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THE BISHOP'S OFFICESchedule Wednesday Jan 8 - Meetings in office; Regional Deans Meeting; and Canadian Compass Rose Society Meeting. Thursday Jan 9 - Monthly meeting with Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator; Synod Arrangements Meeting; and meetings outside of the office. Friday Jan 10 - Appointment in office; ½ day off Sunday Jan 12 - Parish of Yarmouth & Tusket Visit Monday Jan 13 - Day off; Centre for Congregational Development/Bishop's Summit Gathering (afternoon - online) Tuesday Jan 14 - Meetings in office; and Parish of Seaforth Parish Council Wednesday Jan 15 - Leadership Team Meeting and appointments in office Announcements Bishop Sandra has accepted the resignation of the Rev'd Mark Marshall as Rector of The Church of the Apostles effective March 31, 2025. At this time Mark will move into retirement. Bishop Sandra is pleased to announce the following appointments: The Rev'd LCol Bev Kean-Newhook as Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of St. John's Halifax effective January 12, 2025. Openings Rector, 3/4 tme, Parishes of Musquodoboit and Ship Harbour Rector, full-time, The Parish of St. Francis by the Lakes, Lower Sackville |
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FROM THE SYNOD OFFICE |
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MISSION, MINISTRY and WORSHIP |
The Connectors SEVEN
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 in early 2025 for lay and clergy participants who want to explore discerning prayer, deep dive discussions, engaging readings, goal-setting, mutual support and encouragement. The Connectors SEVEN is a group of up to 10 eager pioneering-type people who gather monthly for 10, two-day sessions (a mixture of residential retreats and Zoom meetings). This is a skill-building environment for faithful Anglicans who want to reach out to others, but aren’t sure how. Participants in this cohort are a gift and asset to a local parish and their community. All costs are covered by the Diocese. Facilitators are: Kim Lively, Parish of Oakfield & Fall River; Bishop Ron Cutler (retd); Lisa Vaughn, Director of Mission and Ministry Development. ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS … ... are willing to lean into their growing edges and take risks. ... commit to participating in all the sessions and an average of 3 hours per month of study, reflection and discernment/visioning for themselves and their congregation(s). Additional time required for missional initiatives. Application deadline for The Connectors SEVEN is Friday, February 28, 2025. INFO & SIGN-UP HERE: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ConnectorsSEVEN (Got questions? E-mail: missiondirector@nspeidiocese.ca or call: 902-789-4840.)
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Listen. Learn. Experiment. Connect.
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Good Grief - Guiding Light TrainingOur Diocesan GUIDING LIGHT ministry training sessions on Zoom resume this January, with a focus on understanding grief and post-funeral supports. Tuesday, January 21 - GRIEF with Rev. Canon Dr. Jody Clarke, Professor of Pastoral Studies, Atlantic School of Theology. (90 minutes) This will be a deep and intense dive into an emotion that dominates our world. Grief is often complicated, and it can also be very complex. (Complicated and complex grief are very different emotional realities.) During the evening, we will look at how grief moves and lives in our lives as people with some responsibility for the spiritual health of our communities and in the lives of those with whom we minister. The goal of the workshop is that of empowering each of the participants to become more aware of how they can response to the experience of loss. We will examine popular myths about grief, uncover those events in life that cause grief to come flooding back, and how we can respond to loss with empathy and grace. Please know that as challenging as this topic is, the evening should be one that leaves each participant feeling both a little wiser and a little more compassionate. Tuesday, January 28 - FUNERAL FOLLOW-UP & MISSIONJoin Rev. Canon Lisa Vaughn (60 minutes), Director of Mission and Ministry Development, to explore ways to support grieving families and their loved ones after a recent death. Hear about simple and low-cost approaches to continue to minister to those who mourn. From special church gatherings, to compassionate greetings, grief-support groups and more, learn about best practices and resources for funeral follow-ups. REGISTRATION: In the last year, if you already signed up for GUIDING LIGHT, you will receive an invitation with the Zoom link via e-mail. If you have not registered already, sign up here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/GUIDINGLIGHT The Holy Spirit is calling us to embrace more fully the ministry of all the baptized. Got questions? Contact Lisa - missiondirector@nspeidiocese.ca or 902-789-4840. |
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Communities & LonelinessCommunities & Loneliness The need for authentic community in our society has never been more clear. People are more disconnected and lonelier than ever. Churches can lead the way in creating and inviting local folk to join together in causes and genuine community. But there is a cost - comfort and risk. Read (or listen) to this article featuring the teaching of Alan Hirsch, published by Fresh Expressions. |
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DIOCESAN EVENTS |
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YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY |
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Youth at SynodBeing a youth delegate at our Diocesan Synod is a chance to make your voice heard and to be part of making meaningful change in the church – and we’d love to help get you there! Join us for an informal Q+A with Bishop Sandra, Archdeacon Katherine Bourbonniere, and Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator Allie Colp on zoom to hear more of what Synod is all about and the role that youth play within it. Bring whatever questions you've got and we will find you some answers. This session is open to youth, parents/guardians, clergy, and lay leaders. Sign up here and we will send the zoom link right to your inbox! |
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WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE DIOCESE |
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Week of Prayer for Christian UnityThe Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated around the world. The universal week of prayer encourages Christians of all denominations to meet, to participate in various liturgical and other activities, and to pray together that all may be one, as Christ desires. In Halifax four ecumenical services and a public lecture have been planned for the week 19-16 January 2025. This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
Sunday 19 January at 4pm - Anglican Cathedral Church of All Saints (1330 Cathedral Lane)
Guest Preacher: The Most Reverend Brian Dunn, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Halifax-Yarmouth
Monday 20 January at 7pm Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (2096 Windsor Street)
Public Lecture by Dr. David Deane, Associate Professor of Theology at Atlantic School of Theology Nicaea as a cornerstone of Christian Ecumenism see www.daviddeane.ca/new-events
Tuesday 21 January at 7pm Saint John’s United Church (6025 Stanley Street)
Guest Preacher: Sister Donna Geernaert, SC, Canadian Council of Churches
Thursday 23 January at 2pm Northwood Halifax Campus (2515 Northwood Terrace)
Guest Preacher: the Rev Antonio Siracusa, Presbyterian Church of Saint David
Sunday 26 January 3pm Saint Benedict Catholic Parish (45 Radcliffe Drive)
Guest Preacher: The Right Reverend Sandra Fyfe, Anglican Bishop of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island |
