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

Thank you.

Schedule

Thursday March 7th – Appointments in Office

Friday March 8th – Travel to Prince Edward Island

Saturday March 9th – Diocesan Church Society Annual Meeting – St. Peter’s Cathedral Charlottetown

Sunday March 10th – Parish of Port Hill Visit

Monday March 11th – Day Off

Tuesday March 12th – Meetings (online and in-person); Gathering with Confirmation Candidates (evening)

COMMUNITY AT PRAYER 
A number of our congregations have prayer boxes established near their churches to collect prayers from the community. Here's another idea and this one can involve the wider community's particular concerns. 

Neighbourhood chalkboards are also used to solicit answers to great questions. For example, 'If you could ask God one question, what would it be?' or 'Where do you find peace in your life?' or 'What is one thing about our community that we should celebrate?'  Community chalkboards are a space for dialogue. 

READ, Maryland church offers ‘prayer board’ as invitation to community for residents’ prayer requests, by David Paulsen. https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2024/02/28/maryland-church-offers-prayer-board-as-invitation-to-community-for-residents-prayer-requests/

REGISTRATION is OPEN!
Early Bird DISCOUNT Rate! 

See also - Special Rate for Hotel guest rooms too.
And there is FUNDING SUPPORT for Anglicans from PEI and NS.

DETAILS and to REGISTER:   https://www.nspeidiocese.ca/pages/vital-church-martimes-2024-conference

VCM 2024 conference features the story arc of mission – from Acts 2, through to the present realities of Churchland today. Participants will explore their church’s missional beginnings and reflect on emerging growth possibilities.

Keynote speaker David Robinson guides leaders from ‘What is,’ to ‘What could be’, on to ‘What will be.’
A congregational consultant for more than 30 years, Dave has been on the leading edge of mission in the Canadian Anglican church. He has worked in the Dioceses of Toronto, Rupert’s Land (Manitoba) and Montreal. He specializes in priority planning, church planting (starting new congregations), rural ministry support, congregational health, and youth ministry.

Vital Church Maritimes includes talks on understanding our cultural context, leadership and gifting, working within ministry teams and more! There will be plenty of practical resources and applicable takeaways for parishes of all shapes and sizes.

It is with great pleasure that Bishop Sandra and the staff of the Diocesan Synod Office welcome Narisha Mohammed-Bejai to our Finance Team. Narisha will be working closely with Lawrence Roche, Financial Controller, and Tammy Cummins, Payroll and Benefits Administrator.

Narisha is a finance professional who is passionate about auditing and accounting and is qualified with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). With experience across a variety of industries, her notable accomplishments include streamlining financial accounting systems.

Narisha and her family have recently relocated to Canada, specifically Nova Scotia, from the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobego. She can be reached at x1154 or, by email, at accountingadmin@nspeidiocese.ca. Please join us in welcoming Narisha to our Diocesan team.

The final GUIDING LIGHT: Workshop on Funeral Ministry is Saturday, March 9 at St. James', Shubenacadie. 

Time: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Anyone may attend this session hosted in the Chignecto Region. 

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.

Our Diocese is sponsoring, GUIDING LIGHT: A Workshop on Funeral Ministry. This free regional in-person training session is for 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: Rev’d. Debra Burleson and Rev’d. Canon Lisa Vaughn.

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. 

It 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.

Thursday, March 14th 9:30am-3:30pm (lunch provided)

St. John’s Anglican Church, Larry Uteck Boulevard

Join us for this quiet day engaging our senses. We will share in two reflective sessions on a passage of Scripture using Contemplative imagination. After each reflection, we will paint together with instruction.

We will end the second period of painting sharing our felt experience. We will end our day together with a service of Holy Eucharist, including the renewal of ordination vows and the blessing of oils. 

About our guide for the day…

The Reverend Ed Coleman has been painting for over 30 years. He was mentored for three years by Gladys Stocks, a Saint John, New Brunswick artist. He has been shown in galleries in Saint John, Fredericton, Charlottetown, and Halifax. Ed’s work can currently be seen at the Lady Luck boutique in the Hydrostone. He has led workshops and paint nights at Propeller Brewery, in Church halls, online, and at Dorchester and Springhill penitentiaries. His works are in collections in Canada, the United States, and other parts of the world. His paintings are filled with texture, colour, and are done in an impressionistic style. Ed is serving as Priest-in-Charge for the Parish of Falkland and is celebrating his 40th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood this year.

Please register by emailing Trisha at office@nspeidiocese.ca by March 8th, 2024.

