Where are They Now?

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

For Pentecost Sunday, we wore red! Even the choir anthem had a red cover.

Over the years I've written this blog, many members of the congregation have moved away. I caught up on news from a few of them this week.

Edna was a stalwart member of the congregation. She sang in the choir, founded the prayer chain, was a steady and thoughtful member at Bible Study, and organized a grief support group after her husband passed away. We miss her, but she tunes in to our service via the internet. She lives in Southern Ontario and Joan visited her earlier this month and took the photo above.

Helen sat in the front pew on the forest side of the sanctuary. She was there every week, always elegant, wearing beautiful suits. She participated whole-heartedly in worship and always had a kind word to say at the coffee hour afterward. She moved east to be nearer family but she is remembered by her friends at SPPC. She has just turned 104!

Chris and Phyllis are now in Alberta. I got this lovely note from Chris.

Yes Mom and I are in Calgary.  Though my heart is on the Island, Calgary is the right place for me: medical access and doctor availability, commutability, costs, no PST, Calgary to Sidney is a simple 90-minute flight away and interestingly the weather is just fine with dry, clear and blue sky conditions.  Winter is easy as little snow.

 I was medically released from the military after one too many injuries. 

I attend online church either with SPPC ( Ed. note, we often see his name pop up in the chat panel)or other churches.  I hike, bagpipe, volunteer at my mother’s care facility and with my home owners association.

 Mom is 96 and physically well.  She is mobility challenged and wheels herself around with skill.   I visited Mom Sunday.  Though caught in a dementia repeating question loop, her brain remembers most unique memories but unable to remember recent events.  Mom and I actively participate in a care home ministry hymn sing and comprehending the five-minute condensed sermon.  Mom is blessed beyond belief and, within budget, expertly cared for. 

Felicity is Blooming

Felicity is happily living with her partner in the Interior. She is remembered as a prime mover in sending our first mission team to the Dominican Republic, and for her work with the parking lot club. Her big news is a baby expected in the fall! Not to get ahead of events, but wouldn't it be wonderful to have a baptism at SPPC?

Shakespeare wrote: "The evil that men do lives after them;/ the good is oft interred with their bones."

The Bible reminds us that followers of Jesus were often in direct contradiction of the world's values. In this season of Pentecost, let us reverse Shakespeare's worldly cynicism, and remember the good gifts of the saints who have lived among us.  

Many Gifts, One Spirit

Red for Pentecost

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

Last Sunday at SPPC was a jam-packed occasion. We celebrated the anniversary of our building, but we also wore red to celebrate Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit, in the form of tongues of fire, touched each of the believers gathered together in one place in Jerusalem. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the people began speaking in tongues, i.e the languages of many different nations. 

Many observers were amazed, others scoffed saying the disciples must be drunk. But Peter stood up and delivered a sermon which reassured his hearers that they were not inebriated, but had been touched by the Holy Spirit, sent from Christ, as He had promised.

About three thousand people responded to Peter's call and were baptized and became followers of Jesus on that day. Pentecost is now looked on as the beginning of the church. Certainly a day to celebrate.

With the day behind us, we are now in the season of Pentecost. The party is over. Now it is time to get to work. As we read through Acts we see that the small band of Jesus' followers, came out of hiding. They lost their fear and became bold in the Lord. Peter, who had denied Jesus at His trial, now proclaimed Him loudly on the streets and in the marketplace. The other disciples also spread the Gospel. They travelled far afield to proclaim the truth of the risen Christ. They suffered for their faith, but they would not stop proclaiming what they had witnessed and what they knew to be true.

The coming of the Holy Spirit, transformed the followers of Christ from a "me-centred" (who is the greatest) group of individuals to a Christ-centred movement, united in their mission to baptize and make believers of all nations. They changed the world, and that mission continues to this day.

We at SPPC will not experience a Pentecost like the one in first century Jerusalem but we can receive the Holy Spirit into our own lives. We can love one another as Jesus commanded. 

Acts 2 states that after the day of Pentecost, the believers "continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another. They would sell their property and possessions and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed." GNT 

On the first Sunday after Pentecost, our congregation ate cake -- what else is new? On this occasion it was to celebrate Father's Day, but mostly it was because we really enjoy the fellowship time on Sunday after worship service. 

During the month of June, SPPC is putting extra effort into our food bank offerings. Like that first church that grew out of Pentecost, we are sharing our love and our goods with the community around us. May the Holy Spirit work in us. Let's fill those bins to overflowing. Let us love one another as Christ first loved us. 1John 4:19

Happy Pentecost!