Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island | Anglican Diocese in Halifax, NS

SCHEDULE

Bishop Sandra is on vacation until September 10th.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bishop Sandra is pleased to announce the following appointments

The Reverend Dr. Carolyn Sharp has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Resurrection effective June 1^st, 2024.

The Reverend Gethin Edward has been appointed Part-Time Priest-in-Charge (20%) for the Parish of Holy Trinity, Georgetown effective July 1^st, 2024 to June 30^th, 2026.

The Reverend Patrick Bright has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of South Queens effective July 25^th to December 31^st, 2024.

The Reverend Alvin Westgate’s appointment Priest-in-Charge for the Parish of St. John’s Lunenburg has been extended to September 30^th, 2024.

The Reverend Brieanna Andrews has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Hubbards effective September 1st, 2024.

The Reverend Cathy-Lee Cunningham has been appointed Incumbent of the Parish of St. Andrew's Timberlea (60%) effective September 1st, 2024.

Bishop Sandra has accepted the following resignations:

The Reverend Dawn-Lea Greer as Rector of Bridgetown, effective September 15^th, 2024, at this time Dawn-Lea plans to move into bi-vocational ministry.

The Reverend John Morrell as Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Northumberland, effective September 15^th, 2024.

VOCATIONS COORDINATOR

I am pleased to announce that the Reverend Carl Fraser has accepted my offer of appointment as our next Vocations Coordinator, effective October 1st, 2024.

Carl has served as Rector for the Parish of Fall River for the past ten years and as an ordained leader in our Diocese for over twenty years. Prior to ordination, he held positions as a Lay Pastor in the Lutheran Church and as a Youth Worker in the Cape Breton and Lunenburg regions. Carl holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Atlantic School of Theology, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Marys University, and a Diploma in Small Business Management.

Carl brings considerable experience and gifts in the disciplines of discernment, questioning, curiosity, listening, and clarifying vocation. This comes from his own vocational journey and ministry, as well as his contributions as a member of Pre-Ordination Review (POR) committees, a supervisor with theological students and postulants for ministry, a mentor for the newly ordained, a Spiritual Director for Teens Encounter Christ (TEC), a certified Education for Ministry (EfM) Mentor, and a Regional Dean. Carl also has considerable experience supporting and empowering laity for the ministries to which God is calling them. He is prayerful and engaging and is deeply committed to helping people discover and explore how God is calling them to live out their baptismal identity as members of the Body of Christ. Carl is a collaborative leader, a thoughtful and clear communicator, a gifted priest, and a wise and discerning fellow traveller on the journey of faith.

Carls appointment comes after an extensive interview and discernment process during which we received applications from across Canada and beyond. I am excited to welcome him to this diocesan ministry and am delighted that this is now a full-time position. This shift reflects a growing interest in and discernment about vocations to a variety of ordained and lay ministry roles in our Diocese. I am confident that Carls gifts, skills, imagination, passion, and vision will serve us well in the years to come. Carl looks forward to joining our diocesan staff team as we support clergy and lay leaders across Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in building Christ-centred, mission-minded, ministering communities of faith. Please join me in welcoming Carl as our new Vocations Coordinator.

+Sandra

The Parish of Musquodoboit and Ship Harbour is situated along the Eastern Shore scenic route Highway #7. Our parishes are located only 45-50 minutes from the extreme end to the city and 25 minutes from the closest point. There are freshwater lakes to one side and the ocean on the other with many wild islands. Within our area we have two of Nova Scotia’s most beautiful sand beaches, Martinique Beach in East Petpeswick and Clam Harbour Beach in Clam Harbour.  Each beach extends for at least 2 miles, so if you are an explorer or a walker, many hours of quiet and solitude can be had while discovering little oddities. If you are sitting in your front or backyard usually nature will visit you throughout the year.  You will see many varieties of birds, and other creatures, squirrels, raccoons and deer etc.  

We are two small rural parishes that work and worship together. Our shared parishes do not have a rectory.  There are two churches in Musquodoboit Parish and four in Ship Harbour Parish. Our churches do not have washroom facilities. St. James Church, Head Jeddore has the opportunity to use the facilities of the church hall next door.  St. Thomas, Musquodoboit Harbour has a composting toilet.  

We have one Holy Communion service each Sunday, held in a different church each week. Our congregations enjoy gathering together for worship. Music is a big part of our services.

One of our favourite services is the barbecue at Webber’s Campground in June, where both parishes come together to worship and enjoy each other’s company.

We are proud to be affirming parishes in favour of equal marriage since 2019 and we advocate for the inclusion of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation.   

Pastoral Care is also very important to us, providing emotional, social and spiritual support to all, not just to the ones we see on Sunday morning. 

When thinking of our next rector words like compassionate, joyous, energetic, encouraging, and supportive come to mind, and for sure, a sense of humour goes a long way!    

We are a very friendly community and reach out to all in need or sadness. We are proud to say we live on the Eastern Shore because, to anyone who knows the shore, it means friendly (peace, harmony, love and caring by all).   

In consultation with Maritime Anglicans and United Church denominational leaders, Atlantic School of Theology (AST) is producing a program to respond to this call to deeper Christian maturity.

+ Are you thinking about taking a Christian education course this autumn to energize your faith and inspire your ministry?

+ Do you want to increase interest and commitment in discipleship in your congregation?

AST is launching Atlantic School of Discipleship, beginning in October 2024, with teaching taking place online and in local communities.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

Through interaction with AST’s world-class teachers, participants are introduced to a solid foundation of how Christian faith and tradition impact our daily walk as followers of Jesus. Faculty include two Anglican professors, one Roman Catholic, and four from the United Church. The program is open to adults with any education level.

Each month focuses on a different topic:

The Old Testament for today
The New Testament for today
Christian beliefs and our daily living
What is the church and what is my place in it?
What does being a disciple of Jesus mean for me today?
How do we truly care for one another in our community?
Following Jesus, Living the Virtues
Dealing with challenge and change as a community of disciples
Talking about my faith with others

HOW WILL THIS PROGRAM WORK?

Each month participants receive readings and reflection questions designed to explore faith topics. Then they join in a live (via Zoom) presentation by an AST instructor on that month’s topic. A second online opportunity to interact with questions and conversation takes students deeper into understanding.

Time commitment: two Tuesday evenings a month for nine months, plus some reading time outside of those gatherings.

Additionally, there are four, one-day in-person regional events. Some of the cohort gatherings take place in New Glasgow, NS; Truro, NS, and Summerside, PE. As interest grows, other locations may be added.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Tuition for individual participants is $300. A group with 5 participants from the same parish is $1,000.

Anglican Scholarships are available. Any lay participant from the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island may apply for a $150 scholarship, in honour of Rev. Canon David Reid, to cover the cost of tuition. (Contact the Director of Mission and Ministry Development to request an application form. missiondirector@nspeidiocese.ca )

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Contact Atlantic School of Theology: discipleship@astheology.ns.ca or 902-429-6495.

DETAILS HERE: https://www.astheology.ns.ca/future/certificate/discipleship.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawEgVThleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZFmwFriDlCFAkGV_O-gDBWrIU-Dn7umc_PbG5ZV3ketbYeJc73udnvwFg_aem_QhESvS8TcItcuB7b2tOAUA

Synod Office Updates

What's happening around the Diocese?

St. Anne’s Summer Camp and All Saints, Gibson’s Lake

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