St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin Nov. 3, 2019 All Saints Sunday
News
What's coming up at St. Matthew's (* see below for more information)
Mon. Nov. 4 Funeral for Helga Mills, 2 pm *
Sun. Nov. 10 Remembrance Sunday
Tue. Nov. 19 Book Club, 2 pm *
Sun. Nov. 24 Anniversary Sunday
Funeral Monday Nov. 4 at 2 pm for Helga Mills
Visitation: Mon. Nov. 4 from 11 am to 1:30 pm at St. Matthew's
Funeral: Mon. Nov. 4 at 2 pm at St. Matthew's, reception to follow in the hall
Burial: In Bridgewater, at at later date, with family
One of this world’s amazing people, Helga Irene (Kutz-Harder) Mills, passed away on Nov. 1 at the age of 84. She was born in 1934 in Kitchener, Ont., to Jacob and Sara Kutz.
Helga lived to a soundtrack of choral music, opera, Broadway show tunes, protest songs, symphony orchestras and, of course, Leonard Cohen. She also sang her heart out – in her school, church and community choirs, including the Orpheus Choir of Toronto. Helga had a passion for literature. She received an Honours BA (University of Western Ontario), her high school teaching certificate (Ontario College of Education), an MA in Canadian literature (University of British Columbia) where she met her first husband, Bernie Harder, and her PhD in English Renaissance Literature (University of North Carolina). It was in North Carolina that Helga gave birth to her two daughters: Naomi in 1967 (d. 1988) and Ingrid in 1969. Helga also taught part-time at the University of Windsor and shared her love of travel and world issues with her family, teaching at the International Christian University in Japan.
Helga’s passion for social justice and human rights led her to a second career with the United Church of Canada. She first served as program consultant for the church’s Division of Mission in Canada, Human Rights and Justice team, with responsibilities for immigration, refugees, criminal justice, and aboriginal rights, and then served as executive secretary of the church’s Toronto Conference. Helga finished her career in Ontario as the principal of St. Paul’s College at the University of Waterloo.
Through the church, Helga met the love of her life, Bob Mills, who was executive secretary of the Maritime Conference of the United Church in Sackville, NB. They married on July 1, 1995. They have shared many adventures and travelled the world. Retiring to Halifax to be near Bob’s family, they immersed themselves in the arts, church and community. Helga was invited to serve as interim principal of the Atlantic School of Theology, where she was also awarded an honorary doctorate.
Helga was always open to new experiences. A lover of flowers and flower-arranging, but with no painting experience, she discovered a talent for painting botanical art at the age of 75. Wanting to share her new-found passion, she helped found the Botanical Artists of Nova Scotia Association.
Helga was predeceased by her parents, her daughter Naomi Harder, her brother Arthur Kutz, and her sister Vera Baerg. She is survived by her husband, Rev. Robert Mills; daughter Ingrid Harder (Wellington, New Zealand); grandson Rory Harder (Peterborough, Ont.); her step-children Deborah (Jim) Ballinger-Mills, Halifax; Michael (Susan) Mills, Conquerall Bank; Stephen (Susan) Mills, Upper LaHave; David (Nancy) Mills, Halifax; and Katrina Mills Pecknold, Halifax; nieces and nephews; step-grandchildren James, Julie, Kate, Kaitlynn, and Robert; cousins; and friends.
Please keep in your prayers …
Welcome to …
Margo (Margaret) MacDonald, one of the newer faces in the alto section of the sanctuary choir, who was welcomed as a new member by transfer on Sunday. Margo's prior church affiliation was Trinity-St. Stephens United in Amherst.
Thanks to …
All the Saints …
Sunday being All Saints Sunday, we remember fondly those who joined the many other Saints of St. Matthew's between July 2018 and November 2019: Jan Leonard, Alan Sagar, Jean Morgan, Richard Salsman, Allen Myrden, Christopher Salsman, Donna MacLennan Salter, John Pearce, Sybe Moulton, Jim Grant, Marie MacInnes, and Helga Mills.
Things you can donate to St. Matt's
Do you have extra MUGS? -- More mugs are needed for Sunday Breakfast. If you have any to donate, please mention to Carol Smillie in the choir OR just bring them on a Sunday morning.
Tim Horton's Gift Cards – These are used by both the Breakfast Program and the church office when people in need stop by. Cards valued at $10 are preferred.
Board games, jigsaw puzzles, art supplies, DVDs/VHS and machines to show movies on – St. Matt's will be an Extreme Weather Warming Centre for Halifax this winter, and it would be wonderful to have more fun things available to keep people occupied during inclement, cold, or unpleasant weather.
Book Club meeting Nov. 19
St. Matthew's Book Club meets on Tue. Nov. 19 at 2 pm at 5662 Roberts St. We will discuss The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. This book shows “...tremendous emotional depth and tenderness, connecting readers with the complexity and compassion of Indigenous people. A dystopian world that is all too real and that has much to say about our own.” For more information contact Elaine Murray at edamur50@gmail.com
In the Community
Halifax Camerata Singers remembrance concert – Sat. Nov. 9 at 7:30 pm, St. Andrew's United Church. Missa Pax by Tim Corlis, Requiem for the Living by Dan Forrest, and a new work Sonnet to the Moon for choir and flute by Nova Scotia composer and flautist Derek Charke. Tickets available at www.tickethalifax.com or The Coast office at 2309 Maynard St., Mon-Fri 9 am-4 pm. Contact Jill Rafuse of our choir, 902-492-4523, for more information.
Think about God's green earth this week
Congratulations to Nicoletta Dini, daughter of Laurette Geldenhuys and granddaughter of Johan Geldenhuys of our congregation, for her feature article in the Oct. 31 issue of The Coast on how rising ocean water threatens downtown Halifax.
Nicoletta is a concerned environmentalist and mother of Luca and Leonardo. She is currently working towards a Bachelor degree in science at Dalhousie University and recently completed a Master of Journalism degree at the University of King's College. This story is based on her professional project for that program.
Various resources are posted on the EarthSpiritAction page on the St. Matthew’s website. www.stmatts.ns.ca/about/earth-spirit-action-eco-team
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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
Meeting Schedule 2019-20
Congregational Meeting May 3, 2020 (budget)
Session, Stewards, Board Jan. 12, Mar. 8, Apr. 26
Worship and Music Nov. 17
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 -- TBA
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