Opportunities for Learning
| Who Are We? |
| Worship at St George's |
| Service Schedule |
| Getting Involved |
| Outreach |
| YouthNet |
| Christian Education |
| Music |
| Upcoming Events |
| History |
| Sermons & Documents |
| Contact Us |
| Site Map |
 |
During the 10:30 Choral Holy Communion, there is a nursery available for young children at the back of the church. Toddlers Church (Sunday School for toddlers) meets in the basement of the church. Follow the stairs across from the nursery.
Toddler's Church in the nursery. In September 2010 we started a Sunday preschool where the children will hear a Bible story, sing a simple song followed by an activity and open play. If you are interested in the programme or want to help us please contact Kieva Diamond or Karen Westhaver in the Toddlers room at the back of the church across from the nursery and down the stairs.
Sunday School for ages 5-11 meets September to June and is incorporated into the 10.30am worship. The Rector and people of Saint George's believe that children are an important part of the parish; it is not unusual to see the children in procession with the choir and clergy singing the Litany, sitting on the chancel steps for the children's talk, or standing by the font during a baptism. The children are present from the beginning of the 10.30am service until just after the Creed. Teachers and children return to the church to join the congregation at the altar rail to either receive the sacrament or a blessing and to participate in the post-Communion prayers and hymns.
For more about St George's Sunday School, click here.
Sunday Youth Group: From 9:45-10:25 am on Sundays, Liz Curry leads a program for young people, age 12 and up. The class will build upon the foundation of last year's confirmation class and will include elements of teaching and discussion. The content of this course will flow into our monthly youth events and other parish activities in which the youth are involved. This program offers a way for us to support the youth in the parish as they mature and grow in their spirituality. This group will meet in the old parish office at the back of the stage in the hall.
An Adult Study Group will meet in the hall on Sunday mornings, from 9:45am sharp to 10:15am, beginning Sunday, Oct. 9. The topic of study will be, "Why the Psalms? Why do psalms have such a prominent place in the Holy Communion service?" Each week, we will look at the introit and gradual psalms for the Sunday. We will have a chance to see how the psalms preach Christ, describe the Church, guide our prayers, give voice to our hopes and anxieties, and serve as a kind of Bible in miniature. This study group will be led by the Rector.
Please note the last session for this group in 2011 is Sunday December 18. The group will resume on Sunday January 15, Epiphany II.
Altar Servers Training Session There will be an altar servers' training session on Saturday, February 11, at 2pm in the Round church. This is an opportunity for all current and aspiring altar servers to learn about assisting with the celebration of Holy Communion each Sunday morning.
Recent events:
Wednesday Evening Adult Study Groups
Our Autumn study groups begin this coming Wednesday, October 26th. At 6 p.m. those interested can gather in the Sunday School for an optional potluck. Then at 7 p.m. we will split into our two groups, the details which are provided below. For more information, please speak with Nick Hatt. Phone: 422-1271 or nicholas.hatt@ukings.ca. Hope to see you there!
Group 1: Reading Group
2012 marks the 350th Anniversary of the Book of Common Prayer (1662). In commemoration of this event, in 2011 the Prayer Book Society of the United Kingdom published a remarkable volume entitled "The Book of Common Prayer: Past, Present and Future". It includes short, accessible articles on the history, logic and current use of the Prayer Book, written by a collection of priests and scholars from around the world, many of whom are great friends of our parish.
To aid in the deepening of our knowledge into this great tradition which has and continues to form our parish, a study group will be held on Wednesday nights for the next four weeks, during which we will consider selected articles from this volume. Each evening, a basic introduction to the article will be offered, followed by general group discussion and questions.
Copies of the articles are available at the back of the Church.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011:
A Perusal of the History of the Book of Common Prayer, by Neil Patterson
The Bible in the PrayerBook, by Roger Beckwith
Wednesday, November 9, 2011:
The Lectionaries in the Book of Common Prayer, by David Phillips
Wednesday, November 16, 2011:
Like Eagles in this Life: A Theological Reflection on 'The Order for the administration of the Lord's Supper or the Holy Communion' in the Prayer Book, by Gavin Dunbar
Group 2: Reel Faith!
