Our safe place

 

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

Wednesday morning was a busy time at SPPC. Inside, a group had gathered to study "The Safest Place on Earth," while outside, a boom truck arrived carrying our new heat pump.  

At the moment the truck pulled up we were discussing Crabb's "Foundational Conviction #3" A safe place to own and trace our desires to their source will put us in touch with our hunger for God. 

The topic and the truck seemed to compliment each other. Keeping our physical sanctuary warm is not what Crabb had in mind while discussing a spiritually safe place to explore our faith, yet our church life is enhanced because we have a warm, safe place to meet.

Just because I love watching other people work, here are many pictures.

The old heat pump is loaded to take away

                       

The new heat pump is unloaded

The platform is removed and rebuilt

Rot in old beams cut out and replaced with new wood

New heat pump is hoisted up

heat pump on platform without ducting

Note the fresh beams on the platform

New heat pump with ducting

There is still some tidying up work to do and a bit of fresh paint to be applied but we are grateful to Coastal Heat Pumps for their hardwork in getting the unit functioning in time for Sunday morning service.

I didn't hear anyone singing "Work for the Night is Coming," but they did work hard, because Sunday was a-coming!

Annual Congregational Meeting, 2024

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

Questions: How many Presbyterians does it take to change a lightbulb?

Answer: I don't know but I'll form a committee to find out.

We often joke about how many committees we have in our congregation, and in our denomination as a whole. The annual congregational meetings is an opportunity to note the work of all those committees. 

On Sunday morning we held our annual congregational meeting and received reports from the following committees:

• Compassionate Resource Warehouse
• Fellowship
• Friendship Coffee
• Sunshine Lunch
• Garden of Remembrance
• Geneaology Group
• Library
• Mission and Outreach
  
• Dominican Republic Mission
• Pastoral Care
• Prayer Chain
• Sunday School
• Web Ministry
• Music and the Choir
• Property and Grounds
• Rentals
• Finance Committee

And that doesn't include the various volunteers who serve the congregation and the community on the A/V system, cleaning, greeting, office assistance, and a host of other tasks that arise from time to time. 

It is remarkable to see how many groups and individuals operate mostly behind the scenes to ensure the smooth operation of our congregation. It takes a lot of work to make it appear that the place runs itself! 

The ACM was an opportunity to recognize and say thank you to all those worker bees.

It was also an opportunity to say thank you to our choir director and church secretary.  Their work is visible week to week, but there are many hours of unseen preparation as well.

Finally, we said thank you and congratulations to our minister, Rev. Irwin Cunningham, who celebrated his 60th birthday this week. Ministers will tell you that it is the congregation that makes the church, but our congregation will tell you that it is the minister who guides, teaches, encourages, commisserates, befriends, comforts and blesses the congregation.

Happy Birthday, Rev. Irwin, and thank you.

A Passion for Worship

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

Christians are admonished to "rejoice in all things." Most of us found it hard to rejoice in COVID-19. However, one of the consequences of the pandemic is that more and more churches have put their worship services on-line. For the curious among us, that has been a blessing.

Now that I can check out the worship at a neighbouring church, I often find myself scrolling youtube, just to enjoy -- or not-- another service. We have had some new members at SPPC because they found us on-line first. So, in that way, the pandemic was a blessing, although we didn't know it at the time.

When the Presbyterian Connection arrived in my mailbox a few weeks ago, I put it aside to read when I wasn't so busy. When I opened it up, my eye was caught by two articles about worship. The first was on the preaching of the Word, the second on the habit of worship.

In our book study on Wednesday morning, we pondered the concept of "a passion to worship."

I feel I've been nudged toward a blog post on worship!

According to one authority, Robert Webber, "Worship is the response of the people to God's saving initiative. The inner person receives God's acts of salvation communicated in public worship with humility and reverence, service and devotion."

Using that definition we should note that worship is a response . . .to God." 

When I'm scrolling church services on the internet I'm responding to the event more than to God. My response is that of an observer, distanced from other participants. I'm more judge than worshipper. Similarly, reading a printed sermon, becomes an intellectual exercise. I'm more focussed on typos and syntax than on the message.

