St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin Dec 29, 2019  The Gate of the Year

  News

  • What's coming up at St. Matt's
  • Donating to St. Matthew's before Dec. 31
  • Betsy's email hacked -- again
  • Pastoral care
  • Make some New Year's Resolutions for St. Matthew's
  • Keep in your prayers …
  • It was nice to see …
  • Thanks to …
  • Canadian Church calendars
  • In the Community

 

 What's coming up at St. Matthew's  (* see below for more information)

Sun. Jan. 5                               Epiphany Service, 10:30 am

Thu. Jan. 9                              Choir rehearsals resume

Sun. Jan. 12                             Worship Service with communion, 10:30 am

                                                - Quarterly meeting Sunday (Session, Stewards, Official Board)

Wed. Jan. 15                           Potluck Church, 5:30 pm

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Donating to St. Matthew's: Dec. 31 approaches

As Christmas and year-end approaches, all are encouraged to think about their annual giving to St. Matthew's. Your contributions are very important – this is how we pay the staff, keep the lights and heat on, run the Sunday breakfast program, offer worship services every week, support community groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and the circus. Please ensure your donations are received at the church by Tue. Dec. 31 to qualify for a tax receipt for 2019.

Betsy's email hacked – again

Occasionally Rev. Hogan's email falls prey to some ne'er-do-well who sends urgent messages, requiring a reply, to members of the congregation. These are not from Rev. Hogan.  IGNORE any uncharacteristic emails from Betsy asking for assistance, and please do not reply to them.

 

Pastoral care

in the event of a pastoral emergency, call (902) 423-9209 as messages are checked daily.

 

Make some New Year Resolutions for St. Matthew's

  1. Fellowship Time – Sign up to volunteer to host a Fellowship Time in the coming weeks. This important work that ensures a pleasant time of refreshment and conversation after worship services is coordinated by volunteers. Allow an extra half-hour before church for set-up, and after church for clean-up, and the work is done. More hands are needed! Contact Linda Campbell lindacampbell@ns.sympatico.ca if you can take a turn.

 

  1. Ushering – Volunteer to greet people, distribute bulletins, supervise the sanctuary, take up collection. Online sign-up: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=17186169

 

  1. Review your PAR contribution – Most of the congregation donates to St. Matthew's by pre-authorized remittance (PAR). If you are a PAR donor, please review your contribution and make any adjustment you feel is warranted by the wonderful staff, programs, outreach, and mission of our downtown church. If you are not a PAR donor, consider becoming one – the church office has all the details.

 

  1. Volunteer! – There are many ways you can volunteer to help out at St. Matthew's.

Choirs – contact Wayne Rogers

Sunday reading – contact Brenda Wallace (choir)

Sunday Breakfast – contact Carol Smillie (choir)

Ushering – Sign up online (see above)

Fellowship Time – contact Linda Campbell (see above)

Sunday School – contact Betsy Hogan

Stewards, Elders, other Administration – contact Laura Stiles-Clarke or Betsy Hogan

 

Keep in your prayers …

  • All who are travelling this holiday season
  • All for whom the season is difficult or sad, and especially those for whom this was a first Christmas without someone beloved

 

It was nice to see

  • The Chase-Caron family, home in Halifax over the holidays. Calista, who is studying ballet in Montreal, participated in Bethlehem@Barrington.
  • Many children, grandchildren, and other relatives who came to St. Matthew's over the holidays with members and friends of the congregation.

 

Thanks to …

  • Jason Singler of our congregation, who presented the Sunday Breakfast program with a generous donation of $500 at Christmas. His godmother's coworkers clubbed together to make the donation.

 

Canadian Church Calendars

2020 Church Calendars can be purchased ($6) from our Minister of Music, Wayne Rogers.

 

In the Community

RCCO Halifax Centre concert – Sat. Feb. 22 at 7 pm at St. Matthew's. Jean-Willy Kunz, contemporary and jazz organist, in recital.

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Administrative Stuff

Church office: (902) 423-9209, stmatts@ns.sympatico.ca  

Pastoral care: Rev. Betsy Hogan, (902) 423-9209, stmatts.betsy@ns.sympatico.ca

Sunday Worship: 10:30 am

Minister of Music: Wayne Rogers, (902) 429-1680, humber@ns.sympatico.ca

Student Organist: Matthew Fraser

On the web: www.stmatts.ns.ca

 

Ushering – Click this link to open the sign-up page

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=17186169

 

EarthSpiritAction Resources for Thinking About God's Green Earth: www.stmatts.ns.ca/about/earth-spirit-action-eco-team

 

Meeting Schedule 2019-20

Congregational Meeting       May 3, 2020 (budget)

Session, Stewards, Board       Jan. 12, Mar. 8, Apr. 26

Worship and Music                Feb. 2

 

Regular Activities

Sunday Free Breakfast  – Sundays 8:30 am

Thursday Noon Bible Study – TBA

Choir Practices – Thursdays – Handbells 6:15 pm, Sanctuary choir 7:30 pm

Lunch Bunch community choir – Fridays at 12:15 pm

St. Matthew’s Book Club  – Third Tuesday

Melville Heights Service – Third Sunday at 2 pm at Melville Heights retirement lodge

Potluck Church  -- Wed. Jan. 15

 

Enjoy St. Matthew’s United Church weekly bulletin. Contact the office to add your email or to unsubscribe: stmatts@ns.sympatico.ca or (902) 423-9209