Hospital Song Book

      Over the past few months a committee has been hard at work creating a song book for us to use when we conduct the service at Saanich Peninsula Hospital.  That is, SPPC has made a song book for SPH!  
The book is now completed and was dedicated during the service on Sunday morning.   Copies were passed among the congregation and we sang "Jesus, Saviour, Pilot Me," an old-time favourite not available in our "Book of Praise."
     On Sunday afternoon, we took the Songbook to the hospital and used it for the first time at the service there. Those of us who worked on the book, we were sure the singing was more robust than before.  Rev. Irwin invited the residents to choose their own hymns and there were many requests.
     The book contains many of the old gospel songs familiar to residents at the hospital, along with a smattering of great hymns of the ages, like "O God Our Help In Ages Past" and "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah."
     Since music is a large part of our ministry at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, it seemed appropriate that we should have a song book dedicated to that purpose.  The print is large.  There is one song per page and it's all in alphabetical order.  All in an effort to make words easy to read, easy to find and easy to follow. 

    The books will be kept at the church.  With reorganization at the hospital, we're never sure their books will be available on a Sunday afternoon, so bringing along a supply of our own ensures we'll be able to share music with the residents.

All in all, we had a good day with lots of music at church and at the hospital.  I love the old hymns so it was a treat for me as well.

Auction Fever

   

 There's something about an auction that brings out the competitive spirit.  Last week, there were only a few bids on the items displayed about the Molloy Hall.  Today, the sheets filled up.  There was a puzzle maven in our midst who raised the bidding to new heights. 

  Despite his best efforts, I did manage to secure a couple of puzzles for myself.  I also had the winning bid on a pair of exquisitely cross-stitched hand towels.  They'll look very elegant in my guest bathroom.

  This hand-sewn quilt was a prize worth having.  The lady with the winning bid asked me to be sure to take its picture.

 I featured it last week but it's worth a second look.  Truly lovely.

   The excitement around the auction nearly eclipsed the treasures on the pot luck table -- nearly but not quite.  This congregation does enjoy breaking bread together.
   For those with enquiring minds, these mouth-watering brownies were made with zucchini!  Don't tell the children, they hate vegetables.

  There was food enough to go around.  

But it seems we ran out of table space.   Benjamin, all alone at the "kids" table.

Not to forget the purpose of the exercise, which was to raise funds to replace/repair the dishwasher.  Hence our faithful Felicity in the kitchen.

 Preliminary reports say the event earned approximately seven hundred dollars.  Well done everyone.
  Now, I'm off to work on a puzzle.

  

Back to Work

  If the change in the weather wasn't enough to signal the end of summer, the list of activities at SPPC should.  It's clear that we're all in back-to-work mode.  On Sunday morning the choir was gowned up and in its place.  They presented an anthem and an offertory, so that means they were at work on Thursday as well.

   Speaking of Thursday, I dropped by the church early and found a good turn out at the Thursday coffee fellowship meeting.  Thanks to Brian and Vivian for carrying on with that ministry when the previous hosts retired.  

   During the Sunday morning service, we commissioned our Sunday School teachers for the new year.  Classes began right away.  We are so fortunate to have faithful leaders who give up their own worship time in order to teach youth classes.  We wish the whole Sunday School a happy, productive and blessed year.  By the way, adult Bible Study classes begin toward the end of this month.

   


The silent auction began Sunday as well.  During the coffee hour we were able to study the items on offer and write down a bid.  (I bid on several items, but you can come in during the week and outbid me.   Isn't this fun?)

 The auction continues all week and will end next Sunday with a pot luck lunch after service.  I noticed Felicity in the kitchen doing dishes.  I'm sure she'll be very relieved when the dishwasher is either replaced or repaired.

  

  Finally, also on Sunday, we were treated to a concert by Larry's string quartet, the Die Mahler String Quartet.  

   Whew!  As I said, we're back at work.

Washing Dishes

Working together for a common goal.

by Janet Smith

    This year, SPPC is celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of the church building. After 25 years things are beginning to wear out and that’s what is happening to our dishwasher having washed thousands of dishes for our many times of fellowship and breaking bread together as families do.  At home, all the relatives are expected to pitch in and help wash the dishes.  At church we can do that, but for convenience and health reasons we need to have a commercial dishwasher in the kitchen. These cost upwards of $5,000.00.

    So far we have held two small fundraising events, a “Junk from your Trunk Sale” and a “Hotdog Lunch” and to date we have only raised $450.00 and so we have a long way to go!

    Therefore, the Fellowship Committee is planning to hold a Silent Auction from Sunday 13 September through to Sunday 20 September. It will run for the week so that if you are at the church for any other meeting during that week you can take some time to look and consider your bids.

Do you want to stay behind and do dishes?

  To enable this to happen, we need your help and so we are asking for donations.  New or used items in good condition, along with your reserve bid attached, need to be at the church by  10^th September.

     Alternatively, you may offer a service that someone may like to bid on, such as cooking, baking, sewing, gardening, shopping and so on, even computer help!

     We would like all donations or services to be offered to be at the church by Thursday 10 September, Bin-Sie and Janet will be at the church between 10:00 and noon on that day to receive your donations.

     The best part of it all, and being good Presbyterians, we will close the auction with a Pot Luck lunch on Sunday 20^th September following the morning service at which time the highest bidders will receive their purchases.  Hopefully, on that day the dishwasher will continue to work!

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:1 Peter 4:10 ESV

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. Ecclesiastes 4:9 ESV

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, Colossians 3:23ESV