Last of our Christmas Memories

 

From Linda:   

It is difficult to decide on one memory so I will tell you of one that happened soon after I was married.   My husband and I and our friends, Janice and Denise, planned on spending Christmas with friends who had recently moved to Vancouver.  This couple had been our neighbours when we lived in Edmonton and they had a young daughter and an infant son.Travelling was out of the question for them so we travelled to Vancouver to spend the holidays with them.

Our friend Chris was cooking the dinner and, being busy with her young family, she didn’t like a lot of mess. So to our horror after dinner was over she took all of the leftovers, and put them in a black garbage bag and threw them in the trash.

Like the good guest we were we said nothing, and our hosts went to bed early as they would need to get up early with their children.  After about an hour we decided it was time for the after dinner turkey and stuffing sandwich.  So the four of us snuck out to the trash to get the fixings for our snack.  Of course we woke our hosts who were horrified to find us going through the trash to find turkey fixings.  We all had a good laugh, but were never invited for Christmas dinner again.

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From me:

Like others have mentioned, Christmas in our house was full of laughter and music and an abundance of relatives. It is hard to pick just one particular memory from the large picture. Instead, I've found myself remembering a recurring theme -- Christmas Eve. 

After we came home from church, our service was at 7:00 pm, we'd settle around the Christmas tree and savour the peace. That time seemed holy to me. The frenzy of preparation was over, the pandemonium of Christmas morning not yet begun. In a way, this was the true time of Advent, the quiet anticipation of great joy, a moment to kneel at the manger.

Often we had only the tree for light. We might sing a carol or two. Mom would read the Christmas story from Luke in the King James Version. Most of us could recite the words with her, they were so familiar and so precious. 

As my generation grew older and left home, we cherished even more that time on Christmas Eve, when we gathered together as a family again.

Covid 19 robbed us of our usual Christmas celebrations in 2020, but in an odd way, it gave me back that golden time on Christmas Eve. I miss my extended family, but memory is rich with their beloved faces and the telephone is easily within reach. 

As Christmas season draws to a close, may you all know the joy of that moment by the manger.  

                                               

More Memories

The link to this week's livestreamed service is https://sppc.aflww.com/

  

My request for memories of past Christmases went to a number of the congregation. Some answered right away, some took a while, and some are still to come, (I hope.)

Here's a selection of this week's memories.
 

From Gladys: 

Good morning Alice:  I think this will be the most memorable Christmas for all of us!!!!!!!!!!!!  Let's look back to the good times, and look ahead for more to come.  God willing!    

From Al and Irene:  

Our family loves Christmas! Making memories has always been an important part of our Christmas activities.

One of our fondest memories is when our children were young. Our annual trip to a Forest Reserve where we could cut down a tree, chosen by the children in -35C. weather. After trudging through six feet of snow back to the parking lot, we gathered around a bonfire to roast wieners and marshmallows served with hot chocolate. you can appreciate getting the fire started with wet branches was no easy feat either!

Our first Christmas on the Island left quite an impression as well. We moved on December 17, 2012 to a nearly empty house. Our kids and grandkids all came home a week later. We had no furniture except for a card table and four chairs. Somehow we managed to put up a tree and we all sat around on the floor playing games, eating and listening to Christmas music. This lasted for a week! It was quite hilarious but a wonderful family time which none of us will ever forget!

Slide shows of our many Christmases past have become a much anticipated and appreciated part of our more recent celebrations. We all look forward to resuming these after Covid19.

From Kay:

  One year, shortly after we'd moved our here, we decided to surprise the family and show up at Syl's sister's place in Toronto. We arrived just in time for dinner on Christmas Day. Boy, were they surprised to see us! There was plenty of food -- it was Christmas after all -- and we tucked in at the table. I remember the candied yams were the best I'd ever tasted. Laughter, food, family -- a great Christmas memory. 

Noel had more anecdotes to relate about Christmas at SPPC:

Just before Christmas at SPPC circa 1993 he was dealing with a horde of children in the Sunday School, ready to put on the Christmas pageant. At that time the roles of Joseph and Mary were played by adults and the children did everything else. Also, in those days, Noel did double duty in the pulpit and the choir. The dual roles kept him hopping. So, when the man (a pilot) playing Joseph got a call to work just before show time Noel was in a panic thinking he'd have to preach, sing AND get into costume. To his great relief he has an ace for a son-in-law. Yvon stepped into the breach and played the role of Joseph, leaving Noel with only two other responsibilities.

