Loving Kindness

 

The link for this week's live-streamed service is here

This week, in Rev. Irwin's absence,  we welcome Rev. Arnie Alksne to the pulpit. He has blessed us with his leadership on several occasions in the past few years. We were very glad to see him on Sunday, given all the mishaps with the ferry system this summer. Thank you, Rev. Arnie, for getting up early and journeying from Pender Island to share time with our congregation. 

Rev. Arnie is accompanied by his wife, Marion, another early riser. The previous week, when Rev. Jacqueline Burnie was in the pulpit her entire family turned out to offer support. They didn't have to catch a ferry, but with a toddler in the mix, I expect Sunday morning came early for them too.

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Every Sunday our sanctuary is graced with flowers. Our thanks to all who contribute to this ministry, year round. But, now that it is summer, we are especially blessed with dazzling bouquets from home gardens. Pam and Norma generously bring the best of their blooms to share with the congregation.

 They brighten our worship and remind us of God's generosity. If He were a miserly deity, He would give us only enough to sustain life. But our God treats us with loving kindness. He not only gives us harvests to fill our stomachs, but beauty to feed our souls. 

Did you hear the little boy's definition of "loving kindness?"  "If I was hungry," he said, "and you gave me a piece of bread, that would be kindness. But if you put some butter and jam on the bread, that would be loving kindness."

Our Lord is generous with loving kindness.

And speaking of jam, would you look at the size of these blackberries!

Every year the garden holds surprises -- some happy and some not so good. These berries are a happy surprise, eight of them would make a cupful.

If you are in the mood to enjoy a beautiful garden and good company, Friendship Coffee is meeting this week in the rose garden, beside the library in Sidney, Thursday at 10:00 am. The space affords sun or shade depending on your desire. You can sit quietly and watch the bees bumble from blossom to blossom, or you can chat with friends, or you can do both. More loving kindness.

Another "unnecessary" gift from God is music. We don't need it to nourish our bodies, but how it nourishes the soul. As our summer concert series continues, on Saturday night, 7:00 pm the McPherson Trio will play Brahms, Haydn and Dvorak at SPPC. Admission is by donation, with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation.

Summer -- perfect time to enjoy God's extravagant gifts to humanity.  All Things Bright and Beautiful . . . the Lord God made them all.