If you’d like to chat about anything related to children’s, youth, or family ministry – I’d love to chat with you! Whether it’s about resources for Sunday School, how to start up a youth group, wondering if your parish is a good fit for Community Roots, or something else entirely, click below to find a time – or email youthandfamily@nspeidiocese.ca.

During this Inspired Faith call, we will reflect together on our call to work to transform unjust structures of society and how we can do that through advocacy and we will talk about some best practices for doing this work with children and youth.

Registration is required

- We're raising funds to help make this year's program be the best it can be! Find all the details about that here. 

- Applications for parishes to participate in the program are now being accepted! You'll find that application, and some more                   information here.

- In case you still need a bit more information, we've got you covered! We're hosting two information sessions on zoom for parishes      who are considering applying but have some questions. The sessions are being held:
           -March 19 from 1 to 2:30 pm. Sign up for that session here. 
           -March 20 from 7 to 8:30 pm. Sign up for that session here. 

Anglicans Powering Potential are committed to raising awareness of the devastating reality of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The opportunity to appreciate its impact is a not-to-be-missed opportunity with the 

2023-2024 SHAAR SHALOM LECTURE: Unbraiding Shame, Blame and Pain
Join Anna Maria Tremonti, journalist, podcaster and 17-season host of 'The Current', as she shares her journey of unraveling complex emotions. She will talk about the effects of letting go of shame, self-blame, and pain, and consider how it can reshape our perceptions of ourselves and others.

Wednesday, March 20 | 7 p.m. (ADT)

In person: McInnes Room, Dalhousie Student Union Building, 6136 University Avenue, Halifax

Live stream: Dalhousie YouTube

This event is free and open to the public but registration is required to attend in person (seating is limited) or to receive live-stream access.

REGISTER FOR IN PERSON OR LIVE STREAM
About this Lecture Series

The Shaar Shalom Lecture at Dalhousie University is a significant annual lecture made possible through the generosity of the Shaar Shalom Synagogue of Halifax. The Shaar Shalom’s unique partnership with Dalhousie University seeks to explore the broad themes of tolerance, multiculturalism, diversity, and difference in contemporary society, and demonstrates our shared interest in bringing in-depth discussion of these themes to wider civil society.

For all requirements please go to https://www.anglicanfoundation.org/apply/applyorganization/

The March 15th deadline is required to allow the committee and Diocesan Council time to review and choose the applications to submit.

Do not complete the online form. Please complete the Grant Application Checklist to insure your application is complete.

Email your completed form to execsecsynod@nspeidiocese.ca

The webinar was held on October 17, 2023, marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Can you have a home without community? One the principles of Housing First is social and community integration. Four panelists presented approaches to ending homelessness within community.

The Panel

Marcel LeBrun, Al Smith, Cheyenne Labrador, Aiden Kivisto

The Face of Poverty Consultation is a faith-based group devoted to the eradication of poverty in Nova Scotia and is an initiative of the Basic Needs Ministry of the Mission, Outreach and Social Justice (MOST) VSST of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The image above is from the United Nations website for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Yes, save the date – June 2 – for Say Yes! to Kids Sunday! The Anglican Foundation of Canada invites all parishes to save June 2 – or another Sunday, if preferred – to be part of the Say Yes! to Kids movement. Every parish in our diocese can celebrate SYTK Sunday, whether part of the campaign or not.

If you have any questions or want to share ideas, contact Cynthia at cjp2320@gmail.com It’s never too early to start planning your involvement with the Say Yes! to Kids movement!

Are you involved in some form of paid or voluntary congregational/parish leadership in Canada?

Please take up to 10 minutes to complete a survey on sharing faith in Canada. 

The Flourishing Congregations Institute in Calgary, AB, conducts research on local congregations across all denominations, across the nation. 

We’d like to invite you to a space of nurture for those in rural congregations and for the communities in which they live. Rural Routes is a gathering with time for both structured and informal conversations, worship, education, play, prayer, and table fellowship. We’d like to share our stories and to hear yours; what is working well and what you lament or long for, what brings you joy and who is your neighbour. We’d like to imagine together ways in which members of small, rural congregations might remain grounded in and able to share the Gospel despite sometimes challenging circumstances.  These resources may also help

When: Thursday, June 13th at 10:00 to Saturday, June 15th at 2:00

Where: Orchard Valley United Church, New Minas, NS

Theme: Beautiful to Behold: Broken Open Church

Theme Presenter:  Rev. Dr. Catherine Smith

Follow the link below to register

Take a moment to fill out this survey. 

The Synod office is giving away the following items on a first come first serve basis: 

Various 3 ring binders (mostly large size) 

2 Overhead Projectors 

Small Size envelopes with Windows 

Please contact Trisha at office@nspeidiocese.ca if you are interested.

