Schedule

Thursday, January 15 - Meetings in and out of office; Parish Meeting (evening)

Friday, January 16 - Administration/Catch up (am), Online Meetings

Sunday, January 18 - Parish Visit - St. John's Anglican Church, Port Williams, NS - Parish of Cornwallis (am), Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Ecumenical Service - First Baptist Church, Halifax (pm)

Monday, January 19 - Day off

Tuesday, January 20 - University of King's College Honorary Degree Committee (pm), Dartmouth Region Confirmation Candidates (evening)

Wednesday, January 21 - Monthly Staff Meeting (am), Monthly Meeting with Youth and Family Ministries Coordinator (pm)

Announcements

Bishop Sandra has accepted the resignation of the Rev'd David Garrett as Rector for the Parish of St. Peter's, Charlottetown, effective January 31, 2026. We wish David well as he moves into retirement. 

Openings

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

Shared Ministry - Parish of Emmanuel, Spryfield and the Parish of Falkland (St. James Church, Herring Cove), full time

Diocesan Archivist

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

Many people all around us - of all ages and backgrounds - are desperately lonely. The key is for Christians to move beyond being merely nice to nurturing genuine friendships. Most times this is challenge for our congregations, requiring intentionality and coaching. Read about the principles and values of a truly inclusive, welcoming church in this article, Do We Have Friends at Church – Or Are We a Lonely Crowd?, by missiologist Mike Frost.

 - I took away the need to remain in the present and let God direct the future.”

 - My heart is a little lighter; my soul has been troubled, but now I feel peace.”

 - I was in awe of how interconnected the talks and activities were—like God was weaving a story.”

These are a few of the comments we received from participants at last year's Diocesan retreat.

Find 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.

HURRY! Attendance is limited to the first 120 people who register.

Early Bird Rate 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

Register:   https://dnspeidatabase.elvanto.eu/form/177f127a-97f6-4515-a7b9-8e89457e60a0

Throughout the weekend, you’ll discover practices that can enrich your daily life and be shared within your parish and community. As we grow in faith, we also learn how to bring that deepening back home—offering encouragement, hope, and inspiration to others. Join us on this journey of discovery, where every step opens new pathways to grace and growth.

Click HERE to register

Listen. Learn. Experiment. Connect.

The Connectors is a group that journeys over the course of 12 months to explore fresh approaches to flourishing ministry. It involves reflection, prayer, discussion, study, goal-setting, trying out missional initiatives, mutual peer support and more!

This peer learning community begins meeting on Zoom in March 2026 for lay and clergy participants who want to explore discerning prayer, deep dive discussions, engaging readings, goal-setting, mutual support and encouragement. 

Application deadline for The Connectors EIGHT is Friday, January 30, 2026.

 REGISTER HERE:    www.surveymonkey.com/r/ConnectorsEIGHT

Got questions?    E-mail  missiondirector@nspeidiocese.ca or  call:  902-789-4840.

As we approach Black History Month, also known as African Heritage Month, we encourage congregational leaders to explore the many resources available for learning and worship. This month offers an important opportunity to recognize the histories and contributions of African Nova Scotian and Black Prince Edward Islander communities, whose stories continue to shape our region.

Engaging with these resources is a meaningful way to welcome, include, celebrate, and educate within our congregations. By acknowledging and uplifting these communities, we deepen our understanding, strengthen relationships, and embody the hospitality and justice to which we are called.

Visit our diocesan webpage for links to activities, worship ideas and other resources:  https://www.nspeidiocese.ca/pages/african-heritage-month 

Two FREE online sessions in February offers opportunities to explore and connect around local congregational partnerships, Ecumenical Shared Ministry (ESM). 

On Feb. 12, a learning session introduces newcomers to ecumenical shared ministry. 

On Feb. 26, a networking session supports those already serving in partnerships. 

Both sessions are hosted by the Lutheran-Anglican-Moravian Commission via Zoom and will include special guest speakers.

REGISTER FOR Feb. 12 , Feb. 26 

Join a weekly Zoom book study exploring Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times by Gregory Boyle, a moving reflection on love, compassion, and building an inclusive Beloved Community. Beginning the week of February 16 and running through April 20 (with a break for Holy Week), participants will read and discuss one chapter per week in 60-minute sessions.

Through Boyle’s wisdom-filled stories and insights, this series invites thoughtful conversation on how love can heal divisions and foster genuine belonging in our world. Registration opens soon.

As Lent approaches, beginning on Feb. 18th with Ash Wednesday, we invite congregational leaders to explore the wide range of resources available on our Diocesan website. You’ll find ideas for meaningful worship, activities for all ages and stages of faith, devotional practices, studies, and creative options to help your community enter this season with intention and depth.