On October 26th, November 9th and November 16th, this group will consider theological themes through film. We start with a viewing of 'The Year of Living Dangerously', directed by Peter Weir. This highly regarded film is set in Indonesia during the overthrow of President Sukarno, and explores the themes of helplessness, betrayal, and struggles for redemption. The viewing will
be followed by discussion, led by the Rector.
A Quiet Day is planned for Saturday, November 12 at St Paul's Church in Sackville, New Brunswick. Fr David Curry will give a series of meditations intended to help us read, think and pray the content of St Bonaventure's little treatise, The Mind's Journey Into God. The day is to begin with Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. and conclude with Evening Prayer around 3 p.m. The Holy Communion will be celebrated later in the morning. There is no charge. The day's reflections are pitched especially to the clergy, but anyone who might be interested is most welcome.
Friday November 18 - Sunday November 20: Parish Retreat at Monastery, NS. The Rev'd Canon John Matheson will lead the retreat focusing on preparing for the season of Advent. Rev'd Matheson serves in the Diocese of Fredericton and is Rector of the Parish of St Andrew in St Stephen, New Brunswick. He is a graduate of the University of King's College and the School of Divinity at the University of Harvard, and is chairman of the Atlantic Theological Conference Committee. Fr Matheson is a great friend to our parish having most recently given a Passiontide Quiet Day in 2005. It is a delight to welcome him back to St George's to conduct our Advent Retreat. The cost will be $150; please let Fr. Westhaver or Andrea Lee know if you are interested in attending so a spot can be reserved.
Tuesday April 5th, 7pm: Missed Boethius?
Victoria Goddard (parishioner and Foundation Year Program tutor at King's) will repeat her lecture "Love and Prayer in Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy" at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, 5 April. This will take place in Anne West's home. If you would like to attend please let Anne know at awest@ns.sympatico.ca .
Illuminating the Liturgy
On Friday, April 1st, Fr. Westhaver will hold a session in which he will guide us through the Holy Communion Liturgy, discussing the significance of the movements, the ceremonial and the placement of the prayers and readings. The session for all who are interested will take place in the chancel of the Round Church, beginning at 7 pm.
Quiet Day, March 19 sponsored by the Prayer Book Society (Nova Scotia & PEI Branch)
Led by Fr David Curry, Rector of the Parish of Windsor and Chaplain at King's-Edgehill School.
Topic: A Lenten Pilgrimage: Meditations on Bonaventure's The Journey of the Soul to God. Copies of the reading can be emailed or mailed to participants or purchased: Bonaventure: The Soul's Journey Into God (translated by Ewert H. Cousins, in the Classics of Western Spirituality series, pages 53-116). March 19, 2011 9am-5pm at King's Edgehill School, Windsor, NS. Morning Prayer at 9am in the chapel, addresses to be held elsewhere at the school.
2010
Saturday December 11: Advent Retreat
There will be a One-Day Advent Retreat for St. George's Parish on Saturday, December 11th. This Retreat will be conducted by Father Gordon Neish. Many in the parish will remember Father Neish from his years of assisting in our parish. He is currently Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Clements in the Annapolis Valley and is well-known as a thoughtful and gifted retreat conductor. Mark your calendars now so as not to miss this important part of our Advent preparation for the Festival of Christmas.
“Experiencing the Apostles Creed”: Sundays at 9-10am, on October 24, 31, November 7, 14
Beginning on Sunday, October 24th, at 9 am, the Rector will lead
a four-week study group on the Apostles’ Creed. Sessions will take place
at 9 am on Oct 24, 31, Nov 7 and 14 from 9-10 am in the Guild Room.
The Apostles’ Creed is a basic statement of Christian belief which has a
prominent place in Anglican services. It is the creed recited at Baptism,
and also at the daily services of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. It has
been ascribed to the Apostles as a summary of the teaching of the New
Testament and of the Apostles, or according to the tradition that the
Apostles themselves framed the Creed. The four week study will use a
DVD called “Experiencing the Apostles’ Creed” which brings together
teachers from several different Christian traditions (including the Bishop of
Durham, N. T. Wright, and Metropolitan Kallistos Ware of the Greek
Orthodox Church in the UK): “Phrase by phrase and word by word, the
scholars dig into the Creed’s rich meaning, illuminating this ancient
storehouse of Christian conviction. What they reveal is a living declaration
of living faith that speaks to today’s issues and is as relevant for modern
believers as it was for the first Christians.”