Faithful to the Call is the title of the webinar (Feb. 26, 2024) honouring the 30th anniversary of the Rt. Rev. Victoria Matthews’ ordination to the episcopacy, the Anglican Church of Canada’s first woman bishop. Anglicans Powering Potential notes that the opportunity to hear Bishop Victoria Matthews and the other panelists: Archbishop Linda Nicholls, Primate; Rt. Rev. Kay Galsworthy, Archbishop of Perth, Australia; and Bishop Riscylla Shaw, Suffragan Bishop of Toronto is available now and well worth viewing and hearing - https://www.anglican.ca/primate/30th/. The session is moderated by the Most Rev. Anne Germond, Archbishop of the Dioceses of Algoma and Moosonee. 

Wednesday March 13, 2024
In person and livestreamed

- What is Prayer? Christian, Agnostic, and Atheist Perspectives

    At 10:00 a.m. Presented by Ruth MacNeil

- Now What? A Journey from Closing Doors to Open Doors

    At 11:00 a.m. Presented by Richard Gardner

- Beyond Borders: Spirituality and Mental Health among International Students

    At 1:30 p.m. Presented by Rosamond Luke

- Pushing the Ecosystem: A Christian Excursion into the World of Video Games

    At 2:30 p.m. Presented by Blane Finnie

- God, Self, and Others: Patterns in Post-Traumatic Growth and Spirituality

   At 3:30 p.m. Presented by Chris Walker 

Thursday, March 14
In person and Livestreamed

- Called to Quiet: Introverts’ Experiences of Leading Worship

    At 10:00 a.m. Presented Anne Ellis

- Back in the Saddle: Clergy Resilience after an Upsetting Ministry Experience

   At 11:00 a.m. Presented by Carolin MacMillan

Tuesday, March 26
Livestreamed

- A New Kind of Kind: Exploring Pastoral Response to Bad Behaviour

    At 2:00 p.m.  Presented by Cindy Christie-Brooks

Friday, March 8, 2024. There are events locally, nationally, and globally before, on, and following that date focused on issues of gender equity. Anglicans Powering Potential (APP) offers prayers for all those involved in the work of advancing gender equity and invites you to join in prayerful support. APP is pleased that Anglican women in our diocese, Mary and Maxine, will be attending one such gender-equity event in Nova Scotia, the IWD Summit entitled: A New Year . . . A New Era?

Gender-based violence, equity, and justice – what next? APP is especially proud to support Canadian Mothers’ Union Link Coordinator, Genny, a member of the Mothers’ Union delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 2024, as she attends the 2024 conference in New York City, March 11 – 22. This year’s theme is: accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective" under the overall UN International Women’s Day theme of, Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress. APP looks forward to offering future knowledge-sharing opportunities.

To reserve a place, register at the church or: jpwg2023@gmail.com
30 Maximum attendance

The Palestine Land Exercise is a participatory event in which the audience takes on the role of Palestinians and experiences some of what has happened since the end of the 19th Century in Palestine/Israel.

The play is followed by an update on the current situation and an Indigenous style talking circle in which participants respond to what they have learned. The event concludes with a discussion of steps individuals can take to promote an end to the conflict.

If you Would like to book a land exercise in your parish Email Doug Rigby at mikmaqdoug@gmail.com

The Dartmouth Region is running a Marriage Success program on 13 April 2024. The course is designed to meet the requirements of marriage preparation in the Anglican Church of Canada, but is also useful to couples looking to improve communication. This program supports marriage equality and welcomes participants from the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
 
Registration forms are due by March 28 - (we must have at least 4 couples to offer the course). Cost $60 per couple (covers lunch, snacks and printing costs). 

Contact marriagesuccess@outlook.com for more information.

Anglicans Powering Potential remind you that there are several themes for this special date, but the United Nations theme 2024 is: Invest in women: Accelerate progress. 

In honour of the forthcoming International Women's Day (IWD), Anglicans Powering Potential (APP) is pleased to bring word of IWD Summit: A New Year . . . A New Era? Gender-based violence, equity, and justice - what next? co-hosted by Be the Peace Institute and Leeside Society. 
MARCH 6 - 7, 2024, Oak Island Inn and Resort, Western Shore, NS.  

Click here to register

APP is committed to raising awareness of the human rights violation of gender-based violence (GBV) and the need for expanded leadership beyond women-based organizations in addressing and eradicating it. 

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 March 02, 2024 - March 08, 2024

Nova Scotia                    $1.1103

Prince Edward Island   $1.1103