St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin Sept. 22, 2019
News
What's coming up at St. Matthew's
Fri. Sept. 27 Climate Action Strike and Rally, 11 am at Victoria Park
Sun. Sept. 29 Worship service 10:30 am with Rev. Betsy Hogan
Sun. Oct. 6 World Communion Sunday
Wed. Oct. 9 Brunswick Street Mission breakfast, 7:30 am
Sun. Oct. 13 Thanksgiving Sunday and Blessing of Our Animals
Please keep in your prayers …
Week of Climate Action general strike Fri. Sept. 27
Thank you to the EarthSpiritAction folks who participated in the Climate Action Fair held at St. Mark’s and who attended the Interfaith Rally on Sept. 20 at the Grand Parade to kick off a week of climate action.
Among the many ways we’re individually bearing witness to the urgent need for action to repair and reverse climate change, special thanks this week to Heather and Adam Clarke of our congregation for their hard work in putting on a very successful Climate Action Carnival Program at their school on Friday evening. The money raised will purchase reusable shopping bags for Feed Nova Scotia clients.
The Week of Climate Action will end with a General Strike and Rally starting at 11 am on Fri. Sept. 27 at Victoria Park. It will be led by students who are eager to have allies join them. Their handouts tell us to “Bring your signs, your voices and your walking shoes! Most of all, bring your neighbours, your friends and your family. PLEASE COME! HELP THE YOUTH DEMAND CLIMATE ACTION NOW!"
Earth Spirit Action Team: Anne Fay, Anne Marie Dalton, Deborah Baker, Elaine Murray, Emma Toohey, Jocelyn Covert, Kathy Woods, Paul Bowlby, Sandra McCulloch, Stephen Mercer
13th Annual Mission Breakfast Oct. 9
The 13th annual Brunswick Street Mission breakfast will be held on Wed. Oct. 9 at Pier 21 at 7:30 am. Tickets are $100 each or tables of 10 for $1,000. This year's special guest is Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire. Call 902-423-4506 or purchase online at www.brunswickstreetmission.org Generally a group from St. Matthew's attends this fundraiser, which is the primary support for an important downtown ministry affiliated with many United Churches on the peninsula. If you would like to be part of a St. Matthew’s table, please see Paul Bowlby.
Thanksgiving Sunday and Blessing of the Animals
On Sunday Oct. 13, as we observe Thanksgiving, we also celebrate and bless the animals who share our lives. All our beloved animals are welcome at this service, leashed /caged for their safety. Please feel free to bring photos instead, but our experience each year is that even the jumpiest pets embrace the spirit of being in a holy space.
Sermon series
Sunday’s sermon 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.
Season of Creation invocation
You find us gathered here, loving God,
Where once the Mi’kmaq hunted and harvested
And perhaps paused while gathering firewood
To breathe in with gratitude the gift of your Spirit.
You find us gathered here, loving God,
Where once Archbishop Binney planted his back garden
And perhaps paused while weeding his carrots
To breathe in with gratitude the gift of your Spirit.
You find us gathered here, loving God,
On this piece of land that was taken.
On this piece of land that was given.
As we pause to breathe in with gratitude the gift of your Spirit
Make the stories of this land on which we gather
Shape how we choose to live as your people in this place. Amen
LOOKING AHEAD: Back to School, Back to Church
Here’s what goes on at St. Matt’s every week during the school year. If something interests you, just be in touch or turn up! You are very welcome.
But these are just the weekly activities. There’s also Potluck Church Suppers, Book Studies, other Learning Groups, the Earth-Spirit-Action Climate Group, Women’s Breakfasts…. To stay abreast of what’s happening, email stmatts@ns.sympatico.ca and ask to be put on the “ebulletin list” – a once-a-week email with all the current info.
Sunday Choir: Thursday Rehearsals, 7:30-9 pm
Our Sunday Choir is conducted by Wayne Rogers, Minister of Music, and sings a wide variety of classic and contemporary SATB choral works.
AcabellA Handbell Choir: Thursday Rehearsals, 6:15-7:15 pm
Entranced by Handbells? Wayne Rogers harnesses the ringing of three octaves of beginner to experienced ringers. And we have chimes too!
For choirs, email Wayne Rogers at humber@ns.sympatico.ca
Sunday Free Breakfast: Five Teams in Rotation, Sundays 7:30-9:30 am
For nearly 30 years, St. Matt’s has served a free breakfast on Sunday mornings to anyone who’s hungry. Volunteers are organized into teams on a five-week rotation. If you’d like to join a Breakfast Team, email Carol Smillie at carolsmillie@hfx.eastlink.ca
Lunchtime Bible Study: Weekly, day-of-choice TBA, Noon-1pm
Bring your bag lunch and muse over the meaning of a Bible Story, led by the minister with intentional openness to all questions, wonderings, and wrestlings with these ancient words meant to inform our spirituality and faith. Great collective wisdom and laughter too
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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, 2019 (AGM); May 3, 2020 (budget)
Session, Stewards, Board Oct. 27, 2019; Jan. 12, Mar. 8, Apr. 26, 2020
Worship and Music TBA
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 -- Fall
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