Thursday
September 7th
First Official Choir Practice of the Season FBC Sanctuary 7:00pm Sunday
September 10th
Blessing of the Bags Sunday
September 10th
Sunday School Registration Saturday September 16, 2017 Brunswick Street Breakfast 5:30 am (Parking lot - 2170 Barrington Street, beside the Metro Turning Point Centre Sunday September 17, 2017 Welcome Reception for Rusty, Jenny and Addison following gathered Worship at 10:30 am Sunday
September 24th: Anniversary Commemoration
FUTURE DATES TO REMEMBER October 13th Harvest Supper Outreach Committee November 4th Annual Tea & Sale
This is a month to celebrate as we welcome the Edwards Family – Rusty, Jenny and Addison – to Canada and to Halifax and to First Baptist. It seems much longer than two and a half years since we said farewell to John and Debbie Boyd. At times our journey, as a Congregation, was challenging. We relied on the energy and enthusiasm of Jenny Drewitz and on the steadying hand of Nelson Metcalfe and the unflagging energy of Lynn Uzans. We gathered our own strengths and resilience throughout the search for a new Senior Minister. And now, our journey continues under Rusty’s leadership.
On June 11th of this year, we called Rusty to Ministry at First Baptist recognizing his skills, his experience, and his clear sense of vocation as gifts for our future together. Rusty comes to us from University Baptist Church (UBC), Hattiesburg, Mississippi – a church with many similarities to First Baptist. Like us, UBC stands with the convictions of fundamental Baptist Freedoms. And, like us, UBC found its way to a ministry of affirmation, inclusion and welcome; even at the expense of leaving the Pine Belt Baptist Association in 2015 and becoming part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Leaving Mississippi has been a huge undertaking for Rusty and Jenny and Addison – a metric conversion of 2,000 miles to 3,300 km; packing and moving and clearing the border; finding that many things are the same – there’s even pulled pork and biscuits and the Disney channel; finding that many things are different – stopping in the middle of the block for people to cross the road and “Eh” and “Sorry”. But since crossing into Canada on the August long weekend and the furniture van arriving on Friday the 18th so much has been accomplished: Rusty and Jenny are settling into the parsonage; Rusty has transformed his office into a truly welcoming space; we have learned that there is a “big” difference between “Mississippi Baptists” and “Baptists from Mississippi”; Rusty has begun his pastoral care ministry making visits with the help of Nelson and Jenny; connections with local clergy are being made; plans are being confirmed for the resumption of fall Worship Services in our own Sanctuary and we have all started to say “Y’all”. Throughout September, we hope that “Y’all” will be with us to welcome Rusty and Jenny and Addison. Later in the month, on the 17th we will recognize Rusty and Jenny’s transfer of membership to First Baptist and will have a chance to more formally welcome them during a reception following worship. Then later in October we will hold a service of Installation recognizing Rusty’s call to First Baptist and his place within our broader fellowship of CABF and sister churches. To all who have helped in the many steps along this journey, a million thanks. There have been many hands at play; physical and prayerful support at every step; encouragement and welcome from you all. David Morse, Chair of the Diaconate, on behalf of the Congregation of First Baptist Church Halifax
In September of 1940, on his first Sunday as pastor of FBC Halifax, Rev. Dr. Harvey Denton proclaimed: “We win victories when we line up our resources with the resources of the eternal and go hand in hand with the living God.” I assume Rev. Denton could not imagine that eighteen months later the church building he was preaching within would burn and a campaign would begin to construct a new sanctuary on Oxford Street. It took the resources of the congregation to rise from the ashes of that moment to build the building in which we now gather. Rev. Dr. Paul “Rusty” Edwards
I have reflected on Rev. Denton’s words as I begin this new season of ministry with you. My guess is we have many different ideas about what it means to “win victories” in the context of our time, but surely we all long for a church faithful and responsive to the spiritual needs of those within our beautiful stone walls and those neighbours just outside them. Regardless of how we define what is a victory, what Rev. Denton proclaimed in 1940 is still true. Our calling is to “line up our resources with the resources of the eternal.” If we are going to be all that God is calling us to be, it will require each of us to give freely of our resources. Already, I am learning that the people of FBC hold a diverse portfolio of resources — the varied forms of training, experiences, and interests of our members are an abundant resource. If we are going to commit to thrive in what is a rapidly changing faith environment, then we are going to need the resources of this community. We are going to need to give of ourselves and trust that as we give, God will join us in the work of discovering how we will live the gospel in our time. Our calling is to “go hand in hand with the living God.” That is both an exhilarating and down-right frightening aspect of our calling as a church. If we were able to control and confine God, it would not be such a frightening endeavour. Yet, the God we meet in the Bible is a God who constantly surprises and shakes God’s people out of their complacency. The living God is found not just by looking back into the past of our faith ancestors, but by going hand in hand — have you noticed in the Bible, faithfulness to God is often described in the context of going. Sarah and Abraham set out on a journey and discover all sorts of wonderful things about God; Moses leads a group of former slaves on a walk through the wilderness and they meet the God of justice; Jesus spends most of his ministry on the road throughout Galilee and Jerusalem; the early Church, in Acts, is constantly on the move. Going hand in hand with God changes us — opens us to new discoveries about ourselves, our world, and the God whose hand we hold. I have no idea what awaits us if we commit together to line up our resources with the resources of the eternal and go hand in hand with the living God. As I preach for the first time as your pastor, I certainly can hope we will face nothing like a fire burning our sanctuary… but I am sure that we will experience unexpected interruptions to our well-planned ways of being and doing. The question is, will we do as previous generations of the faithful of FBC Halifax? Will we continue to heed Rev. Denton’s beginning words?