Visit these pages often and try something new this year. Fresh resources will be added weekly, offering ongoing inspiration for Lent and Holy Week. Whether you’re planning in-person services, online events, intergenerational activities, or you are seeking personal spiritual practices, these tools are designed to support and enrich your ministry throughout this sacred season.

Lent Devotions & Study Resources

Lent & Holy Week Worship Resources

You are warmly invited to a special learning event on Saturday, March 21 at St. John’s Halifax, 2187 Larry Uteck Blvd, (West) Bedford.

TIME: 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A light breakfast is provided.

In a time when social media promises connection yet so often leaves us feeling isolated, we find ourselves living through what many describe as a loneliness epidemic. The Church, however, is uniquely placed to respond with compassion, presence, and hope.

Rev. Dr. Andrew Richardson, Vocation Minister (Atlantic) for The United Church of Canada, from Summerside, PE, will lead us in a thoughtful and engaging exploration of the Church’s crucial mission of “befriending.”

Through two inspiring talks—

• Befriending Each Other
• Befriending the World
  —we will reflect on how Christian communities can offer genuine relationships and meaningful connection both within the church family and in the wider world.

THE MISSION OF FRIENDSHIP workshop is free, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

SIGN UP HERE:   www.surveymonkey.com/r/BEFRIENDING
(Deadline is midnight March 15)

All are welcome— bring a friend!

This event is sponsored by the Diocese, through The Connectors REUNION group.

Got questions?  E-mail missiondirector@nspeidiocese.ca or text/call 902-789-4840.

This year’s Diocesan Youth camp is happening May 22 to 24, and we need committed and compassionate adults who care about young people to help us make it happen! You don’t need to have volunteered before, and you don’t need to currently be involved in youth ministry in your parish - we’ll make sure you’re screened and trained and know everything that you need to know for the weekend! Get more info or sign up here.

Young people are carrying a lot these days, and youth ministry often provides a place for them to open up and share what's going on with their leaders and peers. Join us for this zoom workshop about how to practice trauma informed listening with young people so that you can better provide a safe space foryoung people to feel heard and supported. 

Find more details and sign up for the workshop here. 

We had so much fun with the Jesse Tree Project that we decided to try out something similar for Lent! Families are invited to be co-creators of a Lenten reflection program by sending in a picture and a short prayer or a poem to go with a word. We’ll package up all of the submissions and send a package to every participating family to invite you into a prayer-filled Lent alongside other families throughout the diocese. Find all the details, and the sign up form here.

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

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.

*UPDATED*

The Dartmouth Region's Marriage Success Course is offered as a marriage preparation course for couples of all genders and sexual orientations. Topics covered include: Communication, Conflict, Finances, Spirituality, Family of Origin and Sexuality. You do not have to reside in the Dartmouth region to participate. Marriage Success will be held Saturday, 2 May 2026,  at St. Luke's Church, 9 Veterans Avenue, Dartmouth. The course will only be offered if a minimum of 4 couples register. Cost: $60 per couple (materials and food provided) Registration deadline is 31 March 2026. See registration form or e-mail marriagesuccess@outlook.com for more information.

Reimagining Church is just that: thinking in fresh ways about church and how it connects with today’s world. Come willing to be stretched, challenged, and refreshed!

Wednesday Evenings 7-9 PM EST

January 14 – March 4, 2026

Instructor: Dr. John Bowen

Are you frustrated by the decline in church attendance and participation at your parish? Perhaps you’re hearing the buzz around terms like “missional church,” “discipleship,” and “fresh expressions,” but are baffled about what those mean or how they might relate to your own parish. Or perhaps you are simply curious about whether a new perspective might help you and your parish engage differently with the gospel and with parish ministry. 

The course is for anyone eager and willing to explore Christian faith in a fresh way that is at the same time ancient and yet relevant to today’s world. It is being hosted by the Niagara School for Missional Leadership.

For more information and to register: https://nsml.ca/reimagining-church/

Join us on Saturday, January 17 for an eat-in or take-out meal featuring Fish Chowder or Hamburger Soup, served with a biscuit and dessert. All are welcome!

Eat-in: 11:30 a.m.
Take-out pickup: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
$15 adults | $7 children

To order take-out or reserve an eat-in seat, call Elaine L. at 902-865-4727 or email via the church website: stfrancisbythelakes.ca

Join St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church for an evening of Scottish poetry, music and dance. Followed by a Scottish feast with haggis, neeps and tatties.

Free will offering. All are welcome!

The Cathedral is hosting the closing Evensong for this special week; it will be on January 25 at 7 pm, followed by a simple reception.

