Schedule

Thursday December 21st, wrap up day before Christmas Break.

Sunday December 24th – Christmas Eve Services at 7 pm and 10:30 pm The Cathedral Church of All Saints

Friday December 29th – Sons of Maxwell Community Concert, St. Nicholas, Westwood Hills

Monday January 1st, 2024 – Holy Eucharist at 10:00 am followed by a New Year’s Levée from 11:30am to 1:00 pm, The Cathedral Church of All Saints.

Announcements

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 a happy 2024.

All is calm... These past few weeks are busy ones for everyone in Churchland, so be sure to take time to breathe, rest and listen. 

It is good to remember that, "we are human beings, not human doings." While our lay and clergy leaders are serving everyone, it is important to take the time for personal spiritual renewal.

Here are some ideas, from Building Faith, Virginia Theological Seminary, Recovering from Christmas.
https://buildfaith.org/recovering-from-christmas/?mc_cid=e2570b3ba1&mc_eid=fa3f1bc5bf

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         - St. Nicholas’ Westwood Hills/Tantallon 

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

CHIGNECTO REGION                   - March 9 (tentative)          - St. James’, Shubenacadie 

(Feb. 24 is reserved for a STORM date) 

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).

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.

After today, Net news will resume Wednesday January 3rd, 2024.

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. 

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 16th  to December 22nd, 2023.

Nova Scotia                    $1.0644

Prince Edward Island   $1.0644