St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin Sept. 29, 2019
News
What's coming up at St. Matthew's
Sun. Oct. 6 World Communion Sunday with Benevolent Fund offering
Wed. Oct. 9 Brunswick Street Mission breakfast, 7:30 am
Sun. Oct. 13 Thanksgiving Sunday and Blessing of Our Animals
Tue. Oct. 29 Potluck Church, 5:30 pm in the Sanctuary
Please keep in your prayers …
Week of Climate Action
Thanks to the EarthSpiritAction folks and all who rallied, "sat-in", and otherwise participated in the global Strike for Climate Action this past Friday. Various resources, including election-related resources, have been posted on the EarthSpiritAction page on the St. Matthew’s website. Take a look!
https://www.stmatts.ns.ca/about/earth-spirit-action-eco-team
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.
Dal Campus Ministry Affirming 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 7p m in Room 303 at Dalhousie University Student Union. If you’d like a ride over, please speak to Betsy.
Sermon series
Sunday’s sermon Why Jesus Matters: Mutual Responsibility 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.
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 (AGM); May 3, 2020 (budget)
Session, Stewards, 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