Friday May 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th History of Church Music 10:00am FBC—Church Parlour Saturday May 6th Coffee With …. J.D. Shore’s Cafe Lower Water Street 10:30 am Saturdays May 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th Brunswick Breakfast 5:30AM Sundays May 7th, 14th and 28th Baptism Classes Youth & Young Adults (including lunch) 12:00 — 1:30pm FBC Wednesday May 10th Group Discussion — Christ’s Resurrection 5:30pm Saturday May 13th Men at Work Cousin’s Restaurant 8:15am Hope Blooms 9:30am Sunday May 21 Ascension Sunday Kite Flying Saturday May 27th Plant Sale 9:00 —12 Noon FBC Parking Lot
Sometimes the simple act of naming something can be immensely helpful. Here is my own attempt to name the ten major faith and church struggles of our time, at least as manifest within the more highly secularized parts of our world. 1) The struggle with the atheism of our everyday consciousness, that is, the struggle to have a vital sense of God within a secular culture which, for good and for bad, is the most powerful narcotic ever perpetrated on this planet … the struggle to be conscious of God outside of church and explicit religious activity. 2) The struggle to live in torn, divided, and highly-polarized communities, as wounded persons ourselves, and carry that tension without resentment and without giving it back in kind … the struggle inside of our own wounded selves to be healers and peace-makers rather than ourselves contributing to the tension. 3) The struggle to live, love, and forgive beyond the infectious ideologies that we daily inhale, that is, the struggle for true sincerity, to genuinely know and follow our own hearts and minds beyond what is prescribed to us by the right and the left … the struggle to be neither liberal or conservative but rather men and women of true compassion. 4) The struggle to carry our sexuality without undue frigidity and without irresponsibility, the struggle for a healthy sexuality that can both properly revere and properly delight in this great power … the struggle to carry our sexuality in such a way so as to radiate both chastity and passion. 5) The struggle for interiority and prayer inside of a culture that in its thirst for information and distraction constitutes a virtual conspiracy against depth and solitude, the eclipse of silence in our world … the struggle to move our eyes beyond our digital screens towards a deeper horizon. 6) The struggle to deal healthily with “the dragon” of personal grandiosity, ambition, and pathological restlessness, inside of a culture that daily overstimulates them, the struggle to healthily cope with both affirmation and rejection … the struggle inside of a restless and over-stimulated environment to habitually find the delicate balance between depression and inflation. 7) The struggle to not be motivated by paranoia, fear, narrowness, and over protectionism in the face of terrorism and overpowering complexity … the struggle to not let our need for clarity and security trump compassion and truth. 8) The struggle with moral loneliness inside a religious, cultural, political, and moral Diaspora … the struggle to find a soul mate who meet us and sleep with us inside our moral center. Continued on page 2
Sometimes the simple act of naming something can be immensely helpful.
Continued from page 1
The Ten Major Faith Struggles of Our Age
9) The struggle to link faith to justice … the struggle to get a letter of reference from the poor, to institutionally connect the gospel to the streets, to remain on the side of the poor. 10) The struggle for community and church, the struggle inside a culture of excessive individuality to find the healthy line between individuality and community, spirituality and ecclesiology … the struggle as adult children of the Enlightenment to be both mature and committed, spiritual and ecclesial. What’s the value in a list of this sort? It’s important to name things and to name them properly; although, admittedly, simply naming a disease doesn’t of itself bring about a cure. However, as James Hillman used to quip, a symptom suffers most when it doesn’t know where it belongs. From: ronrolheiser.com/the-ten-major-faith-struggles-of-our-age/
On Saturday May 13th at 8:15 AM, men are invited for breakfast at Cousin’s Restaurant, 3545 Robie St. Afterwards, at 9:30 AM, we will be removing a chain link fence and doing other small chores for Hope Blooms. All necessary equipment will be supplied, but bring your work gloves and work clothes. Come for some fresh air, fellowship and help to take down fences and build bridges with our community. Please RSVP to: neil.ritchie@invictahealth.com or call 902 489-9123 for more information. All are welcome !