Would your family like to play Family Feud? Join us for an evening of fun, friendly competition, and prizes at St. Luke’s Parish Hall on Saturday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Admission is by donation, with all proceeds supporting the Through the Years Food Pantry.

Families interested in participating are invited to sign up by contacting Clair MacInnis at clairmacinnis@yahoo.ca.

All are welcome!

The Church is making a meaningful contribution to caring for God’s creation—from greening buildings and reducing waste to planting trees, creating pollinator gardens, and marking seasons such as Earth Day, Rogation Sunday, and the Season of Creation with worship and action.

Now is the time to come together to share ideas, support one another, and strengthen collaboration between parishes, faith communities, environmental organizations, and the wider community.

All are invited to a Zoom conversation on Thursday, January 29 at 7:00 pm.
Please share this invitation within your faith community or region, and RSVP if you are able to attend.

All are invited to the second in a series of online conversations hosted by an affirming community connected with the Anglican Church of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. This session will explore guilt, an often-overlooked yet powerful human emotion, and will be facilitated by the Rev’d Canon Dr. Jody Clarke, professor of pastoral theology at the Atlantic School of Theology.

Thursday, January 29, 2026, 7:00–8:30 p.m. (AST) on Zoom.
To register and receive the Zoom link, email soulstirringconversations@gmail.com.
Click Read More for more details.

Hope United Church invites the community to All About Love, a benefit concert in support of ALS Canada, on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 7:00 pm.

The evening will feature Encore, a jazz ensemble performing romantic and nostalgic standards from the Great American Songbook and the Golden Era of song. Musicians include Graham Berry (keyboards), Scott Ferguson (percussion), Mike Lee (string bass), Anthony Rissesco (fiddle), and Irene Wilkinson (vocals).

Tickets are $25 cash ($15 with student ID), available at the door or by reserving in advance at igwjazz@gmail.com.

The concert will be held at Hope United Church, 3055 Connaught Avenue, Halifax. All are welcome to enjoy a beautiful evening of music in support of a meaningful cause.

Undie-what?? Yes, this is a Sunday when everyone is encouraged to bring new, unopened underwear for people who are unhoused or otherwise in need. “Undie Sunday” is a playful way to raise awareness of the very serious issue of homelessness in our region. Miia Suokonautio, the Executive Director of the YWCA Halifax, will speak at our worship service that day. And maybe we can collect enough briefs, bras, socks and t-shirts to equip the shelters and their residents for the remaining winter months. 

St. John’s is beginning a search for a new Finance and Office Clerk to support our Parish Council, administrative, financial and communication needs of our parish, St. John’s Cemetery and St. Nicholas. This part-time position (approximately 20 hours per week at $35.00 per hour) is essential to the smooth functioning of our worship life, pastoral ministries and community engagement.

We invite applications from individuals with experience in bookkeeping, office administration, and working in a collaborative environment. A full job description is available by request.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to administrator@st.johnshalif.

Applications are open until February 15 or until the position is filled. Please keep this hiring process in your prayers as we seek a person gifted for this ministry.

“Being With” is a ten-session course to explore the Christian faith – for the first time, or to go deeper after many years of churchgoing. Meaning, Prayer, Story, Suffering, Resurrection are among the topics covered. We have just finished an in-person course, and Rev. Kate will offer one on Zoom this winter, most likely on Monday evenings. One participant from our last round wrote: “Being With helped me build a more peaceful and grounded inner life. It encouraged me to reflect regularly, to learn to notice God’s goodness, and to become more grateful. This has made my faith journey feel more alive and my experience of church more intimate and supportive.” Click here to sign up; email Rev. Kate if you’d like to know more. 

Atlantic School of Theology invites the community to a relevant and practical workshop on eldercare on March 3, 2026, exploring how families and faith communities can respond faithfully and effectively to the needs of aging loved ones and parishioners. Led by Patrick Cassidy, KC, the session draws on both professional expertise and personal experience to address the challenges of navigating and sustaining eldercare.

The workshop takes place at 1:30 p.m. in the AST Chapel with a Zoom option available. Cost is $25, and free for students. All are welcome, with a special invitation extended to students and clergy.

Register here

Atlantic School of Theology is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the Honourable Mayann Francis Faith in Action Award for 2026. The Award honours exceptional community outreach that is recognized as having provided significant benefit to the wider community. This outreach award is given to individual(s) whose honoured work is driven by their religious commitment to the faith tradition to which they belong.

More information about the award and how to nominate a potential recipient can be found on the AST website: Honors and Distinctions | Atlantic School of Theology

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  - Jan. 10, 2026 - Jan. 16, 2026

Nova Scotia - $0.9322 Prince Edward Island - $0.9322