Parking Lot Extras

There was some unexpected use of our parking lot on Saturday afternoon when the neighbourhood turned out to try and catch a glimpse of Prince William and his family at the roundabout.

He truly is a prince because just as his car passed us, he rolled down the tinted window.  I actually got a picture. 

    On Thursday, Sept. 29, the parking lot will have a different purpose -- the Parking Lot Club will meet there from 4:30pm - 6:00 pm.  From our last experience, I expect there will be lots of ball hockey played.  We also have facilities to play volleyball, badminton, do crafts, walk in the woods or watch a movie.

Again, based on the number from last time, we're expecting over a dozen kids.  Rain or shine we'll be there. If it's raining we'll set up inside. 

    We're asking for prayers from the congregation as well as  baking (mainly cookies) from week to week.   There won't be hot food every time, but as a special treat, and because we found a sale,  this week, September 29, we're having pizza.

   Come and play, come and enjoy, bring a friend, have fun.

    

Food Bank Sunday

You may have received a plastic bag at your door this week, asking you to donate to the Food Banks of B.C.  If you missed getting your bag of food to the curb on Saturday, don't despair, you can bring it to the church on Sunday, Sept. 25.  In fact, you can bring it to the church any Sunday. It will be picked up and delivered to the Sidney food bank on the Monday after the last Sunday of the month.
Right now, in the season of harvest, many gardeners are overwhelmed with produce.  Don't despair. You can take that to the Food Bank too.  They will accept tomatoes and squash and apples and pears and similar fresh produce during the first three weeks of the month.  They are closed for distribution on the last week of the month and can't store fresh produce that long, so check the calendar. When I've missed getting fresh produce to the Food Bank at the right time, I've taken it to the Community Thrift Store on Third Street.  So long as the food can last a few hours without refrigeration, you can leave it there for customers to help themselves.
The Food Bank is just one example of SPPC working in co-operation with other groups such as Faith Link, Our Place, Saanich Peninsula Hospital and the Compassionate Warehouse for the benefit of our community and our world.  So, clean out your store room, clean out your garden, clean out your closet -- the church was in the recycling business long before the blue box!

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

Luke 3:10-11King James Version (KJV)

Parking Lot Club

The Parking Lot Club got off to a rousing start on Saturday afternoon.  There was a very enthusiastic ball hockey game -- Tore has a bruise to prove it --

there was a combination volleyball/badminton game and I understand some little girls went exploring in our woods, apparently looking for fairies.

   There was lots of good food, junk food, and cookies (not junk food!)  

There was loud music.(We thought it only fair to include the neighbours even if they couldn't attend in person.)

   We collected names and phone numbers and lots of "Let us know when you're doing it again."  Over the next couple of weeks the organisers will determine the time that suits the most people the best and we'll make the parking lot club a weekly event.

    Wonderful to see our space put to good use.  I heard something I'd never experienced before -- a child wanting to stay longer at church when his parents said it was time to go home.
   Watch this space, read the bulletin, or call the church(250 656-2241) for more information.  Hope to see you at the next parking lot event.

Endings and Beginnings

   

This weekend marks the end of summer vacation for most people.  Kids go back to school. Cottagers close up the camp.  Gardeners look out on bedraggled beds.  Along with the scent of ripe apples, there is a touch of melancholy in the air.  We've come to an ending.
     The best antidote for an ending, I've found, is a beginning.  While we may grieve summer, we're starting into the exciting new season of autumn.  The cooler temperatures quicken our steps.  Activities, dormant over the summer months, revive.   

• Choir practice starts again this week, 4:00 pm on Thursday.  New voices gladly received!  
• Sunday School reconvenes Sept. 11 
• Worship committee meets on Tuesday
• We have a BBQ on Saturday at 5:00 pm to welcome any wishing to be involved in our parking lot club

And that's only week one of the new season.

   With our church life returning to a regular routine, this might be a good time to remind members to wear their name-tags.  We welcome visitors and newcomers nearly every Sunday.  It really helps if people can read your name tag when introduced.  Even for those who have been around for a long time, it's helpful if you wear a name tag.  I may be having a memory lapse when I see you in the coffee room.  Or I may know your face, where you sit and what you take in your coffee, but never have heard your name!  That tag smooths the way for us all. If you don't have a name tag, there is a sign up form in the narthex.

   I confess, I do not practice what I preach.  I've a dozen excuses, the most common being that a choir gown doesn't play well with a name tag.  However, that is just an excuse and I resolve to do better. My way of greeting the new season.