snowdrop walk

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

On a bleak, wet, foggy, dark day last week I read a post that began with the words, "snowdrop walk." I cheered up immediately, and resolved to go on my own walk in search of snowdrops.

I found these ones at my neighbour's front door. 

These were right across the road. 

These were in Dominion Brook Park, just a block and a half from Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church. 

 Even though I was in search of snowdrops, I couldn't help but add this dash of brilliant colour from a camellia bush.

 As a bonus, the flowers grew by a stream, so sight was enhanced by sound, the rush and gurgle of flowing water. Life!

On an impulse, I checked out our church yard, and, sure enough, there were a few brave little blossoms nodding their heads beneath the big cedar in our parking lot. 

How often do we search far afield for a treasure, only to find that it is right in front of us all along?

Over the Christmas season, I made several trips to Victoria, thinking I'd find the perfect gift in one of the big malls, or maybe on Government Street. More often than not, I came home disappointed, only to find what I sought was right there on Beacon Avenue in Sidney.

Modern culture is obsessed with "success." Papers, magazines, the internet … open any one of them and you'll find a formula for "success" - in business, in relationships, in health, in fame -- with the guarantee that "this" path will lead you to happiness. Such stories sell products but I doubt they really create happiness for readers.

This TED talk, posits that happiness come first and success, however you define that, will follow.

Our Wednesday study raised the question of whether the Kingdom of God is some longed for utopia in the future, or whether if is here now, on earth. Jesus addressed that question in Luke 17: 20-21  Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed,  nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.

I pondered that notion while I searched for snowdrops, and found I was in the midst of them. 

In 2014 I posted "Signs of Hope" on this blog. Most of the photos showed spring flowers pushing through a snowdrift. But one showed a determined little tree growing out of the top of a fence post. While looking for snowdrops, I went back to see what had become of the tree. 

It's still there, still surviving in a hostile environment, still soaking up the sunshine and the rain. It made me very happy.

With the pace and range of change the world and the church faces today, we may find the Kingdom of Heaven rooted more in the fence post than the flowerbed, but we can be assured it is "in our midst."

A "To-do" List

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

Some years ago I came across this "list."* It made me chuckle so I saved it for future reference. Blue Monday is officially in the past for 2026 but we still struggle with grey skies, endless rain, and a news cycle designed to destroy our peace of mind. While this "list" is meant to bring a smile, it is also a reminder that God is in charge, and God loves us.

TEN GUIDELINES

 From: God 

To: All His Children 

Effective: Immediately 

Please be aware that there are changes you need to make in your life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill my promises to grant you peace, joy and happiness in your life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. I know, I already gave you Ten Commandments. Keep them, but follow these guidelines as well.

 

1. Quit Worrying Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way? 

2. Put It On the List Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to me. And, although my to-do-list is long, I am, after all, God. I can take care of anything you put into my hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize. 

3. Trust Me Once you've given your burdens to me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on my list. Problem with finances? Put it on my list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For my sake, put it on my list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

 4. Leave it Alone Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave me your burdens, and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I return these problems to you, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with me and forget about them. Just let me do my job.

 5. Talk to Me I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I want you to never forget. Please don't forget to talk to me - OFTEN! I love you. I want to hear your voice. I want you to include me in the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with me. I want to be your dearest friend.  

6. Have Faith  I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in me that I know what I'm doing. Trust me, you wouldn't want the view from my eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

 7. Share You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who are mourning. Share your faith with those who have none. 

8. Be Patient  I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes me a little longer than you expect to handle something on my to-do-list? Trust in my timing, for my timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

 9. Be Kind  Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for my sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please know I love each of your differences. 

10. Love Yourself As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes my heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget that! 

With all my heart, I love you, 

GOD

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands  

 *from varietyreadings.

Reverberations

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

This week, a series of incidents got me thinking about consequences, or repercussion, or reverberations from seemingly small acts.

It began with my book club meeting. One of the members was still talking about our Great Peninsula Shortbread Bakeoff and the carol singalong that went with it. Because she enjoyed herself so much, she spread the word about our little event and encouraged everyone present to attend "next year." Notice that there wasn't even a question about a repeat performance. It was assumed that SPPC would sponsor cookies and carols in 2026, and, she requested that the choir sing at least two numbers. 

So, one month on from our trial cookie contest, the news is still spreading, like ripples in a pond.