Also at SPPC, during the practice for yet another Christmas pageant all the little angels were lined up and recited the line "and the angel said onto them," when a little voice piped up with "I need to go to the bathroom."  --A memorable announcement! 

Thanks to everyone for sharing their Christmas memories. I've got some more coming next week. Meanwhile here's a photo of one of my Christmases in Ontario. 

 

Christmas Past

 

The year 2020 will be remembered as the year Christmas was cancelled! 

So, I've asked members of the congregation to share their best memory from Christmases past. 

Kay says all her Christmas memories are wonderful. This year will be memorable because of what it is not. Meanwhile, she is very happy with her living arrangements. The facility has created ways for residents to dine together, exercise and socialize in a safe way.

Janet S. writes: 

One of my favourite Christmas memories was 50 years ago. 

I was a house mother at a Dr. Barnardo's Home in Canterbury and so I didn't generally get to spend Christmas at my home, I was with the children.

However, in 1970 I had just had my tonsils out and I was at my home following the surgery. 

It snowed that Christmas and I had big plans for Boxing day. 

Peter was scheduled to come down from his home in Ilford, Essex to Folkestone, Kent where I lived, (about 80 miles apart) as that was the day we were to get engaged!

I remember standing there, looking out of the window, waiting, waiting, waiting and hoping he would make it safely. I thought he'd never come because of the snow, (no cell phones in those days) but the wait was worth it! He did finally arrive 2 hours late, along with his brother, I'm not sure if David came for moral support or to help him in case of problems on the road. However, Peter finally arrived safely and in one piece and we became officially engaged and were married in March. We left England in August and came to live in Sidney on Resthaven Drive, the rest is history.

It was definitely a day of hope, peace, joy and love for me. 

That wait was so worth it, as is the wait now to  celebrate Christ's birth and ultimately for His return.

Noel related a few anecdotes from his years in ministry. The first was while he was still a student at Knox college in 1978. One of his professors invited a group of students to his home during the Christmas season. When they got there they discovered a room decorated for the season, the lights dimmed, and large cushions scattered on the floor. The students sat on the cushions in the twilit room and shared their thoughts on Knox College, belief, the role of religion, as well as some personal stories about their lives. At the end of the evening, their professor administered communion. Was it the setting, the shared talk or the intimacy of the situation? Whatever the reason, that evening has stayed as a highlight in Noel's memory.

The second story comes from his time at his first charge in Medicine Hat in the mid-1980's. Christmas Eve the church was packed, all but the front row. At a minute before the service started six of his friends came racing in and had to sit right in front of him, although their usual pew was at the very back. He noticed they were giggling and whispering, "Did anybody lift the scissors?" These were special friends of his, four Scots and two Irish, and their odd behaviour puzzled him until the drove home after the service. There, strung across the front of the manse, illuminated by large flood lights that had the neighbours gawking, was a large banner reading, "Happy 50th Birthday, Noel." The friends had to wait until he'd gone to church before putting up their banner. Hence their late arrival at the service and their glee at the surprise they knew awaited him.

Later in his ministry, Noel's daughter and family had moved to Victoria but, as a minister, he could not join them for Christmas celebrations. Instead, in January he and Edna came to Victoria for a second Christmas with family, complete with gifts, carols, a tree and candles. The grandchildren thought it was perfect!

Stay tuned, next week I'll have more of Noel's memories to share.

My cat, self-isolating

Waiting

 The link for all our live-streamed services is: https://sppc.aflww.com/

As event after event is cancelled in 2020 we all feel sorrow and disappointment. No parties, no church, no symphony concerts, no "Messiah" performances, no children and grandchildren coming home for the holidays.  How can they cancel Christmas? 

Yet, in other years, don't we complain about this same hustle and bustle robbing Christmas of its true meaning? We are a contrarian bunch!

