CALVIN CHURCH’S WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Below are our congregational announcements for the week of January 11th – January 18th. (***Please be sure to check out the attached UPDATED calendar for more info!)
Regular Sunday School resumes this Sun. Jan 12: (New)
Just a reminder that regular Sunday School classes will resume this week on Sunday Jan. 12, with nursery care available for those needing it.
Eldership Nominations continue Sun. Jan 12: (Important)
Just a reminder that Calvin uses ‘term service’ for Elders serving on the congregation’s Session. As such 1/3 of a Session’s membership is renewed every 2 years. This means that 2025 will be a year in which we look to elect 5 new elders (there being 15 elders on the Session).
The Eldership is an office of ‘spiritual leadership’, in which the Elders are responsible for working with the minister (with whom they form the Session) to provide leadership, supervision, oversight, and pastoral care for all groups, members, and adherents connected with the congregation. (BoF section 109.1)
Elders must be committed Christians, professing members of the congregation, and should be in regular attendance at worship. Moreover, the Apostle Paul suggests that Elders should exhibit gifts you believe would be useful within the spiritual leadership and visioning of the church, while at the same time being, as the he suggests “an example to the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity” –one who is not overbearing or quick tempered, but who is instead hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self- controlled, upright, holy and disciplined, and an encouragement to others through the living of their faith (see 1 Timothy 4:12 & Titus 1:7-9).
Those who have previously been ordained as Elders, but who are either no longer serving on the Session or in scheduled to step down in the rotation, can be re-elected to the Session. (Elders stepping down on this rotation include: Greg Fraser, Lilla Tanner, Murdena Dupont, and Alice Cail)
Names of nominees must be submitted in writing, and attested to by at least 2 members of the congregation (with their names appearing together on one ballot). This can be done using the ‘Nomination Ballots’ that will be available outside the Sanctuary. Ballots can be filled out, and dropped into the nomination box between the Jan. 5-19. Please watch for more details!
Annual Reports Due in: (Important!!!)
Just a reminder that all 2024 Ministry Team/Group/Committee reports are due into the office by this Sun. Jan. 12. This will allow us enough time to get the Annual Reports put together, and out to the congregation in time for our Annual Congregational Meeting on Sat. Feb. 8.
Ladies Fellowship: (Updated)
The Ladies Fellowship will hold its first meeting of the year on Mon. Jan. 13 @ 1:00 p.m. in the church hall. Come and join us for our annual Bring and Buy auction. All are welcome.
Finance & Stewardship Team Meeting: (New)
The Finance & Stewardship Team will meet on Tues. Jan. 14 @ 7:00 p.m. on ZOOM. Members are asked to please watch for their link to join this meeting.
Session Meeting:
The Session will hold its first meeting of 2025 on Wed. Jan. 15 @ 7:00 p.m..
Men’s Breakfast – Sat. Jan 18: (New)
A men’s breakfast has been planned for Sat. Jan. 18 @ 9:00 a.m. at the I.H.O.P at 80 Hogan Ct, Bedford. To help ensure enough seating is reserved, those interested in attending are asked to sign-up, on the sign-up sheet located on the table outside the sanctuary. Last time we had 12. This time we’d love to have even more! Our organizer, Don Ambler, is hoping to connect with previous attendees via email with reminders. So…if you get an email from aquashed@eastlink.ca don’t be alarmed, it’s only Don!
Updating our Directory: (New)
In the spring of 2024 we created a new Photo Directory. In preparation for our Annual Congregational Meeting (Feb 8) we’d like to prepare an updated directory for 2025. So:
1.) If you weren’t included in the previous edition, but would like to be added please email us your contact info (and a picture if you don’t mind having one shared)
2.) If your address or contact info has changed in the past 12 months, could you please email us your new updated info.
Info can be emailed to calvinhalifax@bellaliant.com.
New directories will be made available at the Annual Meeting.
Children’s ministries:
Our congregation’s Nursery (ages 0-4 yrs.), Sunday School (Primary – Grade 6), and Youth programming (Grades 7-12), are available each Sunday during worship. Nursery-age children can be dropped off prior downstairs in the nursery prior to worship beginning at 10:50 a.m.. Older Sunday School and Youth Group age children are invited to take part in the first part of our worship time, before leaving to go downstairs to their respective programs during the passing of the peace (which most often accompanies the ‘Assurance of Pardon’ in the bulletins). Parents are asked to please help keep older children out of the nursery prior to Sunday School starting to allow the nursery-age children space.
