Schedule

Thursday December 14th – Appointments, meetings in office (am), Staff Christmas Gathering (pm)

Friday December 15th – Online meetings

Sunday December 17th – Fort Sackville Regional Confirmation 2:00 pm, St. Nicholas Westwood Hills

Monday December 18th & Tuesday December 19th – days off

Wednesday December 20th – Leadership Team

Thursday December 21st – In office catch up, last day before Christmas Break

On Thursday, December 14th, the Synod office will close at 1:30 pm to allow staff members to join in our office Christmas gathering.

End of day, Thursday, December 21st  marks the beginning of our Diocesan Staff Christmas break. The Synod Office will remain closed until Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

Together, we wish everyone throughout our diocese a blessed Christmas and New Year.

Personal invitation and online searches - two primary ways newcomers join us for Christmas season worship. Anglicans have beautiful, sacred services this time of year, whether it is a Longest Night/Blue Christmas, Nativity Pageant or our holy Christmas Eve services. One of our challenges is getting the INVITATION out!

Here's an interesting article about some research that was conducted in the Church of England. Read this blog by Canadian Anglican priest,  Neil Elliot, entitled, Who’s coming for Christmas? 

Be sure to PROMOTE your special worship services this Christmas. 

Use roadside signs, sandwich boards, website, church and NEIGHBOURHOOD Facebook pages, posters and congregational E-mail lists!  

GET THE INVITATION OUT, especially to NEWCOMERS!    
Remember to include all the BASIC INFO - time, and CIVIC ADDRESS!
(Do NOT assume everyone knows about your location, etc.)

Zoom Series - Just 45 minutes each.
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

This spiritual enrichment series continues in the new year with dynamic guests and engaging topics.

Tuesday, Jan. 9 – SOAK YOUR SOULS & SPIRITUAL CAFE: Be inspired by stories about lovingly pampering people on the margins, and cultivating community online with the SBNR (Spiritual But Not Religious). Guests are Jill Power and Dawn Purcell.

Tuesday, Jan. 16 – ANGLICAN PRAYER BEADS: Yes, Anglicans have a practice of using rosary beads for private devotions too! Explore how to pray this Trinitarian-based form of prayer. Guest is Joe Young.

Other topics in the new year include Daily Bible Reading and the spiritual discipline of Fasting. 

Our Diocesan SOUL FOOD? series offers 45-minute learning sessions on Zoom, including a short presentation, followed by open group sharing.

REGISTER HERE:    https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SoulFoodZooms

2024 VITAL CHURCH MARITIMES CONFERENCE is set for May 9 to May 11, in Truro, NS.
A Zoom option will also be available. 

Watch for more information about our keynote speaker and special Early Bird rates.

Registration opens in mid-January. 

Canada's 988 hotline, which gives people access to suicide prevention services via call or text, went live on Thursday November 30th.

People in every province and territory who are experiencing a mental health crisis and need immediate, real-time support can use the three-digit number.

Similar to 911 for accessing fire, police and medical emergencies, 988: Suicide Crisis Helpline is a short, easy-to-remember number to get a quick response from coast to coast to coast, 24/7 and free of charge.

Workshops run SATURDAYS, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

SOUTH SHORE                              - Jan. 6            - Holy Trinity, Bridgewater

CHEBUCTO REGION                    - Jan. 20     - Great Hall, Cathedral Ch. of All Saints

DARTMOUTH REGION               - Jan.27        - Christ Church, Dartmouth

FORT SACKVILLE REGION        - Feb 10         - Location T.B.A

EASTERN SHORE                         - Feb 17     - Tangier Fire Hall, Tangier.

CHIGNECTO REGION                    - T.B.A.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

SIGN UP HERE -   www.surveymonkey.com/r/GUIDINGLIGHT

One of the most impactful ministries we have as Anglicans in our Diocese is funeral ministry. Our liturgies reflect a compassionate, inclusive tone, while providing an environment of pastoral care by our parish leaders. Funerals, whether in a church, funeral chapel or at a graveside, can connect people with a loving God and a warmhearted faith community.

Parish lay leaders, especially Licensed Lay Ministers, Vocational Deacons, and others, are being called to share in this pastoral office. As local ministers, they are often familiar with the families and communities. The Spirit is leading our Diocese to embrace more fully the ministry of all the baptized in this area.

Over the next few months, our Diocese is sponsoring, GUIDING LIGHT: A Workshop on Funeral Ministry. These free regional in-person training sessions are open to all Licensed Lay Ministers, any lay person who desires to know more (perhaps to be part of a funeral team), and any cleric who seeks a refresher session.