In the spirit of making lemonade when life hands out lemons, let's look for positive ways to use the unexpected quiet of this Advent to bless our lives. Here are a few suggestions:

• With fewer people coming to dinner, use the money you save to increase your charitable donations.  There is enormous need in our community. 
• Tune in to SPPC's weekly live-stream service, but make it special. Create your own Advent wreath. Light the candles of hope and peace, joy and love in order as they are lighted at church. Turn off distractions.
  
  
  
• There are many, many recordings of "Messiah" available. If you have one in your collection of cd's or even lp's at home, make a date with your household to attend a "concert." Put on your concert clothes, sit quietly and really listen. Don't use it as background noise for a different activity. Listen as you would in the concert hall. Hear the beauty of the music and the passion of the words. If you want a sing-along version led by Canada's Tafelmusik go here. https://www.tafelmusik.org/watch-and-listen/recordings/dvd-sing-along-messiah
• If you love baking for Christmas, go ahead and make your favourite cookies. You can share them with friends and neighbours from a distance. You'll have the reward of giving without the expectation of a cup of tea in exchange.
• Write Christmas cards, or make some of your own. With extra time on your hands this is a great way to stay in touch with loved ones. It's quick and easy to send an e-mail, but a real card in the mail will bless both the giver and receiver in other ways. There is nothing like the personal touch to make people feel valued.
  
  
  
• Wait. Remember that Mary spent nine months preparing for the birth of Jesus. We can use the quiet of Advent 2020 to prepare a place in our lives and our hearts for the Saviour. We can read the Christmas stories in the Bible. We can do Advent devotionals. We can set up a nativity scene and spend time contemplating each of the characters in it. Do you empathise with Mary and Joseph, the new parents? Do you feel more like the shepherds come in from the fields to witness and earth-changing event? Or are you a sage from a distant land drawn to worship a King from a different realm?        
  
  

   These are only a few suggestions. I'm sure each of you has unique ways to make Advent, waiting, meaningful and sacred. Please share your ideas in the comments section below. You might help someone else.

Last week Pastor George reminded us that our times are in God's hands. None of us wants to live through a pandemic, but the Israelite's didn't want to live under Roman rule either.  It is easy to look back and see God moving through history. It is not so easy to live it. But with God's help, we can make Christmas 2020 a time of spiritual enrichment. 

Thanks to Jerusha for the photos of our church decorations.       

Advent One 2020

The link for this week's live-streamed service is:  https://youtu.be/kL9QZYGqcJc

 As we move into the season of Advent, we are blessed to have Pastor George Hodgson filling in at the pulpit. For anyone who has visited at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, George is a familiar face. Many know him from his previous guest stints at SPPC as well, but here is a little introduction anyway. 

2018 was my 30th anniversary at FCC (Friendship Community Church). It was the spring of 1988 when I began attending services, and within three years I was given the privilege of serving on staff as the associate to Pastor Ernie Kratofil, in April 1991. As a staff pastor I also began my service at Saanich Peninsula Hospital as a volunteer chaplain and have continued to this day. Upon retirement in 2007 I continued in various ministry activities such as Bible studies, prayer times, pulpit supply and funerals, etc. Another of the "hats" I wear at Friendship is property manager and you can often find me mowing, painting and going general maintenance here at Friendship most week days.

Welcome, Pastor George, and thank you for sharing the gospel with us at SPPC.   

Like all other churches in British Columbia, we are closed for in-person worship -- a hard restriction as we move into Advent. Let us pray that our live-stream services are a blessing to our viewers and that we will soon be able to gather again as a congregation.

Meanwhile, the worker bees were busy this week decorating the sanctuary. A scaled down effort this year but one that reminds us of "the Light of the World."

Find the sheep

Thanks to Jerusha for these photos. I'll post more in the coming weeks.


While we are unable to meet in person in the sanctuary, let us remember that "wherever two or three are gathered together, there God is in the midst of them." Not attending a church building does not mean we cannot worship. Tune in to our live-stream service, find a Bible Study on-line, set up a creche in your own home and read Luke 2 -- preferably in the King James Version. In our hearts and in our homes, we await the King.

Now What?

 The link for this week's live-stream worship service is https://youtu.be/KMhaRPwvhiM

I was in the midst of formatting the weekly mail-out to the congregation on Thursday when the word came through that all worship services were cancelled for the next two weeks, by order of Dr. Bonnie Henry. I dropped my hands from the keyboard and stared at the screen. "Now what?" 

