Lunch at the Ledge

On Sunday morning we welcomed Rev. Ruth McCowan back to the pulpit. She's a regular there. You can watch the service on our youtube link here.

Tuesday last week, a cold, rainy, windy day, was perfect for an indoor adventure.  A group of about twenty-five from SPPC boarded the buses and headed downtown to the legislature building. We had lunch reservations for 1:30 pm. 

The food was great but first we had to go through airport-type security and the guards held our ID's until we exited the building. So, lunch at the ledge is great, but be prepared!

Visiting the legislative dining room was something I'd heard about but never had a chance to do, so thanks to the organizers, especially Barb, for making it possible.

We arrived early, so went inside the building to have a look around. There was a Diwali event going on in the rotunda, including food. It smelled delicious but I sensed the spices were hot so didn't join the buffet line.

I did take pictures of some legislative features, namely the scroll work over a doorway and the doorknobs bearing the BC logo. Maybe another time we should book a tour and bone up on our provincial history.

Just heard that there may be another expedition in December for a turkey lunch. There's a sign-up sheet in the narthex to let the organizers know if there is enough interest to make a booking.

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After service on Sunday morning, Diane held an information session

on the pending mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Watch this space for more. SPPC has sent a team there previously but the last one was cancelled when COVID shut down the whole world. It's exciting to know that the trip is scheduled again for March of 2023.

We'll Eat Again

 Link for this week's live-streamed service is here

Sunshine Lunch

After a pause of two and a half years, the Sunshine Lunch was back on Monday of this week. This is a time of fellowship for people of our congregation who live alone. As was proven during the pandemic, loneliness is a hazard to both physical and mental health, so the return of this program is most appreciated. Thanks to Joan and Darlene and their helpers for reviving a much valued tradition. Special thanks to Barb for being a volunteer driver.  The few pictures below show only a hint of the hard work and the good spirits that went into the lunch. There will be another one in December.

Friendship Coffee

On Thursday, Friendship Coffee returned to the church building. This is a time of fellowship for all, including visitors and out-of-town relatives. Thanks to Brian and Vivien, Al and Irene for the coffee and cookies, set up and take down. 

Newcomers Lunch

On Sunday, we held our newcomers lunch. Again because of the pandemic, we have had to put this custom on hold, so our "newcomers" might not have been that new, but it was still a lovely time to welcome them into the family of SPPC. And, as Rev. Irwin said, thank them for choosing us. 

We had a delicious hot lunch -- lots of casseroles -- and cake. Each newcomer was welcomed with a little gift bag including note cards and a church directory. 

There were lots of old-timers too!

Vera Lynn sang "we'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when." But we'll eat again on Tuesday at the legislature!

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Sign of the times: 

We've sacrificed one vehicular parking space to make room for a bike rack to accommodate eight bicycles. The spot was well marked with warning cones and reflective tape to prevent any unwary driver from running into it. 😀

More Thank yous:

Fred has been pitching in to tend the flower beds. The one at the north side of the lounge was particularly overgrown. Look at it now!

We've had a wonderful week at SPPC. Our "newcomers" have joined right in, reading scripture, singing in the choir, working in the kitchen and digging in the garden. Welcome, welcome, and thank you. One person told me she'd found SPPC to be very warm and welcoming, without overwhelming her. That sounds like a good balance. Just in case you're interested, we have room for more -- in the pews, on the committees, in the choir, in fellowship and in study. Come join the family at SPPC.

Red Letter Revolution - a Review

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

Thanks to Linda for this week's blog post.

Red Letter Revolution: What if Jesus Really Meant What He Said?

 By Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo

 

 

This book is presented as a conversation between Shane Claiborne, a progressive young evangelical, and Tony Campolo , an experienced pastor and professor of sociology.  The authors discuss issues of violence, community, Islam, hell, sexuality, civil disobedience and twenty other topics of interest to people of faith and conscience today. Shane and Tony discuss their differences and commonalities in a way that is helpful to the reader to gain insight as they seek to live the teachings of Jesus.

 The book is divided into three parts.  I will give a brief summary of the content of each part and the chapters that resonated for me.  The first part is about Theology.  I found this section to be the most relevant for me.  The authors look at the church, liturgy, Islam, hell; topics that are not often discussed in such an open and balanced way.  Much of what the authors were discussing related to a recent book we studied in Bible Study, the Celebrationof Discipline by Richard J Foster.  This gave me another perspective on the topics which added to my enjoyment of the chapters.  My take away from this section of the book was:  

• today many churches are focused on winning believers rather than developing fully developed followers of Jesus: that is disciples.

