Schedule

Wednesday, October 14th - Meeting with Strategic Planning Consultant and Senior Leadership Team

Thursday, October 15^th - Senior Leadership Team Meeting (am), Ordination of Kenneth MacIntosh, Christ Church, Berwick, 4:30 pm

Friday, October 16^th - Saturday, October 17^th - Diocesan Executive Council, In-person meeting, Christ Church, Dartmouth

Sunday, October 18th - Parish Visit - St. Andrew's, West Northfield, Parish of New Germany, 10 am; Parish Meeting (pm)

Monday, October 19th - Day off

Tuesday, October 20^th - Reading and Administration (am), Synod Arrangements Meeting, Online Zoom Meeting (pm)

Ordinations

God willing and people consenting,

on Thursday, October 15th

at 4:30 pm at Christ Church, Berwick

Bishop Sandra will ordain:

Kenneth MacIntosh

to the Sacred Order of Deacons

Your prayers and presence are requested for Ken

as he prepares for his ordination and the vows and promises he will make

before God and the gathered community.

Clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers are invited to vest and process. The liturgical colour is red.

The Holy Spirit is calling faith communities to reimagine our call to serve like Jesus. There is a growing sense that leaders are being guided to renew how we do ministry. The struggle is where to start.

Read this article, The church isn’t dying. It’s being remade, published by Alban Institute/Duke Divinity School, written by Shannon Hopkins, Co-founder & lead cultivator, RootedGood.

Parish leaders are often looking for practical, easy ways to help people connect Sunday faith with everyday life. Here is this week's ready-to-use "Flourishing Faith In Daily Life" mini-resources.

The topic is: The Gift of Faith & Stewardship
Focus: Giving, Serving & Stewarding

Download any of the 2 pdf version options here:   

SINGLE & DOUBLE HALF-PAGES - Oct 18 - Week 6 - Bulletin Insert - Half Pages

These 'micro-practice' faith inserts are designed to be plug-and-play, adaptable across multiple settings with zero extra preparation:

• Sunday Leaflets: Print-ready, vertical half-sheet bulletin inserts.

• Parish Newsletters: Compact reflections ready to paste straight into your digital or print communications.

• Social Media: Short, engaging snippets formatted for Facebook.

• Parish Meetings: Built-in devotional starters to ground Parish Council or committee meetings.

Wardens, Rectors and Priests-in-Charge, keep an eye on your inbox Tuesdays for each downloadable package. Each insert is paired with an optional 30-second pulpit script to make introducing the weekly practice effortless. Available weekly from the Net News too.

For all of the inserts visit: https://www.nspeidiocese.ca/pages/flourishing-faith

Got suggestions, comments or questions? Write to:  missiondirector@nspeidiocese.ca

What: Free webinar.

When: Wednesdays in October - 2 p.m. (Atlantic time) 

Who: Hosted by the Diocese of Rupert's Land in partnership with Black Anglicans of Canada

Register  

Facilitated by TENS: The Episcopal Network for Stewardship.

Learn more about the ministry of legacy or planned giving and how it can help your congregation build a sustainable future. Supporting the Church You Love, for Generations to Come: Your Legacy. God’s Mission.

Join The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) and the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa for a practical conversation about planned and legacy giving—for those considering their own legacy and those helping to advance stewardship and giving in their church or organization.

For INFO and to REGISTER  

This low-cost annual Volunteer Conference offers practical training and inspiring ideas for non-profits on things related to welcoming newcomers, applying for grants, and ways to engage the wider community. 

Keynote speaker is Annika Voltan, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Management Department at Saint Mary's University, Halifax. Annika has worked across government, nonprofit, business, and academic sectors and is recognized for her expertise in social innovation, community building, systems thinking, and cross-sector collaboration.

2026 Volunteer Conference is Monday, November 23 - 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - at Delta Hotel, Burnside/ Dartmouth, N.S.

Earlybird pricing: $40 until October 25.

Regular conference fee: $75

Registration closes November 16.

 Workshops include:

• Preparing to Apply for Government Funding 

• Getting Started with AI: An Everyday Guide for Basic Use 

• Inclusion and Diversity in Volunteering

• Mobilizing Your Community

• Better Writing Isn't the Answer: The Secret to Winning Grants 

• Preventing Burnout

• Rural Volunteering: Opportunities & Challenges 

• Reaching Out 101: Tangible and Intentional Promotion and Outreach  

• Youth Voices in Volunteering 

• Navigating Change: Guiding Nonprofits through Uncertain Times

• Welcome Works: Volunteers Helping Newcomers Thrive 

• Measuring Impact: What Changed Because We Were There?

For info and to register:  https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/volunteering/volunteer-conference

There are just *so* many things that youth and young adults are navigating, so many questions for them to figure out, and so much pressure to have it all together. 

So we're inviting youth and young adults, aged 16 to 21, to join a cohort to step away from all of the pressures of day to day life for a FREE weekend retreat and then six months of regular online gatherings for prayerful listening in community. 

