Anniversary Worship Service & Gala
Was your Rural Church formerly a Part of Chignecto Presbytery?
A committee Called the Churches of Chignecto 100th Anniversary Gala, spearheaded by the Upper Sackville-Anderson Settlement Pastoral Charge with help from the Shediac Pastoral Charge is the successful recipient of a Centennial Grant from the United Church of Canada Foundation, to help us close out our Centenary Year with an event to remember.
Please consider joining us on Sunday, November 23, 2025 for a joint worship service (10:30 AM) and Gala Harvest Lunch (12 PM) at the East Botsford Recreation Center, 15 Trenholm Road, Murray Corner, N.B.
Lunch Tickets are $15.00/person and must be pre-purchased by November 17th so that the committee can supply adequate food. Dietary restrictions will be accommodated with advance notice.
For tickets or information please contact: Wendy LeBlanc Phone: 506-232-0975 or by email at awleblanc@rogers.com or Kyle Wells Phone: 506-871-6162 or by email at kylerdwells@gmail.com
Please note while this event is being spearheaded, and hosted by NB Churches this event is open to our NS friends who were in Chignecto Presbytery.
HRM Youth Gathering
Attention all United Church Youth in HRM, we’re gathering together as a youth cluster for a night of good food, good conversation and good times. This is for all youth, whether you have a youth group or not in grades (6)7-12. Sunday, November 23rd from 5:30-7:30pm at St. John’s United Church, Fall River. We’ll start with a spaghetti supper and move through games, story and spiritual practices looking at what’s the point?
Please register using the link. This is a great spot to connect with your friends from Youth@Region!
Questions? Comments? Reach out to Rev. Jenny Eisener at jenny@sjucfr.ca
A poster of the event can be viewed here.
Book Sale at Grace United Church, Dartmouth
$10/Bag Book
Christmas Room
Bake Sale (Saturday only)
Friday, November 28, 4 pm – 7 pm
Saturday, November 29, 9 am – 1 pm
Grace United Church
70 King St., Dartmouth
A poster for the event can be viewed here.
Church musician needed at St. Andrew’s in Truro, NS
Church Musician Wanted — Come Make Music with Us!
St. Andrew’s United Church – Truro, Nova Scotia
St. Andrew’s United Church is a welcoming and caring community that strives to reflect God’s justice and boundless love, as revealed through the life and teachings of Jesus. Guided by our four pillars — Radical Welcome, Reaching Out, Nurturing Spirituality, and Risking Hope — we believe music is an essential part of how we worship, connect, and grow together.
We’re seeking a part-time pianist and/or organist to join us and help lead our congregation and choir in music that uplifts and inspires.
What you’ll do:
• Accompany congregational hymns, choir anthems, and instrumental pieces during worship.
• Support and collaborate with our choir and Music Director at weekly rehearsals.
• Provide music for Sunday morning services and occasional special services (e.g., funerals, Good Friday).
What we offer:
• A welcoming, supportive church community that values creativity and collaboration.
• Access to a Yamaha Baby Grand piano and a Rodgers 2-Manual electronic organ.
• Compensation:
• Choir Practice (Wednesdays, 7–8 p.m.): $35–$45 per session (based on experience)
• Sunday Service (10:15 choir warm-up, 11 a.m. service): $100–$120 per service (based on
experience)
• Additional services compensated separately.
Term: Immediate start through April 15, 2026.
If you have a love of music and a heart for community, we’d love to hear from you!
Please submit a cover letter outlining your training and experience along with a résumé to complete your application: RevShannonMaclean@gmail.com
Heads up! Lots of good “churchy things” looking for new home(s)
The Middleton United Church building is for sale and the congregation is looking to rent worship space once its sold. Therefore we will have a lot of our inventory for sale or gifting, as appropriate.
With Christmas coming up, perhaps your church lacks a beautiful 12 ft high Christmas tree with lights and decorations? Or you might be interested in Voices United Hymn books? Or in upholstered Chairs? or Kitchen inventory?
Pass the word along; we are not in a rush but would like to begin the process of finding good homes for cherished items. If you need something, we might just have it, so please ask us via stjohnsmiddleton@gmail.com
