St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin Oct. 27, 2019
News
What's coming up at St. Matthew's (* see below for more information)
Mon. Oct. 28 Deadline for annual reports
Tue. Oct. 29 Potluck Church, 5:30 pm in the Sanctuary *
Sun. Nov. 3 Worship service 10:30 am, Lunch Bunch special guests
Congregational meeting and potluck lunch, after church *
Sun. Nov. 10 Remembrance Sunday
Tue. Nov. 19 Book Club, 2 pm *
Potluck Church: Celebrate Samhain on Tue. Oct. 29, 5:30-7 pm
Our first Potluck Church of the Season is upon us! At Potluck Church, we gather for church the way Jesus did it – informally and over a shared meal. We meet upstairs in the sanctuary on the stage, eat together – just bring something to share, homemade or from Mr. Sobey or one of his colleagues – and enjoy each other’s company and conversation about a theme.
Our October Potluck Church will be a Samhain Celebration. Samhain (“sow-in”) is the Celtic and Celtic-Christian Harvest Festival and marking of the Autumn Equinox, and the precursor to Hallowe'en and All Saints Day. It’s the source of many familiar traditions at this time of year, including Hallowe'en costumes and Jack-o-Lanterns, but also evokes the turning of the seasons, saying goodbye to the past, and igniting hope for the future.
So… do you have a costume? An evocative hat? A cunning disguise? A piece of black paper cut out to look like a mustache and stuck on with scotch tape? All are invited to dress up as they wish. In the spirit of Samhain, we’ll also be burning whatever frustrations, burdens, anxieties of the past we’d like to see go up in flames – and relishing their departure with hope for the future.
Please keep in your prayers …
Congregational meeting and potluck lunch Sun. Nov. 3
Following the Nov. 3 worship service, the annual congregational meeting will be held in the church hall beginning with a potluck lunch. Bring yourself and something to share as we reflect on the past year and make plans for 2020.
And at the worship service, we will be able to admire the artwork of Holly Carr, who is offering a multimedia workship at St. Matt's on Saturday. Her artwork will be in the church on Sunday for all to enjoy.
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.
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
Congratulations to …
Matthew Fraser, who spent the weekend in Toronto visiting Metropolitan United Church and meeting organist Dr. Patricia Wright. Matthew plans to study organ at the University of Toronto next year.
In the Community
Painting Exhibition: One +One +One – Final week 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. Exhibit ends Mon. Oct. 28
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
Thanks to all who attended the jointly sponsored Lunch and Learn at St. Andrew’s Sunday Oct. 20. A very special thank you to Emma Toohey who participated in the panel. Emma drew our attention to the real need to educate young people early regarding climate change issues and to provide support and opportunities for young students to become active in fighting the climate crisis.
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 Nov. 3 (AGM); 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
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