Find out more here: https://www.nspeidiocese.ca/pages/finding-our-paths-together

Are you interested in dancing for (and with!) God during this celebration service? 

We are inviting dancers of different experience levels and ages to join us for up to three spiritual dances.

These dances will be part of the liturgy at the November 30^th celebration, so dancers need to be available in person at in Halifax that evening.

There will be a practice(s) according to our availability, and also an opportunity to learn via video for those who want more practice time. Interested in learning more? Please email Archdeacon Katherine Bourbonniere at office@churchofsaintandrew.ca.

On November 30 at 6 pm our diocese will gather in All Saints Cathedral, Halifax, to celebrate with an exuberant service of Holy Eucharist the 50

anniversary of our Church ordaining women to the priesthood. And because that date also happens to be the 6th anniversary of Bishop Sandra's consecration as bishop, an event that had no real public celebration as it took place under Covid restrictions, we will also celebrate her ministry among us.  A reception will precede the worship.

We hope every parish in the diocese will join in preparing for this celebration. More information will be coming throughout the summer, but here are some of the ways to get involved: 

• Make a list of the women ordained in or from your parish and female rectors – and also those who felt called and were not welcomed into ordained ministry; those stories are part of the fabric too. 

• Collect the stories of these women, and those who supported them

• Create artwork depicting your parish’s women clergy and stories (a template and instructions will be sent out in advance so these are the same size and material; these will be gathered and hung in the Cathedral for the service)

• a collect will be sent for prayer during October and November)  

• Host a parish watch party for the national celebration being held November 25 in Victoria

• If you are too far from Halifax to attend, host a parish watch party for our diocesan celebration. 

We are making resources available to assist those who want to attend the national celebration in Victoria and need financial help to do so; please contact Lawrence Roche at financialcontroller@nspeidiocese.ca if you ware interested in going. 

And watch for further announcements about ways to participate in this grand celebration!

Join the Arts & Theology Committee and AST Continuing Education for an icon writing workshop with iconographer Fernanda Cota Gonzalez. Learn the rich symbolism, tradition, and techniques of this ancient sacred art as you write your own icon under her guidance.

Join us, November 6-8, in the AST President's Lodge.

Friday - 5:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.;

Saturday - 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.;

Sunday - 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

All skill levels are welcome; materials will be provided. Limited spaces are available; claim yours with the link below. 

About the Iconographer

Fernanda Cota Gonzalez is a Catholic iconographer whose journey to sacred art began with a profound spiritual conversion in 2019. After entering the monastery of the Daughters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Campeche, Mexico, she discovered her calling in iconography—an ancient art form rooted in prayer and reverence. Now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she creates icons, teaches workshops, and leads retreats to help others encounter the beauty and spiritual depth of this sacred tradition.

Register your interest here: https://astheology.jotform.com/262505302601948 

Imagine being in a hospital to support a loved one in a moment when they need medical attention... and the lights go out.

St. Luke’s Hospital is located in Nablus on the West Bank, and is a hospital operated by the Episcopal (Anglican) Diocese of Jerusalem. Alongside Hope has been working in partnership with the Diocese of Jerusalem to fund the purchase and installation of 407 solar panels for St. Luke’s Hospital. 

The appeal for Light for St. Lukes officially went out in the late spring. Our goal is to have $176,000 by October 18 2026!

As of this week, Alongside Hope has fundraised $151,284 of $176,000! 

This week two parishes from the south shore came together to fundraise together (Thank you Holy Trinity Bridgewater and the Anglican Parish in New Germany)- participants got together to walk and rock together to fundraise! To hear more about this recent event or if you or your parish is interested in joining in the final push for Light for St. Lukes, every Watt counts! Check out the article linked Here for more information on how to support the project.

Anglicans Powering Potential encourage support for the Anglican Foundation of Canada, specifically by becoming a member. 

Membership provides lasting benefits. By investing today in the church of tomorrow, you strengthen parishes, nuture leadership, and help new ministries take root. Our diocese is one of the top in Canada in receipt of grants from AFC, so renew your membership, or become a member today, by using the donation form found with this link:

https://www.anglicanfoundation.org/membership/

Prefer to talk to text? Call AFC toll-free at 1-877-354-6387 or text 613-305-8876 to request a call from AFC's donations team.

Alternatively, email Executive Director, Dr. Scott Brubacher: sbrubacher@anglicanfoundation.org or Communications & Development Director, Michelle Hauser: mhauser@anglicanfoundation.org

Membership Recognition circles: Companion: $100-$499 \ Benefactor: $500 - $999 \ Director's Circle: $1,000 - $4,999 \ Primate's Circle: $5,000 +

Here are interesting International/World Days in October

Oct.15: International Day of Rural Women

Oct.16: World Food Day

Oct.17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Oct.24: United Nations Day and World Development Information Day

Oct.24 - 30: Disarmament Week

Oct.24 - 31: Global Media and Information Literacy Week

Oct.27: World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (UNESCO)

Oct.29: International Day of Care and Support

Oct.31: World Cities Day

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.

Fall updates