On the other hand, being present in a concert hall soaking up the sound of a great oratorio, or standing in a forest of tall trees and hearing the wind brush their branches, or experiencing the might of a storm, with its flashes of lightening and rolling thunder, do provoke a worship response. I am humbled, and cannot help but respond. I bow down in awe to the Creator and give thanks.

We can't bring the grandeur of nature or the talent of a hundred voice choir into SPPC but our worship can and should bring us closer to God. 

For me, being present when the Word is preached, when the Gospel, with all it's grace and judgement is expounded, when the words "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life," -- when those words are spoken directly to me, I do respond to God. 

A recent choir anthem, "Wondrous Love," touched many in the congregation with its portrayal of the unfathomable love of Jesus, "who chose the cross out of love." A response to God, not the choir.

The larger catechism of the Presbyterian Church says, "It is required of those that hear the Word preached, that they attend upon it with diligence, preparation, and prayer; examine what they hear by the scriptures; receive the truth with faith, love, meekness, and readiness of mind, as the Word of God; meditate, and confer of it; hide it in their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives."

Reading the catechism is not common practice in our day, but we can take note that the response to God depends as much upon the hearers of the Word as upon the preacher.

Perhaps another choir anthem, "Here I Am to Worship," provides an more accessible instruction than the catechism. The next time you come to church, remember . . .

Here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down.

 Here I am to say that You're my God

You're altogether lovely, 

Altogether worthy, 

Altogether wonderful to me.

Easter 2024

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

Easter morning at Cy Hampson Park. Even though Easter came early this year we had one of our nicest days in recent memory. As is our custom, we took a photo. There are two here. Your task is to find who swapped out for the second photo.

For many years we had a little sparrow come to our service, but the tree she sat in was cut down. This year, we had a lovely robin come to sing in the Resurrection.

Back at the church, we were treated to hot coffee and a breakfast buffet.

The sanctuary was decorated with lilies. Thank you, Janet.

We celebrated the Lord's supper.

Happy Easter.

Bow Down Low

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

The title for this week's blog comes from an old Shaker tune. The text speaks of the humble servant, working in the Lord's house. This past week at SPPC we've had many examples.

Last Sunday we inducted two new elders. Those who accept the role of elder in our denomination have responsibility for the physical, financial and spiritual well-being of the congregation. The element of "servant" is clear in these vows.

" to abide by the governance of our denomination while  providing a leadership that nurtures the peace and unity of Christ within their own congregation and within the worldwide church."

" to serve in an uplifting and gracefilled manner that will bless and encourage the church’s ministry of hope, peace, joy and love in the world."

We are grateful to Elizabeth and Pam for their willingness to serve.

***

On Wednesday there was another Sunshine Lunch. This one had a St. Patrick's Day theme. Again, thanks are due to the faithful servants who prepare and serve this treat for those of our congregation who live alone. Good food, good company and a party vibe. What a gift!

On Friday another group showed up to "sweep the Lord's House clean," literally. We scrubbed floors, cleaned the stoves and refrigerator, vacuumed the rugs, dusted and polished every wooden surface in the sanctuary and lounge, washed windows, swept out the cobwebs and spider nests hiding in buried corners -- and had a good time doing it. That's the thing about servants of God -- they rejoice in their work.