“We win victories when we line up our resources with the resources of the eternal and go hand in hand with the living God.” Journeying Together, Rusty
A Song of Transformation Celebrating 190 Years of First Baptist Church Halifax Sunday September 24, 2017 10:30 am Worship featuring Guest Conductor Bernhard Gueller Premier of the hymn commissioned for the 190th Anniversary “This Vaulted Room� text by Rex Deverell First Baptist Church Halifax Alumni Choir Reflections by voices from the Congregation across the ages
Celebration reception following the service For you shall go out in joy; and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song. Isaiah 55:12
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HALIFAX
HARVEST SUPPER & SILENT AUCTION
Friday October 13, 2017 at 5:30 pm
PLEASE ADD TO OUR SILENT AUCTION ITEMS!! Do you like to cook (a favorite cake or pie), or hand craft - something fun? OR, Do you have a collectible, artwork or a special item for re-gifting? Please let us know what you would like to donate! HARVEST SUPPER TICKETS Adult - $15.00 Child (age 12 and under) - $5.00 Family (2 adults + children under 12) - $35.00
Come and bid on: Neptune tickets, a museum visit, a sailing experience, a luncheon, delicious homemade items…plus so more! Questions? Contact Dianne, Donna, or Peggy We would love to hear from you. Donna Darrell moreend@eastlink.ca tel 902 422 7884 Peggy Dunbar peggydunbar@eastlink.ca tel 902 477 3891 Dianne Kokesh d.kokesh@bellaliant.net Donations to the Harvest Supper are in support of a community organization TBA
September 10: Pentecost 14 Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 149 Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20 Girded Loins? – Rev. Dr. Rusty Edwards Music: Wesley and Woods September 17: Pentecost 15 Exodus 14:19-31; Psalm 114 Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35 A Bewhaping God – Rev. Dr. Rusty Edwards Music: Handel September 24: 190th Anniversary Service A Song of Transformation Featuring Guest Conductor, Bernhard Gueller First Baptist Church Halifax Alumni Choir Reflections from the congregation across the ages Music: Stanford, Hogan, Gjeilo and Bruckner October 1: Pentecost 17 World Communion Sunday Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32 Who’s At The Table? – Rev. Dr. Rusty Edwards Music: Vasiliauskaite and Daley
Rev. Rusty will be off on Monday of each week. Rev. Jenny will be off on Friday of each week and will be at Dalhousie each Thursday morning.
With summer passing much too quickly, we still need to take time to think of the Tea and Sale rapidly approaching. Mark the Date! The annual Christmas Tea and Sale will be held on Saturday, November 4th from 2:00-4:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed to make this a success. If you are interested in being a table convener, working at one of the tables, selling tickets, serving tea, assisting in the kitchen, or donating craft, new-to-you, jewellery or Emporium items, please speak to either Kathy Schwartzentruber (kmsb408@gmail.com) or Mary Anne Eisener (rmeisener@gmail.com) for more information. Remember, "many hands make light work." Kathy Schwartezentruber and Mary Anne Eisener Co-conveners
Volunteers needed!
Meet new people!
