It was a Quiet Week at SPPC

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

one half our returned mission team

We welcomed our DR mission team home this weekend. They were all in church on Sunday morning, a bit jet-lagged but glowing from their experience and full of stories to tell. We look forward to hearing their report, once they've settled into home.

For those of us who kept the homefires burning, the week included the company of friends. The Wednesday study group watched Luther on DVD. It is an excellent film. You can watch it on Youtube here I particularly enjoyed Peter Ustinov in the role of Frederick the Wise.

 One of the most powerful scenes is Luther, standing before the church council, who demand that he recant his teachings against church doctrine. He replies "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason and not by Popes and councils who have so often contradicted themselves, my conscience is captive to the word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot and I will not recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me."

Protestant churches celebrate the Reformation as a moment when Scripture triumphed over abuses in the Roman Catholic church. Sadly, it also led to violent struggles between Catholics and Protestants throughout Europe as part of the 30 Years War. Millions of people died; a consequence Luther never intended and one he deeply mourned. 

Friendship Coffee on Thursday settled the affairs of the world much more amicably. There was one table of men, another with women and knitting, and another, non-segregated. Thanks to Janet for sharing her pictures. 

 In Paul's letter to the Galations, he wrote: 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

As the country heads into an election, and feelings may run high, gathering around a table, sharing coffee and conversation reminds us that friendship is a gift to cherish.

Studying James

 

The link for this week’s live streamed service is here

 

After a long hiatus, Bible study resumed last Wednesday. At the morning session there were 12 in attendance and five more at the evening session. We are studying the book of James, a book that Martin Luther condemned as a “book of straw” but one that John Calvin admired.

The most common criticism of this book is that it seems to preach redemption through works. However, a careful reading of the scripture shows that is not the case. James certainly urges Christians to act on their beliefs but he does not say we can “earn” our own salvation. Like all the writers of scripture, James insists that salvation comes through the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The opening verses of Wednesday’s session talked about doubt, which is fitting as the preamble to study noted that there is some doubt about the author. Most Biblical scholars believe the verses were penned by James, the brother of Jesus, but there are other reasonably supported possibilities. Interestingly, James, the brother of Jesus, did not believe Christ was Son of God until after the Resurrection. That fact led to some interesting discussion in my small group. Did James feel remorse? Embarrassment? Guilt? What is known is that once he became a believer, James, the brother of Jesus, remained steadfast unto martyrdom.

The study session ended with a suggestion that we each write a list of the times when we saw God's faithfulness and dependability. This is a private list for you alone, but you may find it a useful resource for times when doubt creeps into your faith life. You don’t need to be part of the Bible study group to complete this exercise. But, if you want to join the discussion group you still can. The study book (pictured at top left) is available in the office this week. We meet Wednesday’s at 10:00 am or at 7:00 pm. The next meeting is Wed. Feb.8. Feb.1 Session meets and Rev. Irwin cannot be in two places at one time. Not only that, several elders are part of the Bible Study.  That means we all have an extra week to complete the homework😊

Reformation Hymn

In the month of October SPPC has been paying special attention to the Protestant Reformation, sparked by Martin Luther, when he nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenburg in 1517.  This act of defiance set off one of the most dramatic and far-reaching upheavals in history, touching on every aspect of life in Western Europe, and hence, North America.  The monolith that was the church in Rome, was shaken and splintered.  Luther's "sola" theology,

• by faith alone.
• by Scripture alone.
• through Christ alone.
• by grace alone.
• glory to God alone,

stood against many of the practices of the Roman Catholic Church.  By challenging the pope, Luther opened the floodgates to political, social and theological revolution.

There were other Reformers, Erasmus, Zwingli, Calvin, Knox, Melnachthon to name a few.  Although they had theological differences on the Eucharist, the doctrine of predestination, and the sacraments among other things, all stood firm on Luther's basic tenet, of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
 
Luther was wise enough to know that music was a powerful tool for teaching scripture and theology.  Thus he penned many a hymn.  One of the best known is A Mighty Fortress is Our God.  Here is what Dr. C.J. Kirk had to say on this great statement of faith.

Of all Martin Luther's hymns this is by far the best known.  It was written in 1529 during a climax in Luther's struggle against the Roman church.  That year the Reichstag met at Speier and the Roman Catholic majority ordered that their worship should be permitted in all the German principalities from which it had been excluded by Princes sympathetic to Lutheran teaching, and that prelates and religious orders should be restored to their former properties and revenues.  The Lutheran princes entered a formal "protest" because of which the Lutheran movement became known as "Protest-ant".  In this dark hour Luther wrote his call to battle in this hymn which Heine called "the Marseillaise of the Reformation."

In his struggle Luther felt that he had one helper, God, against all the "mortal ills" prevailing against the reform of the Church.  What were those ills?  They were social as well as spiritual: the hopeless poverty of the peasant, the ignorance of the people, the oppressive powers of barbarous laws, the abuses of the priests and the wealth of the hierarchy.  These are attributed to "our ancient foe", the devil: but he is seen as incarnate in the worldly Pope Clement VII and the intriguing Emperor, Charles V.  All these constitute a triangle of hate and power the like of which the world has not seen the equal.

