Worship Service: Worship is essential to the life of our congregations. It is considered as a weekly family reunion to which we come to be nourished by God’s Word, fed at Christ’s table and filled by the Holy Spirit. It is where we are united in our BELIEVING, and experiencing BELONGING. Our worship life helps us to understand each other, to experience the Christian community and to encounter God together. We try to make our worship services inclusive by engaging other members of the congregation apart from the minister in different activities. Our children join us for the children’s story.
Worship service is at 9:30 am on Sunday mornings.
Bible Studies & Prayer: Our bible study takes place every other Wednesday at 7 pm at the manse. However, with the lockdown, we have been having virtual bible studies. The links are included with the sermons.
Prayer Chain: Our congregation has a group of people, who pray regularly for those who are in need of prayer. Requests are passed along the chain, from one member to another and we meet once every month to pray together.
Mission & Outreach: Our mission projects include: support of Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D), Camp Geddie, a monthly collection for the local Food Bank (in Pictou), the sponsorship of a local family each Christmas, and knitting for the “Opportunity Shop” (which provides clothes for those in need).
We also provide ‘Blessing Bags’ of small gifts for youth at risk through the ‘Roots for Youth’ program in New Glasgow, sponsor a local family in need each Christmas, and adopt university students to keep in touch with through cards and correspondence.
We also maintain the ‘Helping Hands Benevolent Fund’ with which to assist people in need throughout the year and contribute to the county ‘fuel fund’ which is administered through the Pictou County Council of Churches.
Our outreach has included hosting an event called ‘Something Special’, which is held each October. The event is intended for women, and in 2018, 100+ women attended. The event features a guest speaker, special music, discussion on health, craft, with the local bookstore, ‘Seeds of Hope’, setting up a table to buy from. A time of fellowship with refreshments is included, as is an open invitation to anyone who would like to join us in our study of God’s Word.
We typically hold a community summertime brunch and in summer 2018 we also held a ‘Worship on the Beach’ service. The service included special music and lay leadership. Invitations were extended to people outside to come and worship with us, with the actual attendance being approximately 75 people.
Atlantic Mission Society (A.M.S): The purpose of the AMS is to ‘glorify God and to support each other with prayer, Bible study and service, mission endeavors through The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Synod of the Atlantic Provinces, and the presbyteries within its bounds.’ The work of the AMS usually falls into the categories of Mission and Community outreach, with these categories overlapping. There are currently 10-11 members actively involved.
St. David’s Ladies Aid: This group has 8 active members and typically meets on the third Wednesday of each month, September – June. Each meeting is started with prayer and Bible reading. Collection is taken and is used to help local programs (i.e. Camp Geddie, the local Food Bank).
Sunday School: Our Sunday school is very active and down in the basement of the congregation with great teachers. We enjoy a lovely Christmas drama each season from the Sunday School.
Choir: Our choir of 8-12 members is deeply appreciated. The choir feeds the congregation in worship through the singing of hymns and through the regular contribution of anthems. At special events in the life of the community (i.e. funerals etc), choirs from the local varying denominations join together as a greater expression of our Christian witness to others.
The Ladies’ Bible Studies: St. David’s has a Ladies Bible Study of 6 dedicated members. This group is now in its 28th year and meets every second Tuesday from September – May. Last year’s program was “Sisters in Faith Bible Studies: Courageous Women in the Bible.” We have been studying the book of Colossians this year.
Reframing Committee: Born out of a workshop presented to the Presbytery by Rev. Dr. Christine O’Reilly and the Rev. Peter Bush, entitled “Reframing the Church,” this committee works with the minister in the visioning and implementation of new ideas within the life of the congregation.