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Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council Weekly Announcements – July 29, 2026

Jul 29, 2026 | BNS Announcements

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 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.

Reverend Dr. Douglas MacEachern – Obituary

The full obituary is now available for Rev. Dr. Douglas MacEachern who passed away on July 18, 2026.  It can be viewed here.

Emancipation Day on August 1

August 1, 2026 marks Emancipation Day, commemorating the legal abolition of slavery on the land that is now Canada. It’s a day to remember our history, acknowledge that racism continues to impact lives today, and renew our commitment to building a more just and equitable future.

This Emancipation Day, The United Church of Canada Foundation is inviting you to help sustain anti-racism initiatives across the church. Gifts will support programs that address racial injustice and create opportunities for learning, healing, and conversation.

Powerful anti-racism initiatives are happening across our church in response to the truths that racialized and Indigenous Peoples have bravely shared and acknowledge their stories of resistance and strength. Contributions to the Foundation are an investment in these crucial initiatives, such as:

  • The United Church of Canada’s 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism, which encourages vital conversations about racial discrimination across our church communities.
  • Our involvement in Fund Canada, which aims to unlock $500 million in grants by 2030, focusing on underfunded leaders and underrepresented voices. This funding will transform communities by investing in leaders with lived experiences to drive necessary change.
  • The Indigenous and Racialized Youth Scholars Program, an investment in young leaders in the church, encouraging their participation in dialogues that shape the future of our society.

Together, we can continue the work of becoming an anti-racist church. Please make a gift in support of this important work: https://united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/anti-racism/donations-anti-racism-work

Growth & Stewardship Ideas: Portable Presence to Be Visible and Welcoming

Please click here to read the Growth Ideas from Sharon Ballantyne, Growth Animator, for July 29, 2026.

As of July 1, 2026, here are contacts for Growth and Stewardship:
BNS Sharon Ballantyne – sballantyne@united-church.ca
FSLDW Rob Shearer – rshearer@united-church.ca

2027 Mission and Service Grant Application

The 2027 Mission and Service Grant application is now available here. The deadline for completed application and supporting documentation is Friday, September 18, 2026 and can be forwarded to: jwhittemore@united-church.ca or mailed to the Regional Office.

Improved Record of Call or Appointment form on ChurchHub – Effective September 1st

While the Record of Call or Appointment form tile will look the same on ChurchHub, the dashboard and form will look very different on September 1st. All previous forms (in whatever stage they are in) will seamlessly move from old to new format on that date.

The improvements are a result of the feedback we have heard from many of you who have been using the form over the past several years. This update also gave us the opportunity to use enhanced programming tools/styles that didn’t exist in 2019 when it was first created.

The Record of Call or Appointment form has had a complete makeover:

  • more user friendly
  • meets a higher accessibility standard
  • dashboard and form open more quickly
  • information upload speed increased
  • improved reliability (prevents errors, prompts when items are missing)
  • clearly labelled steps for acceptance
  • Form is now on two pages so there’s no need to scroll up/down to find the bottom of the form
  • Searching for a minister’s name is now simpler, clearer and quicker (search by name in any form OR select from list)
  • Send draft email button visible at top of each page

We’re excited to share this improved Record of Call or Appointment form with you in September. Stay tuned for more ChurchHub improvements in the coming months!

Death Cafe

As a part of the community engagement ministry, Bethany United Church 2669 Joseph Howe Drive, Halifax, NS, offers a monthly Death Cafe. Dana Mills, End of Life Doula, will be in the Ladies Parlour, on the last Monday of each month at 1pm as the host. This is an open circle that invites conversation around life, death, and the dash in between. Consider joining her for a glass of iced tea and baked sweet.

Registration is not required, but if you are interested in letting her know you will be coming, or have questions, email her at wonderfullymadeconsult@gmail.com.

Upcoming dates… July 27, August 31 and September 28.

Sirens of Song: Legendary Female Voices from the Maritimes comes to Lower Sackville

At 2:00pm August 8th, Knox United Church in Lower Sackville, NS is home to the Stage East and Festival by the Marsh co-production of Sirens of Song: Legendary Female Voices of the Maritimes. Hosted by actor/author/producer Charlie Rhindress, and celebrating award-winning female singers and songwriters from the area (such as Rita MacNeil, Anne Murray and Sara MacLachlan, to name but a few), the cast of several – including Sackville United’s Jennie del Motte and the Maritime Queen of the Blues Theresa Malenfant – reveal the songs and stories that brought these women to acclaim and broader reach beyond our boundaries, and made the Maritimes a growing concern in the wider musical landscape.
Tickets are $35.00 each (or $30.00 by August 2nd) and available via
http://stageeast.ca or donations@knoxsackville.ca (and putting “Sirens” in the description). We look forward to welcoming you! (Keep up to date via https://Facebook.com/knoxunited/)

 

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