Wednesday, January 19th - Connectors meeting

Thursday, January 20th – Monthly meeting with Executive Secretary to Synod and online appointments

Friday, January 21st – Provincial House of Bishops Meeting (online)

Sunday, January 23rd – Parish Virtual visits

Monday, January 24th – Day Off

Tuesday, January 25th – Discernment & Formation and Postulants Meetings

Wednesday, January 26th – Management Team/Leadership Meeting

Parish Openings

*Parish of Three Harbours, part-time Rector.

*Parish of St. John the Evangelist, Lower Sackville, full-time Rector.

*Parish of Shelburne, full-time Rector.

 

 

The upcoming special session of Synod scheduled originally for  
Saturday, January 29, 2022, has been postphoned until Saturday, February 19, 2022.

This gives us a bit more time to allow gathering sizes to increase and for more members to receive the advised vaccination booster. And that is just another reason to offer you or thanks: thank you for all that you are doing to help keep our communities safe.

January 19th:  The following updates have been issued via Public Health. Please remember that where Public Health and Diocesan Guidelines differ, the more stringent of the two applies. We also continue to encourage communities to stay in conversation about their own risk tolerance and to adjust community guidelines accordingly.  

The Bishop’s direction to closure of in-person worship is subject to review on Monday, January 24th. Unless further changes are issued between now and then, the plan is to update this directive as soon after the 24th as possible. We will be waiting for scheduled Public Health updates that week and, once received, will offer a diocesan COVID update. This will be delivered by noon on or before Thursday, January 27.  

Many questions are circulating about Annual General Meetings. Considerations are being made to extend the AGM deadline but please be advised that as of today, that deadline remains the end of February 28, 2022.  Online AGM’s are permitted.

In the meantime, please visit our website for the most current information at https://www.nspeidiocese.ca/programs/covid-19 or contact our Executive Director, Rev’d Ann Turner, at excutivedirector@nspeidiocese.ca, 902-420-0717, ext. 1167. 

Prince Edward Island

The most recent announcements from Public Health offer the following new restrictions:

Organized gatherings, including worship services, are not permitted until further notice. This includes the following:

o    Funeral ceremonies and wedding ceremonies are permitted up to 10 people plus officiants

o    Wedding receptions, funeral receptions, and wakes/visitations are not permitted

o    Individual households can have private visitations with the deceased (with only staff present in addition to household members)  

o    For worship services, staff and officiants may meet to deliver services virtually

o    Drive-in worship services can occur with no limit on the number of vehicles, provided individuals aren’t exiting the vehicle other than for purposes such as to use the washroom while maintaining physical distancing and wearing masks

o    These new restrictions also prohibit Annual General Meetings in person. Online AGM’s are permitted. 

Archdeacon John Clarke has been able to verify with Public Health that a small team is allowed to gather in order to facilitate/record worship. While this does not allow for a choir or any other larger group, it does allow for a Leader, a musician, perhaps a soloist or instrumentalist, a reader, and a technical support person.

Nova Scotia

Suspension of in-person worship and gathering restrictions remain in effect until January 24th (please see above for scheduled review). 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For general concerns you may consult provincial guidelines:   Nova Scotia:   For up-to-date information please go to: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/  PEI: For up-to-date information, please go to: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/covid19  

Parochial return materials are forthcoming by the end of the month.

CEWS 

Please continue to send reporting in to Chris Veach, financialcontroller@nspeidiocese.ca  until we know that the program has ended.

Youth at Synod Information Session

Our diocesan synod is coming up later this year, but the time to elect delegates is coming up much sooner than that, so we are having an info session about what it means to be a youth delegate at synod and how to make that happen. We've got some info to share, and there will be plenty of time for any questions that you may have. 

Youth, parents, rectors, and people interested in encouraging youth in their parishes to be a delegate are all invited!

It's happening February 9 at 7 pm on Zoom. Sign up here. 

