September 11th
Sunday School Registration This fall I'm joining the teachers, children and youth in our congregation and getting my backpack ready for school again. Only this year, I'm not going back as a student, I'll be starting as the Baptist Chaplain at the Dalhousie Multifaith Centre.
September 11th
Blessing of the Bags
September 18th
Remember to bring your bag of sand to church!
Through prayer, a few conversations with John [Dalton], attending a meeting of the multifaith
September 25th Congregational Meeting
September 31st and October 1st CABF Annual General Meeting
October 2nd Ark Sunday Supper
chaplains at Dal and
For the past ten years Pastor John Dalton has filled this role. He has built relationships with and supported many of the students, staff and faculty and area clergy over his tenure at Dalhousie. John has done an excellent job of keeping First Baptist connected with the university right across the street; a ministry that has been previously been filled by the associate of FBCH. As John prepared to retire he began to inquire if I would take over the position as he saw the importance of the role.
the support of the
Through prayer, a few conversations with John, attending a meeting of the multifaith chaplains at Dal and the support of Board of the Board of Christian Education, Deacons, and HURBA I Christian accepted this role beginning in the fall for one morning a week. Education, Deacons, and So what exactly does a university chaplain do, you ask? "The chaplains at the Centre offer confidential counselling HURBA, I on personal and spiritual issues and provide opportunities for prayer and worship, retreats, workshops, lectures, and accepted this role social activities. The Dalhousie Multifaith Centre is a setting beginning in the fall that encourages open and free discussion and that welcomes the raising of core questions within various faith for one morning a traditions." (taken from the Multifaith Centre pamphlet.) week.
We are all very grateful for the role that Pastor John Dalton has lead over this past decade, and looking forward to what God is calling us to in our community. Please keep the university students in your prayers as they begin moving into residence and starting classes. I'll be there at orientation, with my new backpack, helping with the transitions! Rev. Jenny
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Jams, Jellies and Aprons The Boutique New to You Books The Bakery The Emporium Jewellery Crafts
As summer slowly gives way to autumn; our youth and university students return to school; planning in earnest has begun for the annual Christmas Tea & Sale, which will this year be held on November 5th. As you all know this is a mega undertaking - the recruiting of 130 plus individuals, having quality items for sale, publicity to ensure that the city and beyond know well in advance that we are having a Tea Party and Christmas Sale, the making of hundreds of sandwiches, the baking of sweets, the plating and presentation, making and pouring tea, signage, the packing away and clean up following the sale and the list goes on and on. A daunting task - but one that is well worth the effort. It is the one event during the year that most of the members and friends from outside our church community, come together in a common effort. The camaraderie is fantastic! This year, to help Joanne and Frank organize the event, perhaps you could volunteer to work with the convener of one of the tables that is of interest to you, be a server in the tea room, do a shift as a pourer at the tea table, be a part of the clean up team or in any other area as needed. Think about this. Talk to either of the Co-Conveners and hopefully by the end of September we can display for you to see, a chart of all the venues and the volunteers that have stepped forward to contribute and together we can make our Annual Christmas Tea & Sale a roaring success. In advance, our grateful thanks for your participation.
