Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island | Anglican Diocese in Halifax, NS

Schedule

Wednesday November 24th – Parish visits with Bishop Audrey Scanlan, Peer Coach from the Diocese of Pennsylvania

Thursday November 25th – Anglican Foundation of Canada Grant Award Celebration and office meetings

Friday November 26th – Office appointments and Institution of the Reverend’s Gary Barr (St. John’s Westphal) and Patti Brace (Parish of Mahone Bay)

Sunday November 28th – Parish visit

Monday November 29th – day off

Tuesday November 30th – office appointments, meetings & Celebration of 45th anniversary of Ordination of Women in Canada (online)

Announcements

The Reverend Canon Reg MacDonald has been appointed Priest-In-Charge of the Parish of North Sydney effective November 16th to February 15th, 2022.

Listen. Learn. Experiment. Connect.

Applications and expressions of interest are welcomed for our missional leadership learning cohort, called The Connectors FOUR.

Deadline is midnight Dec. 12th.

*Do you sense that God is nudging you to try something new?

*To reach out to people who might never come to Sunday morning worship?

*To be the hands, feet and heart of Christ to your community?

This peer learning community begins in early 2022 for lay and clergy participants who want to explore discerning prayer, deep dive discussions, engaging readings, goal-setting, mutual support and encouragement. The Connectors FOUR is a group of up to 10 eager pioneering-type people who gather monthly over a year for 10, two-day sessions (a mixture of residential retreats and Zoom meetings). This is a skill-building environment for faithful Anglicans who want to reach out to others, but aren’t sure how. Participants in this cohort are a gift and asset to a local parish and their community. All costs are covered by the Diocese.

ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS ARE …

o Willing to take risks - personally and in their contexts - to be bold leaders, mentoring other leaders and actively innovating in mission;

o Committing to participating in all of The Connectors sessions and an estimated average of 3 hours per month of study, reflection and discernment/visioning for themselves and their congregation(s). Additional time is required for their respective missional initiatives.

INTERESTED? Pray about it... then fill out the attached application form.

GOT QUESTIONS? 902-789-4840 or lvaughn@nspeidiocese.ca

The principle focus of the Fairness in Basic Needs ministry for the Diocese is carried out through participation in the Face of Poverty Consultation (FACE). FACE is a faith based organization focused on the eradication of poverty in Nova Scotia. It monitors provincial and federal government actions, participates in national actions such as those promoted by Citizens for Public Justice, and collaborates with organizations working on issues like housing, social assistance, and energy affordability. FACE meets monthly so an article will appear in netnews based upon highlights from the FACE meeting. Contact Andy Sherin at nspeijustice@gmail.com if you want more information about FACE or you want to contribute to the Fairness in Basic Needs ministry of the Diocese.

Premier Houston has released his mandate letters for his Ministers (https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters.html). FACE has reviewed the letters and identified a number of issues that FACE will be monitoring including the implementation of the recommendations from the Affordable Housing Commission and the target of reducing childhood poverty. Ministers are required to prepare plans within 90 days on these issues and others. FACE intends to follow up on the plans in the New Year.

It was reported at the FACE meeting that the new phone line access to apply for the provincial Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA) program is still unsatisfactory with long waits, no bypass access for advocates and inappropriate treatment once connected.

It was reported at FACE that there were many electricity bills massively in arrears. Energy subsidy programs still have funds available to qualified households. The HEAT Fund https://salvationarmy.ca/maritime/home/programs/heat/ and the COVID Relief Fund https://salvationarmy.ca/maritime/home/programs/covidrelief/

The Nova Scotia Action Coalition for Community Well-being holds webinars on several topics. A recent webinar on the climate crisis and the impact on those with vulnerabilities can be found on their site at

https://nsaccw.org/new-webinar-climate-justice-and-the-impacts-on-those-with-vulnerabilities/

A webinar on mental health and addictions is planned for December.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: Nova Scotia has published its 2021 report on the Living Wage in Nova Scotia. A Living Wage is a wage that reflects the rate of pay needed to meet everyone’s basic needs given the costs, available government supports and services, and norms of a specific region.

