Summer's End

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.

It was good to have Rev. Irwin back in the pulpit on Sunday, after his holiday adventures. Glad he avoided fire and flood as he hiked in the southwest USA.

And speaking of holidays, while Joan was away others filled in on her bottle recycling job. When she returned, all was tidy and the collection bins were empty. But . . . it seems some of her regulars saved their bottles for weeks so they could welcome her home in style. 

This is Darlene's car, packed to the hilt on her first run to the recycle depot after Joan returned. Welcome back!

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And speaking of welcome back, mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept. 11, when we'll have a hot dog lunch after service, to kick off  the fall term. 

Actually, the first item on the fall calendar is choir practice at 7:00 pm. on Thurs. Sept. 8. Come and join our merry little band. More voices always welcome.

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We're into the last week of August already. Where did the summer

go? Years ago, when I was in a community choir, one of the songs in our repertoire by Irvine Fine included the words, Summer is gone, Summer is ended. It is done. It is gone. It is ended. While I'm glad for some relief from the high temperatures, I hope our summer isn't totally gone. Yet, this coming weekend is the Saanich Fair and that's a sure sign that summer is over. 

As we come back to "work" after the summer season, the Bible is full of encouragement. Here are a couple of my favourite passages.                             

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.

So, as we say good-bye to the season of rest and recreation, let us look forward with hope and know that God will provide the strength we need to run the race that is set before us.

Dog Days of August

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.

This Sunday we welcomed Rev. Arnie Alksne into the pulpit. Rev. Arnie is a familiar face in our congregation, often filling in when Rev. Irwin is away. We are especially grateful to him for leading us in worship considering that he and his wife have to catch a ferry from Pender Island at 8:50 am. Given the troubles with ferries this summer, the trip adds a whole other level of anxiety to preaching on Sunday morning at SPPC. If you want to know more about his life story, check out this site.

I always find Rev. Arnie gives me a new way of thinking. This week was no exception. He re-examined a familiar story from the point of view of the "villain," who maybe wasn't a villain after all. If you missed the service, go listen to the streamed version. The link is at the top of this page. 

Also at Sunday's service with a visitor to the congregation, who brought along his flute. What a lovely surprise to hear him accompanying the hymns. Thanks Rainer. Come back any time.

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Summer is rushing by. We are already into the third week of August. On Thursday, August 25, Friendship Coffee will be held in the rose garden by the library in Sidney.

The weather looks promising so bring a lawn chair and your favourite beverage and enjoy the flowers and conversation with your friends. By the time we get to the next gathering summer will be over.

Rev. Irwin enjoying his e-bike.

A loaded goodie table.

Our clerk of session enjoying a relaxing moment.

 Thanks to Elizabeth D. for sharing these photos from the last rose garden gathering.

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Advance Warning: Last week Ruth McCowan spoke of "heroes of the faith." Linda thought that a great topic for a blog. This Sunday, Rev. Arnie mentioned Albert Schweitzer, a name that often appears on hero lists. But there are others, some famous, some known only to you, who qualify for the title of "hero of the faith."

So, put on your thinking caps and prepare to be interviewed for a blog post coming soon. 

Congratulations

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.

Ruth McCowan and Bruce. Not her pulpit look.

Sunday morning we had one of the largest congregations of our post-covid period. One could credit our guest minister, Rev. Ruth McCowan, for filling the pews, or one could say it was the offer of lunch. We know that SPPC folk like to eat and visit.  

If you missed Ruth's sermon, put on your running shoes and go to the video of the service.

Following the service Barb and Eileen hosted a special lunch for Josh and Emily to celebrate their engagement. The wedding will take place in September but Sunday was a time for the whole congregation to wish them well. 

The hall behind the sanctuary was beautifully set up as befits a wedding. 

I got these pictures before the hungry horde descended. 

Once our minister emeritus, Noel Kinnon, said grace, we loaded our plates. 

Some had to wait a long time!

As is proper, the head table went first.

