Glorious Food

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

This week began with food -- the Fall Sunshine Lunch. Joan and her team put on a bang up meal. I hear there was beef on the menu as well as pudding. Word must have spread in advance of the feast because there was a bigger turnout than usual. 

The week ended with more food, as the congregation held a potluck lunch after service on Sunday. 

We often have a "welcome back" event in September following the summer holidays, but that timing didn't work this year. So Sunday's lunch wasour "welcome back" or "welcome in" occasion for this term. 

 We had about 50 hungry people filling their plates.

 I took this picture to show how much food was left over after everyone had eaten their fill. 

  This was also an opportunity for  Rev. Irwin and Diane to share with the congregation some highlights from their recent trip to South Africa. They shared wonderful pictures of the scenery, the animals, and the buildings. The trip also allowed Diane to reconnect with her birthplace.

Thank you, Irwin and Diane, for bringing your special moments to the congregation. We're glad you had a good time and we are really glad you are back with us.

How Big is Your Faith?

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

Rev. Irwin and Diane have returned safely from their travels to South Africa. However, this week we welcomed Pastor George Hodgson to the pulpit as Rev. Irwin had to attend Synod in Kimberly as soon as he got back. I think he still had jetlag, when he set off  on Friday. Our representative elder, Roy is also attending Synod.

It's good to see Pastor George again. He's like an old friend to our congregation. His sermon was titled "How big is your faith?" Makes me think of that line from "Dare to be a Daniel," honour them the faithful few! All hail to Daniel's band.

Next Sunday, we are having a potluck lunch after service. Bring your favourite dish and prepare to overeat and catch up on all the news from Rev. Irwin and Diane. Think of it as an extended Thanksgiving.

And, while we're talking about Thanksgiving, our "Cozy Toes" campaign is underway. When this outreach program began it was called "Warm Toes" and we collected warm socks and a bit of shampoo and soap. But, like everything else, the need keeps growing, so now we're looking not only for socks (although they still form the basis of our offerings) we're also looking for diapers, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, toothbrushes, combs, hoodies, sweatshirts, t-shirts, underwear, leggings sweatpants and any other item you could contribute to keep folk warm and dry when they have no roof overhead. Looking out at the rain today, I recognize the need is ever greater.

As usual, Jerusha has set up an assembly line to fill zip-lock bags with toiletries.   

This is a project she undertakes every year. Thank you Jerusha for your faithful service.

As you walk through this week, remember that your faith is not too small, because God's faithfulness to you is beyond measure.

Persistent Prayer

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

On Thanksgiving Sunday, our sanctuary is adorned with the fruits of the harvest. Thanks to all who contributed goods and service. Your generosity makes for a joyful time of worship.

Thanks also to Rev. Grant Wilson for filling in at the pulpit while Rev. Irwin is away.

The Bible contains many examples of persistent prayer; the widow in Luke 18: 1-7 (the persistent widow), David in Psalm 17:1- 2 (prayer for deliverance from his enemies,) Paul to the Philippians 4:6.  In every case the petitioner is commended for persistence. The judge eventually gives the widow what she wants, David is kept from the wrath of his enemies, and the Philippians present their prayers and petitions to God.

I don't know if incessant whining falls into the same category but I'm very good at it. Last summer/fall I complained without ceasing about the poor harvest. The fruit trees produced only a few apples each, the carrots were stunted. I even had to beg friends and neighbours for zucchini.😲

  

But this year--what a difference. The fruit trees produced so abundantly the branches bent to the ground. The shelves of preserves are full and the freezer will barely close, it is so stuffed with the goodness of the garden and the orchard. Having spent a year complaining, I now take heed of Philippians again and present my prayers with thanksgiving. 

In this Thanksgiving season we are reminded of God's abundant providence. Again, there are many examples, but Psalm 65: 9-13 (that we read on Sunday) echoes with praise for the Lord of abundant harvest. We gardeners like to take credit when the crops are good, and blame God (the weather) when they fail. But the psalmist knows better. It is God who waters the land and fills the streams, who crowns the year with abundance, and for whom the meadows shout and sing with joy.

We sing "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come." Our table is laden with the goodness of God's creation. Our hearts sing in thanksgiving to His grace and mercy. 

Another reason for Thanksgiving this week is the 65th wedding anniversary of Ann and Alan. I heard early in the week that there would be no cake. I couldn't believe SPPC would let an occasion pass without cake. Fortunately, the rumour proved false and we delighted to celebrate the long marriage of Ann and Alan with cake! 

Congratulations, Alan and Ann. And thank you for gracing SPPC with your presence. 

Saints Above and Saints Below

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

The title of Sunday's sermon was "What are you expecting?" I'm not sure what our guest preacher, Rev. Grant Wilson was expecting when he accepted the invitation to fill in for Rev. Irwin this week. Our guest minister last week shared cake during the coffee hour. For Rev. Grant, the expectation was much higher. Not only did we ask him to preach a sermon, we asked him to celebrate the Lord's Supper with us. When I saw him in coffee hour later, there was no cake.

Thank you, Rev. Grant for gracing us with your leadership on World Wide Communion Sunday. We are favoured by your words.

***

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3

This is one of my favourite passages of scripture -- I seem to say that a lot, but it is a "good" book!  These verses have been set to music by Samuel Wesley. It is a powerful and moving anthem. You can hear it here, and follow along with the words.

Peter's ringing declaration of faith in Jesus and the resurrection is in total contradiction of his craven denial of Jesus on Good Friday. What changed? 

Peter saw the risen Christ.  He was transformed by the Holy Spirit. Instead of denying Christ three times, Peter declared his love for Christ. Jesus told him to "feed my sheep."

On Sunday we celebrated the Lord's Supper, along with Christians world wide. We broke bread and drank wine as symbols of Christ's love for us, the love that promised us "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled." 

And while we share the bread and wine in our own sanctuaries, we declare our belief in the communion of saints -- "a great cloud of witnesses" Hebrews 12. That one has been set to music too.

These two passages of scripture highlight for us important aspects of The Lord's Supper. The first is a profound trust in God. The second reassures us of "the communion of saints" as stated in the Apostles' Creed.

However you respond to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, I hope these two passages of scripture --especially in music--will resonate for you as they do for me, on the day when Christians around the world "break this bread and drink this wine."