For Canada’s sesquicentennial year, Faith 150 is trying to collect 1000 stories of faith across the country. Faith 150 is curating Canada’s largest collection of stories of faith in every day life. We’re creating, through the very act of collecting stories, the narrative that faith is real in Canada, and that faith is vital to Canada. For more info or to submit your own story of faith visit: faithincanada150.ca/goldenthread
Trailing Arbutus Official Flower of NS
Please mark on your calendar June 25th for the Sunday School closing, complete with a church BBQ.
1967 Youth Activities in the Church Elsewhere in the world
In the United Kingdom, the extreme right party, the National Front was founded; it opposed immigration and multiculturalism. The supertanker, Torrey Canyon ran aground in the English Channel spilling almost 1 million barrels of crude to form a slick along 112 km of the coastline. Race riots in Detroit killed 40 people and left over 5000 homeless. The German pharmaceutical company that produced thalidomide was charged for causing birth defects in newborn children. The musical, Hair, opened on Broadway. The United Kingdom decriminalized homosexuality.
Dr. Bruce Morton was Chair of the Board of CE. The Church School Superintendent was Dr. Earl Dexter There were 189 pupils 22 teachers and 16 creche and nursery supervisors, including: Miss Lois Burns, Miss Marjorie Fowler, Miss Lois Duffy, Mr. Donald Myers, Dr. Carl Dexter, Mrs. Lloyd Cooley, Mrs. Bruce Morton, Dr. and Mrs. Doug Eisner, Miss Sandra Morse, Mrs. John Lindsay. Special appreciation was extended to Mrs. Irva Dexter for her extraordinary service with a very large grade nine class. Baptisms: Joan Cooley, Elizabeth Hatfield, Carolyn McLuskie, Brenda Myers, Lynda Noble, Frederick Mahon, David North, Michael Prime, Douglas Stewart, Sharon Auld, Susan Wenning, Barrie Croft, Gordon Harrington, Joan Wenning. Dr. Carl Dexter and Rev. Willis Henderson formed a Senior High Fellowship that met weekly. The Senior High participated in the Agape Supper at St. Matthew’s Church as well as two retreats. They presented the Christmas Tableau.
Youth. Mr. John Conn, resigned after several years as Scoutmaster due to increased responsibilities at work, and then immediately volunteered as Chairman of the Scout Group Committee. “What a happy (and unusual) occurrence for someone to actually volunteer” (page 8 of the AR 1967) The CGIT, under the leadership of Frances Prime, had a membership of nine girls. They earned the Chevron from the national committee in recognition of their accomplishments. They held two weekend camps and at Christmas they entertained 22 girls from the Beechville CGIT. The 30 enthusiastic girls of the 34th Halifax Guide Company met at the church under the leadership of Mrs. Donna Myers and Ann MacDonald. Five Guides earned the Religion and Life Emblem. During their preparation for the Citizenship Badge, they attended Citizenship Court and toured the Halifax Mail Star Building. Four Guides who had completed the full Brownie and Guide programs were presented with Centennial pins. Three girls attended Camp Petpeswich. Four Guides took the eight week course in Child Care offered by St. John Ambulance. The Company Good Turn was to present gifts of food and clothing to a needy family at Christmas. The mid-week service for university students had a small, but loyal, following. By Ed Tumnmers
Secularizing the Sacred, Sacralizing the Secular I recently had the privilege of travelling to Norway for the bi-annual meeting of the International Academy of Practical Theology. While in Oslo, I attended a presentation by a South African theologian who shared about how public buildings in her home country are being infused with religious imagination. For example, the Old Synagogue in Pretoria—a building constructed for religious use and was transformed into a court of law—became rich with spiritual and religious vitality as South Africans have gathered around the building to sing hymns and pray together as legal trials were being carried out inside its walls. As she was speaking about sacred buildings becoming secular and secular buildings becoming sacred, I wondered if the whole idea that something can be either sacred or secular is false. After all, if we believe that the whole world belongs to God, then everything is sacred, even those parts of our world that are public and nonreligious. Likewise, in my travels I’ve visited cathedrals and basilicas that were once sacred, but are now more of tourist attractions (many of which charge entrance fees) than they are religious spaces. All this goes to show that the boundary between a sacred space and a secular space is blurring. The secular can also be sacred. The sacred can also be secular. The current building in which we at FBCH worship is a living example of this fuzziness. These stones were erected with the intention of holding religious services in their walls. But it’s no surprise that there’s so much more that goes on here. Our building is certainly a religious space, but it’s also a dance studio, a community hall, a yoga practice, a cafeteria, a quiet place of refuge, and a concert hall. And while we may be prone to see these uses of our space as more secular than sacred, we can also see them as vital parts of what it means to be church, whether or not those who come to FBCH to swing dance ever come to Sunday worship. If the whole world is God’s, then the yoga practice, the dance studio, and the recital hall can all be sacred, challenging us to expand our views of church.
