St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin June 30, 2019

News

  • What's coming up
  • Special brass band concert on July 5
  • Summer pick-up Choir meets Sundays at 9:45 am
  • Thanks to …
  • Church open for visitors
  • Halifax Organ Festival July 7-11
  • Summer concerts at St. Matthew begin in July
  • Think about God's Green Earth this week
  • St. Matthew's activities

 

What's coming up at St. Matthew's

Fri. July 5            Brass Band benefit concert at St. Matthew's, 7 pm         

Sun. July 14        Jazz Festival Service

Sat. July 20         Pride Parade, 1 pm. If you would like to join other St. Matthew's folks

   in parade-ing together as Affirming United Churches, please speak to Betsy

                              or Wayne Rogers

Sun. July 21        Pride Service

 

Special Brass Band Benefit Concert July 5

Come to St. Matthew’s on Friday, July 5 at 7 pm for a benefit concert with the North American Brass Band. Freewill offering, with all proceeds going to St. Matthew’s.  The band is performing at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, and is offering three additional concerts – including this one at St. Matthew's conducted by the guest conductor, Professor Nicholas Childs.

 

Summer Pick-up Choir meets Sundays at 9:45 am

If you are interested in singing with the sanctuary choir this summer, just turn up on Sunday morning at 9:45 am for a brief rehearsal. Over the years we have welcomed lots of guests to our Summer Pick-Up Choir – no gowns, nothing too difficult, and no pressure – so if you have always wanted to try out the choir, have visitors who like to sing, or just feel moved by the spirit to come early for church, you will be welcome.

           

Thanks to …

Gordon and Elaine Murray, who presided over last Sunday's worship service while Rev. Betsy Hogan is on vacation.

 

Church open for visitors

Summer Church Office hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 8 am to noon.

Sanctuary open: Daily Tuesday-Saturday. St. Matthew’s welcomes tourists and visitors not only on Sunday mornings, but also daily Tuesdays to Saturdays, thanks to our Church Guide, Matthew Fraser, who is pleased to share the long history (270 years) of our congregation in  Halifax. When not guiding, Matthew will be practising the organ so feel welcome to drop in and listen to him play.

 

Halifax Organ Festival – Changing Tides: July 7-11

The Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO) Halifax Chapter is hosting the national convention in Halifax this year with a busy schedule of competitions, recitals, and concerts. More details and a full listing of events is available on the tables in the church entrance and on the website (created by our Matthew Fraser) https://changingtides2019.ca/.  Here are the highlight concerts that organ-lovers will want to attend:

 

Sun. July 7 at 4 pm – Concert in Memory of David MacDonald, at All Saints Cathedral

(This is likely to sell out, so be sure to buy tickets in advance)

Mon. July 8 at 8 pm – Denis Bédard in Concert, at St. Matthew's

            (Wayne plays several works by Denis Bédard, who is a wonderful Canadian composer)

Tue. July 9 at 8 pm – Hymn Festival with Fred Graham " Changing Tides, Changing Hymns, 1919-2019", at First Baptist Church  (Fred Graham is a hymn expert and a key figure in the creation of Voices United, our hymnal – this event is free)

Wed. July 10 at 8 pm – Organized Crime Duo (Sarah Svendsen & Rachel Mahon), at St. Matthew's (Another hot ticket concert – Sarah was a student of Wayne's before she went to University of Toronto; she and Rachel play duets on the organ)

Thu. July 11 at 8 pm – Rachel Laurin with Karen Rokos (harp), at All Saints Cathedral

 

Tickets for individual concerts are available in advance online at www.tickethalifax.com or from The Coast office at 2309 Maynard St., Mon-Fri, 9-5 pm. Tickets will also be available at the door, although the David MacDonald concert is likely to sell out.

 

Summer concerts at St. Matthew's begin July 16

St. Matthew's will be hosting lunchtime concerts on Tuesdays this summer. Concerts run 12:15 to 1 pm with admission by donation ($5 suggested).

 

July 16             Sandy Schwoebel, flute; Dean Bradshaw, piano

July 23             Triptych Ensemble, voice/cello/piano

July 30             Margaret, Rick, and Scott, mezzo/baritone/piano

Aug 6               Ann Bradley, soprano; Shawn Whynot, piano/organ

Aug 13             Margaret Fay, bassoon; Graham Mackenzie, oboe

Aug 20             Nicholas Higgs, baritone; Tara Scott, piano

Aug 27             Matthew Fraser, organ/piano

Sep 3               Thistle Scottish Country Dancers

Sep 10             Second Chances Jazz Showband

 

Think about God's green earth this week

Members of the congregation are sharing information about the little things they do to help care for the planet and respond to the climate emergency. On Sundays there is a jar at the door of the sanctuary where we can leave slips of paper that record our climate actions. You do not need to include your name – just the action you took.

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

 

St. Matthew’s Activities

Sunday Free Breakfast  – Sundays 8:30 am

Thursday Noon Bible Study – On hiatus for the summer

Choir Practices – Sanctuary choir and Handbell rehearsals resume in September

Lunch Bunch community choir – On holiday until September

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

 

Ushering – Click this link to open the sign-up page

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=17186169

 

Breakfast Teams – Interested in helping with Sunday breakfast? Contact Carol Smillie, carolsmillie@hfx.eastlink.ca

 

Meeting Schedule 2019

Congregational Meeting      November

Session, Stewards, Board    Fall

Worship and Music               Sept. 14, East Pennant

 

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

 

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