and MUCH more
Frank McGill and Joanne Stonehouse Co-Conveners, Christmas Tea and Sale
The Transition Team have been quietly continuing their work over the summer months, collating and analyzing the material from our home groups and congregational meeting. Following input, refinement and approval from the Diaconate on September 8th, we are pleased to say we are maintaining the original timelines and will be ready to make a presentation to the congregation on September 25th. The draft report will be distributed prior to the congregational meeting. A huge thank you to all who contributed with reflections, comments, analysis and memories. David Dexter, Transition Team Chair
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Sept 4: Pentecost 18; Communion Jeremiah 18:1-11; Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33 Terra Cotta Travels – Rev. Lynn Uzans Music: Vivaldi and Bach, soloist Eve Roberts September 11: Pentecost 19; Sunday School Opening Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; Psalm 14 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10 What is a Sin These Days? Pastor John Dalton Music: Lojenski and Kedrov September 18: Pentecost 20 Jeremiah 8:18-9:1; Psalm 79:1-9 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13 Wisdom or Trickery – Rev. Lynn Uzans Music: Iseler and Duruflé
The 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Association for Baptist Freedoms will be held September 31st and October 1st at First Baptist Church Halifax. In addition to worship, fellowship, and business, the theme of the meeting will be Physician Assisted Dying. Here is a tentative schedule:
Friday, September 31st 6:30 - Registration 7:00-7:45 - Guest Speaker 7:45-8:00 - Questions/Answers 8:00-8:30 - Communion
Saturday, October 1st 8:30 - Refreshments 9:00 - Devotional 9:30 - Guest Speaker 10:30 - Refreshment Break 11:00 - Panel Discussion 12:15-1:30 - Lunch 1:30 - Business Meeting Adjournment
September 25: Pentecost 21 Jeremiah 32:3a, 6-15; Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 1 Timothy 6:6-9; Luke 16:19-31 Property, Gates and Tables – Rev. Lynn Uzans Music: Rutter and Archer
October 21-23, Friday evening - Sunday lunch at Tatamagouche Centre. This retreat is open to anyone at First Baptist Church, those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The day will be framed by short, beginning and ending devotions, and will contain lots of opportunity for personal reflection and group discussion. Tatamagouche offers an outdoor labyrinth, nearby trails, canoe's and a fire pit. Visit www.tatacentre.ca for details on the facility. Cost per person is $215 for shared accommodation, or $269 for single accommodation (includes meals and snacks). Stay tuned for more details or speak with Rev. Jenny Csinos.
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Working with us and for us - in our community and around the world. BRUNSWICK STREET MISSION BREAKFAST PROGRAM Thank you to everyone who volunteered at the Brunswick Street Mission on August 13, arriving at 5:30 AM to help prepare and serve breakfast, make sandwiches, and clean up afterwards. Your generosity of spirit and hard work was greatly appreciated by the 83 people who came!
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 14, 2016 at 5:30 PM for the annual Harvest Supper & Silent Auction sponsored by the Community Outreach Committee. All proceeds will be donated to a deserving charity in our community. The menu will include hors d’oeuvres, international cuisine, homemade baked beans, ham, and other goodies. As you do your fall cleaning, please put aside anything that you would like to donate to the silent auction. All donations (e.g. paintings, boat rides, dinners in your home, collectables, antiques) are welcome!
The Community Outreach committee has bags of coffee for sale. Proceeds from the sale of coffee are used to buy food items for the Brunswick Street Breakfast Program (i.e., ham and hash brown casserole, scrambled eggs, toast, juice, fruit, and sandwiches). Buying Just Us! Coffee also supports the Fair Trade partnership between producers, traders or buyers, and consumers. Our regular coffee sells for $11.00 per bag, the decaf sells for $12.00 per bag. Thank you for your continued support of this Outreach project.
Gather a few friends and plan to attend – help us support our community!
REMEMBER OUR FOOD TRUNK The third Sunday of each month has been designated as Food Bank Sunday, with donations going to local food banks such as Feed Nova Scotia, Ward 5 Food Bank, and the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank to help feed those in need.
Donations can be dropped off at other times as well.
First Baptist Church will be hosting the ARK Sunday Supper at St. Andrew’s Church on October 2nd. The menu is Shepherd’s Pie and volunteers are needed to prepare the casseroles. The recipe is beside the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board outside the parlour. These meals are an important way for our church community to provide a hot meal for homeless people and people experiencing hardship in our city who would otherwise go without dinner.
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Beat the rush of registering for Sunday school by registering early! All children and youth need to have a form filled out for programs at FBCH. The form can be found here or see Jason Naug or Rev. Jenny Csinos. Sunday school will being on Sept. 11, looking forward to a great year!
Everyone is invited to bring your backpack, 0purse, briefcase or work bag to worship on Sept. 11th. Together as a congregation we'll pray a blessing for the next academic year.
Summer Homework Due: Bring your bag or jar of sand to church on September 18th. During worship we will use it for the children's story. If you haven't collected your handful of sand yet, there's still a bit of time!
1300 Oxford Street Halifax, NS B3H 3Y8 Phone: 902-422-5203 Email: office@fbchalifax.ca Facebook.com/FirstBaptistHalifax
. . .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 well as the Canadian Association for Baptist Freedoms (formerly the Atlantic Baptist Fellowship). We are intentionally ecumenical and inclusive in our services (Sundays at 10:30 a.m.) and programs. We are an affirming church. Photo by Warren Hoeg - June 2016
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