St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin Feb. 23, 2020
News
What's coming up at St. Matthew's (* see below for more information)
Tue. Feb. 25 Shrove Tuesday
Thu. Feb. 27 Bible study, 1 pm, come to sanctuary doors
Sun. Mar. 1 First Sunday of Lent
Tue. Mar. 3 Potluck Church, 5:30 pm
Think happy thoughts for …
Give it up for the Earth for Lent
Do you typically fast, pray, or perform special acts of compassion during Lent? In the 21st century's climate crisis, perhaps you would like to consider how your Lenten practice can be beneficial to the environment while being spiritually meaningful to you.
Here is one resource you might want to use while observing Lent this year. It is a calendar that provides ideas for reducing our carbon footprint and cherishing the earth that God made. If some suggestions are not applicable to us, we can substitute our own ideas on those days.
https://creationjustice.salsalabs.org/lentcalendar2020/index.html
The Earth Spirit Action Team will be posting other opportunities for observing Lent on our website. https://stmatts.ns.ca/about/earth-spirit-action-eco-team
Potluck Church March 3
Potluck Church, back by popular demand. Please join us in a relaxing evening of good fellowship, food, and a bit of church on Tue. Mar. 3 in the sanctuary at 5:30 pm. Bring something to share and a good appetite. Our thoughts will be on food, of course, but on Spring too.
Birthday greetings for a veteran
Stephen Mercer of our congregation saw a posting about this gentleman, whose son is organizing a special birthday celebration for his father, and he wanted to share it with all of us. As it happens, Mr. Arsenault served alongside the grandfather of David Fraser of our congregation, both in Italy and in the Netherlands.
"Hello: My name is Fred Arsenault. I am a WW2 veteran about to turn 100 years old on March 6th, 2020, and would like to receive 100 Birthday Cards. Please mail to 9 Kenmore Ave., Toronto ON, M1K 1B3
Two small ways to make a difference for others
2. Fellowship Time – This involves set-up and clean-up of the coffee, tea, etc. that many enjoy after church. It’s a social time enjoyed by all ages, but especially appreciated by our older members, so it’s a real ministry of care. Linda Campbell has a team of folks who "know the ropes" and are looking for partners. If you could do a Sunday, please speak to her or email lindacampbell@ns.sympatico.ca
Pen recycling
The EarthSpiritAction Committee plans to collect used pens, which can be recycled through a program at Staples. A box will be available at the back of the sanctuary for your used pens.
Official Board meeting March 14
The Official Board is tentatively scheduled to meet on Sat. Mar. 14 at 10:30 am to have a fulsome discussion of the recommendations of the Property Assessment Report.
St. Matthew’s Book Club March 17
The St. Matthew's Book Club will meet Tue. Mar. 17 at 2 pm at 1470 Summer Street. We will be discussing The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. It is “...a mesmerizing story of family turmoil, young love, and coming-of-age set against an upending of life as we know it.” For more information, contact Elaine Murray at edamur50@gmail.com
Thanks to …
PowerPoint People awake!
We need people with PowerPoint skills at St. Matthew's. If you are interested in making PowerPoint additions for the display screens for Sunday services when Betsy is away, please see Matthew Fraser or Gayle Reiner. Having visuals, texts, and other material on the screens visible to the entire congregation has added much to Sunday services, but we will be losing our "Power Point Guy" to university after this summer.
In the Community
Organ Concert (Jazz, Classical and Contemporary Music)– Sat. Mar. 27 at 7 pm at First Baptist Church, Halifax. This RCCO concert is in memory of the late Allen Wayte, who was director of music at First Baptist until his untimely death in 2008 at the age of 56. Featured performers are Alcée Chriss, organ, and Thomas Leslie, tenor.
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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 2020
Congregational Meeting May 3, 2020 (budget)
Session, Stewards Apr. 26
Official Board Mar. 14
Worship and Music Apr. 19
Regular Activities
Sunday Free Breakfast – Sundays 8:30 am
Thursday Afternoon Bible Study – Thursdays at 1 pm, come to the sanctuary doors
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 -- Tue. Mar. 3 at 5:30 pm, theme "Spring"
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