More than Socks

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

The month of October was a very busy one at SPPC and included our "cozy toes" campaign. You can see in these photos, Christian love in action.

As noted previously, we've gone beyond socks in this program and now collect personal items as well as coats, sweaters, underwear, and  boots. 

It is all gathered and sent on to The Mustard Seed. This marvellous, compassionate organization has been helping the vulnerable on our streets since 1975. 

In the past four or five decades nearly all of the agencies in our area have evolved and expanded. The Open Door began in 1986 with a peanut butter sandwich and a sympathetic ear in an upstairs room at Metropolitan United Church. The Upper Room, founded in 1967, was a simple coffee house, offering a meal and shelter to those living rough on the streets of Victoria. Eventually, those two organizations joined forces to become Our Place, which now serves over half a million meals per year, provides hot showers, medical care, clean clothing, and help with housing.

Cool Aid began in 1968 as a hostel for transient youth travelling across the country. It didn't take long until they realized there was a need for more and added medical and dental clinics 

In 1975, Rev. Gipp Forster set up a prayer stool in a closet in his shop and The Mustard Seed Street Church began. Anyone could come to pray and receive spiritual and practical care. For a time he had a broadcast on local radio. I remember the homilies began with "I'm Gipp Forster and I'm a street pastor." Today the Mustard Seed provides family support, maintains a huge food bank, operates "Hope Farm" in Duncan, offers hospitality at a drop-in centre and conducts services and offers spiritual guidance in their church.

For all the growth and expansion the passing years have wrought, they have never forgotten their core values, including, 

Christianity: knowing that love comes from Christ and redemption is the way of God’s Kingdom, we serve and lead as a response to that love, shared with our neighbours, a love that pervades everything that we do and are.

If we were to look at these agencies, along with the plethora of soup kitchens and clothing drives operating out of church halls and service clubs, we would say the "industry" is thriving. Their customer base expands year after year, their budget increases, community buy-in is huge, their payrolls expand. . . . Sadly, this "success" is not the aim. Nothing would make these "helping ministries" happier than to be out of business, in a city where hunger and homelessness do not exist. 

Until that day, they spread the love of Christ amongst the disadvantaged and vulnerable in Victoria.   

At SPPC we are privileged to add our gifts -- a warm sock, a thick coat, a tube of toothpaste -- to their larger ministry.

How Big is Your Faith?

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

Rev. Irwin and Diane have returned safely from their travels to South Africa. However, this week we welcomed Pastor George Hodgson to the pulpit as Rev. Irwin had to attend Synod in Kimberly as soon as he got back. I think he still had jetlag, when he set off  on Friday. Our representative elder, Roy is also attending Synod.

It's good to see Pastor George again. He's like an old friend to our congregation. His sermon was titled "How big is your faith?" Makes me think of that line from "Dare to be a Daniel," honour them the faithful few! All hail to Daniel's band.

Next Sunday, we are having a potluck lunch after service. Bring your favourite dish and prepare to overeat and catch up on all the news from Rev. Irwin and Diane. Think of it as an extended Thanksgiving.

And, while we're talking about Thanksgiving, our "Cozy Toes" campaign is underway. When this outreach program began it was called "Warm Toes" and we collected warm socks and a bit of shampoo and soap. But, like everything else, the need keeps growing, so now we're looking not only for socks (although they still form the basis of our offerings) we're also looking for diapers, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, toothbrushes, combs, hoodies, sweatshirts, t-shirts, underwear, leggings sweatpants and any other item you could contribute to keep folk warm and dry when they have no roof overhead. Looking out at the rain today, I recognize the need is ever greater.

As usual, Jerusha has set up an assembly line to fill zip-lock bags with toiletries.   

This is a project she undertakes every year. Thank you Jerusha for your faithful service.

As you walk through this week, remember that your faith is not too small, because God's faithfulness to you is beyond measure.

Rescued Food

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

On Sunday morning, Janice James visited the congregation and made a presentation re the Mustartd Seed Church.

Since 1975 the Mustartd Seed has been the largest and most accessible Food Bank in the region. According to their website, their Food Security Distribution Centre rescues and receives over 10,000 pounds of food each weekday from over 32 local grocery stores and donors. All that food nearing it's expiry date, or looking a little wilted would go to waste, if it weren't "rescued." Imagine all that good, nutrious food going to the landfill when many struggle to put enough food on the table. 

