Summer2014

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The Newsletter of First Baptist Church Halifax Vol. 26 No 2 June 2014

Where Faith Comes To Life!

O ver the last few months I have been working with eleven couples who are

planning to be married here at First Baptist at various times this year and next. It is an exciting time! Having been conducting weddings for almost forty years you would think that it would all be a bit “ho hum” by now, and I admit that I sometimes receive a new request with somewhat diminished enthusiasm - until I meet them! How fortunate I am to be able to draw along these couples as they are exploring the meaning of spending their lives together! Their joy in each other, their hopefulness about the future and their desire to have a ceremony that honours their love as a gift from God soon stirs my own enthusiasm, interest and joy. One of the more interesting discussions we have is in response to the question, “Why do you want to have your wedding at First Baptist?” For those who have had a long connection with this Church, the answer is often filled with expressions of appreciation for First Baptist, for family and friends here and for the meaning they have found in worship. Usually I have known either the bride or groom (or both) since their childhood, which I find very meaningful, too. But what about those who have had no previous connection with First Baptist - what kind of answers to they give?

You would not be surprised to hear that the beauty of our sanctuary often factors in, as well as our location in this part of the city. Although one could be a bit cynical about such an answer (is that all they want?), it strikes me that embedded in their answer is an appreciation for what previous generations worked so hard to provide - a place of worship whose physical attractiveness, spiritual aesthetics and location could attract those seeking the presence of God. Increasingly, I am hearing another reason for coming to First Baptist. Having researched us on the internet and carefully read our webpage, they have discovered that we are an inclusive congregation and that we do not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. “We have gay friends,” they will say, “and we want them to feel welcome at our wedding. Not every Church is open, you know.” So, not only are they affirming their love for each other, but they are also looking for a “love context” for the ceremony that will begin their married life together! Our witness of love as a congregation is being heard, and believed!

Love is in the air! And that is the way it should be for those of us who follow Jesus, the embodiment of God’s love for all!

Rev. John E. Boyd

Love Is In the Air!

Joint Summer Services with St. David’s

F irst Baptist and the Presbyterian Church of Saint David will hold joint summer

services beginning on Sunday, June 29th and

concluding on Sunday, August 31st. All

services will be held at First Baptist this year while Saint David’s is being renovated. July: Rev. Kenn Stright of Saint David’s will be preaching during the first five Sundays. The bulletins will be prepared at Saint David’s, so First Baptist announcements should be sent to our office by Wednesday at noon so we can pass them on. Rev. Mr. Stright will also be providing pastoral care to our congregation and will be available for funerals. Arrangements for hospital or home visits for those who are ill can be arranged through our Church Office, or, in emergencies, by contacting Mr. Stright at his office: 423 2660 or at home: 477 2870. August: Rev. John Boyd will be on duty for Sundays and for your pastoral needs.

Men Without Jackets

O n a beautiful, sunny Easter Sunday af-ternoon, the men trekked up the Mount

for the annual Easter Communion service for the residents at Caritas. We performed two pieces: "All Glory Laud and Honour" and, es-pecially for the nuns the Latin piece "Cantate Domino". Welcome to our newest member, Peter Fillmore, who made his singing debut with Men Without Jackets in front of a most appreciative congregation. Our April rehearsal was cancelled. Since we had only one piece to perfect for the Father's Day service, we used the May rehearsal to enhance our music education. Lynette ar-ranged to have the organ pipe loft open for viewing, and she also gave us a musical tour of the organ console. After the rehearsal, Garnett Colwell had kindly invited MWJ to a season closing lunch at the Royal Nova Sco-tian Yacht Club. Remember, we call ourselves "Men Without Jackets" because God never said we needed to dress up to sing his praises. For further information, contact our Director of Music, Lynette Wahlstrom. Men Without Jackets: Peter Fillmore, Antho-

ny Zadeh, Bryan Darrell, Mac Philips, Ian

McKee, Jim Stanley, David Bourque, Alan

Manchester, Erick Lee, Joe O’Brien, Brian

Ashton, Ken Margeson, Nelson Metcalfe, Da-

vid Dexter, Paul Henderson, John Dalton,

David Gibson, Garnet Colwell, Tom Crowell,

Alan North, Jeremy Dutcher, Tony Marshall,

Kim Davison, Ed Tummers, Dahrl Whitney,

Richard MacMichael, Allen Cruess, Benjamin

Shaw. Guest organists, Patrick Salah, Shawn

Whynot, Andrea Dickinson.