 Rosa Parks          

 IN 1955, a young black woman refused to give up her seat on a bus

in Montgomery, Alabama. Her name was Rosa Parks. That was a seminal moment in the long struggle for civil rights. It helped to propel Martin Luther King into a leadership role, which led to the march on Washington and his stirring "I have a dream" speech.  Sadly, Dr. King was murdered but his legacy lives on continues. The battle is not done, but there has been progress. And, on the third Monday of January, the USA honours Martin Luther King with a national holiday.  A small act of defiance by a young black woman sent ripples down through modern history in a way she could never have imagined.

Alfred Nobel

Alfred Nobel, chemist, inventor, businessman and poet, harnessed the power of nitroglycerin when he invented dynamite, in 1867.  TNT was a boon to civil engineering, enabling great projects  hitherto  deemed impossible. The completion of the CPR through the Canadian Rockies, the Panama Canal, connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific, the Hoover dam -- all of these projects were possible, only because of the power of TNT to blast through rock and mud and muskeg. 

Dynamite also enabled instant and deadly destruction in war, the faster and more widespread killing of soldiers and civilians. It became the weapon of  choice in the Franco Prussian war, and subsequently, WWI.  

While the world demanded more and more TNT, Alfred Nobel amassed an enormous fortune.

In the late 1880's, one of Alfred's brothers died and a reporter wrote an obituary. However, the reporter mixed up the brothers and wrote that Alfred had died. He called the inventor of TNT a "merchant of death." 

Alfred was so appalled by the term, that he spent the last eight years of his life setting up a foundation that, every year would award a prize in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences.  

But most notable of all the prizes is the award for peace. 

Due to a reporter's error, Alfred Nobel donated 94% of his fortune to the Nobel Foundation and ensured that his name was remembered, not for death, but for high achievement and for peace. 

Jesus Christ

Of course, the event with the greatest reverberation in all of history occurred when a young woman from a nowhere village in a subjugated nation gave birth in a stable because there was no room at the inn. Mary could not foresee the future. She acted humbly, trusting God in all things. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ transformed his followers. His teachings spread throughout empires, shaping countries and cultures and individual lives. The reverberations that emanate from that stall in Bethlehem still shake our world.

How Are We Doing?

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

Last Sunday we had a soup and sandwich lunch after service. The event was put on by the CML

The Centre for Missional Leadership (CML) at St. Andrew’s Hall, UBC, was established to enable Christian communities to flourish in God’s redemptive mission. In our congregation, Norma, Joan, Pam, Linda, Darlene and Irwin, are taking a one year certificate course from CML. The lunch on Sunday was intended to solicit feedback from the congregation regarding the gifts already present in our place, our people and our congregation.

   

With food on offer, it's not surprising that the event was well-attended and folks were in a good mood. As you can see from the photos, there were many, many gifts listed.

 "Friendly" showed up so often, it could have had a section all of its own. If you heard the buzz of conversation, punctuated by laughter, while we enjoyed delicious soup and plentiful sandwiches, you would know you were among friends.

There were too many gifts mentioned to list them individually, but here is a summary.

• Place
  

Under Place, our parking lot garnered the most votes. It's big, it's flat, it's well-maintained, and, apparently, the neighbourhood uses it for bicycle practice, parking practice and while waiting for airplanes. We threw a big party there for Queen Elizabeth II's jubilee and, during COVID we used it for an outdoor communion service. 

Other advantages of the place are the well-equipped kitchen, the high-ceilinged sanctuary, the organ, the heat pump, the streaming service, the sound system. . . Actually, the whole building was seen as an excellent asset.

• People
  

Then we got to "people" and "congregation." These two categories tended to overlap, but there were a few outstanding people. Firstly, our minister, Rev. Irwin Cunningham received many kudos for his preaching, and teaching. The folk who run our streaming/sound system were singled out for special thanks, as was our volunteer handyman. Our volunteer cleaners are rarely seen, but their work is invaluable. Special thanks were extended to them, too.

There are many talented people in our congregation, musicians, book-keepers, researchers, bakers, health-care workers, teachers, just to name a few. There is a lot of life-experience and wisdom among our fellowship. What is wonderful, is not that these people are there, but that they are willing to donate their time, knowledge and expertise so freely.

