Schedule

The appointment of the Rev'd Julia Ford as Priest-in-Charge for the Parish of Bridgetown, effective December 1, 2025.

Openings

Shared Ministry - Parish of St. John's Crapaud and the Parish of Milton and Rustico, 3/4 time

As winter approaches, freezing temperatures, snow, and ice can all create serious risks for property owners and organizations. From frozen pipes and roof leaks to slips and falls, seasonal hazards can cause costly damage and disrupt operations.

Ecclesiastical Insurance has developed a collection of winter risk management resources to help you prepare, prevent loss, and stay resilient through the cold months ahead.

Find Resources HERE

Diocesan Executive Council (DEC) met on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at St. John’s Anglican Church on Larry Uteck Blvd. We are pleased to share some highlights from the meeting, please find those HERE.

The next Anglican Foundation Grant deadlines are December 17^th 2025, April 24^th 2026,  October 9th, 2026.

Complete applications must be received by the Executive Secretary of Synod by those dates. execsecsynod@nspeidiocese.ca

**Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email from the Executive Secretary of Synod acknowledging its receipt**

Information for our Diocese in addition to the requirements from the Anglican Foundation

• The motion to move forward with this initiative from the minutes of council are required
• The Bishop does not compose her letter of support until after Diocesan Executive Council votes to forward the application.  This is taken care of within the Synod Office.
• The deadlines for applying are earlier than the dates on the Anglican Foundation website, as our applications must vetted by the committee, then brought to Diocesan Executive Council before they are sent to the foundation. Our dates are based on the dates the Diocesan Executive Council meets.
• If the grant application includes working with youth your vulnerable sector policies must be included in the application. 

To apply for a grant please go to the website  https://www.anglicanfoundation.org/apply/ 

and download all of the information to insure your application is complete.

Please feel free to send any questions to the

Executive Secretary of Synod, execsecsynod@nspeidiocese.ca

Please Beware of Fraud Emails

We have been made aware of cloned or fraudulent emails claiming to be from Bishop Sandra. Please note that these emails are not from her, and she would never send such messages. (asking to carry out a task as an example) If you receive one, please report it if possible and delete it immediately.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to our office at office@nspeidiocese.ca

We are blessed to have some amazing local musicians and speakers in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. These guest presenters can be a welcome addition to a Sunday worship or special event. Some of our parishes hire music students and music groups to share in leading sacred songs. How do we know we are properly assisting them in their visit and also appropriately compensating them?

10 Guidelines for Paying and Hosting Guest Speakers and Musicians in Your Church, written by church researcher Thom S. Rainer. 

Communication is critical for congregations hosting activities during Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. 

Whether it is Christmas Eve worship services, other festive liturgies, Bible studies, Christmas carol gatherings or children's programs - getting the word out to the wider community is key!

Be sure to PROMOTE your special events this holiday.

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.)

Also, be sure to emphasize the radical hospitality Christians are known for. 

Most guests and first-time visitors are not familiar with our worship practices, which books to use, whether or how to share in Eucharist, etc.  Be sure to offer clear instructions and intentional invitations. For example, if you are hosting a special coffee hour, make sure to personally invite the newcomers. 

Here's a really good resource for welcome tips, 7 Ways to Welcome Church Visitors on Christmas Eve.

Looking for the perfect gift for a longtime, hardworking Lay Leader, Licensed Lay Minister, Deacon, or Priest? Maybe your friend or family member needs a prayerful time away? Bless them with rest and spiritual refreshment at the PATHWAYS TO PEACE RETREAT 2026.

Theme: Deepening Faith

Dates: Thursday, May 29 – Sunday, May 31

Location: Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB

Join us for a transformative weekend featuring inspiring presenters—lay leaders and clergy—sharing practical disciplines and rhythms for a vibrant spiritual life.

Special Christmas Early Bird Rate!

Registration is open now:   https://dnspeidatabase.elvanto.eu/form/177f127a-97f6-4515-a7b9-8e89457e60a0

Only $175 (includes 2 nights accommodations, 5 delicious meals, retreat program, chapel worship, materials, and more!)

Offsite rate: $100

Student rate: Contact missiondirector@nspeidiocese.ca

This retreat is a beautiful way to bless someone who serves tirelessly—or to renew your own spirit. Space is limited, so register early and make this Christmas gift truly meaningful!

A large list of festive seasonal worship ideas, devotionals, studies and activities are available from our Diocesan website. Help parishioners and interested community members engage meaningfully this year. Encourage parishioners in faith formation with relevant (free) materials. 

Check it out and visit our page here

Click HERE to register

See what your parish offers in the way of prayer programs, contemplative gatherings, or quiet prayer times.

