Something Different

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

I won a rosette at the Saanich Fair for "something different" in the preserves section. The entry involved zucchini.😀

Something Different at SPPC this week carries no prize winning ribbon. Our secretary had the misfortune to break her arm and has been missing in action for a couple of weeks. So, if you arrive at SPPC on a weekday morning, you'll see "something different." Volunteers are taking turns covering the office hours and doing our best to be helpful to Rev. Irwin and the congregation.

Until you sit in her chair, you may not know just how much the operation of our building and congregation relies on the accumulated  knowledge our secretary. I spent most of Monday asking "where is . . .? "who is . . .? what is. . .?" I now know some answers but I've only scratched the surface.

We miss the usual smiling face in the office and pray our secretary will have a quick and complete recovery.

Something that is not different at the church is the Sunshine Lunch. This past Monday saw the crew serve up the first meal of the Fall term, and what a meal it was. Look at this beautiful and tasty dessert.

The Molloy Hall is a multi-purpose room so making it into an intimate dining room is hard work, but the crew did a wonderful job of creating an attractive visiting space.   

Love the duck watering cans

 

Every table had a centre bouquet to complete the festive air. 

The whole meal was a treat -- just as good as a restaurant --

 and the "help" was terrific.

Speaking of the help, not only did they prepare and serve the meal, they joined the diners at the table so each guest had a personalized experience.    

 

 

 Except for one, the folks at this table were too engrossed in their food to smile for the camera.

The Sunshine Lunch is one of the most long-standing ministries at SPPC. It was designed to fill a need, providing fellowship and nourishment to folks who mostly dined alone. When the first coordinator retired, another picked up the reins. Newcomers have joined the group, both as guests and as volunteers in the kitchen. 

The next Sunshine Lunch is scheduled for October 26 and will have a Thanksgiving theme.  Sign up sheets will be available Oct. 4. Seating is limited, so get your name down early. SPPC welcomes the neighbourhood to our fellowship. You don't have to belong to the congregation to enjoy the Sunshine lunch. If you live alone and would like company and a good meal, call the office (250 656-2241) and add your name to the guest list. 

🎼🎼🎼

If you want to feed your spirit, there is a musical program on offer this Saturday, by the Die Mahler group, including Larry, our  organist. All are welcome.

Welcome to Advent

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

A few weeks ago we held a deep cleaning bee at the church. We scrubbed and scoured and pulled out furniture, looking into every corner for overlooked cobwebs and stray crayons. By the time we were finished, the church sparkled and smelled like fresh air.

Airing out the quiet room.

  

Industrious vacuumer who didn't want

her picture taken.

 Always time for a laugh.

 Shining the pews.

Apart from being good stewardship, all that elbow grease made the place ready for Christmas decorations. So, this week, we held a decorating bee. 

These photos show finished product. Sorry I didn't get pictures of all the helping hands.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

And now that we are into December, there Christmas events are popping up everywhere. One that is of particular interest to our congregation is the Die Mahler Ensemble playing on Saturday, Dec. 7 at St. Paul's United Church in Sidney. Our organist, Larry, is part of that ensemble and our choir, with friends, will sing a short work based on Christmas carols.