On Sunday, September 17th, the congregation of First Baptist Church Halifax will formally welcome Rev. Dr. Rusty Edwards and his family, Jenny and Addison to their new church home among us with a reception during Coffee and Conversation. In addition, Rusty and Jenny will join the church as members during morning worship. Rusty, Jenny, and Addison arrived a few weeks ago and they have been busy settling into their new home at the parsonage. Rusty has been meeting with our Deaconate leadership, Rev. Jenny Drewitz, Lynnette, Mary, and Chip as well as many of our members as he assumes his new responsibilities as our Senior Minister. God calls upon us for ministry in many ways, in many areas. Please be sure to join us on Sunday September 17th as we celebrate the beginning of Rusty’s leadership with us in our continuing mission of service to others. Welcome Rusty, Jenny, and Addison!
Super rewarding!
For more information about Brunswick Street Mission and Breakfast Program — Click on the link below: http://www.brunswickstreetmission.org/about-us/
Volunteers are still needed to help prepare and serve breakfast on
Saturday, September 16th at 5:30am. The signup sheet is on the bulletin board across from the parlour.
Retirement is wonderful! My new garden is thriving and the old ones cleaned up. Thanks to your wonderful parting gift we are enjoying a new fire table, a new garden shed and my climbing rose has a new arbour. The roses the Auxiliary gave me are beautiful and I purchased more plants with the gift card. The Buddha frog was a gift from the staff which I love almost as much as my Batman! I also have a lovely garden angel who constantly prays for me there. I have attached photos to show you. I think of you all often and always will. My job and you were a big part of my life for a long time so the memories will stay forever. Fall is coming, you can feel it in the air and I think this is the time I will begin to feel like I should be back with you, but the timing was right. My family needs me and I have some small projects to keep me busy. You will see me around, the Tea and Sale, yard sale and other events. Take care of yourselves and thank you.
Alana Foster, Former FBCH Church Office Administrator
We welcome back our Senior Choir, who will, in preparation for Sunday’s Worship service on September 10th, have their first official practice tonight, Thursday, September 7th, from 7:00pm - 9:00pm in the sanctuary.
We are inviting everyone who has been in the Senior Choir to join us for our Worship Service at 10:30, September 24th, 2017. This is our 190th Anniversary celebration and is focusing on music, which plays such a huge roll in the life of First Baptist Church. Won't it be fun to see faces from our past, and sing together too!
Our special guest is
Maestro Bernhard Gueller, from Symphony Nova Scotia.
For Nat King Cole, July and August may have been a time to relax with friends but for a small and dedicated team at FBC this has been a summer of great activity. The Sanctuary floor has been strengthened and replaced and refinished – a project which required the organ to be sealed against dust, the carpet to be removed, new flooring and new finishes – a big job. Throughout the Church hallway lighting has been upgraded to more efficient and economical LED fixtures. The parsonage has been cleared, cleaned and painted. Exterior window frames have been scraped and painted. Space has been cleared for storage of refugee supplies. The new piano has been installed. And throughout the Church, “things” that are no longer used or required have been removed. Phew! On behalf of us all, many thanks to Ken Margeson, Dave Gibson, Anthony and Amanda Zadeh, Daniel Cheverie, Lynette Wahlstrom, Chip Murray and to Mary Banks – you have made a difference and we are grateful. To all the other Church members who have played their own part in sorting, moving or disposing and who we don’t know about, thank you. When September arrives and “lazy, hazy” gives way to “The days grow long, And soon I'll hear, Old winter's song” (Frank Sinatra) we’ll still enjoy the product of all your work. David Morse, Chair of the Diaconate
Bring your backpack, briefcase, purse, computer bag, camera case, or whatever other bag is important to you, to worship on Sept-ember 10th. We will have a blessing of the bags to dedicate this new school year to God. This is for all ages; tall and small.
Please mark your calendars for September 10th, this will be the start of Sunday school for those in primary to grade 12. All wishing to participate must register (forms available on September 10th). If you have further questions, please contact Rev. Jenny Drewitz
. . .was founded in 1827 as the Granville Street Baptist Church (renamed First Baptist Church in 1886) and is a member of the Halifax Region United Baptist Phone: 902-422-5203 Association as well as the Canadian Association for Baptist Email: office@fbchalifax.ca Freedoms (formerly the Atlantic Facebook.com/FirstBaptistHalifax Baptist Fellowship). We are intentionally ecumenical and Twitter: twitter.com/FBCHfx inclusive in our services (Sundays at 10:30 a.m.) and programs. We are an affirming church.
1300 Oxford Street Halifax, NS B3H 3Y8
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Photo by Warren Hoeg - June 2016