 

The second part of the book discussed Red Letter Living.  I think the chapters in this portion of the book will be the most difficult for some Christians to read.  There are discussions on Pro Life, Homosexuality, Immigration, Women, and Racism. The authors refer to the politics of the United States and the Republican believers.   I found their discussion refreshing as it was open and unafraid to look at the questions from different angles When I looked at the criticisms by readers of this book, this was the part that raised the most objections.  One of the comments from the chapter on Racism that has stayed with me is:

•  “Eleven o’clock Sunday morning is still the most segregated time of the week”. 

 

The third part of the book looks at a Red Letter World.  I found that at times this section felt dated as it was first published in 2012.  However, each chapter is thought-provoking in its own way.  The section that I found most interesting was on the Middle East.  The authors discussed what was currently happening in Israel and with Palestine.  Also the chapter of Reconciliation was powerful, with Pentecost being compared and contrasted to the Tower of Babble. 

 

I recommend that you take the time to read this book or other writings about the Red Letter Revolution.  Each chapter begins with a quote from Jesus.  Why not explore another view of what our Saviour was saying and explore how to live out those red letters of the Bible?

 

 

Linda Cliff

Come, Ye Thankful

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

Thanksgiving Sunday -- one of my favourites. Maybe it's the farmer in me that loves bringing in the harvest.  

On Sunday morning the congregation is treated to a table laden with the fruits of the earth but how does that happen?

Around the end of September the call goes out to the congregation for contributions to the harvest table, but really, the work beings in the spring with seeding the garden.

Then we hope and pray the weather will be good at blossom time and that the bees will come.

Weeding, watering and keeping the confounded deer out of the garden occupies the summer months.

Finally, in October, we bring in the harvest, from the garden, to the church, to the Thanksgiving table. 

Into the wheelbarrow and then to the car

From the car to the sanctuary

Finished display

Thanks to all who contributed items for the table. As time goes by fewer of our congregation garden, so it is wonderful that so many find a way to "bring in the harvest." 

Thanks also to Pam for lending her expertise to the arrangement this year. The "usuals" are extremely happy to have new hands to the task.

Of course, Only God can grow a tree. Thanksgiving is a time for hearts full of gratitude for this wonderful Creation that He made and gave to us. For the fruits of His Creation, thanks be to God.

World Wide Communion

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

Sunday was World Wide Communion Sunday, a day when Christians around the world celebrate the Lord's Supper together -- sort of, considering our many time zones. Still, the idea that all of us are meeting at the Lord's table together is a powerful image of the church in unity.

Now that pandemic restrictions are lifted, we passed the elements in the traditional way. No more little creamer-style cups picked up beforehand. It may seem like a small thing, but the act of serving each other the communion reinforces the sense that we are one family, gathered around one table.

We used the hymn, Here, O My Lord. This is a favourite of mine, probably because it was used for every communion service in my childhood church. Dr. Kirk included it in his study of hymns for every day of the year. Here is an excerpt from that work.

The first thing we must remember when we come to the Lord's Table is that we have come to meet with Christ and it is here we see Him "face to face". He ordained the sacrament and He presided at its first observance in the Upper Room. He also told us to continue observing the sacrament as a means of remembering Him. . . .  if we come to the Table with faith, we know that here we "touch and handle things unseen" and there we meet the Lord and receive the benefits of His passion.

There are many names by which this sacrament is known but one of the earliest given to it was "the Lord's Supper." 1 Cor. 11:26 The supper is a meal for the members of the family who can sit down and enjoy one another's company. . . .The "heavenly table" is spread for us and our Lord invites us to his "banquet."

Unfortunately, the element of joy is missing from our communion services at times. Certainly we must remember the solemnity of the occasion, the passion of our Lord and the agony of His death. but here we also celebrate His resurrection and triumph over sin and death and surely that should call forth our praise. . . .

If we offer God our praise, He offers us His grace. We come to Him in our need, with a deep sense of our sin and failure, . . . and acknowledge that we "have no help but Thine." As we kneel in contrition and confession, our Lord meets us and grants us His absolution. We come also deeply aware of the weakness of our faith and conscious of our inability to engage in the battle of life in our own strength. How can we win the victory? Not only does the Lord have the answer, He is the answer: "my strength is in Thy might, Thy might alone." How reassuring it is for us to know that we do not need "another arm but Thine to lean upon."

The apostle Paul reminds us that the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is a temporary institution. After recording our Lord's words and actions at the first supper, he adds these words: "As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." 1 Cor. 11:26 The sacrament, then, looks back to the Cross . . . but it also looks forward to His coming again in triumph and glory, and then the sacrament will no longer be needed.... Heaven will be a place of unbroken communion with our Lord Jesus Christ. The family of our Lord will gather together for "that glad feast above." Meanwhile, here on earth His people have a foretaste of what it will be like to eat at His table. . . . Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ will come again!