As we welcomed in the New Year, our first task was to take down the Advent decorations and store them carefully for next year. Many hands make light work. On April 10, 2017, the Men Without Jackets received the sad news that our most senior member, Gordon Taylor, had passed away at the age of 98. As a tribute to his love of music, we were invited to sing at his funeral service one of his favourite selections: a version of the Apostle’s Creed, “I Believe”. Gordon was a valued member of our choir and an inspiration to us all. Many of us recall a Saturday morning rehearsal a few years ago on November 1 when Gordon showed up half an hour late. His excuse: he was up until 2 am at a Halloween Party. Rehearsals throughout the winter prepared us for the Easter services. Two new pieces were introduced: “Then Sings My Soul” and “On Eagles Wings”. We performed at both the Easter service at First Baptist, and later that day at the Easter Communion at Caritas. On April 22, MWJ joined with the Music Committee to volunteer at the Spring Yard Sale. Funds raised will be directed towards the purchase of the new grand piano. Our final rehearsal of the season will be on May 6, after which we will be joined by Garnet Colwell for a farewell lunch at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. Our final performance before our summer break will be the Mothers’ Day Service. Stay tuned for the Fall Rehearsal Schedule, and have a great summer. For further information, contact our Director of Music, Lynette Wahlstrom. Remember: We call ourselves Men Without Jackets because God never said we needed to dress up to sing praises. Men Without Jackets (past and present) : David Mensink, Julian Summers, Peter Fillmore, Anthony Zadeh, Bryan Darrell, Mac Philips, Ian McKee, Jim Stanley, David Bourque, Alan Manchester, Erick Lee, Brian Ashton, Ken Margeson, Nelson Metcalfe, David Dexter, Paul Henderson, John Dalton, David Gibson, Garnet Colwell, Tom Crowell, Alan North, Tony Marshall, Kim Davison, Ed Tummers, Dahrl Whitney, Allen Cruess. Guest organist: Shawn Whynot.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1300 OXFORD STREET
Celebrating First Baptist Halifax 190 Years Perennial Plant Sale with Heritage Plants Saturday, May 27, 2017 9 am - 12 Noon Church Parking Lot
Many Perennial Varieties Bulbs, Shrubs Herbs Fruit Plants Garden Books, Tools Garden Accessories, Pots Bird Feeders
A List of Authentic Plants for 1830’s period Halifax – list compiled from For Every House a Garden – A Guide for Reproducing Period Gardens by Rudy and Joy Favretti
Flowers Yarrow Monkshood (white and blue types) Sweet Alyssum Hollyhocks Sunflowers Nasturtiums Larkspurs (Delphinium elatum) Snapdragons Daylilies Gillyflowers Poppies Nasturtiums Larkspurs Pansies Seathift Garden Anemone Columbine Goat’s beard Spirea Asters False or wild Indigo Bell flower (Campanula) Mountain Bluets Red Chelone Thread-leaf Coreopsis Pinks Foxglove Purple Coneflower Cranesbill (Geranium macororrhizum) Sneezeweed (Helenium) Hellebore St. John’s wort Candytuft Iris (Dwarf flag and Siberian) Liatris Lily (Madonna, Common white, Turks cap) Lupine Rose Campion Mallow Peony Moss Phlox Drummond Phlox Jacob’s ladder Solomon’s seal Cowslip Brown eyed Susan Lamb’s ears Viola
Bulbs Grape hyacinth Common trumpet daffodil Squill
$60,000 For the month of May, on each Saturday, we will be preparing and serving breakfast at the Brunswick Street Mission. We arrive at 5:30 am to begin breakfast preparations for 55 to 80 guests that will come at 7:00 to enjoy a hearty breakfast. Also there are a variety of sandwiches and fruit that our guests may take for their lunch later in the day. All the food items (except tea and coffee) are provided by FBC and purchased from private donations and profits from the sale of “Just Us! Coffee”. If you haven’t had or taken the opportunity yet to experience the many rewards of volunteering at this event, there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the Parlour Lobby.