Sign Up sheets for those interested in reading Scripture or leading in prayer:
Sign-up sheets for January 2025 – April 2025 are now on the table in the Narthex for anyone interested in signing up to either read scripture OR to lead in prayer during one of our Sunday worship services. Having different people share their voices, words, perspectives and prayers in worship has been a real blessing, and our hope is that you might consider sharing yours!
Choir Rehearsal:
The choir meets on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. in the back meeting room downstairs. All are welcome to come, and join, and to share in Calvin’s music ministry!
Senior’s Friendship Group:
The Seniors’ Friendship Group is currently meeting each Wed. from 1 – 3 p.m. in the church hall. It’s a fun social time of games and good conversation and you’re invited!
Food Cupboard:
Helpful items you can donate include: canned meat (Flakes of Tuna/Chicken/Ham/Spam) Paper Towel/Toilet Paper bars of soap and toothpaste – dishwashing soap, Kraft Dinner canned soup and vegetables and pet food. Please see the donation box in the narthex or speak with Allison Power (patpower@eastlink.ca or 902-445-9161) or any member of the Mission and Outreach Team.
Pastoral Care Team:
If you know someone in the congregation that could benefit from hearing from their Church Family please contact Kaitlyn Power (kaitlyn.power3@hotmail.com or 902-488-9161). Cards will be sent from the pastoral care team to those who are identified as grieving, celebrating a special occasion, or a thinking of you or get well wishes.
Bulletin Dedications:
You can now, once again, place dedications into the bulletins in celebration or memory of a special event or individual. Dedications can be made using the printed form on the table just outside the sanctuary, or online, at a suggested donation of $15 (which is used to offset printing costs). And if you don’t have $15, don’t worry. Just give what you can.
For those wishing to submit an please email the church at calvinhalifax@bellaliant.com.
(***PLEASE NOTE that online dedications must be submitted no later than the Wednesday immediately prior the Sunday on which they are intended to the printed)
Breakfast Program
Items needed on a weekly basis include cereal, granola bars, puddings, individual wrapped snacks, arrowroot cookies, fruit (applesauce, mandarin oranges, peaches, pears, fruit cocktail), pancake mix (just add water), oats, and 1L juices (apple, orange, fruit mixture). We currently support 21 families, (over 44 children) on a weekly basis. If you would like to donate with your offering, please note “Mission and Outreach Breakfast Program” with your contribution. Any questions about this program – please contact Allison Power (patpower@eastlink.ca or 902-445-9161)
Prayer Chain:
Brittany Power has stepped into the role of overseeing the Prayer Chain! So, for items to be added to the Prayer Chain, please email prayerchain@calvinhalifax.ca or speak to Brittany (902-449-7715). Please ensure you have permission from the individual to have their name added to the list. Updates are also appreciated! All requests are kept in confidence. We currently have a team of 16 who pray for those requested. If you feel called to be part of the Prayer Chain Team – please speak to Brittany Power or Rev. Mike Koslowski.
Remember the Halifax West Ecumenical Food Bank!
Donations of non-perishable food items to the Food Bank can be placed in the shopping cart just inside the front doors of the church. Monetary donations should be earmarked ‘Food Bank’ and can be placed into the offering plates on any Sunday morning. If you would like to donate directly, monetary donations in the form of cash or cheques can be sent to their Treasurer, Russell Cooper, at 33 Chartwell Lane, Halifax, NS, B3M 3S7. Cheques should be made payable to the Halifax West Ecumenical Food Bank. They will also accept e-transfers at the e-mail address halifaxwestfoodbank@gmail.com. If you could leave your address in the comment section (or return address on posted donations), they will be sure to issue a tax receipt.
Who’s Who at Calvin
Not sure who’s who, or who to reach out and direct your questions to? Below are just some of those involve in leading our ministry here together at Calvin:
Minister: Rev. Michael Koslowski, B.A., M. Div.
Minister Emeritus: Rev. Dr. W. G. S. (Sydney) McDonald, B.A., D.D.
Elder Emeritus: Murray MacDonald
Music Director: Faith Daley, B.A., B.Ed.
Interim Clerk of Session: Lilla Tanner
Envelope Secretary: Dan Campbell
Ministry Team Leaders
Worship and Congregational Life: Rev. Michael Koslowski
Mission & Outreach: Allison Power
Personnel & Ministry Opportunities: Lilla Tanner
Finance and Stewardship: Pam MacFarlane
Property & Maintenance: Marian Smith
Prayer Chain, Contact: Brittany Power
Pastoral Care: Rev. Michael Koslowski
Peace,
Rev. Michael Koslowski
Calvin Presbyterian Church
3311 Ashburn Ave., Halifax N.S.
(o) 902-455-7435 (c) 902-402-6747
