St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin Oct. 13, 2019
Thanksgiving
News
What's coming up at St. Matthew's
* More information follows in the eBulletin
Tue. Oct. 15 St. Matthew's Book Club, 1470 Summer Street, 2 pm *
Wed. Oct. 16 Affirming Ministry at Dalhousie, 7 pm *
Sat. Oct. 19 Women's Breakfast, 8:30 am at Smitty's *
Sat. Oct. 19 Nocturne @ St. Matthew's, 8 pm-midnight
Silent movie with Shawn Whynot, organ
Sun. Oct. 20 Worship service, 10:30 am at St. Andrew's or St. Matthew's *
Board of Stewards meeting, after church
Wed. Oct. 23-Sat. Oct. 26 Pop Explosion at St. Matt's
Sat. Oct. 26 Celebration of life service for Marie MacInnes, 1 pm
Sun. Oct. 27 Kirk Session, and Official Board meetings after church
Tue. Oct. 29 Potluck Church, 5:30 pm in the Sanctuary
Sun. Nov. 3 Congregational meeting and potluck lunch, after church
Annual Reports
The annual reports for all groups and committees are due! Please send yours to the church office by Oct. 28 so they can be compiled for the congregational meeting.
Please keep in your prayers …
Thanks to …
Book Club Oct. 15
St. Matthew’s Book Club meets on Tue. Oct. 15 at 2 pm at 1470 Summer Street. The book this month is Beholden by Lesley Crewe. “... Beholden is full of Lesley Crewe’s trademark humour, heartbreaking losses, incredible women with unbreakable friendships, and the sweet wildness of Cape Breton.” For information, please contact Elaine Murray at edamur52@gmail.com
Dal Campus Affirming Ministry Celebration
Join Rev. Robyn Brown-Hewitt, our United Church Chaplain at Dalhousie, as we celebrate becoming an Affirming Ministry on campus, bearing witness to God’s embrace and Christian embrace of ALL regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. This celebration takes place on Wed. Oct. 16 at 7 pm in Room 303 at Dalhousie University Student Union. If you’d like a ride over, please speak to Betsy.
Women's Breakfast Oct. 19
Join other women in the congregation at 8:30 am on Sat. Oct. 19 for breakfast at Smitty’s (Cathedral Lane at Spring Garden Road). All women of the congregation are invited to start the weekend with a good breakfast and good conversation.
Let’s Talk Climate Crisis: Sun. Oct. 20
On Sun. Oct. 20, Rev. Randy Woodley will be guest speaker at St. Andrew's United at the 10:30 am service. Rev. Woodley is a professor at Portland Seminary in Newberg, Oregon. He is a descendant of Cherokee nation and runs a regenerative teaching community farm. He is in Nova Scotia as a guest lecturer at Acadia University. The ministers of our congregations encourage any members of St. Matthew's who would like to attend St. Andrew's on Oct. 20 to hear Rev. Woodley speak to do so. There will be a service at St. Matthew's that day as well.
Following the service (at 11:50 am), St, Andrew's will host a "Lunch and Learn" dialogue with youth in a discussion that is jointly sponsored by St. Matthew's and St. Andrew's. Bring your lunch – drinks and snacks will be provided. Emma Toohey of our congregation will be the St. Matthew's youth representative on the panel, which will also include a young person from St. Andrew's and others involved in climate justice activities. If you would like to attend and need a drive, contact Betsy (stmatts.betsy@ns.sympatico.ca) and we will arrange this. For more information, contact Anne Marie at amdpwr98@gmail.com
Out of the Cold Shelter update Provided by Tim Matthews, chair of the Official Board
As many know, St. Matthew's has been working with the Out of the Cold Shelter organizers to ensure better accountability for the management of the Shelter program. The Official Board sent a letter to the Shelter organizers in May, outlining our requirements in order to comply with Canada Revenue Agency rules and to reduce significant extra work and stress for our own staff. A group from St. Matthew's met with several of their leaders in the summer to discuss ways to achieve this. We invited them to suggest ways to improve the operations of the shelter. Unfortunately, the Shelter leaders decided that these changes wouldn't be feasible, and they have now advised us that they have decided to seek a new location.
We regret Out of the Cold's decision but we respect their choice. We have been proud to work with them for many years to provide an essential service to the homeless in downtown Halifax. Nevertheless, we felt that the accountability that we asked for was essential to continuing our relationship. Over the next few weeks we will be working with the Shelter and the funding agencies that supported it in the past to transfer shelter funds to Adsum Centre. We are seeking input from the funding agencies that have supported the shelter regarding past contributions they have provided. We are very conscious of the need to proceed quickly on this and are working to make the transition and move as smoothly as possible.
We had hoped for a different outcome, as considerable efforts have been expended over the past few years to find a means of managing our partnership that would support the Shelter's programming autonomy within the congregation's broader system of accountability and oversight.
We know that you will continue to support the Shelter in its new location. There will be discussion about this at the congregational meeting on Nov. 3. Please consider new ways in which we can address the problem of homelessness in the city.
Update on renovation work at Maritime Centre
Slate Office REIT, the owners of Maritime Centre, have advised us that have been revising their design plans for the redevelopment. The budget has been approved and their contractor, Arguson, has been given the go-ahead to begin the construction.
Work will begin on the Salter Street corner with the hope of finishing that side prior to the onset of winter. Internal work on the parking garage and prepping for the Barrington Street side will happen over the winter months. The aim is to begin the Barrington street side around April or May 2020, depending on the weather. As a result, they will not require access to the St. Matthew's north yard until that time. Likewise, Barrington Street will not be disrupted through the winter.
Sermon series
Sunday’s sermon Why Jesus Matters: Non-Violent Resistance continued a six-week series looking at the specific ways in which Jesus – not just his words, but his actions toward those around him – matters as revealing what God is like and what God is passionate about. The series will consider what we learn from Jesus’ words and actions about such things as forgiveness, compassion, priorities, advocacy, non-violence, strength, and more.
In the Community
Painting Exhibition: One +One +One –Wed. Oct. 2 to Sat. Oct. 26 at the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 6016 University Avenue. Halifax artists Andrea Johnson, Barbara Bickle and Colleen Steele will exhibit their paintings at the Chase Gallery. The opening reception will be held on Sat. Oct. 5 from 2-4 p m.
Bethany Fall Fair – Sat. Oct. 19 from 9 am-1 pm, Bethany United Church, 2669 Joseph Howe Dr. at the Rotary. Chowder luncheon, BBQ, jewelry, curios, retro, toys, silent auction and more. Admission $2, kids under 12 free.
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, piano, 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
Various resources, including election-related 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 Nov. 3 (AGM); May 3, 2020 (budget)
Stewards Oct. 20
Session, Board Oct. 27 – 2020 dates: 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
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 -- Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 5:30 pm
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