A few weeks ago it was noted that there would soon be an update on how Covid-19 restrictions might impact Annual General Meetings of churches and/or parishes in our Diocese. I apologize for the delay in providing that information.

It’s important to remember that as we cover two civil provinces, the restrictions are different in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. If there is any question about how up-to-date this information is, please go to https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/restrictions-and-guidance/ or

https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/covid19  

Thursday February 4th - Appointments in office

Friday February 5th - Appointments in office and Diocesan Council (pm)

Saturday February 6th - Diocesan Council

Monday February 8th - day off

Tuesday February 9th - in Office tasks and appointments in office

CHARITABLE TAX RECEIPT TIPS

It's that time of year... tax time! Deepen relationships with your donors by saying 'thanks' in a warm, effective way. Parishes are preparing to distribute charitable receipts, why not include one or two extras in the envelope to share with your givers how they are helping your congregation make a difference?

Diocesan Heating Oil Program

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

Several of our parishes prepare seasonal packages that focus on faith formation for the family. Fewer organized cultural and sporting events, as well as plenty of March Break time, means children, youth and adults are seeking activities to do at home. Intergenerational kits for the Lenten season, Holy Week and Easter can foster Christian education learning and spiritual worship disciplines that make a difference in cultivating faith. Victoria Hoppes, with Virginia Theological Seminary's Building Faith site, offers a variety of ideas and specific suggestions in Lent & Easter at Home Kits.

https://buildfaith.org/lent-at-home-kits/

Did you know you had a dedicated section on our website just for your Parish - Find-A-Church! If you haven't already - here is the link to have a look https://www.nspeidiocese.ca/find-a-church.  This provides viewers not only your contact information, but we also hope to provide a little insight into your Parish! 

I would like to update the photos with not just pictures of your Church buildings, but more importantly the drive behind our Parishes - PEOPLE!

FEBRUARY 7
 

Retired Clergy    |   Widows

The following are the Services for the month of February  2021, all which will be held at St. Edward the Confessor Anglican Church, 1650 Highway No 1, Clementsport, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, all are most welcome to attend bearing in mind the Church is being fully sanitized/Social distancing is being respected….

Resources for World Interfaith Harmony Week (February 1-7) are now available on anglican.ca, in an ecumenical letter from the Primate, National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop and National Bishop Susan Johnson from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

TOPIC: Caring for People with Mental Health Challenges and Promoting Mental Well-Being in Church Congregations

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Helen Noh serves as the Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology at Tyndale University in Toronto Ontario. Dr. Noh’s area of specialization in both clinical practice and research is in the area of marriage and family therapy.

Is your Women’s Group, the Parish’s Sunday School, Youth Group, or Outreach Team looking for a project that is perfect for the Lenten and Easter Seasons? If so, does the Anglican Church Women Board have a plan for you!  

Do Justice . . . Love Kindness . . . Walk Humbly with Your God Saturday, February 6, 2021; 10:30 – 12 noon; St. John’s, Bedford Join remotely at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyuAcbkJhnMeYgGu5vn2ZBQ Limited in-person attendance – register at davisnow@eastlink.ca

 https://huronatwestern.ca/events/flourishing-congregations-for-today-and-tomorrow-with-dr-joel-thiessen/

When: Thursday, February 11 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Eastern

LENT & HOLY WEEK RESOURCES

Lean into Lenten adaptations. The pandemic means many of our usual seasonal activities and worship gatherings have to be altered. Explore ways to offer engaging online, small group and at-home worship opportunities. Visit our special COVID pages including:

Seeking a versatile musician to provide music for worship services at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Annapolis Royal. The successful candidate should be a capable pipe organist who will enjoy leading our choir, and be able to lead with a variety of instruments other than the organ. Flexibility is a key quality. To apply, please send your resume to: Parish of Annapolis, PO Box 427, Annapolis Royal, NS, B0S 1A0, or apply by e-mail to parish.annapolis@eastlink.ca. Closing date, Monday March 8.   

Grab some gospel and go! 

A Lenten lunch-time opportunity to explore a scripture passage about Jesus in a relaxed Zoom gathering.

TIME: 12:10 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. 

DATES: Feb. 17 to March 31.

WHO: Anglicans from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.  

Lent is coming up quickly, but it's not too late to put together something for families in your parish! Lenten Letters in a Box is a resource designed to make it easy for you to equip families to engage with the season of Lent from Shrove Tuesday all the way to Easter Sunday. 

You'll find just about everything you need at http://www.sharenspei.ca/lentresource 

For information on this month's activities at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, click the EVENTS tab on the website: www.cathedralchurchofallsaints.com