Our guest speaker this morning was Alan Taylor, who spoke on "being a blessing."  We are the receivers of God's many blessings. So bountiful and faithful is our God that we often forget to even say thank you for His gifts.  Alan asked us to think, not about the blessings we receive, but how we can bless others in our lives, whether it is someone close to us or a casual acquaintance.  His example came from 2 Samuel 9, the story of David blessing Mephibosheth, the grandson of King Saul.  Remember, Saul tried to kill David.  Yet David chose to bestow a boon on Mephibosheth for the sake of his father, Jonathan, David's friend.

The photo above is an example of members of this congregation "being a blessing."

There is another story in my "blog ideas" folder that illustrates a similar point.  This was a children's story from a former minister at SPPC.

One Loving Heart

            We ought to see how each of us may best arouse others

             to love and active goodness.       Hebrews 10: 24

     Bright young men sometimes get into trouble. David Brainerd went to Yale. He was expelled in 1742 for criticizing the religion of one of his tutors. That helped him to become more serious and careful in future.
     “I longed to live for God and be devoted to Him. I wanted to wear out my life in His service and for His glory” he said.
     It didn’t take him long after leaving university to find out how to show his love for God and his fellowmen.

He became a missionary, and went to minister to the Indians of Massachusetts. His health was poor and he had to return to the home of his friend Jonathan Edwards. He died in 1747 - not yet 30 years old.

    Why speak about him? Turned out of university, short life, five years missionary service. 
    He wrote a diary which tells about his deep longing to do some work for God. It was published in 1749.

     It came into the hands of William Carey and helped him become the man he was - the first missionary to India [1793]. He translated the Bible into Indian languages, and formed a great college. He worked for 40 years in India.

     The diary also came into the hands of a brilliant student at Cambridge University called Henry Martyn. He wanted to be a missionary and faced problems before he finally sailed for India [1805]. He worked there preaching at first to the English as a chaplain but then, as he learned the language, he p

reached to anyone who would listen. He translated the Bible into Hindustani, Arabic and Persian. After seven years he succumbed to ill health and died.

    We can see from all of this how one life touches another. Brainerd lived only a short time but he stirred up other people to work for God. 
    The great revivalist, D.L.Moody said “It is better to set 10 men to work than to try to do the work of 10 men”

“One loving heart sets another one on fire”

As a season's pass holder, I've been enjoying music at the Butchart Gardens this summer. It's a wonderful way to spend an evening, and a great chance to hear groups I wouldn't normally subscribe to.   So far, I've sampled jazz, classical, dixieland, blues, Celtic, folk, a boys choir, and country and western.  Still to come is the Victoria Symphony and a ballet company.  
In addition to the music, I enjoy the people --and dog-- watching. Little children love to run on the grass as darkness falls.  The dogs put their heads down and wait quietly.  I wonder sometimes if the music hurts their ears.  Everyone has extra coats and blankets, which they'll share with strangers.  When it rains, the Gardens hands out umbrellas. 
Rev. Irwin often reminds us that church should be a foretaste of heaven.  My evenings at the Butcharts remind me that God has blessed us in this world as well as giving us the promise of the world to come.

At church we're being treated to variety as well.  While Rev. Irwin is on holiday we're having four different guests fill the pulpit, each with his unique perspective on the gospel and the church.  
Last week it was Rev. Harold McNabb, a retired Presbyterian minister who has served in various communities in British Columbia, including West Shore Presbyterian and the Victoria Chinese Presbyterian Church.  He preached on hope.  At a time when mainline churches face declining membership, he reminded us that the church is the "Bride of Christ."  It cannot fail.  It may evolve, but it can not fail.

This Sunday, we heard from Pastor George Hodgson.  He served for many years at Friendship Community Church.  When he retired, he liked to say his job didn't change much, he just stopped being paid.  It's nice to know, as pulpit supply, he'll be getting a pay cheque.  Pastor George also led the service at SPH in the afternoon, since it was our turn, once again, to minister in that venue.

Next Sunday, we'll hear from Alan Taylor, a long-time elder at Saanichton Bible Fellowship.  I spoke with him about his background and learned he has always given of his time and talent to the church.  He earns a living as a painter.