45,000
Our guests are most thankful for the food and fellowship shared with them each Saturday and often tell us they look forward to seeing First Baptist host their meal. See you for one or all of the Saturdays!
30,000
Saving the Organ - a mini-conference on the role and value of the organ in the 21st Century will take place at FBC Parlour on Friday evening May 12 from 7:00 to 9:30 pm and on Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. The keynote speaker is Dr Robert Summerby-Murray, President of St Mary's University and Organist. Other speakers include James Bailey, Past President of the RCCO, and Architect and Organist; Andrew Forrest, Artistic Director of Letourneau; and James Chubb, organ consultant and Organist. RCCO Halifax is bringing together musicians, builders, technicians, composers, teachers, clergy, and anyone with an interest in or financial responsibility for the organ to discuss issues and to begin to establish a new framework for success in the future. For further details and to register please go to our website at www.savetheorgan.ca. The full registration fee is $35 and includes all workshops, lunch on Saturday, and handouts. Let's get together on May 12-13, 2017!
May 7; Easter 4; Holy Communion Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10 Breaking Bread Together – Rev. Jenny Drewitz Music: Goodall, Poulenc and Widor Mass May 14: Easter 5 Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 1 Peter 2:2-10; Matthew 7:24-28 Living Stones – Deacon Kathy Schwartzentruber Music: Men Without Jackets and Lang May 21: Ascension Sunday Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47 Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53 Lean on Me – Rev. Lynn Uzans Music: Vaughan Williams and Lojeski May 28: Easter 7 Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11; John 17:1-11 TBA Music: Hogan and Halley June 4: Pentecost Holy Communion; Baptism Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13; John 20:19-23 Slow Burn – Alana Foster Music: Daley
Women’s happening on Saturday, May 6, 10:30 to Noon at J.D. Shore’s Café, Lower Water Street (across from Maritime Museum of the Atlantic). This month Diana Butler Bass will talk about the thoughts behind her latest book “Grounded” (video plus discussion). All women are most welcome, why not invite a friend!
Preparations are underway for University Spring Convocations and College and High School Graduations. Do you have, or know of, such a graduate? Contact the church office with details. We would like to recognize their achievements in the bulletin the end of June!
Continuing through June 5, the church office will be closed each Monday to allow Alana to use vacation time prior to her retirement date. You can still reach church staff via e-mail or by using the automated voice messaging system. To phone, just dial 902-422-5203 and follow the voice prompts to reach the line of the person with whom you wish to speak or leave a message.
Informative lectures let by Director of Music Lynette Wahlstrom, will be presented in the Church Parlour, Fridays 10am to 11:45am, May 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th. Beginners and experienced musicians welcome, all are invited to attend. Limit of 50 persons, donation to the FBC Piano Fund encouraged. To register, email beginningtobach@eastlink.ca.