DO YOU LOVE TO SING?

Check out the fantastic Music Page on our website for information about the Senior Choir, Men’s Choir, Children’s Choirs and more!

WORKING WITH DR. A

I love being a musician. There is nothing more satisfying than preparing and presenting music

to a group of listeners. The experience of making music with community and church members, conductors, orchestral musicians, fellow keyboardists, and singers is a wonderful privilege. This past Sunday, I participated in a J.S. Bach Cantata concert, where the music of Bach was recreated with period instruments and historical lecture to an spellbound audience. I was personally glad to vault into this exciting project because I had just completed an exciting 2 week Maritime tour with Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt and the National Youth Choir. It is a strange phenomenon when a tour is finished, you feel the cessation of motion, somewhat like stepping back on land after a sea voyage. And what a voyage it was! All the singers, ages 18-25, were auditioned by their home province or territory, and sent to Wolfville, NS, as singing ambassadors for the National Youth Choir, an event that occurs every 2 years in different parts of Canada. We spent the first week in 12-hour rehearsal days at the beautiful campus of Acadia, and then launched ourselves into a week-long concert tour starting in Wolfville, then proceeding to Digby, St. Bernard, Lunenburg, Tatamagouche, Fredericton N.B., Summerside PEI, and finally to Halifax, where we sang in numerous workshops and master classes for Podium, the national convention of Canadian Choral Associations. In those two weeks, we became a family, which means I learned what is like to live in a dorm with 40 young adults for one week, and needless to say, was glad when we were billeted on the 2nd week concert tour in individual homes. The choral world is teaming with volunteers, who were eager to overfeed us and tour us around their hometowns. I also had wonderful meetings with Organists in every town and church, and made many future promises to visit and play local Organ concerts along with my RCCO Halifax colleagues.

The nicest surprise of our National Youth Choir tour was the wonderful professional development opportunity of working with Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt, University of Toronto's Head of Graduate Choral Conducting. Dr. A. turned out to be, in all my vast work with choral conductors to date, the finest mentor of Choral conducting, and has become a valuable and trusted colleague. To put it in a nutshell, she showed through her educational philosophy how to use the conducting gesture to enhance every level of choral singing, whether it be church, community, high school, or professional youth choir, both with experienced and beginner singers. Dr. A. was always the best-prepared of us all, providing constant feedback and stability, an expert in gesture, communication, and educational approach. She taught us how to achieve musical accuracy in the aim for artistry, in every facet from warm-ups to rehearsal and finally, performance. I was delighted to be able to finally articulate what I have learned to do as a choral pianist and conductor, which in the past has been instinctive, and now informed from a specific educational understanding. Thanks Dr. A! I am tremendously eager to prepare new repertoire for my work with the FBC Senior Choir, Men Without Jackets, Women's Choir (future), Songsters, Guitar Ensemble, Quartets, and Soloists. Get set for a new season of worship music at FBC Halifax!

Lynette Wahlstrom, Director of Music

From the Diaconate

EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS – LEANING FORWARD WITH FAITH AND ENTHUSIASM

A s we near the mid-way point of 2014, our attention is focused on the significant changes in leadership which will occur in the next twelve months. As we all know Rev. John and Debbie

Boyd will bring an end to 27 years of active ministry at First Baptist Halifax following the Easter Services in April 2015. In anticipation of that event, we have begun to plan for transition – first to celebrate John and Debbie’s faith-filled service to us with a day of events on the weekend of Saturday April 11

th or

Sunday April 12th

2015. Alberta Morgan and her team are planning an afternoon Service of Thanksgiving followed by a social event at which family, friends and the whole congregation will be able to wish John and Debbie a long and enjoyable retirement. More details will follow in the fall. Recognizing that it will be challenging to replace John after such a long ministry, we have embarked on a careful process of transition. Last year we outlined the steps of Intentional Interim Ministry and on June 1

st we approved the appointment of Rev Hugh Kirkegaard, Marilyn

Peers, David Dexter and Joe O’Brien as the coordinating team to lead us through the initial steps of finding a “Transition Minister”. The transitional period may last a year or more as we confirm our vision for future ministry needs and establish a search committee. As time goes on other hands will be needed to forward this work and we will be telling you about the progress and the need for help and assistance at our congregational meetings.

