St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin August 18, 2019
News
What's coming up at St. Matthew's
Tuesdays SummerSounds@Barrington lunchtime concerts, 12:15-1 pm.
Admission by donation ($5 suggested).
Aug 20 Nicholas Higgs, baritone; Tara Scott, piano
Aug 27 Matthew Fraser, organ/piano
Sep 3 Thistle Scottish Country Dancers
Sep 10 Second Chances Jazz Showband
Sun. Aug. 25 Worship service 10:30 am with Rev. Betsy Hogan
Noticed in the congregation …
Sunday Visitors! Guests from the cruise ships, folks visiting family in Halifax, tourists from neighboring hotels, and a clutch of regular summer friends who turn up in July and August when spending time in Nova Scotia. It is wonderful that so many find their way to St. Matthew's during the summer months, which is one key reason why our congregation continues to meet every Sunday in our downtown sanctuary rather than hold joint services with another church away from Barrington Street.
If you are a visitor, a warm welcome to you. You can sign up for our eBulletin and get weekly news by email from St. Matthew's all year long – just contact stmatts@ns.sympatico.ca and ask to be added to the information list. We only use it to keep our congregation and friends informed about our community.
If you notice a visitor on a Sunday, please welcome them to participate in our worship services and fellowship time.
Ushering assistance needed
Can you help with the Sunday ushering? Volunteers are needed beginning Aug. 26 and throughout the fall to undertake the ushering duties – welcoming and seating folks, handing out bulletins, taking up collection, assisting those with mobility challenges, and generally being a presence at the entrance to the sanctuary. Click this link to open the sign-up page
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=17186169
Thanks to …
Sunday morning's reader, Bob Milne, as well as the ushers, counters, choir, and fellowship hosts.
Summer Pick-up Choir meets Sundays at 9:45 am
If you are interested in singing with the sanctuary choir this summer, just turn up on Sunday morning at 9:45 am for a brief rehearsal. Over the years we have welcomed many guests to our Summer Pick-Up Choir – no gowns, nothing too difficult, and no pressure – so if you have always wanted to try out the choir, have visitors who like to sing, or just feel moved by the spirit to come early for church, you will be welcome.
Thinking about …
Helga and Bob Mills and their family, as they both recover in the Infirmary
Summer hours at St. Matthew's
Summer Church Office hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 8 am to noon.
Sanctuary open: Daily Tuesday-Saturday. St. Matthew’s welcomes tourists and visitors not only on Sunday mornings, but also daily Tuesdays to Saturdays, thanks to our Church Guide, Matthew Fraser, who is pleased to share the long history (270 years) of our congregation in Halifax. When not guiding, Matthew will be practising the organ so feel welcome to drop in and listen to him play.
Pastoral Care: Rev. Betsy Hogan. In case of pastoral emergencies, please call the church office at (902) 423-9209.
Think about God's green earth this week
Members of the congregation are sharing information about the little things they do to help care for the planet and respond to the climate emergency. On Sundays there is a jar at the door of the sanctuary where we can leave slips of paper that record our climate actions. You do not need to include your name – just the action you took.
Here are some recent actions we’ve taken:
-- switched to cold water to wash my hands (no need for wasting hot water!)
-- bought my fruits & veggies at a farmers' market with no packaging, rather than in a supermarket with all the plastic wrapping
-- contacting cat litter companies to include appropriate number of biodegradable bags for disposal
Earth Spirit Action Team: Anne Fay, Anne Marie Dalton, Deborah Baker, Elaine Murray, Emma Toohey, Jocelyn Covert, Kathy Woods, Paul Bowlby, Sandra McCulloch, Stephen Mercer
St. Matthew’s Activities
Sunday Free Breakfast – Sundays 8:30 am
Thursday Noon Bible Study – On hiatus for the summer
Choir Practices – Sanctuary choir and Handbell rehearsals resume in September
Lunch Bunch community choir – On holiday until September
St. Matthew’s Book Club – Third Tuesday
Caritas Service – Second Sunday at 2:30 pm for Victoria Hall Residence for Senior Women, now at the Caritas Building, Mount St. Vincent
Melville Heights Service – Second Sunday at 2 pm at Melville Heights retirement lodge
Potluck Church -- Fall
Ushering – Click this link to open the sign-up page
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=17186169
Breakfast Teams – Interested in helping with Sunday breakfast? Contact Carol Smillie, carolsmillie@hfx.eastlink.ca
Meeting Schedule 2019
Congregational Meeting November
Session, Stewards, Board Fall
Worship and Music Sept. 14, East Pennant
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
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