Highlights of the Week

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

Congratulations to Abigail! On June 4th, she was promoted from Leading Cadet to Master Cadet. We are so pleased to see her developing her leadership skills within the cadets, an organization she truly loves. Well done, to the "congregation's baby."  

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On Monday, our faithful volunteers served up the Sunshine Lunch. The Hawaiian theme signified summer. Even though there was rain outside, there was plenty of sunshine inside.

                                                                

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On Saturday we laid to rest one of our congregants.  There were tears and laughter as we remembered a long life, well-lived. Our brother-in-Christ was a stalwart supporter of SPPC and we will miss his presence among us. We pray for comfort and peace for his family. "Grief is the price we pay for love." But though we grieve the loss of an earthly companion, we rejoice in our hope in the Resurrection. 

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On Sunday we welcomed Rev. Irwin home back General Assembly. He got home in time to have cake on Sunday morning. At the same time we bid farewell to one of our elders, Elizabeth. She is heading to Alberta to be closer to family. I don't know if "celebrated" is the right word when someone moves away but we give thanks for her presence in our congregation over the past number of years and we wish her well in her new home. We also thank her for the excuse to have cake! 

A Peaceful Place

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

This week Rev. Irwin is at General Assembly in Toronto. Please remember this highest court of our denomination in your prayers. To tune in to the Assembly, you can use this link.

We were happy to welcome the Rev. G. Grant Wilson to our pulpit. His theme was transformation.

Last week we held a small interment service in the Garden of Remembrance at the north-west corner of the church. As we witnessed the placing of the ashes of our brother in Christ, sang a hymn and listened to scripture and a few memories, it struck me that this little corner of our property is a very special place. 

It moves between the built structure of our church and the natural beauty of the forest. A few cultivated plants mark the front edge while the back merges into the woods. 

Benches on both sides invite the visitor - or mourner- to rest. A gazebo adds a note of whimsy.

    

Because this little corner of our property is a "Garden of Remembrance" and not a cemetery it is intended for the interment of members and adherents of the congregation. There are no markers in the garden itself. Instead, a plaque on the wall of the church records the names and dates of the deceased. Flowers may be placed in the containers against the church wall.

Family and loved ones often come here to rest and meditate and remember. 

There are times when I think the world is too much with us. We are bombarded on every side by news of disaster or outrage, or misinformation, or demands for our attention and our time.  I consider our Garden of Remembrance a refuge, a place of calm, where we can sit quietly, listen to birdsong, hear the wind in the trees and seek peace for our souls. 

To echo the Sunday sermon, here is a quiet place, a place to listen for the still, small voice, a place for transformation.

Rinse and Repeat

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

Another Friendship Coffee event happened last week. It had one of the biggest turn outs since we resumed this ministry following the COVID-19 shutdown. 

Sylvia celebrated a big birthday and the group sang for her

I've written about Friendship Coffee on this blog for some fifteen years. What a testament to the need for community within and without SPPC, and to the faithfulness of those who make it possible.

Men's table  2014

Women's table 2014

There have been changes in that time. They used to meet in the Ross Lounge, and there was a men's table and a women's table. Apparently the men "fixed" all that was wrong in the world, while the women knit baby layettes for the hospital foundation and for distribution in war-torn parts of the world. Hazel was a prodigious  knitter who produced nearly 2000 of these knitted dolls for children who had no other toy.

As the photos at the top of this post show, Friendship Coffee in the post-COVID era takes place in Molloy Hall and the tables are co-ed. The knitters have left their needles at home and the "aid" focus is on the Ukraine. The friendship is still warm, the coffee and cookies are delicious and newcomers are welcome.

Sunday marked the end of our clothing drive for the Mustard Seed Church. Every fall, for years, we have conducted a "dry socks" campaign for those whose feet are wet and cold. This spring, we've added a clothing drive. 

 We collected more than 13 large bags, 15 small bags and two suitcases full of clothes. The last of the donations came in on Sunday morning, just before service.  

They were really heavy!

Used clothes in plastic bags don't make the most beautiful picture, but they make a beautiful contribution to the lives of those without housing or a place to do laundry. 

These donations are more than just old clothes. They are an offering to the people of God from the people of God. They were placed in the sanctuary and blessed as part of our offering time. We pray the gift will ease the days for someone in need.