Emily has been attending worship with Josh for a long time, but on Sunday we met her family as well. The head table seemed to arrange itself as her side/his side. Don't know if that was planned or just the way things worked out. In any case, welcome to Emily's family.

There were two beautiful cakes -- one for the chocolate lovers and one for the others. Emily and Josh did the honours and everyone was well-served. I think there were enough leftovers for the Smith family to have dessert all next week.

Many thanks to Eileen and Barb, and the "friends" they dragged in to help in the kitchen. 

Best wishes to Josh and Emily. Your smiles today lit up the room. Thank you for sharing your joy with the congregation. May your years together be filled with happiness.

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Next Thursday is Friendship Coffee in the rose garden in Sidney, if the weather is good. If it rains, the event will be held in the church. All welcome.

Mark Sept. 11 on your calendar for a "welcome back" hotdog lunch at the church following worship.

Fore!

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.

Fore! One doesn't usually hear this warning on a mini-golf  course but what else can be said when one of our most respected members bounces her ball over the curb, down and embankment and into the pond?

Just before this event, we met one of the junior team making the walk of shame back to the clubhouse to get another ball after hers, too, sank beneath the lily pads.

Our senior member was spared that disgrace. She had a gentleman with her who kindly scrambled down the slope and retrieved her ball from the edge of disaster.

Tore makes a hole-in-one and then Pamela makes a hole-in-one. 

They should have declared a handicap!

As you may have realized by now, the mini-golf tournament on Thursday produced a lot of laughs. There were ten of us who neatly divided into teams of five juniors and five seniors. 

The juniors were quick and well ahead of their elders, but often came back to jeer at our mistakes, especially where there was water involved.

Junior team

The junior team did not keep score, but Abigail informed us that she won. Since no one lodged a formal protest, we'll take her word for it.

Here is the score card for the senior team. If you agree that the lowest score won, then Tore, with his two hole-in-one's prevailed. If you consider play for your dollar, then our frugal clerk of session with her score of 74 got the most value for her money.

All participants won on the score of laughter and fellowship.

Happiness is Good Friends

 

The link to this week's live-streamed service is here

friends cheer for each other

This week was spent catching up with old friends. After last week's "nasties" I basked in the company of these good people. We talked about everything under the sun including some heavy subjects. One e-mailed me this question. "How does one stay relevant and engaged at this age and stage of our lives?"

The questioner is about fifteen years younger than I so the query isn't really about age. It is about being sad and searching for connections. 

Within the church we are assured that God's love is always present. Romans 8: 38-39, but I knew that wasn't an answer that would help my friend. From the beginning, Genesis 2:18  we were designed for companionship. David and Jonathon, Paul and Timothy, Ruth and Naomi, all point to the importance of friendship. Even Jesus had friends such as Mary and Martha. My correspondent needed a friend.

At SPPC we hold fast to the promise of God's never-failing love, and we nourish our earthly relationships. Witness Friendship Coffee in the rose garden earlier this month.

Loneliness, a common ill of our age, was exacerbated by the pandemic shut-down. The Sunshine Lunch program at church helps  to bring connection and friendship to those most at risk of loneliness.  

The fellowship committee at SPPC holds many events to bring people together. The mini-golf tournament this coming week, or the past trips to the IMAX, or even a cleaning bee. These programs may draw criticism about the church being nothing more than a social club, but such judgement is unfair. These evens are practical ways in which we "love one another."

When church services were first allowed after the pandemic shut-down, restrictions were placed on mingling before or after service. During that time the congregation expressed a longing for coffee hour after the service. This Sunday morning I chatted with visitors to our congregation, eager to be part of the fellowship following service. They had sorely missed that connection when COVID closed down the churches.

I replied to my friend as well as I could pointing out all the ways in which her struggles were shared by others, assuring her she was not alone. Her reply was much more cheerful.

Whether your friend lives next door or on the other side of the world, friendship is a gift. Treasure it, nourish it, and thank God for it.

See you at the mini-golf!