• Congregation
  

Under "Congregation," the many entries barely fit on the background, but, upon reflection, they could all be grouped under "love one another." As a congregation, we strive to follow Christ's teaching. Love is shown in many ways. Some are structured, like  Friendship Coffee, or Fellowship time after the Sunday service, or the Sunshine lunches and the Prayer Chain. Committees of Session like Pastoral Care, Mission and Outreach, as well as elders themselves have a mandate to care, physically and spiritually for the members of the congregation.

But, often as not, that loving care is spontaneous. Got a project you want to try? Put it out there and a batch of volunteers show up to help. Need a work crew for cleaning or decorating? Name the time and helpers arrive.

 Need a ride to church, or the doctor, or the airport? Let it be known and someone will come forward. Food, cards, phone calls and prayers may arrive at your doorstep when you need a boost. Miss church? Someone will notice and check you are okay. Touched by the sermon? You'll find others willing to speak of faith, and life, and gospel. 

The hymn, Blest Be the Tie that Binds, contains this line. "We share our mutual woes,/Our mutual burdens bear;/ And often for each other flows/The sympathizing tear."

I think we could have used that as a theme song at the luncheon.

There is much for SPPC to do in our service to Christ and our witness to the world, but it is good to know we start from a position of love for one another.

A Birthday Surprise

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

Ed. Note: This week our blog post was written by our clerk of session. Although it made me blush, she insisted I not tone it down. Thank you, Janet, for giving me a week off and for your kind words.

This week as we begin a new year, I am going to try writing a blog to give our blog mistress a week off as it is her birthday. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALICE!

 

I'm not good at this kind of thing but I feel Alice is worthy of my efforts. 

She has faithfully written a weekly blog for SPPC for many years with an occasional help from others in the congregation. 

 I start my week off every Monday morning by reading the blog for the week and I try to respond each time when I've read it. 

 I hear that many of you too read the blog but never respond to it although there is the opportunity to do so each week, please consider doing so the next time you read it. 

 Did you know that there are verses in the Bible that speak of communication?

Here are a number of references that I found on Google

• Power of words: Words have immense power; they can bring life, healing, or death (Proverbs, 18:21, 12:18).

• Listen more, speak less: Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19).

• Gentleness and grace: A gentle answer turns away wrath, while harsh words stir anger (Proverbs 15:1).

• Truthful speech: Speak truthfully, but always with love (Ephesians 4:15).

• Edifying speech: Only say what builds others up (Ephesians 4:29).

• Purity of speech: Avoid obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking (Ephesians 5:4).

• Self-control: Don't let every thought become a spoken word (Proverbs 10:19).

Alice does an amazing job of communication week by week to communicate all that happens here at SPPC to enrich the ministry and outreach into the community. 

We are very blessed by her work and dedication at SPPC. For many years now, Alice has sung in the choir, and helped Larry organize music. She serves on the Worship Committee, she is a link in the Prayer chain and great at decorating for Christmas every year and various other occasions. Just last year, she also took on another new position, as one of the organizers of the annual Shortbread bake off!! 

THANK YOU Alice for all you do. Here is to another year of sharing your many talents and your gift of communication.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALICE!

If you need help to find the blog or how to respond to the blog, please communicate with me and I will be happy to walk you through it! 

Ed. Note: Although this post was about one person's work at SPPC, it was written by another person who does a ton of work for our church, while mindful of Ephesians 4:29. At the CML luncheon on Sunday, there was a survey of the assets within our congregation. Watch this space for more on that, and for the many, many folk who contribute immeasurably to our fellowship.

Twixtmas

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

I complained to my friend that I never knew what day of the week it was in the period between Christmas and New Year's, or, to be truthful, between the Sunday before Christmas and the Sunday after New Year's. She told me that period is called "Twixtmas." Seems perfect to me since we are betwixt two major events and between order and chaos.

So, during twixtmas I overheard a few gems that made me smile, ponder and smile again. 

• "I'm not weird. I'm perfectly normal. " This was a snippet of conversation between two teenage girls. I wondered what had provoked the comment, but I was relieved to hear the reply. We are reminded so often of the angst of youth and the subsequent poor choices. I applaud the girl who is "perfectly normal."                   
• " . . . a nation committed to building peace. . . " Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada in her new year's message. Elbows up has been a rallying cry for 2025, but building peace is a worthy goal for our country in 2026.                                                                                                                                                                                                
• "with peace comes kindness, or with kindness comes peace . . . music can unite all of us, because we live on the same planet." Yannick Nézet-Séguin when he conducted the New Year's Day concert, in Vienna.