$21.30: Annapolis valley (Annapolis, Kings, and Hants counties), $18.45: Cape Breton (Cape Breton, Inverness, Richmond and Victoria Counties), $22.05: Halifax (Halifax County), $19.20: Northern (Antigonish, Colchester, Cumberland, Guysborough, and Pictou counties), $21.03: Southern (Digby, Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, and Yarmouth counties) For the full report visit: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/nova-scotia

Nothing can stop Christmas, and we continue to share with seafarers the joy and spirit of the holidays through gift-giving. The campaign is also our additional way of thanking the Hidden Heroes for their sacrifices and hard work. In many ways, the seafarers deeply appreciate the presents they receive from people who care beyond their homes and families.

To all our donors and supporters, we share the seafarers’ THANK YOU!

What is in the shoebox – a regular running shoe box?
Hat, scarf, gloves or mitts, socks, wrapped hard candy (no chocolate), soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, shaving foam, razors, deodorant, lip balm, playing cad, mementos of NS, PEI or Canada.

Our team of shoebox experts quality checks the contents of shoeboxes we received if they are already stuffed with items. Otherwise, the items placed in the box are carefully identified and limited only to the above list. The list is deemed as essential items the seafarers generally and personally need onboard.

All shoeboxes are gift wrapped by a team of volunteers, signifying the gifts are produced with joy, love, and passion, driven by the spirit of Christmas.

What do we need and when is the campaign conducted?
We accept donations in kind or in cash. We use cash donations to purchase the items that go in the shoebox.

Due to the restrictions and threat of COVID 19 in 2020, our donors mostly donated cash, which greatly assisted in managing the inventory and purchasing the items accordingly.

October — we start accepting donations of shoeboxes, cash, and kind.
November — we set up and begin the production process (sorting, stuffing, wrapping)
December — we start delivery of Christmas shoebox presents to ships
Campaign continues while supply lasts (usually until January the following year.

For more information contact 902-422-7790 or email Helen Glenn, Mission Manager

To register for any of the programs you see here, or if you have any questions, please call Barat Spirituality Centre, 1455 Summer Street, Halifax, NS, at 902-456-6112; email the Centre at baratspirituality@gmail.com; or send a message through the website at

www.baratspirituality.org/contact-us . Also, please note, all times listed are Atlantic Time.

“Seeing” our Life Story: The Eminent Journey to the Centre

with Dr. Beverly Musgrave

Saturday, November 20th; 10:00 AM-3:00 PM;

$20 suggested donation—please bring a lunch.

At this time of your life are you navigating uncharted waters? Come by Zoom or in-person and explore what it means to travel without a map, learning to navigate, to See, with the Heart.

In person at Barat Spirituality Centre

Atlantic School of Theology Professor, Dr. David Deane will address the question:

Are Christianity and Evolution Compatible?

Thursday, November 25th

7-8:30 PM

$10 suggested donation

FOLLOW YOUR STAR

An Advent retreat weekend at Barat Spirituality Centre

7pm Dec 3 to end with liturgy at 11am on Dec 5th

This will be a silent retreat and we have the possibility of overnight accommodations for six persons and invite others to consider commuting. There are 12 spaces total. There will be an opportunity to meet during the weekend for Spiritual accompaniment for those who wish. Each day will begin with community prayer, and there will an opportunity to meet each day for sharing.

We ask participants to follow the Covid protocols that each participant be double vaccinated and wear a mask while in group sessions.

A simple lunch and supper will be provided for everyone on Saturday and for those staying at the Spirituality Centre, breakfast will be pick-up.

Suggested donation: Overnight Guests: $190; Commuter: $90

To secure a spot, we ask for a $50 deposit at registration for overnight guests and $30 for commuters. Sign-up closes on Nov. 26; Please be in touch if you would like to attend but are unable to offer the suggested donation.