Youth and Family Ministry Task Groups 

Even in the midst of the ongoing uncertainty of this pandemic, we are getting things up and running for 2022, so please get in touch with Allie at acolp@nspeidiocese.ca or (902) 789-3481 if you are interested in getting involved with:

~Diocesan Youth Conference 2022
~Young Adult Ministry
~Welcoming Families in Church
~Connect: Training for Children's, Youth, and Family Ministry
~Youth Social Justice Conference

Sharing Stories of Serving Christ and the Community in a variety of ways. 

Join in a 3-week Zoom series to hear how several people discovered their gifts and deep joy in serving their neighbourhoods.  

Runs: Mondays – Jan. 24, Jan. 31 and   Feb. 7, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

These sessions are hosted for parishioners and leaders on the Eastern Shore (and anyone else who’d like to attend) to listen to inspiring stories of God using everyday people to do extraordinary things to make a difference. There will be small group discussion and large group Q&A time. Hear about the ways people ‘discover their joy’, and how your gifts, passions, interests and hobbies can be used in ministry too.   

Jan. 24: Children’s & Multi-Generational Ministry - Maxine Simpkin, St. John the Evangelist, Middle Sackville.  

Jan. 31: Small Groups & Men’s Ministry – Bill Travis, St. James’, Kentville. 

Feb. 7:  Parish Nursing – Sue Duncan, St. John’s, Westphal. 

Anyone may attend these free sessions.  

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED:      

Visit:  SURVEY MONKEY    https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DISCOVERYOURJOY 

Or E-mail:  lvaughn@nspeidiocese.ca or call 902-789-4840 

It's that time of year, everyone's favourite - annual meeting season! Let's spice up 2022 with some dynamic discussion and dreaming. These gatherings present a great opportunity to acknowledge what is working well in ministry and to begin to ponder the future post-pandemic. Be sure to include in your AGM Agenda some 'new business' that includes an open conversation about the year ahead and your missional priorities. 

Here's a simple resource for generating discussion. Use it all or in part. It may even be adapted for sermon time, Zoom studies and other online gatherings. Check out, POST PANDEMIC PONDERING & PLANNING: A Resource for Faith Re-Formation. 

 

Join the discipleship discussion in our Diocese. Informal, inspiring conversations are hosted the first Wednesday of the month on the Zoom platform.   

The sessions, hosted by the Creating Missional Communities Team (VSST), include participants' sharing of plans and ideas for next steps in individual and congregational discipleship journeys. It’s also an opportunity to identify particular needs that would help grow discipleship. 

Enjoy the networking and support of lay and clergy voices across the Diocese. Discipleship Drop-ins run 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Join or leave the session at any time. Come one month but not the next. Whatever suits your schedule. Check in with others, pray together, share ideas and tips, encourage and be encouraged! 

For information and to request the Zoom link, contact Tanya Moxley:  tkmoxley74@gmail.com 

The new January/February publication Let's Keep in Touch can be found here.

ACW Anniversary Bursary

The Anglican Church Women Board’s Anniversary Bursary is a continuing education bursary. Any woman in our Diocese, who is 5 years or more away from high school completion, and is enrolled in any recognized credit or non-credit program, is eligible to apply.

An application form is here.

Want to contribute to the Anniversary Bursary?

Make a cheque payable to the Anglican Church Women Board, with Anniversary Bursary in the memo line, 

then mail to Anglican Church Women Board, c/o 204-111  Pebblecreek Dr.,  Dartmouth, NS B2W 0L1

 Welcome to our weekly Enews. The Diocesan Environment Network (DEN) of the Anglican Diocese of NS & PEI, was formed in response to the Fifth Mark of Mission and the latest addition to our Baptismal Covenant which has become our Mission Statement.

“To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”

To do this we educate and encourage stewardship through social media and liturgies, connect with other environment groups, pray together, celebrate art with each other and grieve together. 

SURVEY SAYS! - View the latest newsletter here for our weekley newsletter.