During the month of May (on Sundays the 7th, 14th, and 28th) stay for lunch from 12 noon to 1:30pm. Classes will be held to prepare youth whose desire it is to join the First Baptist Church Halifax either by Believer’s Baptism or through transfer from another Christian Church. The class will cover such questions as: What does it mean to be a Christian? Why do Baptist baptize they way they do? What is different about a Baptist Church? How can I continue to grow in my faith? What is the First Baptist Church Halifax story? The class is always open to youth or young adult inquirers who have not made up their minds about joining the Church, but have lots of questions. For more information, contact Rev. Jenny Drewitz.
from the Spring Yard Sale . . .
2017 2017
Sponsored by The Music Community of FBC and the FBC Auxiliary
Thank You! Photos by Warren Hoeg
The Ministry of Resources—More than Just a Building! by Dave Gibson This is the second in a series of articles that are building on the theme of the 2017 Budget presentation – “Putting Ministry First.” We identified five Ministries of First Baptist Church Halifax – Worship, Learning, Caring, Outreach, and Resources. This article explores the Ministry of Resources. We often think of our church as a place to come and worship. Yes, for most of us this is the most important aspect of our use of our marvellous building. The Sanctuary is the centrepiece of the structure and helps us to be still and listen for the voice of God. With tall columns, rich oak and beautiful stained glass, the beautiful architecture has a Chancel that draws our attention to the centrality of the Cross, the Baptistry and the Communion Table, each with their rich meaning to our faith and following of Christ our Savior. But there are also many other spaces designed for numerous activities— Sunday School rooms, a crèche for newborns and infants, an assembly room for large meetings with a dedicated kitchen, a formal parlor with a small kitchen which is ideal for receptions, a hall with full stage which is good for meetings and performances, a rumpus room/gymnasium, a board room, offices for clergy, musical and administrative staff, a workshop for our custodian, rooms for the choir, tellers, archivist, and various other spaces for activities and storage. Over 500 people per week come to our facilities and we have spaces for them all. We can provide space for almost any kind of activity in support of our other four ministries. However, such a facility takes a lot of care and maintenance. As well as the “routine” cleaning and servicing undertaken by our custodian and assistant sextons, the building also requires regular maintenance of its electrical, plumbing, heating and telecommunications systems by outside tradespersons. All this is supported by our operating budget, which is part of our Ministry of Resources. There are also less frequent larger projects which the Property Maintenance Committee prioritizes and plans. These projects are supported by revenue from endowment funds which have generously been provided by members of the congregation or through bequests from the estates of former members—another part of our Resource Ministry. Typical larger maintenance projects include replacing the roof, fixing leaks in the stonework and around the windows, repointing the brickwork in the bell tower, replacing the exterior doors, replacing windows and frames, painting, updating lighting and heating systems, etc. This summer, we will be embarking on a major project to remove the flooring at the front of the sanctuary to replace damaged and weakened areas and strengthen the whole area. This needs to be done before the new Sanctuary Piano arrives. There are a number of complicating factors in this project. First, it has to be scheduled for a time that the sanctuary will not be in use, so as to reduce the impact on other Ministries and activities. Fortunately, with the combined Worship Services again this summer, we will be at other churches on Sundays in July. However, summer is a prime time for weddings and we have a significant music conference that has reserved space for later July, so there are still dates to work around. The new flooring must be in place and the new Sanctuary Piano delivered and set up before the conference. Then there is the issue of protecting the organ while the old floor is taken up and the new one installed. Dust getting into the organ pipes or the console will cause significant damage which is very expensive to repair. So before the project starts we must seal off the organ loft and the organ console and erecting a plastic wall to keep the dust in the construction area. Exhaust ventilation will complete this protection. After we have this preparatory work completed, we will have a representative from Casavant, the company that built and services our organ, visit to ensure that it is properly protected. Another complication is that the sanctuary floor contains low temperature water in-floor heating. We are not sure of the condition of the pipes under the floor, but know that they are original to the construction of the building, so are likely nearing the end of their useful life. If repairs or replacement is needed while the floor is up, it will extend the length of the project while the plumbers and pipe fitters do their work. To get an advance warning of what we might find, we will be doing a thermographic study of the floor before the start of the project to see which pipes still have water flowing and where there may be problems. Continued on page 10
Looking for Stories of Evelyn If you were at Evelyn Denton's funeral, you will have heard some great stories about her. One of her former co-workers is attempting to put together a larger collection of stories she lived and/or told. So if you have a story about Evelyn, could you forward it to Caleb Fisman (cfishman@eastlink.ca or 902-454-7156). He is sharing anything he receives with Evelyn's grandson, Peter Denton, who is planning to submit an article about her to the Globe and Mail.
