Joy and Love

Happy Birthday to Don. Beautiful cake too!

The third Sunday of Advent is Joy.

A few extra lights to brighten the darkness

The fourth Sunday of Advent is Love

Our Advent lighting is complete

Last week's blog was very long so some events received only a short paragraph. This week, I'm making up for that.

On Sunday afternoon, Dec. 15, Love and Joy pervaded our sanctuary and our hearts. We shared music, fellowship and food with the Jesus is Lord Congregation. We are so happy they've been able to use our sanctuary on Sunday evenings and they are so happy to have a place to worship. 

This Sunday we lit the fourth candle
of Advent. In the afternoon we assisted
with a worship service at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital leading in carol singing.
We had a larger than usual crowd and many happy faces. Christmas carols seem to touch our souls in a special way, evoking memories of happy times, family and loving friends. They make us smile and shake hands and rejoice, regardless of our circumstances.

Music is a gift we celebrate at SPPC, especially at Christmas time.
On Christmas Eve we'll enjoy another time of carols and readings and candlelight.
Plenty of free parking. Enjoy a hot drink and a shortbread cookie.

Church Life

This blog is always looking for new topics to discuss, new programs to present, new people to interview.  But "new" is not really necessary.  At SPPC, we're a community and stuff happens in a community.  So here's a glimpse of life at SPPC over the last week.

Barb and John celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.  They shared the occasion with the congregation.  The cake was not only beautiful, it was delicious. 

 Also on Sunday, we led worship at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.  That's another event that comes around regularly, but each time is different, because the people are different.  This time we sang lots of naval hymns because there was a retired submariner in the congregation.  "Will Your Anchor Hold" was a hit.

  On Thursday night the Parking Lot Club began its weekly schedule.  There was a threat of rain, but it didn't dampen the spirit of the hockey players. 

  Our woods seem like magic to two little girls. 

There was also pizza.  Good thing, since some of us stayed for Choir practice at 7:00 pm.  Barely time to clear up the parking lot, let alone go home for supper and get back again. 

Speaking of Choir practice, it is every Thursday from 7:00 - 8:00 pm.  Larry would love to have more singers join us.  Even if you can't read music but love the sound of choral voices, come talk to him.  Come on a Thursday and give it a try.  We don't bite.

Yesterday we celebrated World Wide Communion.  Bombs and injured children are so far from our peaceful corner of the world, but on World Wide Communion, we celebrate the Lord's Supper with Christians everywhere.  Some will be affluent and safe, like us, others will live in fear, yet we are one in spirit.  We claim "One Faith, One Hope, One Lord."

So, there is a glimpse of a week in the life of Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church.  Perhaps there's something there for you.  We're open every Sunday.

Hospital Song Book

      Over the past few months a committee has been hard at work creating a song book for us to use when we conduct the service at Saanich Peninsula Hospital.  That is, SPPC has made a song book for SPH!  
The book is now completed and was dedicated during the service on Sunday morning.   Copies were passed among the congregation and we sang "Jesus, Saviour, Pilot Me," an old-time favourite not available in our "Book of Praise."
     On Sunday afternoon, we took the Songbook to the hospital and used it for the first time at the service there. Those of us who worked on the book, we were sure the singing was more robust than before.  Rev. Irwin invited the residents to choose their own hymns and there were many requests.
     The book contains many of the old gospel songs familiar to residents at the hospital, along with a smattering of great hymns of the ages, like "O God Our Help In Ages Past" and "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah."
     Since music is a large part of our ministry at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, it seemed appropriate that we should have a song book dedicated to that purpose.  The print is large.  There is one song per page and it's all in alphabetical order.  All in an effort to make words easy to read, easy to find and easy to follow. 

    The books will be kept at the church.  With reorganization at the hospital, we're never sure their books will be available on a Sunday afternoon, so bringing along a supply of our own ensures we'll be able to share music with the residents.

All in all, we had a good day with lots of music at church and at the hospital.  I love the old hymns so it was a treat for me as well.