St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin March 24, 2019
News
What's coming up
Thu. Mar. 28 Bible study at noon, in the sanctuary
Sat. Mar. 30 Women's Breakfast, 8:30 am at Smitty's (see notice)
Sun. Mar. 31 Fourth Sunday of Lent
Sat. Mar. 30 Restorative Justice Inquiry, 7 pm (see In the Community)
Tue. Apr. 2 Potluck Church, 5:30 pm
Women's Breakfast Sat. Mar. 30
Say goodbye to March by joining other women in the congregation for a casual breakfast at Smitty's, corner Spring Garden Road and Cathedral Lane/formerly Martello/formerly Tower Road. We meet at 8:30 am for a meal and conversation. All welcome.
Appeal for victims of cyclone in Africa
Rev. Margaret Sagar calls our attention to the United Church's appeal for emergency relief in the areas of Mozambique and Zimbabwe hard hit by the recent cyclone. The United Church partners – the Christian Council of Mozambique and the Christian Council of Zimbabwe – are working on the ground to provide aid to those who are homeless, injured, hungry, and displaced. Contributions can be made at the United Church website, which has a special appeal button at https://www.united-church.ca/
Potluck Church Apr. 2
Come to the sanctuary to enjoy food and good conversation around our table. This is a great way to get to know one another better in an informal atmosphere. Our theme is "Refrigerator Wisdom". If you have a quote, cartoon, or favorite saying that you have stuck on your refrigerator with a magnet, bring it along and share it with others as a conversation starter. You can also just come and hear what wisdom others have on their fridges!
Going down the Lenten Road
Lenten Watch: For those who would like to set aside 1 hour each week of Lent to pray with Scripture. Begin the Lenten Watch by taking off your shoes, lighting a candle, observing silence for at least one minute, and opening with a prayer for grace. Then pray with Scripture (one per week), and close with the extinguishing of the candle.
Luke 4:1-13 The Road to the Wilderness where the Holy Spirit leads us into emptiness
Acts 9:1-19 The Road to Damascus, where life is given a new direction
Luke 15:11-32 The Road Home, where the prodigal son discovers wisdom
Luke 10:25-37 The Road to Jericho, where the Good Samaritan cares for one in need
Luke 10:38-42 The Road to Bethany that leads to the home of Martha and Mary
Luke 9:51-62; 19:28-40 The Road to Jerusalem and following Jesus
How you can help the Out of the Cold Shelter
The Out of the Cold Shelter is open nightly until April 30 in the Sunday school area of St. Matthew's. The Shelter offers 15 beds for those who need a place to stay, and provides hot meals, sandwiches, and some necessities to guests and others who drop by.
Here's how you can help
Financial Support to St. Matthew's – St. Matthew`s provides space, heat, lights, washroom facilities, etc. for guests. Your donations help cover the operating costs that allow the shelter to stay open all winter long.
Requested items – OTCS recently appealed for deodorant -- $5 gift cards – bus tickets – waterproof gloves – socks – underwear – face wash and soap – shaving cream and razors – face cloths and hand towels – reusable bags and backpacks – and gently used and clean sweaters, sweatshirts, hoodies, winter coats, and waterproof boots.
OTCS lists current requirements on its website outofthecoldhalifax.org and on its Facebook page. Donations can be dropped off on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the lower level of the church between 8:30 am and 5 pm. OTCS is a peanut-free zone and cannot accept donations of mouthwash, aftershave, or hand sanitizer.
In the Community
Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children Restorative Inquiry – Sat. Mar. 30 at 7 pm (doors open 6:30), Paul O'Regan Hall, Halifax Central Library. Guest speakers are: Dr. Fania E. Davis (PhD in Indigenous Knowledge), a leading voice on restorative justice, a long-time activist, civil rights trial attorney, restorative justice practitioner, writer, professor and scholar; and Margaret Burnham, a Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University, founder and director of the university's Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project, and a humanitarian who has served on human rights missions to more than 30 countries.
Some of us from St. Matthew's were able to attend the Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission when it was in Halifax to hear the testimony of past students and their families. Creating space for these stories to be heard is the work of restorative justice. The goal is precisely the individual and social healing that Jesus embodied in his life and ministry, and this inquiry seeks to contribute to the healing of Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children residents and our wider community. This is a tear in the social fabric of Halifax, and Nova Scotia, and this event invites us to intentionally engage a process of healing. Betsy will be attending, as will Jennifer Llewellyn of our congregation, who has been instrumental in the building of this process of part of her vocation as a professor of Law at Dalhousie. It would be wonderful to see many from St. Matthew's attend this session.
Ogo-Oluwi Sobukola flute fundraising concert – Tue. Apr. 30 at 7:30 pm at St. Matthew's. Ogo-Oluwa Emmanuel Sobukola, 23, is a young Nigerian flute student who attends Dalhousie University where he studies with Symphony Nova Scotia flutist Patricia Creighton. His financial position is precarious, so St. Matthew's is offering him a recital opportunity with a freewill offering for him to help cover basic expenses like tuition, housing, and food. More details will be available soon, but mark your calendar and plan to come support this dedicated, talented, and deserving young musician.
Bereavement Support – Contact the Hospice Society of Greater Halifax at 902-446-0929.
St. Matthew’s Activities
REGULAR EVENTS
Sunday Free Breakfast – Sundays 8:30 am (If you are interested in joining a Breakfast Team, please email Carol Smillie at carolsmillie@hfx.eastlink.ca)
Thursday Noon Bible Study in the Sanctuary (enter by the main doors on Barrington Street)
Choir Practices – AcabellA handbells Thursday 6:15 pm; Sanctuary choir Thursday at 7:30 pm
Lunch Bunch community choir – Fridays at noon
St. Matthew’s Book Club – TBA
Potluck Church Tue. Apr. 2; Thu. Apr. 18 (Seder)
Ushering – Click this link to open the sign-up page:
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=17186169
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
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
MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2018/19
Congregational Meeting June 2
Session, Stewards, Board May 26
Executive Apr. 28
Worship and Music May 5
Administrative Stuff
Church office: stmatts@ns.sympatico.ca or (902) 423-9209
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
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