Getting Back to Normal

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

Thanks to Janet Smith for this week's blog.

Getting Back to Normal

(what ever that is!)

After six months away from classes due to COVID-19, Abigail opted to return to school in September. She had missed her friends so much and her teachers.

Grandma had mixed feelings, she now had to get back into a routine, getting up at 7:15 am and being out of the house by 8:25 am each morning! Making breakfast and packing a lunch each day and picking Abigail up at 2:48 pm.

Nevertheless, Grandma was very happy not to having to teach everyday. What an effort that was! Mind you, we completed far more work at home from April to June than Abigail did from October (yes, October as we had a teacher strike in September) to March.

It was a struggle everyday to get Abigail to settle down to work and stay focused on her assignments and during this time she even gained weight as she wasn’t getting out in the playground everyday and so had time to eat lunch! Most school days, the lunch comes home as she is too busy socializing and playing.

Now in grade 3, with her new teacher, she is very happy. Her classroom is opposite her classroom from last year and so she tells us, her grade 2 teacher is her new neighbour!

When we pick her up, we ask how her day was, ‘fine’, is the usual reply. Then what did you do at school today? I don’t remember, comes her next reply. Well what did you learn today? Nothing! So how is she doing?

                                                                                                                         

We are not really sure but she is happy and always ready to get off to school each day for which we are very thankful!

However, this afternoon we do have a TEAMS mtg. with her teacher and so hopefully, she will be able to enlighten us further as to Abigail’s progress and get to meet the teacher.

We are not permitted to enter the school building and so really don’t know what is going on with our children we just continue to pray for their safety and well-being throughout this school year.

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Some other thoughts from our clerk of session: 

I thought the other day, when the Spanish Flu ended, the 1920's took off! When the 2020's arrived, we celebrated at the church with our 2020 lunch in 1920's style and now look at what's happened?

I think that celebration was the highlight of this year so far!

Then I stopped to think of how thankful I am and how blest we are right here on the Saanich Peninsula. Very few cases of COVID near by, no fires, only smoke, no floods, no hurricanes and no real  disasters, we could be a lot worse off than we are. It's easy for us to say, God is so good, when we live where we do.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpC78nfVdfY

 Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden's flowers bloom
by waters calm, o'er troubled sea,
still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

No Cake in 2020

 

The link for this week's worship service is https://youtu.be/aAsSxiB50fE

On looking back through blog posts in previous Septembers I noted that we tend to eat at this time of year. We've had hot dogs on Sundays, hamburgers in the parking lot on Saturdays and birthday cake anytime. 

The vile virus prevents us from such fellowship events but we can still wish happy birthday to Barb M., Emily L.,  Lois S., Betty M. and Betty G. who are all celebrating this month. If I've missed anyone, it was by accident. Please add your name in the comments below.

Previously we had lovely birthday cakes, but this year we'll have to make do with just the picture. You could also make (buy)your own cake and enjoy a slice at home in honour of our birthday girls.

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Recently this appeal came in to our church from Our Place

Each day here at Our Place we find our shower and hygiene area is busy from the time it opens to the moment it closes.  Currently we are running short of disposable razors underwear for men and women (including bra’s), men and women’s sweat pants or leggings, face cloths, combs, hairbrushes, shampoo and conditioner (travel sized bottles are ideal), cotton swabs, toothbrushes and toothpaste, dental floss, shaving cream and travel size packs of facial tissues. All styles, all sizes of shoes for women and men are always needed.  Your generous donations of these items are so very welcome and appreciated by folks who spend the majority of each day outside. Donations of these items may be dropped off at 919 Pandora daily from 6:30am-8:30pm. www.ourplacesociety.com

 

 The request reminds us that even though our church is unable to act as a collection centre for many other charities, because of Covid restrictions, the need is still very much alive in our community.
Our Place has given their address and drop-off times in the above notice.

Saanich Peninsula Lions Food bank is located at  9586 Fifth St. Sidney, B.C. and is open for donations from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm.  

The Mustard Seed is located at 625 Queens Ave. Victoria and is open Mon-Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The Compassionate Warehouse is currently closed for donations.

Our church life is so disrupted it may be hard to remember our purpose, but Jesus' command has not changed. "Feed my sheep."

Long Bottle Drive

The link for this week's on-line worship service is here: https://youtu.be/81BPQYMX9dA

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A bottle drive is one of the mainstays of our fundraising for mission efforts at SPPC. Usually we pick a day (Saturday) and set up a sorting station in the parking lot, then send out cars and trucks through the neighbourhood to pick up donations from friends and family. As well, people can come by the church and drop off their empties.
Well, COVID, changed all that. Instead we're having a l o n g bottle drive. A plastic can in front of the church is a repository for drop-offs. Joan keeps it emptied out, taking the donations to her own backyard for sorting. 

What do the neighbours think!

Apparently, COVID has increased our consumption of all kinds of drinks. 

Before sorting

After sorting

Ready for Pickup

It's a lot of work, but so far over $500.00 has been added to the mission fund. Joan says she'll keep collecting, sorting and delivering to the recycle depot for as long as people keep leaving bottles. So, keep drinking folks and take your empties to Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church.

Thanks, Joan for all your work and also to Darlene for driving the delivery vehicle.

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Also happening this week: 

The DieMahler String Concert
Friday, September 18 at 6:00 p.m.
In the Sanctuary at
Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church

9296 E. Saanich Rd.
Admission By Donation
(Maximum 50 persons)

Miracle of Two Seeds

The link to this week's on-line service is https://youtu.be/Q5TJrDG7a3s

I confess that earlier this summer I sneaked onto my neighbour's porch and left a large zucchini at her door. 
This year, I have an abundant crop of that long, green squash. 

Some time ago, Rev. Irwin preached on the parable of the sower. You remember, it is in the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Mark, and the Gospel of Luke
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A1-58&version=ESV

In the Matthew account, the story ends with " Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. "
I admit to a ho-hum moment. Isn't that the nature of seed? It's planted, it grows, we reap a harvest. But the sermon went on to explain that in modern agriculture our yields are much higher than they were in Jesus' time. We expect a 300 fold or more harvest from a seed of wheat. In Jesus' time a farmer might expect a 10 fold increase, or less. My ho-hum moment turned into "wow!"

When I look at yet another monster zucchini lurking under a leaf, my initial reaction may be one of dismay, but then I recall that sermon and my groan turns to praise. This year I have two plants, that is two seeds. 

I have harvested about 60 zucchini, some salad size, some the green monsters.

My freezer is full. I've given away boxes and boxes of them. We've eaten them raw, fried, boiled, roasted, broiled, baked in a cake, with hamburger, and au gratin. 

I've chopped, shredded and sliced. I've made soup, loaves, marmalade, and quiche. I've gotten rather tired of zucchini.

But then I remember that sermon and I marvel at the pounds and pounds of harvest produced by my two seeds. My zucchini is a miracle.

To get back to the parable, wouldn't it be wonderful if I could sew two seeds of the Gospel and receive a yield as generous as my zucchini?
Have I sewn those two seeds? Have you? Could we plant more?

Praise God from whom all blessings flow -- even giant zucchinis.