1. HEAT (Home Energy Assistance Top-up) Fund - NS

https://salvationarmy.ca/maritime/home/programs/heat/

Application

https://salvationarmy.ca/maritime/files/2022/01/2022-HEAT-FUND-APPY-Copy.pdf

Criteria for Applying

~ You live in Nova Scotia and are within the following low-income threshold: 
$29,000 for one-person households, 
$47,703 for two to four person households, and 
$67,937 for households of five or more individuals.
Your household is experiencing an emergency heating situation.

*Note: The previous restriction on time frame for eligibility (only every 24 months) has been waived. The deadline for all 2022 applications has also been extended indefinitely, meaning those who received funds in 2021, may also apply in 2022.

The HEAT Fund offers a maximum assistance in the amount of $400 for individuals and families.

2. Nova Scotia COVID Relief Fund - NS

https://salvationarmy.ca/maritime/home/programs/covidrelief/

Application

https://salvationarmy.ca/maritime/files/2022/01/2022-COVID-APPY-1.pdf

Criteria for Applying

if you live in Nova Scotia and 

~You have an overdue amount owing on your heating or electric bill 
~Your household has been impacted financially due to COVID-19 
~You live within the following low-income thresholds; 
$29,000 for one-person households, 
$47,703 for two to four person households, 
$67,937 for households of five or more individuals

*Note: If you have applied or received assistance from the HEAT Fund, you are still eligible to receive assistance from the NSCR Fund. 

3. Home Heating Program (PEI)

In partnership with the Government of PEI, The Salvation Army is helping Islanders heat their homes this winter through The Home Heating Program.

The program provides assistance for the following heat sources; oil, wood, electric, wood pellets, and propane.

Qualified Applicants:

~ You live in PEI and are within the following income threshold:
$26,500 for one-person households,
$34,000 for two persons and up

Applicants cannot be in receipt of social assistance

Your household is experiencing an emergency heating situation

The Home Heating Program offers maximum assistance in the amount of $600, per calendar year for individuals and families. If you are in an emergency home heating situation, please contact us to set up an appointment.

Phone Number: 902-892-2281

Email: Kyron.newbury@salvationarmy.ca

The Salvation Army will be accepting applications between November 15, 2021 to April 30, 2022.

Please see attached picture for all the information. 

For any further questions/information or to register please contact marriagesuccess@outlook.com 

The Diocese of Fredericton is graciously extending an invitation to join them in a Zoom book study looking at "how the Good News makes sense of discipleship, church, mission and everything else." Be inspired in new ways to grow deeper in your faith and more confident in missional ministry. 

Over 5 weeks, explore John Bowen's latest book, "The Unfolding Gospel". Many congregations and their leaders are discouraged about the future of the church. Bowen's conviction is that the solution is to be found not in new programs or strategies, but in a recovery of theological vision, that of Jesus and his gospel, which transforms every aspect of life. 

The series starts January 31 and runs until February 28 - Mondays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Free to join. Book purchase is required, through your favourite book retailer. 

REGISTER by e-mailing Shawn C. Branch - sbranch@diofton.ca

Then you will receive the reading schedule and Zoom link.    

ISBN-10: ‎1506471676 

ISBN-13: ‎978-1506471679 

From Amazon.ca

Diocesan Heating Oil Program

The Diocese of NS and PEI Heating Oil Program with Irving Oil offers Churches of the Diocese and eligible Diocesan Clergy and Diocesan Staff a discounted rate based on non-profit status. This rate is not offered to individual Anglican parishioners. For more information, please contact: The Centralized Commercial Account Manager for the Diocesan Heating Oil Program, Ms. Jennifer Bishop by name at 1-888-310-1924 or by email at Jennifer.Bishop@IrvingOil.com

-The Furnace Oil price for the period January 15th to January21st, 2022

Nova Scotia                         $0.9950 plus applicable taxes

Prince Edward Island        $0.9743 plus applicable taxes

January & February 2022

Thank you.

 Deadline for Net News submissions is 5:00 pm each Tuesday.  Thank you!