St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin

Sunday, July 8, 2018 

Contents

  Calendar

  Thanks to  ...

  Thinking about ...

  Summer at St. Matthew's

  Can you assist our Refugee Family?

  General Council July 21-17, Oshawa

  In the Community

Calendar

Sunday schedule Breakfast 8:30 am, Choir 9:45 am, Worship 10:30 am

Every Tuesday   12:15 pm, lunchtime concerts

Sun. July 15                         Jazz Festival Service

Sat. July 21                          Halifax Pride Parade, 12:30 pm for 1 pm

Sun. July 22                         Pride Week Service

Thanks to ...

Rev. Margaret Sagar for providing worship leadership on July 8.

 Thinking about ...

Agnes MacDonald, mourning the loss of her brother in Ontario. Please keep Agnes and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Summer at St. Matthew's

Summer Office Hours – The church office is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8 am to noon.

Pastoral Emergency – Call the church office at (902) 423-9209. Phone messages are checked regularly.

Sanctuary open Tuesdays-Saturdays – In July and August the church will be open for visitors from 9 am-4 pm Tuesday through Saturday. The tour guide, Matthew Fraser, is also our student organist and he might be practising a bit this summer – so bring your guests to see historic St. Matthew's and enjoy some music.

Summer pick-up choir – Anyone who would like to join the sanctuary choir on Sundays is welcome to attend the rehearsal at 9:45 am. Just show up!

SummerSounds@Barrington concert series – Lunchtime concerts are on Tuesdays from 12:15-1 pm at St. Matthew's, sponsored by the church and the Downtown Halifax Business Commission. Bring your lunch and enjoy the performances.

July 10                   Thistle Scottish Country Dancers

July 17                   MaRISco Trio (Margaret Champion, Rick Gunn, Scott Taylor)

July 24                   Lorna MacDonald, voice; Lynette Wahlstrom, piano

July 31                   Brogue Saxophone Quartet

Aug. 07 Shawn Whynot, organ

Aug. 14 Karen Myatt, voice; Scott Taylor, piano

Aug. 21 Nicholas Higgs, voice; Tara Scott, piano

Aug. 28 Second Chances Show Band with Matthew Snow and Perla Isabel Canales

Halifax Pride Parade Sat. July 21 – Folks from St. Matthew's are invited to bear witness to God's expansive love by walking in the parade with our neighbors from St. David's, First Baptist, St. John's, and Bedford United. Meet at St. Matt's at 12:30 pm to walk down to the CFB Marshalling Grounds on Lower Water Street. The parade starts at 1 pm.  If you prefer, you can join the parade as it continues up Spring Garden Road. If you'd like to participate, speak to Wayne Rogers, Minister of Music/Organist or Matt Fraser, organ student/tour guide.

Can you assist our Refugee Family?

Now that the Al Saghrji family have begun to settle in, and they have acquired considerable English skills, father Saeed is eager to find meaningful work so he may earn a living in Nova Scotia and make a real contribution to their adopted country. He has many years of Middle Eastern work experience in both Syria and Lebanon as a full-cycle accountant. Even if you have no employment opportunities at your own business, you may know of a position coming up elsewhere.  If you would like to consider his resume, or share it with business contacts, please email Saeed at saeedsag73@gmail.com . Blessings for your continued support of “our” New Canadians!

General Council 43 meeting: July 21-17 in Oshawa, Ont.

This is likely to be the final meeting of the General Council of the United Church of Canada, as the restructuring remits that passed will presumably be ratified, and it will become the National Council. Approximately 450 clergy, lay and youth representatives from across Canada will gather for the week to shape and direct out church's mission. The worship and plenary sessions of General Council are on live feed throughout – at generalcouncil43.ca – including a live chat for people watching across the country and in Bermuda. Updates on the proposals that will be debated can also be found on the web page.

In the Community

St. Mary’s Basilica Organ Recital Series – On select Tuesdays at 7 pm at St. Mary's Basilica, corner Spring Garden Road and Barrington Street, there will be 30-minute organ recitals. Admission is by freewill donation (suggested $5) and free parking is available in the Cathedral parking lot off Grafton Street. July 17 – Matthew Fraser; July 31 – Kim Tan MacNeill; Aug. 7 – Robert Summerby Murray; and Aug. 28 – Patrick Salah.

Bereavement Support – Bereavement counselling is offered every Saturday from 10–11:30 a.m. at the temporary offices of Halifax Hospice, 1471 Carlton Street at Spring Garden Road. It operates on a drop-in basis; there is no need to sign up. Sessions are peer-led, with counsellors who guide discussion as desired. For bereavement support at times other than Saturday mornings, call the Hospice Society of Greater Halifax at 902-446-0929.

St. Matthew’s Activities

REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS

Sunday Free Breakfast  – Sundays 8:30 am (If you are interested in joining a Breakfast Team, please email Carol Smillie at carolsmillie@hfx.eastlink.ca)

Caritas Service – Second Sunday at 2:30 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