But the most exciting news is that the June 1

st meeting approved a call to Ministry

for Jenny Csinos to serve as our first Minister of Faith of Development. This position was developed by the CE Reconstruction Team with a focus on faith development – working with youth and families, reaching out to adults with a focus on personal faith and its meaning in our daily lives. The Minister of Faith Development will not always be visible in Worship Services but will complement the work of our senior minister in other ways leading Christian Education programmes for all ages.

Jenny will join us on the first of September on completion of a course of study in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at the St Joseph’s Health Centre in Hamilton Ontario. CPE is both interfaith and multicultural and uses real-life ministry encounters to develop pastoral skills and abilities. Jenny also has a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Education and a Masters of Divinity from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary and has served in volunteer and paid positions all with an emphasis on Christian Education. Jenny’s previous ministry has been marked with enthusiasm and impact and everyone who met her during the recent visit to First Baptist was impressed with her abilities and eagerness to join us in Halifax where Jenny and her husband David will make their home. Jenny’s Call to Ministry is the first of many steps towards a new ministry team

which will be necessary after Rev Boyd’s retirement in 2015 and we look

forward to her arrival.

PAST, PRESENT

and FUTURE

Deaths

Marie Nightingale - March 15, 2014 Mother of Frank, Bob and Gary Nightingale

Théresè Neguem - March 24, 2014

Mother of Nathalie Mopoho

Ellen Stott - April 4, 2014

Mary Large - April 10, 2014

Margaret “Joan” Mayo - April 26, 2014 Mother of Margie Heard

Evelyn Gibson - April 28, 2014

Mother of David Gibson

Elsie Munro - May 3, 2014

Births

Violet Adeline Haddad March 21, 2014

Parents: Jake and Jan Haddad

Marriages

Esther Opie and James MacDonald May 17, 2014

Eric and Andrea (Dickinson) Mathis

May 31, 2014

Dedication

Violet Adeline Haddad—May 25, 2014

Baptisms—June 8, 2014

Alison Clarke Caroline Duggan Geoffrey Hebb

Megan Henderson Olivia Kirkegaard David Thomson Hugh Thomson

PRAYER CIRCLE

D id you know that First Baptist Church has a Prayer Circle? Would you be willing to join

this group of folks who have committed themselves to helping others through intercessory prayer? No special training or talents are necessary - only a willingness to include others in your daily prayer life. Anyone can ask for prayers, either through our ministers or directly to the group leader, Deacon Pauline Allsop (492-1050 or 228-2985). All requests are held in strictest confidence. When a request for prayers is received, the leader contacts the members of the circle, and each member commits to hold in prayer the person(s) for whom prayers are requested. Our group is small, and we would welcome new members. Unlike Committees and other groups, there are no meetings to attend, and the only commitment is to pray for others. If this sounds like a call to you, contact Pauline.

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS JULY AND AUGUST

Monday: 1 pm to 4 pm Alana will be in the office from 7:30 am but the office is closed till 1 pm Tuesday - Thursday: 7:30 am - 4 pm Friday: 7:30 am - 1 pm Lunch: 12:30 pm - 1 pm. Marion Doane will be in the office mornings only during Alana’s vacation.

VACATIONS

Rev. John Boyd: June 27 - July 31 Alana Foster: July 28 - August 15

Wayne McPhee: August 11 - August 29 Rev. Nelson Metcalfe: June 28 - August 1

Lynette Wahlstrom: June 9 - 19; July 4 - 10

CHILDREn’S PagE

THANK YOU! Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-op People and the

Planet Before Profits

B uy a bag of coffee to support projects of the Community Outreach Committee, as well as

to support the Fair Trade partnership between producers, traders or buyers, and consumers.

Colombian ........................ $10.00 French Roast .................... $10.00 Mexican Morning.............. $10.00 Jungle Blend .................... $10.00 Italian ................................ $10.00 Breaking the Silence ........ $10.00 Mocha Java ...................... $10.00 French Roast Decaf ......... $11.00

Proceeds from the sale of coffee are being used to buy food items for the Brunswick Street Breakfast Program (i.e. pancakes, sausages, home fries, juice, fruit and sandwiches). When you purchase a bag of coffee, you are supporting the Fair Trade partnership between producers, traders or buyers, and consumers. Buy a box (6 bags) of Fair Trade Coffee for your office!

ARK SUNDAY SUPPER

Our turn to prepare casseroles for the Sunday supper held at St. Andrew’s United, is Sunday, July 20th. The recipe is Oriental Chicken and a copy, along with a sign-up sheet, is on the bulletin board outside the parlour. We need 18 casseroles, hot, at St. Andrew’s by 4pm that Sunday. Also needed are servers. Please consider supporting this very worthwhile outreach project.