After a lot of hard work our session answered my question. We live- stream a service as usual, but there will be no one in the pews. An eminently sensible solution. If COVID has taught us nothing else, it has forced us to be flexible.

Now, back to the blog! 

This past Sunday was Christ the King Sunday. 

This designation is a fairly recent one in the Christian calendar being initiated by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in response to the political situation in Europe. It was celebrated on the last Sunday of October. In 1969 Pope Paul VI moved it to the last Sunday before Advent where it's theme of Christ's dominion made a fitting end to the liturgical year (preceding Advent). 

In 1925, Pope Pius XI noted the rise of secularism in Europe and the increasing denial of Christ as king. More and more, new dictatorships attempted to assert authority over the Church and draw Christians away from their beliefs. He hoped a celebration of the Reign of Christ would remind the faithful that Christ must rule in our hearts, minds, wills and bodies.(Quas Primas, 33) 

We are reminded of Paul's impassioned words in Romans 8:38-39

 

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Although originated in the Roman Catholic church, the celebration is observed in many Protestant churches, including the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

The first celebrants of Christ the King Sunday were struggling against secularism. In 2020 we are also struggling with a pandemic. It doesn't hurt to be reminded that Christ rules supreme. Not even a virus can separate us from His love. For those who object to the notion of "king" or "ruler" we are reminded that  Christ's kingship is one of humility and service. Jesus said: 

Rather, whoever wishes to become great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many Mark 10:44-45

When we acknowledge Christ as King, we are not celebrating an oppressive ruler, but one who is willing to die for all of humanity. 

We have had to cancel many things in 2020, including worship services and Bible Study and choir and fellowship, but not even the nasty virus can cancel the Kingship of Christ. 

 

Rev. Arnold Alksne

The link to this week's livestreamed service is https://youtu.be/V-KVwJsEGjw

                                                        

While Rev. Irwin is recovering from hip surgery, we are fortunate to have Rev. Arnold Alksne filling in at the pulpit.

Some of you will remember Arnie from his previous stint as guest minister but here is a refresher on his CV.

Rev. Arnold Alksne most recently of Pender Island, BC.

I was born in Morris, Manitoba. Attended elementary school in Manitoba, graduated from high school in Saskatchewan. I earned certification and worked as a draftsman/aerial photo technician for 23 years, most of which were in Alberta.

 

With my first wife Norma, we had two children, a son and a daughter. In 1994 returned to university, and received my degree in theology from the Lutheran Seminary in Saskatoon, SK. I served as parish pastor in two congregations in AB. My first wife died of cancer.

 

On Thanksgiving Day of 2014, I retired from full time ministry. I have since been remarried to my wife Marion who was also a widow. We moved to Pender Island from Calgary, AB.

 

Some interests that I pursue are: music with guitar and harmonica, fly fishing, traditional archery, gardening, and garden railroading.

Thank you, Arnie. What with all the places you lived, you can really say you are a prairie boy.

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In other news, there will be a chamber concert held at SPPC 

McPherson Trio: Friday 20^th November, 7:00 pm

Our music director, Larry Skaggs is the cellist with this group.

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Also, a "heads up" regarding Bible Study. When Covid hit, we had to shut down our regular weekly programs. Now that we are able to use the sanctuary again Linda has offered to facilitate a video study. The first meeting is Wed. Nov. 25 at 10:00 am. We can accommodate 50 people!

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One more event to put on your calendar is the Carols in the Carpark on Dec. 20. Since Covid has shut down choirs many are missing singing together -- especially the beloved carols of Christmas. By gathering outdoors in SPPC's parking lot, we can offer folk an opportunity to sing Christmas carols, properly distanced, in the outdoors. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

As Covid numbers in B.C. rise at an alarming rate, we realize that our plans may have to change if Public Health orders change. But for now, we are making every effort to keep our congregation and our community connected.  If you have news, please contact the blog mistress, 250 656-7090. If you have concerns, please contact the office, 250 656-2241. 