Finally, on the last Sunday of Rev. Irwin's vacation, we'll have Rev. Noel Kinnon in the pulpit.  Rev. Kinnon is a former minister at SPPC and is frequently called upon to fill out pulpit.  We'll see him as an old friend.

The adage is, "a change is as good as a rest."  So, while our minister enjoys his well-earned rest, the congregation gets "a change."

Happy summer.

WWJD

WWJD is a modern acronym for "What Would Jesus Do?"  A few years ago it was popular on bumper stickers, wrist bands and t-shirts.   On a recent trip to Newfoundland, I saw the evidence of that precept in action.

Sir Wilfred T. Grenfell, was born in England in 1865, son of a clergyman.   In the midst of his medical studies in 1885 and pondering what to do with his life, he stumbled into a tent meeting conducted by Dwight Lyman Moody and Ira David Sankey.  He was so moved by what he heard that he determined at once to devote his life to do "What Jesus would have done if he had been a doctor."   In consequence of that experience he joined the "Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen" and was eventually sent to Labrador as an experiment. 

Throughout the summer of 1893 he visited along the Labrador coast, where he discovered a population of about 30,000 souls without adequate food, clothing or medical treatment.  Working with the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, and eventually with the International Grenfell Association he laboured tirelessly to improve the lives of those people.  As he believed that most of the medical situations were a direct result of poverty, he enlarged his vision to include education, agriculture and industrial development as well as hospitals and nursing stations.  

In 1899 he acquired his first hospital ship, the Strathcona, donated by Sir Donald Smith of Canadian Pacific railway fame.  In 1901 the mission opened a year-round hospital at St. Anthony, followed by an orphanage in 1904, and a school in 1909.  
As well as tending to patients, Dr. Grenfell became increasingly involved in fund-raising. Other medical personnel were recruited to operate the facilities.

His energy and dedication attracted others to his cause, not the least of whom was his wife, Anna MacClanahan, a well-born and wealthy American.  The Grenfell Mission enjoyed the patronage of Nelson Rockefeller, King George V, Wm Lyon Mackenzie-King and Theodore Roosevelt, among others.

By the time of his retirement in 1932, the Grenfell Mission operated 6 hospitals, 7 nursing stations, 2 orphanages, 2 large schools, 14 industrial centres, and a cooperative lumber mill. An amazing testament to "what would Jesus do?"

Dr. Grenfell died in 1940.  His work was carried on by the Grenfell International Association for many years, but, eventually, funding modern medical care became too much for a private organization to manage. The hospitals, ships, medical equipment, etc. were handed over to the government of Newfoundland for the sum of $1.00. 

 The Grenfell Association remains active and awards grants to non-profit organizations for improving the health, education and social welfare of the people of coastal Labrador and Northern Newfoundland.

The next time you see the slogan "WWJD?" remember Sir Wilfred Grenfell and his legacy of service.

Picnic 2017

The church picnic this year did not have the sunny skies of previous picnics. 

Instead, according to Janet, "it was cold ( we reached 14 deg.) with a wet scotch mist. Some wrapped in blankets to keep warm while others played games. A time of good food, fun and warm  fellowship was had by all who attended."

I missed the picnic, as I was travelling in Newfoundland, but as I recall, June 18 was cold and wet there too.  We drove through fog, saw a moose, and watched the icebergs. 

Happy Summer!

School's Out

   

 Well, not school exactly, but the choir is enjoying that "end of term" feeling.  Although we love to sing, we're happy to be in a church choir, Thursday night practice is a joyful time and Sunday worship is made more meaningful with music, the members of the choir still need a break.  We're not on vacation until September.   
      There will be solos, duets, etc. over the summer so the congregation won't be deprived of a musical offering during the worship service, but as a group, we're having a little R&R.  To celebrate, we went out to dinner.  We chose the Chinese buffet since it's convenient, everyone can take whatever they like, and payment is uncomplicated.  Plus, we get to socialize a lot!
      Our ranks have been depleted this year, so anyone who thinks he/she "might" like to join the choir, please stop thinking about it and "just do it."  As a reward you get a great view of the congregation during service, you get to wear that lovely polyester robe, and sit close to the preacher during the sermon.  You also get to watch Larry making faces.   And . . . you get to go to all our parties.

   
  Happy summer everyone, especially the choir.  See you all in September.