FOOD TRUNK SUNDAY The third Sunday of each month is Food Trunk Sunday. Bring perishable items, hygiene and cleaning supplies and baby items and put them in the box in the Narthex. We will see they get to a food bank when we have enough for a pick-up.

HARVEST SUPPER & SILENT AUCTION

Mark your calendars for Friday, October 17, at 6:00 PM, for the annual Harvest Supper & Silent Auction at First Baptist Church. Watch for exciting details to follow. All proceeds from the dinner and silent auction will be given to Bread of Life Ministries. "Bread of Life Ministries" is a non-denominational, Christian Ministry that operates by faith. This ministry began in 1992 by former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Rob Pattison and his wife Sandra. Motivated by their Christian faith, the Pattison's saw a need to help people in the Halifax area. "Bread of Life Ministries" does not receive any government support. Their support comes mainly from individuals, businesses, churches, foundations and service organizations. "Bread of Life Ministries” operates The Street Connection Mobile Soup Kitchen which provides food and clothing to low-income families in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The majority of those served are children. 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! Gather a few friends and plan to attend - help us support our community! Last year more than $3,000.00 was raised for Adsum for Women and Children.

OUTREACH AT WORK ~ IN OUR CHURCH, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR WORLD

Save the date, November 1, 2014

I am sure many of you are waiting for spring to arrive and would rather not think about the fall and November, however, I want to

give you a heads up for our annual “Christmas Tea and Sale” being held November 1st. I am pleased to have Mary Ann Eisener as the Co-convenor for the 2014 Tea and Sale. Welcome Mary Ann.

Over the summer months I would like you to talk with family and friends about the Tea and Sale. Let them know about the great

deals and gifts from the craft table, jewellery, vintage, new to you, jellies, jams, aprons and homemade cakes and goodies. Also the silent auction table and the book room will available. There will be access to all three levels of the church thanks

to the elevator. Last but not least is the Tea Room which will create Christmas atmosphere with seasonal decorations about the room. Guests will be served sandwiches and sweets made by members of the congregation at First Baptist and sip on a cup or two of the “Best” tea in the

town. Ticket prices are the same as last year $6.00 or 6 for $30.00. So, over the summer think about how you can help by volunteering at one of the tables, selling tickets, serving tea or assisting in the kitchen. Feel free to speak with either Mary Ann or me. Stay tuned more to come in September and October.

Donna Darrell and Mary Ann Eisener Co-convenors

CHURCH FAMILY PICNIC!

The Church Picnic will be held Sunday, June 22,

directly after church in the yard behind the building.

We will have a BBQ, lunch, snow cones, a bouncy castle and much more!

We have ordered sun as well!

Please plan to attend!

SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL

We are looking for volunteers to teach summer Sunday School and your help

in the Crèche is greatly needed!

Please consider offering your services to help out with these very rewarding

opportunities.

The sign-up chart will be outside the parlour.

All lessons will be provided.

SUMMER BULLETIN DEADLINES

During July and August information for the weekly bulletin should be submitted to the office by noon on the Wednesday prior. All submissions should be written by the contributor to ensure no details are missed. Please note that they may be edited as space dictates.

HONOURING OUR GRADUATES

High School Emma Hazelton from Citadel High Emma is the daughter of Bob and Lara Hazel-ton . She will attend Mount Saint Vincent University in September studying Biology. University Megan Jamieson from Dalhousie University Music Department. Meghan has been a section Leader/Soloist with our Senior Choir for the last few years. She is continuing her studies Anna McQuinn from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Anna is the daughter of Alex and Sheilagh McQuinn and the granddaughter of Joan McQuinn. Honoured Fred Fountain has received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Acadia University, on May 12, 2014 Watch the bulletin of June 22 for more news of our graduates. Do you have someone graduating from high school, Community College of University? Contact the church office by noon of June 18th with the details!