 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10: 24-25

 

Livestreaming

 The link to watch our worship service is here   ttps://youtu.be/YpL-aIMqWbg                         

This week we've taken one more step in the evolution of worship at SPPC. Well, worship hasn't changed. We come before God, we praise God, we thank God, we hear the preaching of The Word, we ask for God's blessing. What is changing is the way we access worship. 

For months now, we've had the option of attending in person at Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church on E. Saanich Road, or turning on our computers or other devices and listening to a pre-recorded service on youtube. That option has now altered. We're still using youtube, but the service is streamed as it happens (live). The link is at the top of this page. Of course, if you are watching this on Monday, you are seeing the recorded version of the service, but it is still what happened in the sanctuary on Sunday morning.

If you have been in the habit of watching in the early morning, that option will no longer be available. You've got to "come" to church at the live start time of 10:00 am. You still have the option of watching later using the saved copy of the service available on our youttube channel. Is that all clear?😕

Don't worry if I've confused you. Just click the link at the top of the page and follow the directions.

Sounds easy, doesn't it. As people are fond of telling me, my grade six students can do it. Actually, grade six students can do a lot of technical things that leave me flummoxed but I'm learning and you can too.

Peter Aggus is the man behind the camera that creates these live-streamed services. His real job is as a technology consultant but videography is his hobby and is slowly turning into a sideline business. We are grateful to him for bringing his know-how to our congregation.

He tells me that this is the way of the future. Especially in this age of Covid-19, it is a great gift that he can stream a wedding or a funeral to family and friends who cannot attend in person. 

Even without the virus to contend with, we have members in our congregation who can't drive, or are in hospital or care facilities, who have lost their physical connection with the church. Our hope is that this new way of broadcasting the service will allow those folks to re-connect on a weekly basis. They'll  witness the same service as those in attendance. If there is a snafu on Sunday morning, everyone watching will see it as it happens. Is that good news or bad? Guess we'll find out.

Meantime, Rev. Irwin is recovering from hip surgery. Please keep him and his family and SPPC in your prayers. Those of us who are learning the technological tasks that Rev. Irwin used to do, need your encouragement and you sympathy!

1 Thessalonians 5: 11  11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Like all of scripture, that advice to the early church in Thessalonica is still relevant to us in this time and this place.

For All the Saints

 We've begun to sing a hymn at our in-person services -- while wearing a mask and keeping socially distant! How fitting that one of the first congregational hymns was "For All the Saints" -- a celebration of the whole Christian community. At a time when many of us worry about that the pandemic has changed our world and our church forever, we draw strength from this resounding declaration of God's supremacy. 

The late Dr. Cecil Kirk wrote a wonderful essay on this triumphant and deeply encouraging hymn.

The hymn begins on a note of thanksgiving for the saints who, by faith, have been enabled to confess Christ before the world. It is only because he called them and empowered them that they have been able to do so. It is fitting, then, that Christ's name should be praised since he has been their inspiration and strength throughout their earthly life. A variety of words is used to suggest the various ways in which He helped them: "their rock, their fortress and their might." "their Captain:" "their light."  This leads to a prayer that those of us who are currently engaged in the good fight of the faith will prove worthy of those who have preceded us. We want to fight as courageously as them so that we too may "win with them the victor's crown of gold."

The pivotal point of the hymn arrives with the fourth stanza. Even now we have fellowship in the Holy Spirit with those who have entered into their reward. It is not as though we are cut off from them nor they from us. There is an essential unity in the whole Church of God in heaven and earth. We are all part of the body of Christ and enjoy a mystical fellowship with communion with one another through Him.

The remaining verses fall naturally into two pairs. The first pair (verses 5 and 6) presents a picture of the Church on earth as it bravely engages in the spiritual warfare. When the struggle seems hardest, the note of "the distant triumph song," can be heard as the saints encourage those below. Then "hearts are brave again and arms are strong." There also comes to the weary warrior the sign of the close of day when we will be able to rest from the conflict and enter into the rest that remains for God's people (Heb. 4:9)

The final two stanzas present us with a vision of the great day of the Lord. Christ the King "passes on His way," and His saints, then victorious, will be glorified in his presence. What a thrilling picture it is! From every corner of the world, and from every coastline of every continent they will come, "a countless host," streaming into the new Jerusalem "through gates of pearl" singing to the glory of the Triune God. Christ will take His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords and His saints will pass in review before Him. Such emotion sustains us now. We realize that we are fighting in a great crusade, the victory of the which is secure. 