 Explore prayer gatherings from other parishes, perhaps not available at your church, or held at a time more convenient for your schedule; in person and on ZOOM.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (Nov. 25 - Dec. 10)

16 Days of Activism closes today December 10, Human Rights Day, honouring the date in 1948 when the UN's General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), stating that each person is entitled to fundamental rights, dignity, equality, and justice. Let's pledge to make every day human rights day. To explore the challenge and possibilities of striving for universal human rights in today's world, link into the 2025 Massey Lectures on CBC Radio's IDEAS: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/cbc-2025-massey-lectures-alex-neve-9.6974336 to hear Alex Neve on renewing human rights in a fractured world as he makes clear that these human rights need be truly universal. As Christians, as Anglicans, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is in line with our baptismal covenant to, with God's help, "strive for justice and peace among all people, respect[ing] the dignity of every human being."  

The finance team will send out scholarships for post-secondary students, and bursaries to school age children, over the next few weeks. If you received a scholarship or bursary in January, there is no need to re-apply. However, if you have not received a scholarship or bursary before, please contact Lawrence at financialcontroller@nspeidiocese.ca to apply.

This festive gathering of Anglicans and friends across the city will happen on New Years Day, beginning with worship at noon. Invite your friends and greet the New Year with your bishop and community. 

Cathedral Church of All Saints Events

Dec. 3, 10, 17 - Advent Reflections - St. Francis by the Lakes - 2:00pm

Dec. 12 - Christmas Sing-a-long - St. John's Anglican Church, Westphal

Dec. 14 - Jubilate Singers and Friends' Festival of Carols - St. Mark's Church, 5522 Russell St., Halifax

Dec. 14 - Christmas Pageant - St. Francis by the Lakes, 192 First Lake Drive

Dec. 15 - Christmas on the Grand Parade - St. Paul's Church, Halifax

Dec. 18 - Christmas Carols at the Cafe - St. Luke's Parish Hall, Hubbards

Dec. 21 - Capella Regalis Choir - Cathedral Church of All Saints

Dec. 24 - O Night Divine: The light of Christmas - St. Paul's Church, Halifax

Dec. 24 - Carols & Cocoa White's Lake Legion - 3495 Prospect Rd - 10am

Dec 24th - St. Timothy's Hatchet Lake, 2320 Prospect Rd. - 5:30pm

Dec 24th - St. Paul's Terence Bay, 180 Sandy Cove Rd. - 7:30pm

Dec. 24th, 25th, 28th & Jan 5th - St. Francis by the Lakes - 192 First Lake Drive, Lower Sackville

Dec. 24th - St. Edward the Confessor, Anglican Church - 4:00pm

Dec. 24th and 25th - The Anglican Parish of French Village

Join us for an informal, family-focused time of worship!

We'll play games, make crafts, sing songs, hear a story, pray, and share a meal together - and wrap up in time to get home for bedtime!

If you plan to come and have dietary needs, please email rectorstfrancisbythelakes@gmail.com to let us know

Live in Concert: Rachel MacLean! 

Join us at Trinity Anglican Church for an afternoon of beautiful music with the acclaimed Rachel MacLean.

Sunday, December 14th, at 2:00 PM
Tickets: $15, A donation of a food bank item is appreciated.

Advance Tickets Available At: Marshall’s Gift Shop, Digby,  Conway Quik Stop

All proceeds support ongoing church roof repairs.
Door prizes will be drawn during the event!

Come enjoy an inspiring performance while supporting a meaningful cause!

Save the date for our Annual Clergy Retreat: June 8th to June 12th at Our Lady of Hope Retreat Centre, Stanley Bridge, PEI, as we ponder God's gift of friendship and its many dimensions with the Rev. Dr. Dawna Wall.

Dorothy Day courageously stated that we all know the long loneliness. Living into our vocations means we are often holding a lot, and don't always have a safe place to put things down, or those whom we can examine the dimensions of the burdens. Others have been here before us, and through their stories offer us encouragement, tears of lament, laughter and understanding. Francis and Claire, David Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, Aelred and Ivo...to name just a few of those who compass us about, with spiritual friendship.

Registration opens in January 2026

Email questions to Rev. Tammy Hodge Orovec at: rev.tammyhodge@gmail.com

Two Education for Ministry (EfM) online groups are launching in the new year:
• Sunday Group with Rev. Paula Porter Leggett (Diocese of New Westminster) – 3:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. Atlantic
• Tuesday Group with David Harrison (Diocese of NS & PEI) – 7:00 p.m. Atlantic

EfM offers two study paths:
EfM Classic – a four-year, fully digital formation program exploring scripture, theology, and reflection.
EfM Wide Angle – a one-year program for newcomers or graduates continuing their faith journey.

EfM helps lay people deepen faith, discern vocation, and grow in discipleship within a supportive learning community.

For more info, contact David Harrison at djh@djharrison.ca
Visit efmcanada.ca
Recruiting now through January 4, 2026.

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. Sharon Williston by name at 1-888-310-1924 or by email Sharon.Williston@irvingoil.com 

The Furnace Oil price for the period  - Dec. 6, 2025 - Dec. 12, 2025.

Nova Scotia - $1.0037 Prince Edward Island - $1.0037