50 YEARS AGO: Looking back to 1964

May 1964 Working with the community The Social Services Committee, led by Lloyd Shaw, Dr. and Mrs Clyde Marshall, Frances Eagles, Sharon Sinnott, George Rawlyk, Mrs. H.E. Read and L.T. Hancock, continued its focus on the needs of the Africville community. Working through Cornwallis Street Church and Reverend Coleman, they provided valuable leadership and guidance. Mr. Alton Alexander helped throughout the summer. He had been granted a licence to preach while studying for the ministry at Acadia. The church provided Vacation Bible school materials to communities in East Preston, Lucasville, and Hammond Plains in conjunction with the Student Christian Movement Unit at Acadia and Waterloo universities. The year ended with a Christmas party in the Cornwallis Street church hall with entertainment, treats and a visit by Santa Claus. The entire event was planned and executed by members of the Cornwallis Street and Seaview churches with financial support from our Ladies' Auxiliaries. The church hosted community events, including the Billy Graham Crusade for three months, classes for deaf children throughout the school year, a Christmas Day service for Dutch citizens, summer classes for the YMCA, the Ladies' College Christmas Morality Play and the Halifax Ladies' Musical Club. The Finance Committee, led by Ken Stiles, raised almost $14,000 for Missionary and Extension Work. Donations were made to Acadia University, Calvary Baptist Church in Spryfield, Beechville Baptist Church, Cobequid Road Baptist Church, a new parsonage in St. Margaret's Bay, the Tim Allen Fund, and Bayside Camp. The Chair of the Board of Deacons, Ronald Fielding was honoured with a Doctor of Civil Law at Acadia and deacon Horace Read was appointed VP Dalhousie University. The Baptist Federation and Atlantic Baptist Convention met in Wolfville.

Elsewhere in the world: In South Africa, Nelson Mandela is arrested. At the start of his trial, he makes his famous "I am prepared to die" speech. He is sentenced to life imprisonment. In the USA, Malcolm X advises African-Americans to vote in his famous speech" "The Ballot or the Bullet". President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act which outlaws racial segregation. Race riots erupt throughout the country. Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston to become Heavyweight Champion of the World. He changes his name to Muhammad Ali. Great Canadian Flag Debate begins in Parliament.

- Ed Tummers, research

June 8: Pentecost Sunday; Baptisms; Communion Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

1 Corinthians 12:3b-13; John 20:19-23

The Holy Spirit and You – Rev. John E. Boyd Music: Bach, Daley

June 15: Trinity Sunday; Father’s Day Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8

2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20

Praising God Today - Rev. John E. Boyd Music: Men Without Jackets, Kedrov

June 22: Pentecost +2

Sunday School Closing Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10

Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-31

God is Faithful? Really? - Rev. John E. Boyd Music: Hatfield

June 29: Pentecost +3 Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13

Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42

Sermon: Rev. Kenn Stright Music: Tristan Cleveland-Thompson, Organist

Presbyterian Church of Saint David—to August 3

July 6: Pentecost +4 Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45:10-17

Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Sermon: Rev. Kenn Stright

July 13: Pentecost +5 Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112

Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23


July 20: Pentecost +6 Genesis 28:10-19a; Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24

Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43


July 27: Pentecost +7 Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 105:1-11, 45b

Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52


August 3: Pentecost +8; Communion Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 23

Romans 9:1-5; John 10: 11-16

Too Little, Too Late? - Rev. John E. Boyd

Music: Summer Soloist

August 10: Pentecost +9 Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b


When Bad Things Happen - Rev. John E. Boyd

Music: Jennifer Farrell, soprano

August 17: Pentecost +10 Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15:10-28

Unexpected Grace - Rev. John E. Boyd


August 24: Pentecost +11 Exodus 1:8-2:10; Psalm 124


Not Conformed, But Transformed - Rev. John E. Boyd


August 31: Pentecost +12 Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c


The Bush is Still Burning - Rev. Nelson Metcalfe

Music: Eve Roberts, soprano

September 7: Pentecost +13; Communion

Sunday School Opening Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 149


The Labour of Love - Rev. John E. Boyd

Music: Senior Choir

September 14: Pentecost +14 Exodus 14:19-31; Psalm 114


Forgive Us Our Sins... - Rev. John E. Boyd

Music: Vivaldi, Lojeski

September 21; Pentecost +15 Exodus 16:2-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16

God’s Upside Down World - Rev. John E. Boyd

Music: Byrd, Haydn

September 28; Pentecost +16 Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16

Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32

By Whose Authority? - Rev. John E. Boyd

Music: Bach, Mendelssohn

Worship Schedule - June—September, 2014

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HOW TO CONNECT?

First Baptist Church Halifax 1300 Oxford Street, Halifax Nova Scotia, B3H 3Y8

Web Site: fbchalifax.ca

Telephone: (902) 422-5203 FAX: (902) 422-8665

General E-mail: [email protected] Personal E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Blog: boydsblog-jeb.blogspot.net Twitter: @FBCHfx facebook.com/FirstBaptistHalifax

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