St. Matthew’s United Church eBulletin Feb. 17, 2019
News
The days and weeks ahead
Sun. Feb. 17 Worship service, 10:30 am
Tue. Feb. 19 Funeral for Rick Salsman, 1 pm
Tue. Feb. 19 Book Club, 2 pm
Thu. Feb. 21 Bible study at noon, in the parlour
Sun. Feb. 24 Worship service, 10:30 am
Sun. Feb. 24 Worship and Music Committee, after church
Sun. Mar. 3 Pancake Sunday lunch, after church
Remembering Rick Salsman
Funeral service for Richard (Rick) Salsman of our congregation will be held at St. Matthew's on Tue. Feb. 19, at 1 pm. Rick died Feb. 10 in Halifax at age 68. He was a well-known businessman and sailor, and a devoted and beloved husband, father and grandfather. After studying at Acadia University, he launched a retail clothing company with his partner Richard Dube. Beginning with one store in Downsview Mall in Lower Sackville, The Jeanery Limited grew to a province-wide chain. Eventually Rick became sole owner of the company, which he sold in 2011.
Outside work, Rick's interests were many and included flying, skiing, running, reading, cooking, photography, and music. But all other hobbies paled in comparison to Rick's passion for sailing. His last and favourite boat, Aisling 1, took him on the adventure of his life. In 2007, with the help of friends and family members, he and his wife Bonnie sailed Aisling 1 across the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean. Over the course of 10 summers they sailed to the shores of 11 countries. Their blog describing the adventures of Aisling was a tribute to Rick's creativity and enthusiasm for life, and they received two awards from the Cruising Club of America for their writing.
Rick's greatest happiness, however, came from spending time with Bonnie, friends and family. His new grandson Théo brought him much joy in the final months of his life. Rick was a member of the Cruising Club of America, the Ocean Cruising Club, the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron and St. Matthew's United Church. He was a past member of the Board of Governors of the Cruising Club of America and of the Fort Massey, St. Matthew's and St. David's Refugee Committee.
Surviving are his wife, Bonnie (Dickson); son Christopher; daughter Katherine (Martin Noël); grandson Theodore "Théo" Noël; brothers, Alan Salsman (June) and Robert Salsman (Nancy); sister, Lyn Salsman Waller (Kevin); and his loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Dean and Evelyn (Jones) Salsman.
Please hold in your prayers ...
Marg Arklie, continuing to recover at the Halifax Infirmary
Karla Bruce, healing a broken ankle in a boot, after surgery and bone-setting
St. Matthew's Book Club
St. Matthews’ Book Club will meet on Tue. Feb. 19 at 2 pm at 1470 Summer Street, Apt. 703. Our book is The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. The author “gracefully explores the lengths we will go in order to protect our families and to keep the past from dictating the future”. For more information, contact Elaine Murray, edamur50@gmail.com
Official Board News
The Official Board met Sunday with representatives of Slate REIT, the owner of the Maritime Centre. The company plans a major renovation to the Maritime Centre that will significantly alter the Barrington entrance, Niche restaurant corner, the underground parking, and wind effects. Slate would like to use St. Matthew's north side lawn as a staging area for their crane and equipment. This preliminary meeting helped the Official Board understand the project better, and to explain to Slate how this construction will impact the church, our garden area, and congregational activities over the next 18-24 months. Further discussion will follow with a small ad hoc committee of Stewards, staff and Official Board members.
Thanks to …
Hilary Wellard, for sponsoring Sunday's bulletin in loving memory of Laura Wellard, who would have celebrated her 108th birthday on Feb. 18
Brunswick Street Mission update and a volunteer opportunity
Over the last two years the Board of the Brunswick Street Mission has undertaken strategic planning to determine how it can best respond to the needs of marginalized persons. Brunswick Street is not the locus of poverty that it once was, as its proximity to downtown and new development are gentrifying this area. High rents and the lack of employment in the core, however, are driving long-time residents away. Accordingly, the Board has been considering how to better support those in need when they may not live nearby.
It recently announced five new directions that will guide future activities of the mission, including: (1) enhancing a safe social space (2) increasing staff support to deliver programs rather than rely on volunteers (3) building capacity with an evolving governance structure (4) offering mobile services, such as a clothing bus, to take services to where those in need are living, and (5) income development.
Carol Smillie is retiring from her position as St. Matthew's representative on the Mission Board. This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for anyone interested in helping the Mission achieve its new goals.
How you can help the Out of the Cold Shelter
The Out of the Cold Shelter is open nightly in the Sunday school area of St. Matthew's. The Shelter offers 15 beds for those who need a place to stay, and provides hot meals, sandwiches, and some necessities to guests and others who drop by.
Financial Support to St. Matthew's – St. Matthew`s provides space, heat, lights, washroom facilities, etc. for guests. Your donations help cover the operating costs that allow the shelter to stay open all winter long.
Requested items – OTCS recently appealed for deodorant -- $5 gift cards – bus tickets – waterproof gloves – socks – underwear – and gently used and clean sweaters, sweatshirts, hoodies, winter coats, and waterproof boots.
OTCS lists current requirements on its website outofthecoldhalifax.org and on its Facebook page. Donations can be dropped off on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the lower level of the church between 8:30 am and 5 pm. OTCS is a peanut-free zone and cannot accept donations of mouthwash, aftershave, or hand sanitizer.
Sandwiches – There are Thursdays in March and April open that St. Matthew's folk can provide sandwiches for OTCS. If you can help, see Jean Hattie.
In the Community
Halifax Camerata Singers: Music of the Spheres – Sat. Mar. 2 at 7:30 pm, Halifax Central Library, Spring Garden Road. A audio-visual program of music with readings by guest narrator Ben Caplan that explores the beauty of the heavens and our planet – Earth as seen from space, and space as seen from Earth. Tickets $35 adult, $30 senior, and $20 student/underwaged available at tickethalifax.com. Concert repeat on Sun. Mar. 3 at 7 pm at Knox United Church, Lower Sackville.
Bereavement Support – Contact the Hospice Society of Greater Halifax at 902-446-0929.