 

 Set to the rousing tune, Sine nomine, this hymn is bound to lift the spirits of even the most tired "saint."

For All the Saints

1 For all the saints who from their labours rest ,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!


2 Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!


3 O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia! Alleluia!


4 O blest communion, fellowship divine,
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!


5 And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Alleluia!


6 The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warrior cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!


7 But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!


8 From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Source: Trinity Psalter Hymnal #408

 

 

Saints above and Saints below

How are We Doing?

The link for this week's on-line worship service is: https://youtu.be/YmAwFB8RSZs

 As the pandemic lingers into the fall and winter, the question, "how are we doing?" leads the newscast most days. Health officials want to know if they have enough protective equipment for their workers and beds for their patients. Administrators want to know if the outbreaks in schools are contained and whether students are learning their course work. Psychologists assess the public and individual mood. "How are we doing?" has become more than a polite greeting. 

At SPPC the answer to "how are we doing?" is somewhat hopeful. 

--We have held in-person worship services since the end of June, including two communion services. 

--There have been no cases of covid reported among the congregation. Now that winter is here, we've closed the doors so the sanctuary is warm but we must be extra vigilant about Covid protocols.

--Worship committee has met and is considering ways to celebrate Christmas while keeping our distance and remembering that singing is a "dangerous activity."

-- Our "youtube" services are reaching a wider community than our in-person services ever did.

-- Our building is being used

•  for several concerts by the Die Mahler Group and Raven Baroque. Thank you to those musicians for the gift of music.
• for family dinners
• for a small book club group
• for the North Saanich Residents Association
• for an all candidates meeting
• for voting on Oct. 24
• for a Tai Chi group that meets regularly in the parking lot

Of course, there are not so hopeful answers to the question as well. We have lost much loved members of the congregation but have been unable to hold large funerals. We all grieve these losses and regret deeply that we cannot offer the comfort of fellowship to families.

We have lost community. No Friendship Coffee, no Fellowship Coffee, no Bible Study, no out-to-lunch bunch, no hugs.  Individual phone calls, informal coffee dates, after church chat in the parking lot help to fill the gap, but cannot replace the lost programs.

We're all feeling a bit tired, a bit grumpy and a bit frightened about what comes next. 

And yet we know that: 

While in prison, the Apostle Paul wrote:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21 

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When Israel had turned away from God and faced the threat of the Assyrian Empire, Isaiah wrote: 

. . .Thus says the Lord,  "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. "Isaiah 43: 1-3

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Yesterday was Reformation Sunday. We should remember that during the Middle Ages, when the Plague killed one third of Europe's population,  Martin Luther wrote: 

 “I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbour needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”

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In the face of this pandemic, the moderator of our church wrote:

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning” (Psalm 130:5–6).

Thank you for the peace and comfort that comes from knowing that we are not alone. God, grant us patience as we wait; grant us courage as we serve you and care for one another; grant us hope as we trust in you for the future.  -- The Rev. Amanda Currie, Moderator of the 2019 General Assembly, Presbyterian Church in Canada

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      How are we doing? I don't know, but I do know we are not alone. We live in God's world and He knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11

University of East Saanich

The link for this week's worship service on youtube is https://youtu.be/OcyKECXrmp4

Thanks to Diane for this week's post.

 

Return to class 2020 is, as expected, most unusual!

We are now calling our home University of East Saanich! As I walk around there are students tucked away in all areas working diligently on their studies. It's not unusual to have Rebekah sitting on her bed, her window wide open, with a blanket on her legs listening to a lecture, a cat curled up by her side. Maximilian is often tucked into his desk corner with 2 screens going so that his course materials are on one screen and his assignment on another. Benjamin shares his time between the kitchen table, the couch and the church. He is pretty much working all the time. I believe that online learning is much harder than going to an in-person lecture. What they are not missing is the commute. What they are missing a lot is meeting fellow students and friends on campus and making the connections that are so important to establishing study groups and life-long friendships. 