Now that Epiphany Sunday has come and gone, the decorations will come down, lists will be filed and we'll all start to know it's seven days between Sundays. But I pray we can hang onto the joy of greeting a newborn King, hold hope for a kinder year ahead, and know the peace that comes from God. "God bless us, everyone."

The Year that Was

 Link for our live-streamed service is here.

On the world stage, 2025 was a tumultuous year--wars, tariffs, natural disasters, an election, a new pope . . . Is it any wonder that at SPPC we turned to the comforts of food and fellowship?

We ended the year with a sunshine lunch, the fifth such gathering of the year. Joan kindly sent along a few pictures.

Friendship coffee met eight times in the church building. Congregants and community members enjoyed a cuppa and goodies, but mostly they enjoyed each other's company, setting the world to rights around a table and sharing a laugh.

We also broke bread together to raise funds for the new heat pump. It had a hiccup in the beginning, but all seems to be in order now. We were cool on the hottest days of summer and warm now that winter has arrived.

Our church building turned 35 this year. So, we celebrated that anniversary with lunch. The mission team to the DR reported back over lunch, and in September we had a potluck lunch to celebrate the return to "school" and to hear about Diane and Rev. Irwin's trip to S. Africa.

In December we had a carol-singalong, but boosted the occasion with the first ever Great Peninsula Shortbread Bakeoff -- with hot chocolate and cookies.

All this in addition to our usual fellowship time following service on Sunday morning! I didn't count the number of Sundays where we had a cake to celebrate a special occasion, but on the last Sunday of 2025 we had a 90th birthday cake for Syd. 

Mission

I mentioned that we celebrated the return of our mission team with lunch (peanut butter sandwiches) but we also give thanks for the work they did in the Dominican Republic. Joan, Diane and Jerusha are old hands at this but it was the first year that Rev. Irwin made the journey. They all came back glowing with joy, and nursing callouses -- hard, physical labour in Christ's name bears its own rewards.

Certificate for Missional Leadership- several people from both session and the congregation have signed on to a church renewal project sponsored by Vancouver School of Theology. We expect to hear an update from them in January. Of course, lunch will be served.

We support the Peninsula Food Bank all through the year, but in 2025 we ran two "drives" to bring extra goods and cash. 

Our cozy toes project supported the Mustard Seed Street Church with warm socks and other articles of clothing for the unhoused.

Study

Our Wednesday Study tackled several topics in 2025. We did "Drive Thru' History," a video series with Dave Stotts in the lead up to Easter. Doing a virtual walk with him through the Holy land and Jesus' journey to the cross brought many insights. 

While Rev. Irwin was mixing cement in the DR we watched a couple of movies, "God is not Dead," "Luther" and "Bonhoeffer."  All of these told the story of people who had stood firm on the Gospel in the face of ridicule, persecution and death. A reminder that the church has survived turmoil for centuries. 

Currently, the group is taking a crash course in Biblical understanding through semantics via video with Tim Mackie of the Bible Project.

Pulpit Supply

This was also a year of guest preachers. Rev. Irwin took leave to do mission work in the Dominican Republic, to wash dishes at Camp Imodene, and for medical issues. He also had study leave and his own vacation time. In his absence we enjoyed a parade of substitute teachers on Sunday mornings. George Hodgson, Rick Wismer (Blue Bus), Harold McNabb, and Arnie Alksne are old friends of the congregation. We were also blessed with visits from Byron Knight, Grant Wilson, Ray Sanford, Wes Dyer, and Mitch Coggin. We are grateful for these fresh voices from the pulpit. Praise God for His many servants.

Worship

The items listed above stand out because they are out of the ordinary. Worship, on the other hand, is what we do, week in and week out. It is at the heart of our reality. The mission work, the fellowship, the fun stuff, they are all grounded in our faith, nurtured by worship and preaching. Sunday morning binds us together with "saints above and saints below."

There are also special times of worship at Easter-- a Good Friday service, a Maundy Thursday communion, and Sunrise service in the park. 

Our Christmas Eve, with candles and carols is always a highlight of the season. 2025 was no different. 

2026?

At this time of year the pundits are invited to make predictions for the coming months. I wouldn't dare. After all, we sing "my life is in your hands, O Lord." But, I expect that SPPC will continue to worship, eat cake, make music, and enjoy our fellowship, rejoicing in Jesus Christ, our Saviour.