Facilitators are Rev’d. Debra Burleson, former Archdeacon and AST Formation Director, and Rev’d. Canon Lisa Vaughn, Parish Vitality Coordinator.

Some of the topics explored:

• Funeral planning with next of kin
• Burial options
• Words of Remembrance
• Homilies / Reflections
• Post-funeral follow-up
• FAQs

Participants receive a HANDBOOK - tip sheets and templates for planning. Woven into this training session, are the MISSIONAL opportunities that funerals present as we respond to the needs of those who are grieving. In some neighbourhoods, we are the only faith community.

This is an explorative workshop, thus there is no expectation that participation will require a commitment to funeral ministry. Diocesan protocols, policies and Bishop’s expectations are addressed. 

Contact: Lisa for more information lvaughn@nspeidiocese.ca or 902-789-4840.

To parishes who wish to explore sharing space ecumenically…

The Eritrean Orthodox Church in Halifax has reached out to the Diocesan offices asking for information about sharing space with Anglican congregations for worship and study.

The community is, at present, about 70 members strong. If you are interested in exploring this opportunity, please contact Rev’d Ann Turner, Executive Director, at 902-420-0717, x 1167 (or email executivedirector@nspeidiocese.ca).

Click here to download the file

To mark the first anniversary of Hurricane Fiona, the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island is making a second request for proposals from parishes and not-for profit community groups .

This initiative is being funded by donations received in response to the PWRDF Hurricane Fiona Appeal from last Fall. Anglicans across Canada donated generously resulting in a total of $50,000 being available to fund projects. PWRDF has entered into an agreement with the Diocese to administer and deliver this fund.

The strategic goal or overarching objective of this fund is to help parishes/communities take steps or measures to make them more resilient and resistant to future major weather events.

This Request for Proposal seeks to attract projects that may fill gaps as to what may not have been funded through other recovery and relief programs that are currently available in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It is important that projects do not duplicate efforts or existing funding streams but, rather, leverage and collaborate with other programs and funding initiatives.

Project proposals will be evaluated on how closely they align based on three criteria.........For more information and how to apply click HERE.

Good news! The Canadian Church Calendar 2024 can be ordered, starting December 8, 2023. You can make your purchase through the website link here: https://anglican.gilmore.ca/en/category/b2efc921-63d7-4d6e-811c-36bb56506c81

Ordering is also possible with this toll free number: 1-800-795-6661

The Anglican Church of Canada apologizes for the delay with this resource, appreciates your continued patience, and aims to have calendars ready by September of the preceding year, going forward. 

We have been informed by our team that once the calendars are available for purchasing, they will be set at the following price points:

2024 Canadian Church Calendar, ISBN 9781551266473

Qty 1:        $7.50

Qty 2-19:  $6.00

Qty 20+:   $4.00

Any order to the Anglican Church of Canada e-store (www.anglican.ca/calendar) of $50 or more, before tax, qualifies for free shipping (UPS). Just a reminder, as well, that placing an order with the ACC’s e-store means that the order is pre-paid with a credit card at the time of placing the order. Ordering is done on-line.

Deadline for submissions is TUESDAYS by 5:00 pm. Please email Trisha at office@nspeidiocese.ca with your requests. 

Thank you.

A communion service for those who are feeling sad this Christmas, for whatever reason. We will light candles for those we have loved and lost, and for anything else we are grieving, and hear words of hope and peace. Everyone is welcome. 

A Chorister’s Christmas 2023
December 16 at 4 p.m. - St John’s Anglican Church, Lunenburg
December 17, 4 & 7 p.m. - The Cathedral Church of All Saints, Halifax

This annual Christmas concert series features beautiful carols, ancient and modern, performed by Capella Regalis Men & Boys Choir, directed by Nick Halley, with Maritime Brass Quintet & Paul Halley, organ. In addition to three live performances, an online video recording of the live performance will be broadcast (pay-what-you-can tickets) over Christmas from Dec 23-31. Join us for a unique musical celebration of Christmas!

Sunday, December 24 

No morning services
2:00pm Christmas Eve communion with carols
4:00pm Children's Service 
6:30pm Christmas Eve communion with carols

Monday, December 25

10:00am Christmas Day communion with carols
All are welcome to all our services. Some will be livestreamed.

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 December 09 to December 15, 2023

Nova Scotia                    $1.1216

Prince Edward Island   $1.1216