The time has been chosen to provide an opportunity to combine this study
with regular Sunday morning worship. Those staying for the 10:30 service
will be able to join shortened Morning Prayer at 10:00 am, or have a
coffee break in the hall. Please let the rector know if you are interested in
attending or have any questions about the study.
If you are interested in the Apostles'
Creed study but cannot come on Sunday mornings at 9 am,
you would be welcome to join a group who will watch the
DVD on Thursday afternoons at 2 pm, at 6146 Linden St,
the home of the rector, beginning this Thursday, Nov 4
until Nov 25. Some of the toddlers who are desperate to
learn about the Creed will be there also.
Sunday October 17th, 2.45-4.45pm: Studying Origen On Genesis
A one-session consideration of Origen's "First Homily on Genesis".
For the second-century Church Father, Origen of Alexandria,
the proper understanding of the scriptural account of creation in
Genesis requires an intellectual or spiritual perception within the
human soul. As such, the process of interpretation necessarily involves
the transformation of the soul itself, that it may become like the objects
or object it sees and perceives. The Genesis creation account provides
the fundamental structure of the cosmic and moral order through which
the human mind is raised up according to its capacity and approaches
nearer to God. The mystical meaning of creation of the world is thus
discovered in the apprehension of its purpose and end, which is nothing
else than its beginning.
Parish Retreat to Monastery, NS July 9-11
If you did not get a chance to go on the Lenten Retreat, consider the upcoming Trinity Season Retreat. Beginning on Friday evening at about 7:30, and ending on Sunday after lunch, we will gather at the retreat centre of the Our Lady of Grace Monastery to pray, enjoy one another's company and listen to our speaker, Fr. Ranall Ingalls. The cost will be $125.00 per retreatant, excluding transportation. More details to follow. All who are interested, please contact Andrea Lee in the Parish Office (423-1059 or office@roundchurch.ca) with any questions or to reserve a space. Below is a note from Fr. Ranall Ingalls of the Parish of Saint John, Trinity Church, regarding the topic on which he will speak:
"That we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us": Richard Hooker on the Incarnation of the Son of God.
At the July retreat we will consider what a great English thinker and man of prayer had to say about who Christ is and how we are brought into the life of the holy Trinity through him. The text for the retreat will be chapters 50-56 of the fifth book of Richard Hooker's Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity. As Hooker puts it, since our spiritual life consists 'in the union of the soul with God', and 'as there is no union of God with man without that mean between both which is both', in order to understand those things that make possible the spiritual life it is necessary to consider 'how God is in Christ' and then 'how Christ is in us'. As Hooker enlightens our understanding, he may also serve to deepen our prayer, that we may enter more fully and more wholeheartedly into the mystery of 'God with us' in Jesus Christ.
Lent 2010: Praying the Psalms with St Augustine: Tuesday Evenings 7.45pm - 9pm, or Wednesday 10.45am - noon The psalms are the prayers of Christ, of the Church, of Christians individually. That is, at least, how we use them in our services. Yet, sometimes the language of the psalms seems strange and difficult, even if we all have our favourites. These meetings will give us a chance to see how the Psalms have been prayed and read in the Church. We will use St Augustine as our guide. The goal will be to be able to pray and understand the psalms better, to see how they can be a guide to us, and to see how they guide public worship also. When: Tuesday evenings from 7:45 to 9 pm (after HC), or Wednesday from 10:45 to noon (after HC).
Parish Lenten Retreat March 6-8, 2010: St. Gregory of Nyssa's Life of Moses and the Journey into God Father Christopher Snook will lead us on our Lenten Retreat this year at 'Our Lady of Grace Monastery.'
Retreat addresses pdf file
Liturgy study Group at St. George's
Have you ever wondered why particular items of clothing and various movements are used in the chancel during the Sunday liturgy? Do you understand the symbolism and significance of what is taking place? As a conclusion to our recent home study on the prayer book, Fr. Mercer discussed aspects of the liturgy in a 90 minute session held in the Round Church on Friday March 19th.