It has been a good week at Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church.

~~~~~~~

Next week is Easter. Please join us for any or all of the following services:

• Thursday, March 28 is Friendship Coffee at 10:00 am in the hall. All welcome
• Good Friday, March 29, 10:00 am in the sanctuary we hold a time of worship through a selection of readings and hymns. Please joine us as we contemplate the day of Jesus' Crucifixion. .
• Easter Sunday, March 31, 8:00 am we begin with an early morning service in Cy Hampson Park. Easter is early in the spring this year so don't expect the best of weather. Do expect joy and jubilation, and maybe a visiting songbird. 
• Easter Breakfast. After the service in the park we can warm up with a hot breakfast in the hall. Please join us at 9:00 am even if you do not go to the service in the park.
• Easter Worship in the sanctuary at 10:00 am. Please join us for a service of praise as we celebrate the joyful Resurrection on Easter morning. This service will also include the sacrament of Holy Communion.

More Travels

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

This week's guest blogger is Barb Lyon, but before we get to her post, just a few words about upcoming events at SPPC.

• This Friday, March 22 is the spring cleaning bee. Even if you haven't signed up, feel free to come along at 10:00 am and lend a bit of elbow grease.
• Sunday, March 24 is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week.
• Thursday, March 28 is Friendship Coffee at 10:00 am in the hall. All welcome
• Good Friday, March 29 we hold a service of readings and hymns at 10:00 am in the sanctuary.
• Easter Sunday, March 31, we will begin with an early morning service in Cy Hampson Park. Easter is early in the spring this year so don't expect the best of weather. Do expect joy and jubilation, and maybe a visiting songbird. The service begins at 8:00 am. 
• Easter Breakfast. After the service in the park we can warm up with a hot breakfast in the hall. Please join us, even if you do not go to the 8:00 am service.
• Easter Worship in the sanctuary at 10:00 am

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As my childhood friend Shirley and I look forward to our rail tour of Switzerland and cruise of the Norwegian fjords in June, I have been remembering a trip I took to Holland a few years ago. I visited the Royal Delft Shop where they manufacture and sell the iconic blue Dutch china and assorted china ware.

 

Royal Delft has been creating high-end Delft Blue since 1653. The centuries-old craftsmanship was passed down from generation to generation. The craftsmen create iconic pieces to this very day. Besides classic pieces, the collection also consists of contemporary decorations.

Being a lover of all things small I bought a tiny Dutch "wooden" shoe.

 

 

In Amsterdam a bike is a necessity!  It is the preferred method of transportation.  With so many bikes one would expect collisions would be commonplace.  Not so, I am told.  Riders are so safety conscious that most ride without helmets.

 

Of course, one must have a place to "park" one's bike and so here is a parkade that can store 9,000 bikes!  Just don't forget where you put it!

Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal) is the fourth and the longest of the main canals in Amsterdam. It is named after the Prince of Orange. Most of the canal houses along it were built during the Dutch Golden Age of the United Provinces. The bridges over the Prinsengracht canal connect with the streets in the Jordaan in the West and the Weteringbuurt on the East side.

Notable buildings along Prinsengracht include the Noorderkerk (Northern Church), the Noordermarkt (Northern Market),^[19] Anne Frank House,^[20][21] and the Westerkerk (Western Church.

 

This is the canal we took a ride on.

During my visit, the Rijksmuseum was celebrating the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt's death. Here is a quote about the occasion. 

Rijksmuseum marks the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt’s death in 2019 with ‘Year of Rembrandt’. The year-long celebration opens with ‘All the Rembrandts’, in which the Rijksmuseum will present for the first time an exhibition of all 22 paintings, 60 drawings and more than 300 best examples of Rembrandt’s prints in its collection.

As well as holding the world’s largest collection of Rembrandt paintings – including The Night Watch, the portraits of Marten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit, The Jewish Bride – the Rijksmuseum collection offers the world’s most comprehensive and representative overview of Rembrandt’s painting oeuvre.

Given the extreme rarity that many of these delicate drawings and prints go on display, All the Rembrandts offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to glean an unparalleled perspective on Rembrandt the artist, the human, the storyteller, the innovator. 

This exhibition was spectacular!

Ed. Note: thanks for this Barb. Food for the armchair traveller.

Adventures with Jim

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