Good Friday Offering... Thank You We were pleased to host the Ecumenical Good Friday Service and share worship with the clergy and people from St Andrew's, St David's and St John's. As was announced, the offering was sent to The Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre to assist in their initiative around second stage housing for women escaping violence. Through the generosity of those present, we were able to send a total of $855.60 to support this important venture.
Exciting music discovery at Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, May 5th-Oct. 26th, 2017 The Salzinnes Antiphonal, a sixteenth-century manuscript that was “discovered” in the collections of the Patrick Power Library at Saint Mary’s University in the late 1990s, is on display at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. This illuminated manuscript was created in 1554-1555 for the prioress of the Cistercian Abbey of Salzinnes, which was located near Namure in present-day Belgium. The manuscript received considerable attention a few years ago, including a concert by Anonymous 4 at Saint Mary’s Basilica. The manuscript has been “incommunicado” recently while it underwent major “research, analysis, and conservation” at the Canadian Conservation Institute in Ottawa. That work has now wrapped up and the Antiphonal has returned to Halifax. An exhibition (“Centuries of Silence: The Discovery of the Salzinnes Antiphonal”) is open at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia , and a series of events are planned to celebrate its return. Go and see it! Continued from page 9
We hope that the supporting structure for the floor is in good shape, as any repair or replacement there will also slow the project. Even with everything in good shape, one objective of the project will be to add to the supporting members to strengthen the whole structure before the new floor is laid. Additional supports will be placed between the heating pipes. Although the actual work in the sanctuary will not start until June 26, 2017, planning, testing, design work and ordering of materials has already started, with careful coordination of volunteer labour, specialists and the contractor doing the flooring. A three week project in the sanctuary actually has a 61 day implementation plan, with only one week following the project to deal with any contingencies and for the installation of the new piano in advance of the conference. While only a few of us are members of the Property Maintenance Committee, the Ministry of Resources is also supported by many others, such as the Finance Committee, the Personnel Committee, the Planned Giving Committee, the Investment Committee, the Trustees and the Board of Management. Looking after our facility also requires volunteer effort, financial support and prayer support of this Ministry—ways in the support of the whole congregation is important. Thank you!
A Wonderful Story By: Alyssa Feir
The Planned Giving Committee of First Baptist Church encounters many interesting and inspiring stories of personal faith that sometimes have resulted in a planned gift of financial resources to the Church. It is the role of the Committee to inform and assist members and friends of FBC who would like to make a gift that benefits the work of the church now or in the future. We wanted to share some of the stories we have learned with you. With the donor’s permission, Alyssa Feir, a consultant from King’s College Journalism School, has interviewed several donors, capturing both their personal journeys and the motivations of the donors to make a planned gift to the work of church. There are of course, two sides to the story of any gift. Here, Alyssa tells the story of a recipient of a planned gift:
A Beneficiary’s Story The Gift of Music Each Sunday, the Senior Choir fills the First Baptist Church with song, leading the congregation in a rich choral worship experience. One of the choir’s voices belongs to Breanna Miller, the First Alto Section Lead and Eileen Foran Choral Scholar, who has been singing with the choir for six years. In addition to sharing her musical talents with the congregation of First Baptist, Breanna teaches voice and piano to children and adults of all ages at the Maritime Theatre School. She is also preparing to pursue performance at the graduate level receiving weekly voice lessons of her own. Breanna’s passion and dedication to music has been supported and celebrated by the Eileen Foran Choral Scholarship. In 1993, Eileen Foran’s husband, Dr. Roy Foran, established the scholarship at the First Baptist Church in