eBulletin - Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018

Contents

  • Calendar and Events
  • Thanks for the Pancake Lunch
  • Cooking on site Feb. 15 for the Shelter
  • Out of the Cold Shelter: Current needs
  • St. Matthew’s Book Club meets Feb. 20
  • Donate Loblaw grocery cards to St. Matthew’s
  • In the Community

St. Matthew’s Calendar and Events

  • Thu. Feb. 15 – 6-7 pm, Cooking for the Out of the Cold Shelter, church kitchen
  • Sun. Feb. 18 – 10:30 am, worship on the First Sunday of Lent
  • – After church, Voting on Remit 6: One Order of Ministry
  • Tue. Feb. 20 – 2 pm, St. Matthew’s Book Club (see notice below)
  • Thursdays – 12 noon, Bible study in the parlour

Thanks for the Pancake Lunch

Thanks to the Board of Stewards, friends, and all who contributed to the successful Pancake Luncheon on Sunday. This is a newish St. Matthew’s tradition, observing the beginning of Lent with a Pancake Luncheon on the Sunday before Shrove Tuesday.

Out of the Cold Shelter: Current Needs

The Out of the Cold Shelter posts its current needs on a Facebook page. These are the items that are currently in demand:

  • Men’s underwear packs (especially size Large)
  • Waterproof gloves
  • Backpacks
  • Men’s shirts sizes M-XL
  • Men’s pants sizes 30-38
  • Belts
  • Sleeping bags
  • Hand/foot-warmer packages
  • Bus tickets
  • $5 gift cards (Tim Hortons, Mcdonalds, etc.)
  • Large clear garbage/recycle bags
  • Cans of decaf coffee and sugar
  • Take-away coffee cups and lids

Please note that the shelter is a peanut-free space. It also does not accept donations of mouthwash, aftershave, or hand sanitizer.

Cooking on site Feb. 15 for OTCS

St. Matthew’s is providing a hot meal for the Out of the Cold Shelter on Thursdays. We alternate cooking on site (Thursday from 6-7 pm) with providing casseroles cooked at home from provided recipes. The next date to cook on site is Thu. Feb. 15.

  • Cook on site –Meet in the church kitchen from 6-7 pm to prepare the hot supper, which we will leave it baking/warming in the kitchen for Shelter volunteers to serve.
  • Make at home – On alternate Thursdays (Feb. 22, Mar. 8 & 22), volunteers are making an assigned casserole (recipe provided) at home, and bringing it to the church. Jean Hattie is coordinating this initiative.

St. Matthew’s Book Club: The Underground Railroad

The Book Club meets Tue. Feb. 20 at 2 pm at Suite 310, 76 Prestwick Close. As February is African Heritage Month, we will be discussing ‘The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead. For more information contact Elaine Murray, gordonelaine2018@gmail.com, or Janet Copeland, j.copeland@ns.sympatico.ca, or (902) 445-5906.

Donate Loblaw grocery cards to St. Matt’s

If you have applied (or are eligible to apply) for the Loblaw’s $25 grocery card, please consider donating it to St. Matthew’s. Here is the link: https://www.loblawcard.ca/

These cards will buy food for Out of the Cold Emergency Shelter and our Sunday Breakfast, and can also be given directly to those who come to the church in urgent need of food. This will make a HUGE difference in the number of people that we’re able to help, particularly during this winter season. All our food purchases for emergency and benevolent programs happens via our established relationship with the Barrington Street Superstore.

If we can anticipate receiving these donated cards, we can also better meet the needs. When your card arrives, bring it to the church office any weekday morning or leave it in the collection plate. Tell your friends. Challenge your co-workers. Help us to accumulate as many grocery cards as we can to feed our neighbors most in need.

In the Community

Seven Deadly Sins – Envy – Wed. Feb. 28 at 7 pm, Paul O’Regan Hall, Halifax Central Library. A panel of experts will examine the role of social media in depression, loneliness, and anxiety. Te speaker is Dr. Stan Kuchner, professor of psychiatry at Dalhousie University. Free admission or watch online at www.ccepa.ca The Seven Deadly Sins isa seven-part series exploring the personaland collective consequences of our thoughts and actions as we continue to grapple with age-old temptations.

Bereavement Support – Bereavement counselling is offered every Saturday from 10–11:30 a.m. at the temporary offices of Halifax Hospice, 1471 Carlton St, near the Just Us! Coffee location on Spring Garden Road. Anyone is welcome on a drop-in basis; there is no need to sign up. Sessions are peer-led, with counsellors present to help guide discussion as the participants desire. If you are interested in a bereavement support group but cannot attend on Saturday mornings, call the Hospice Society of Greater Halifax at 902-446-0929.


St. Matthew’s Activities

REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS

  • Sunday Free Breakfast – Sundays 8 am (If you are interested in joining a Breakfast Team, please email Carol Smillie at carolsmillie@hfx.eastlink.ca)
  • Caritas Service – Second Sunday at 2 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
  • Choirs Practice on Thursdays – Handbells at 6:15 pm, Church Choir 7:30 pm
  • Daytime Bible Study – Thursdays at noon, church parlour
  • St. Matthew’s Book Club – Second Tuesday in the afternoon, private homes
  • Lunch Bunch Choir – Fridays at noon
  • Potluck Church – Thu. Mar 29, 2018 (Seder)

2018 MEETING SCHEDULE

All meetings are held after the Sunday service. Bring a lunch! Clerk of Session Dr. Dora Stinson encourages everyone involved in these quarterly meetings to note the dates in their calendars.

Kirk Session/Stewards/Official Board Mar. 18, June 3

  • Executive of Official Board Feb. 18, Apr. 22, May 20
  • Worship and Music Committee
  • Congregational Meeting (budget) June 10

Administrative Stuff

  • Church office: stmatts@ns.sympatico.ca or (902) 423-9209
  • 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
  • On the web: www.stmatts.ns.ca

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