Such odds might daunt even the boldest but for one thing.  Our trust is in a spiritual leader, Jesus Christ.  He is given the title which the ancient Israelites delighted to give to Jehovah.  He is the "Lord Sabaoth," the "Lord of hosts," the commander of the hosts of heaven.  Here we have a truly Protestant theology.  Our confidence of salvation is not placed in an infallible Church with its sacraments, its relics and its traditions, but in an unconquerable Man who is clothed with the power and authority of God himself.  He remains the same "from age to age" and we know that "He must win the battle."

In that battle Luther saw himself in conflict with the devil, "the prince of darkness grim." with all his supernatural power and cunning.  Against such a foe, human weapons simply could not prevail.  If we confide in our own strength, then all "our striving would be losing" and well we know it.  "And though this world, with devils filled should threaten to undo us" remind us of Luther's defiant comment on his way to the Diet of Worms:  "though there were as many devils in Worms as there are tiles on the roofs, I will go nevertheless."  "One little word shall fell him" and that little word is "the Name that is above every name." (Phil. 2: 9-10).

The final verse is the very essence of Luther's religious belief.  There is personal contact with God, the source of all spiritual power, through the divine Saviour and the indwelling spirit.  The Spirit imparts his beautiful gifts to us (Gal.5:22).  Of what value are earthly things when compared with such priceless treasures?  These things are the symbols and seals of a kingdom that abides forever.  The promise of these gifts comes to us through the inspired word of God, the holy Scriptures, and that was Luther's most trusted weapon.

These words are a witness to the uplifting and sustaining power of the faith of the man who wrote them and these same words continue to be an inspiration to God's people in every crisis of life. 

New Bible Study

On the eve of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the Bible Study group watched the movie "Luther" on Wednesday.  Fascinating insight into the character of Martin Luther and his time in history.  I particularly enjoyed Peter Ustinov as "Frederick the Wise,"

This coming week, we're beginning a new study by Jack Kuhatschek on the Letter of Paul to the Galatians.  Paul wrote the epistle to the church in Galatia because it was having troubles.  Questions of belief and practice plagued this early congregation.  As a consequence, Paul's letter gives one of the clearest statements of Christian faith found in the New Testament.  2100 years later, the words of the apostle resonate with the modern church as it struggles to remain true to its beliefs in a changing world.

The study guide includes 11 sessions, but don't worry if you can't make them all. There is no exam at the end of term. :-)
Time:  9:30 am on Wednesdays or 7:30 pm.
Place:  Ross Lounge, SPPC.
All welcome.  Bring your friends.

All Hallows Eve

    With our recent candy fest in mind, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the origins of Hallowe'en.  The name is an abbreviation of All Hallows Eve.  Like New Year's Eve, All Hallows Eve is just the lead up to the big event, All Saints Day.   And, like New Year's, the "eve" in some respects, has eclipsed the "day."
   Ironically, some Christians object to Hallowe'en as a celebration of a pagan rite, while some secularists object to its Christian overtones.  Like many of our holidays, (holy days) the truth is a blend of both.  The Celts of early Britain organized their lives and their celebrations around the seasons.  The end of October, meant the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, a time of darkness, fallow ground and death.  They also believed that this was "an in between" time, when the souls of the dead could revisit their homes.  Samhain, for whom the feast was named, was the Celtic lord of death.   Dressing in grotesque costumes, making loud noises or placing a jack o'lantern in the window was considered a way to keep the spectres at bay.    Hallowe'en in the Druid sect wasn't a happy festival!

     As Christianity spread throughout the world, the church often adapted existing festivals to Christian principles.  Thus, Pope Gregory IV, decreed that All Saints Day, a day to honour the saints and martyrs of the church, should fall on Nov.1, thus setting aside the end of summer as a day to remember all the saints (hallows) and martyrs of the faith. What had been a night of fear, became the eve of a sacred time.  A time to honour the great company of believers, and to remember that, through Christ, death has been swallowed up in victory. 1 Cor. 15: 54-56 
    The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, consider saints to be particular persons whose lives and good works have been recognized by the church, and who have been elevated by the church to the level of sainthood.
      As a "reformed" church, the Presbyterian denomination follows Luther's definition of "saints" in its New Testament interpretation.  For us saints are the whole community of  believers, past, present and future.  Therefore, All Saints Day is a day to celebrate the unity of the entire church and to give thanks for the saints who have taught and preached to the world, who have nurtured and protected the church throughout the ages and whose work continues to this day.
     For followers of Jesus, ghosts and goblins are just costumes, no more fearsome than ballerinas or cowboys.  We hand out candy for fun, not as a means to placate demons. 

  We may get a kick out of funny costumes and practical jokes, but the real joy in this weekend comes from the knowledge that we walk with Christ and are joined with the great company of believers.  As the hymn puts it, 
                   "O blest communion, fellowship divine!  
                    We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; 
                    Yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.  
                    Alleluia.