Services will also be uploaded to our Facebook page on Sunday afternoon.
If you'd like to comment and react to others during the live stream service, you will need to create a YouTube account, which only takes a minute.
See you this Sunday on YouTube (or better yet: in person)!
Sponsored Family Update
As many of you will remember, we sponsored a second Syrian family, the Yousef family; father - Abdul Ghani, mother - Jihan Ossi and children - Hasan, Helen, Besir. They arrived in Nova Scotia last November.
On the whole the family have done well integrating into the community, with the children loving their schools. However, Mom and Dad have not had the opportunity to attend English classes as yet, due to the long wait list, and this has hindered their opportunities for getting to know their community better and
for Abdul Ghani to find work. Currently he is working sporadically as a painter. If you or someone you know is willing to provide English training at the family’s home during school hours, please get in contact with Hilda.
Although St. John’s official financial commitment to the family ended on October 31, we maintain a moral commitment to support them. Due to a random CRA audit, their Canada Child Benefit has been temporarily held until the audit has been completed. All papers have been submitted but it may take up to 60 days for their Child Benefit and retroactive payments to arrive.
The family will require some financial assistance until their Child Benefits are reinstated; therefore we are turning to you to help provide financial support.
We currently have $2,600 in the Refugee account to kick-start our ask. The hope is to raise an additional $7,000 to ensure there are sufficient funds until year end. Any contribution you could make would be most appreciated. Funds not used will remain in the Refugee Account for contingencies.
Donations can be made by cheque to St. John's United Church or e-transfer to donations@stjohnsunited.com. Please reach out to Hilda Power should you have any questions or suggestions.
Sunday School
Our Sunday School is meeting in-person at
6025 Stanley Street on Sunday mornings.
Rehearsals will begin this Sunday for our
Christmas Pageant, "From Generation to
Generation".
Children will begin the service in our main
worship area and then move to the Annex for
Sunday School programming during the
remainder of the service.
Youth Group
The Youth Group will be be meeting from 4:00 - 6:00 pm on Sundays, November 6 and November 13 (rather than 5:00-7:00). If you are in Grades 7 - 12, please join us!
If you would like to provide dinners for our Sunday evening meetings; once a year or once a week, please contact Kathy (kcawsey@eastlink.ca), Jacob or Annika for more details.
BOOK DRIVE: We Want Your Books! The Youth Group is doing a book drive; please bring any books you have to donate to church this Sunday and the next.
Kairos Blanket Exercise - Sunday, November 6
Your St. John's United Church Official Board has committed to working towards reconciliation with the First Nation's Peoples of Canada by providing resources and educational programs. The KAIROS Blanket Exercise (KBE) celebrates 25 years of sharing the Canadian story from an Indigenous perspective. This unique participatory workshop was developed in collaboration with elders, knowledge keepers and educators with the aim of "reconciliation through education".
On Sunday, November 6 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Kairos Canada will present the Blanket Exercise at St. John's. This is a truly "not-to-be-missed" experience. Lunch will be provided prior to the exercise, so please contact the Church Office or Annika if you plan to attend.
*If you have any questions about age appropriateness, please email Connie or Annika.
Save The Date
St. John’s Christmas Bake Sale December 4th (12:00 – 2:00p.m.)
If you would like to bake or
volunteer at the event please email Amy at amy.thurlow@msvu.ca
Beginning on November 3, please join us for a short online service every Thursday at 8:00 am. Music, readings, prayers and 10 minutes of silent meditation; and then some conversation if you have the time. Everyone is welcome.
Click THIS LINK on Thursday morning to join us.
Please use Meeting ID: 839 1084 0376. Passcode: Pray
Basil-Infused Olive Oil
The Youth Group will be selling
organic basil-infused extra virgin
olive oil - infused with basil from
St. John's garden! - after church
for the next few Sundays.
You can purchase a large bottle for $20.00 and a small bottle for $15.00.
(Pssst! They make great Christmas gifts!)
Sad News
Alex Young, a former long-time member at St. John’s, lost his sister, Yvonne Poirier. She was 86 years old when she passed away on September 14, 2022 in Lingan, Cape Breton.
Events from the Royal Canadian College of Organists Halifax Centre
A Lecture-Performance of Victor Togni's Five Liturgical Inventions
St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica • Tuesday, Nov. 15 @ 7:00pm
Join organists Shawn Whynot and Kim Tan-MacNeill for a performance of Togni's most monumental work, woven together with conversation and reflection with his son, Peter Togni. Freewill donation. Co-hosted by RCCO Halifax Centre and St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica.
Annual Festival of Carols
All Saints Cathedral • Monday, Nov. 28 @ 7:30pm
Begin your Halifax season with this sacred celebration of new life and light with choral music, poetry and sacred readings. With guest choir, The Aeolian Singers, and guest reader Katy Jean (Columnist, The Saltwire Network), this will be a beautiful way to begin the Christmas season. Freewill donation. Organ Prelude at 7:00. Massed choir rehearsal at 5:45 – all singers welcome.
Spiritual Friends
All are welcome to join the St. John's United Spiritual Friends group which meets Mondays from 5:30 - 6:30 pm via Zoom (and hopefully in-person occasionally). The group is currently exploring a video series entitled, Living the Questions 2.0: An Introduction to Progressive Christianity.
Please contact Connie in the church office if you are interested in participating.
St. John's United
Book Club
St. John's has a very active Book
Club which meets on the fourth
Wednesday of every month at
7:00 pm from September to
November and January to May.
The book for our November 23
session is These Precious Days
by Ann Patchett.
All are welcome to join us at our
Stanley Street location or via
Zoom for a discussion of this book
of essays.
Online Prayer Box
To have your prayer requests included in Sunday's Prayers of the Community just click the link below and type in your request. Names will not be mentioned, unless so specified; or reach out to one of our Ministers, Hubert or Annika, to let them know.
Hubert I'm working primarily from my Stanley Street office combined with work from home. Saturdays and Mondays are my days off, but otherwise feel free to call, text, email or Zoom me. My cell: (902) 414-6342.
If you'd like to book a meeting with me, please insert your details into this calendar.
Annika I will be working in both the Stanley Street space and my home office Monday - Thursday. Sundays will be a mix of hours as programming requires. Fridays and Saturdays will continue to be my days off.
If you'd like to book a meeting with me, please insert your details into this calendar. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Church Office Hours
The church office hours are Wednesday - Friday from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Phone number: (902) 423-8498
The Weekly Newsletter is sent out on WEDNESDAYS.
Please send any new content to Connie at office@stjohnsunited.com.Deadline is Tuesday evening.