Dear Alice and friends my blog is overdue but I want to tell you about my visit to the Canadian naval Museum at the Naval Dockyard in Esquimalt,

The museum is located inside the Naval Base off Admirals Road in Esquimalt. It tells the story of Canada's navy.
     On Tuesday February 27,2024 I was taken to the museum by Paul Seguna, CD, Lieutenant Commander RCN (Ret'd) who is a guide at the museum.  The museum is housed in a building built by the British in the 19th century as a hospital.

Canada's navy was formed in 1910, before which we depended on Britain for naval defence.

Pictured below is our first ship which was obtained from England:

     His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Rainbow was an Apollo-class cruiser that was commissioned into Britain's Royal Navy in 1893. In 1910, Britain sold the vessel to Canada, where it became one of the first two warships of the newly formed Naval Service of Canada.
     During World War One ( Aug,1914 - Nov. 1918). The navy was active but relied on England to take part in big sea battles such as the Battle of Jutland in 1916,
     When war broke out on September 10,1939 against Germany Canada's navy was small. The RCN expanded substantially during the Second World War, with the larger vessels transferred or purchased from the US and British navies (many through the Destroyers for Bases Agreement), and the smaller vessels such as corvettes and frigates constructed in Canada. 

     By the end of the conflict Canada had the fourth-largest navy in the world, behind the United States, the United Kingdom and the USSR, but had only two ships larger than destroyers, the light cruisers, HMCS Uganda and HMCS Ontario.^[25] Although it showed its inexperience at times during the early part of the war, a navy made up of men from all across the country, including many who had never before seen a large body of water, proved capable of exceeding the expectations of its allies. By the end of the Battle of the Atlantic, the RCN was the primary navy in the northwest sector of the Atlantic Ocean and, under the command of Rear-Admiral Murray, was responsible for the safe escort of innumerable convoys and the destruction of many U-boats—an anti-submarine capability that the RCN would build upon in post-war years. The Northwest Atlantic Theatre was the only theatre not under command of either a Briton or American during the entire war.

     At the end of the Battle of the Atlantic, Canadian ships (either alone or in conjunction with other ships and planes) sank a total of 27 U-boats, and either sank or captured 42 Axis surface ships.^[26] But the real victory was not so much in the statistics of battle, as in the successful completion of 25,343 merchant ship crossings, carrying 181,643,180 tons of cargo and a significant proportion of the Canadian and US forces for the eventual victory in Europe.^[26] 

     Canada lost 24 ships in five different theatres: first was Fraser, sunk in a collision while evacuating refugees from France in 1940; Athabaskan, Regina, Alberni and Trentonian were lost in 1944 during Operation Neptune and cross-Channel escort duty; Louisburg and Weyburn sank in the Mediterranean Sea during the North African invasions of Operation Torch; eight ships were sunk protecting Canadian coastal waters Bras d'Or, Chedabucto, Clayoquot and Esquimalt (minesweepers), Otter and Raccoon (armed yachts), and Charlottetown and Shawinigan (corvettes); and nine ships were lost on Atlantic escort duty Margaree, Levis, Windflower, Spikenard, Ottawa, St. Croix, Valleyfield, Skeena and Guysborough (on loan to the RCN from the Royal Navy). Altogether the RCN lost 1,797 seamen, and 95 became prisoners of war.^[27]

     As the end of the war against Germany approached, attention focused on Japan. At the end of 1944, some RCN ships were deployed with the British Pacific Fleet, joining the many Canadian personnel already serving with the Royal Navy in the Pacific War. Ottawa was also laying plans to expand the RCN's capabilities beyond its anti-submarine orientation. The war in the Pacific was expected to culminate with a massive invasion of Japan itself, and this would need a different navy than that required in the Atlantic.

     The museum tells the story of the battle of the Atlantic. Here are a few pictures from the museum.

Women play an important part in Canada's navy. During WWII, my Mother was a signals officer serving in the British and American Air Forces.

The depth charge was an important weapon against German submarines known as U Boats.

Esquimalt Naval Base

It was a great day out, learning about Canada's Naval history. Paul and I would like to take a group from the church so speak to me if you are interested.

Don't forget we rely on our Navy to keep us safe.

I leave you today with words from the naval hymn -

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidst the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

Jim Dallimore

 

Ed. Note:  Thank you Jim for this educational blog and for sharing your love of all things naval.