Eileen’s memory. The Scholarship provides financial assistance to a promising vocalist, preferably an alto, to secure instruction in vocal techniques. “There are a lot of people who would like to continue with lessons once they are done with their education; perhaps pursue a master’s degree or even just for enjoyment, but they cannot afford to,” says Breanna. “It’s really great that (the Foran Family) has made this possible.” Breanna says that receiving the Eileen Foran Choral Scholarship has been a tremendous financial help as she continues her vocal training. She also says that being a member of the choir and the First Baptist Church has provided her with an extra support system. Under the direction of Lynette Wahlstrom, the choir offers Breanna a welcoming and supportive place for her, and her fellow choristers, to explore both their faith and their interest in music. “The community at First Baptist makes a real difference,” she says. “I enjoy going to choir practice and seeing other people and their passion for choral music. It helps you have a new appreciation for it.” Twenty-four years after the Eileen Foran Scholarship was established by her family, it continues to provide the gift of music. This gift has made a difference in individual lives and continues to enhance the worship experience today at First Baptist Church Halifax. For more information, or to plan a gift to First Baptist Church, please contact the Church Office at 902-422-5203. All enquiries are confidential. Children/Youth Bible Study Join Rev. Jenny to study the book of Ezra over three Monday's in June from 6-8pm (June 5, 12 and 19). We'll meet in peoples’ homes, enjoy dinner together, and dive into Scripture. This study is open for anyone in grades 5-12. Bring your appetite, Bibles and questions!
Celebrate Ascension Sunday with Kite Flying On Sunday, May 21, plan to stay following worship for kite flying at Point Pleasant Park as we celebrate Ascension. The children and youth will work on building kites during Sunday school on May 14 and 21, and everyone is welcome to try them on out the 21st. Feel free to bring along your own kite! See Deacon Bryan Darrell or Rev. Jenny Drewitz for more details.
by Frank McGill The months of March and April have been very busy for the Auxiliary. Members and friends from the congregation enjoyed guest speakers at each of these monthly meetings. In March, Ed and Sandi Tummers took us on a photo enhanced journey through India, retracing the Steps of St. Thomas; and in April Nancy Miller and Michelle Everson from the HRM Police spoke to the assemblage about “Senior Security” They relayed information about telephone fraud, internet scams and handed out information regarding identity theft. Both were well received, informative and timely. In March the Auxiliary members voted to make a donation to the Sanctuary Piano Fund; replace the aging steel folding chairs with new ones that matched those purchased two years ago (44 were purchased immediately and another 56 are on back order bringing the total to 140 chairs); and jointly co-sponsor the Spring Yard Sale with members of the FBC Music Community. April saw the results of the “No Bake Sale”, first fundraiser of 2017, a HUGE success - a big thank you to the church family for making it so. From my perspective it sure beats the measuring, mixing, baking, decorating, transporting and selling of the actual bake goods. April 22nd saw another successful Spring Yard Sale and as stated earlier, this event was cosponsored. At the Auxiliary meeting on April 24th the members voted to split the proceeds 75/25 percent with 75% of the sales total going toward the Sanctuary Piano Fund. Great job from everyone! (see pictures on page 8)
Value Village has become a ‘valued’ partner with FBC’s Auxiliary in that some of the unsold items from the yard sale, as well as some books and the old steel chairs have been purchased by the “pound” from us by them. Thanks Value Village!
April 24th Guest Speakers from the HRM Police Department Cst. Michelle Everson and Cst. Nancy Miller
Photos by 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 Association as Phone: 902-422-5203 well as the Canadian Association for Baptist Freedoms (formerly the Email: office@fbchalifax.ca Atlantic Baptist Fellowship). We are Facebook.com/FirstBaptistHalifax intentionally ecumenical and inclusive in our services (Sundays at Twitter: twitter.com/FBCHfx 10:30 a.m.) and programs. We are an affirming church.
1300 Oxford Street Halifax, NS B3H 3Y8
Photo by Warren Hoeg - June 2016
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