Salute the Happy Morn

 

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

The link for the live-streamed Christmas Eve service is here

Ed. Note: Thanks to our clerk of session for this Christmas morning post.

My Favourite Christmas Hymn is, "Christians Awake, Salute the Happy Morn".

Here is the story of how it became so special to me.

 

One of my loveliest Christmas memories took place in the late 1960's when I was the assistant house mother at Dr. Barnardo's in Canterbury.

It was Christmas Eve and so the house parents, who were Anglicans, took the older children to the early Christmas Eve service at the Cathedral while I stayed home with the younger ones and got them off to bed. 

When the other children arrived home, they got themselves off to bed and I was then free to go to the Methodist Church that I attended at that time, for the 11:00 pm service.

It was a beautiful service and it was timed so that the last hymn was sung just after midnight (now Christmas morning) & that hymn was, "Christians AwakeSalute the Happy Morn."

It just felt right to me at that time and really touched my heart.

After all our Christmas greetings to one another, we came out of church and it had just begun to snow, it was almost magical and as I walked home alone, through the now quiet city streets, that just a few hours earlier had been all of a bustle with shoppers buying last minute gifts, up through the city's West Gate, there was a really quiet peace. I can't explain it but all seemed right with the world, right at that moment, it was Christmas and Christ was born!

The words of this hymn are very meaningful to me and still fill my heart with hope, peace, joy and love, a real hymn of praise for Christ's birth.

 

Advent 3 2023

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

Advent Three celebrates joy. We've certainly had lots of joy around SPPC lately. 

The Sunshine Lunch on Monday brought joy to the served and the servers. There were silly hats, carols, good food and lots of laughter. 

On Friday, Janet and Joan hosted a tea for the folks in their elders' districts. Not sure who they catered for, but there was more food than we could eat -- although we all made a valiant effort. 

There was a silly game that kept everyone laughing, we sang carols and had a great party. There were even gifts.

Explain the rules

Whose turn is it?

Silly Hats

 

checking the list

Sunday was white gift Sunday. When I was a kid, we used to wrap canned goods in white tissue paper and place it on the table with the offering plate. The idea was that the gifts were anonymous and went into hampers for those who were having a hard time making ends meet. Anonymity was meant to remove any embarrassment on the part of the giver or the receiver. There was always great excitement as the children of the congregation trooped to the front of the church with their offerings.

Things are a bit different now. Food banks and the like have taken on the role of helping those in need of groceries. White gift at SPPC is now directed at members of our own congregation, many of whom live in care facilities or are on special diets. So, no cans of soup or chocolate bars. Instead, this year, we collected toonies. The Pastoral Care Committee then purchased poinsettias and small gifts appropriate to each person on the list. There is still much excitement about bringing joy to others.

The Mission and Outreach Committee held a bake sale on Sunday as well. The approximately $600.00 raised will be shared between the Session discretionary fund (local missions) and the House Upon the Rock in the Dominican Republic.  This event brings joy to the bakers who donate, to the buyers who snap up the goodies, and to those who benefit from the mission funds. 

Speaking of joy, Christmas Day is almost upon us. Please join us at Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church for any or all of our Christmas services.

Dec. 24, 10:00 am. Advent Four - Sunday morning worship.          Dec. 24, 7:00 pm. Carols and Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, Dec. 25, 10:30 am Christmas Morning service with lots and lots of carols. 

In this last week before the "Big Day" may you give and receive much joy, in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Joy to the World  

Second week of Advent 2023

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

In this second week of Advent, we raise up the gift of peace. Given the headlines, it would seem there is no peace to be found in our world. As an antidote I'm sharing a few encounters I've had recently. 

Everyone knows Canada Post is swamped at this time of year. The line-ups are long. Clients are impatient. Stress is at a yearly high. Yet, on my visit, I met a friendly, cheerful, helpful clerk who showed me the least expensive way to send parcels to Ontario, then she gave me the secret of avoiding a long line-up. 

From there I went to a store to return an article. The till did not want to perform the operation. First one, then another clerk punched buttons and glowered at the dictates from the machine until, finally, they were able to do the necessary functions. My article was returned and I received a refund. From start to finish, no one yelled, no one cussed, and no one threw the balky machine out the door. We all parted on good terms.

In the grocery store on Friday late afternoon, the line-ups were once again long and customers impatient. The cashier on the till smiled, wished everyone a nice day, and refrained from answering ill-humour with a cranky comment.

I've learned to limit my exposure to the news. Instead, I give thanks for these hard-working people who show me the way of peace. I've done my best to pass it on. 

Speaking of passing it on, Sunday we learned the results from our latest drive for the food bank.  We raised about one thousand dollars in cash donations and five overflowing boxes of goods.

They are now out the door, spreading hope and peace to those in need. Our congregation contributes to the food bank year round, but just for a bit of fun we held a draw among the donors. Brian and Meta won this lovely poinsettia. Merry Christmas to you. Enjoy the cheery colour.

Also on Sunday, we had a guest in the music department. Susanne Clark, from Calgary is visiting her mother and brought along her flute. Thank you Susanne for enhancing our worship.

In keeping with the seasonal gift giving, we have a new-to-us fridge/freezer in the kitchen, thanks to a community donor.

Because one good turn deserves another, we have passed along some Christmas wreaths we no longer use to the Salvation Army. Thanks Pam for sprucing them up so beautifully, and thanks to Susanne for finding them a new home.

Whew! Life is busy, especially at SPPC. We have more events coming up, including a bake sale next Sunday. If you haven't had time to mix up some cookies, we've got you covered. Peace.

Christmas is Coming

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

And . . . all at once Advent is here and the rush toward Christmas is upon us. To begin, we decorated the church. Many thanks to Pam and her Friday crew for making the Christmas spirit visible at SPPC. 

Laying out the master plan

worker bees

Preparing a spot

for Hazel's 

knitted nativity.

        

The finishing touches.

Don't forget the outside.

Then, on the first Sunday of Advent we enjoyed the familiar carols and heard a message of hope. 

Bearing witness to hope, after service we joined Josh and Emily for a baby shower/lunch. We shared in their excitement and happiness. Celebrating love and family in the approach to Christmas felt very right. 

Thank you, Emily and Josh, for sharing these precious moments of your life with the congregation. 

 A baby needs grandparents, too.

Just as this family waits and prepares for a new life, Advent is a season of waiting and preparing. It is easy to get caught in the excitement of presents and baking and trees and concerts and goodness knows how many other distractions coming our way, but take a quiet moment here and there to be still and prepare your heart for the coming of Christ.

The first Sunday of Advent celebrates hope. Let us remember that God sent His Son to bring us hope, even in the darkest times. When the noise of the world is loud and harsh, let us reflect on Hope in the time of Advent.