Peter is our last student in high school. They have been issued masks and he reports that most of the students wear them all day. His year has been divided into 4 'quarters' instead of 2 semesters. He will do 2 courses each quarter which will last for 10 weeks. At the moment he has Block 1 every morning and Block 2 every second afternoon. After doing this for 5 weeks, he will switch to Block 1 every second morning and Block 2 every afternoon. Just when we think we are used to that, he will have completed those 2 courses and will move on to the next two!

I'm not sure I will really be able to keep track of it all! Fortunately, he is very good at tracking where and when he is doing things. One of the fun little extra projects we had at the beginning of the school year was making a "mask" for his French horn. We are very happy that he has some extra-curricular activities underway. He's doing a bit of baseball and soccer again. He loves the training. I am truly grateful for the efforts that have been made by the schools and the athletic organizations to keep the children safe but allow them to return to some sort of "normal".

The students

I am also trying to squeeze in another Camosun Course so it is not unusual to have 3 of us working on our laptops studying at the kitchen table. Even Irwin is often with us doing late night editing of the YouTube worship service content. All together doing our own thing!

on-line learning --it's tough

Thanksgiving 2020

 The link to this week's youtube worship service is https://youtu.be/yU7rzuxGRTw

a scaled down display, with zucchini

  

 Happy Thanksgiving!

 Many of us are finding it hard to get into a 
thanksgiving frame of mind in 2020. The newspaper this morning reminded me of the string of disasters that had overtaken our world this year, even before COVID--fires in Australia, the shooting down of a passenger plane, and the loss of beloved stars of stage and screen and sport. Now COVID has held us in its grip for seven long months and the end is not yet in sight. Thanksgiving?

Still, the harvest has been bountiful (especially my zucchini), we live in a peaceful part of the world, we have in-person services (under 50 in attendance) we can still serve at home and abroad and we have faith.

60 servings of zucchini soup, plus a dozen loaves

The proceeds from the soup sales go to support our special missions.

So, we give thanks.

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Grace Dodds, formerly of our SPPC congregation has feted on CHEK TV last week on the occasion of her 100th birthday!

We give thanks.

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On Friday there will be a concert at SPPC.

The DieMahler String Concert
Friday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m.
In the Sanctuary at
Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church

Admission By Donation
(Maximum 50 persons)

At a time when the world needs the healing of music, we give thanks that at SPPC we can host a concert. 

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

Our God is faithful. He will not let us go. 

 Psalm 118:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

Remembering Bill

 The link for this week's worship service is : https://youtu.be/oQmxHnYBdGs

                                                       

                                                       Remembering Bill Richer

 

On Saturday September 26th, 2020, Blanche, their children Alan, Derek, Pamela, granddaughter Danae, and Pamela’s partner Frank along with friends of Bill, said good-bye as Bill’s ashes were laid to rest in the Garden of Remembrance. Despite the inclement weather and the restrictions of Covid, family and friends of Bill from the choir were able to sing with Derek, in their hearts, or into their masks, “Abide with Me”.

 Over the years, many members of the congregation came to know Bill as a friend, a fine artist, a regular and loyal choir member, illustrator extraordinaire of the “Shepherd’s Way”, which he illustrated for Blanche, and was published several times a year for many years. The heartwarming stories and the illustrations gave us all reason to smile and reflect on our many blessings. Many will not realize that Blanche and Bill produced, copied, and distributed the Shepherd’s Way, all as a labour of love, and a gift to members of the congregation.

 Bill was always a gentleman. He attended all the activities of the congregation and was loyal in his support. His paintings and sketches, often provided as gifts for fund-raising, were enjoyed by all and demonstrated his artistic talents.

 Bill was born in Guernsey in The Channel Islands, and, as a child, was evacuated to a safer haven when the German army landed on his island home. Stories of his life had to be teased out of Bill, often at the Thursday Coffee Hour, where he always sat with the gentlemen, solving the world’s problems. Bill’s good humour was enjoyed by all. Bill was a quiet man and his story of life on the sea was only referred to in brief… how we would have loved to hear more of his rich experiences.

Each one of us will have a special memory of Bill, and I felt privileged to know this quiet gentleman and his family.  Bill will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

 

Rest in peace, good and faithful friend of SPPC.

 

by Roy Napier