I love that word, rescue. In my home garden I "rescue" imperfect fruit and vegetables all the time, cutting off the damaged bits and using the rest. The good half of a bruised apple makes a pie that is every bit as tasty a pie as the one made with whole, undamaged fruit. It feels to me  a bit like hating the sin (the damaged bit) but loving the sinner, (the wholesome part of the fruit.)

All of that resued food is distributed to 75 local social service agencies, easing the burden of food insecurity for approximately 70,000 of our neighbours. These are staggering numbers. No wonder our Sidney Food Bank is grateful for the stream of donated food and cash from SPPC.

Although the food bank branch of the Mustard Seed is its most visible ministry, they also run a hospitality program. This service provides healthy lunches, coffee, snacks and a place to meet and visit and receive spiritual care in their Queen Street location. In the fall they offer free clothing, as well as hair and foot care.

It's that free clothing/foot care part that SPPC supports with our cozy toes project. For the month of October we collect good, warm socks to donate to the Mustard Seed. As the cold weather settles in, a pair of clean, dry socks for someone in need, is a concrete and much appreciated example of Christian love.

Let's fill those donation baskets with warmth.

Love is a Warm Sock

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

Sunday was Reformation Sunday, the day we commemorate Martin Luther's posting of the 95 Theses. The day that sowed the seeds of the Protestant Reformation, eventually leading to the formation of the Presbyterian church.  Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox are among the better known Reformed preachers. Many a Presbyterian church is called "Knox" because he founded the Presbyterian  Church in Scotland. The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and hence, Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church, is a descendent of that movement. 

There have been many theological arguments over the centuries about the role of the Pope, infant baptism, the sacraments, predestination, Christmas, to name a few. But one thing all denominations can agree on is "Love Thy Neighbour." On Sunday we showed that love with baskets full of warm socks for those who face a cold winter without adequate shelter.

We've been doing the "Cozy Toes" ministry at SPPC for over twenty years, now. In the early days we concentrated on socks and toiletries. The idea was to take a pair of warm socks, stuff the toes with things like toothpaste, soap and shampoo, and present it as an offering.

Over time, the program has morphed into a more general call for warm clothes. Although we still focus on socks, sweaters, blankets, coats and mitts are also welcome. 

Our donations are passed on to the Mustard Seed Street Church in Victoria. On Sunday a representative from there, Janice James, attended service and accepted the donated goods and offered a brief summary of the work they do. 

Winter has come early to Victoria this year, so those in need of warm clothing and dry feet need them now. After all the rain, puddles abound. Most of us are used to wearing rain boots, so puddles don't matter, or having a drawerful of socks if we need to change out of wet ones. For those who don't have those luxuries, the Mustard Seed Street Church, and its "hospitality" shelf are essential. 

The Street Church takes its name from Jesus' parable of the mustard seed. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

If we counted up all the socks that have been donated from our congregation they would likely number in the thousands, yet each one is like the tiny mustard seed, growing and spreading and providing sustenance for many. Sadly, the need for warm, dry clothing continues to grow. Thank you to all the people of SPPC who added warm socks to the Sunday offering. Thank you to the Mustard Seed Street Church for taking our gifts and using them well.  

Dedication of Cozy Toes gifts

Reduce-Recycle-Reuse

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

It has been said many times by many people, "Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church is a very friendly church." On Saturday we found a new way to be friends -- we had a swap meet. Or perhaps I should call it a recycle event. The idea was to clean out the stuff in your house that is too good to throw away but that you don't want any longer, bring it to the church, and let others take it home. No money was exchanged.

I went with a firm determination to pare down my "stuff." I took seven items, which were all picked up by someone else. I collected three items, for a net loss of four. Score one for more empty closet space. But, my husband went to the swap meet with no items and came home with a boxful! Net gain, about twenty. So, no increase in empty closet space.

One of the great things about the swap was the opportunity to look at others' stuff and get to know them a bit better. The cup of coffee and plate of muffins helped too.

Left over items were left for Sunday morning so worshippers could pick up stuff as well. The remains are going to the thrift shop on Monday.       

                                       

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Sunday the congregation participated in a great giveaway as well. This was the last day to donate to our cozy toes mission. There were baskets and boxes and bags of donated goods, including but not limited to socks. I saw sweaters and coats and shirts and toiletries. These will all be given to the Mustard Seed church for distribution to Victoria's neediest citizens.

Jerusha has a personal mission to create twenty packages for the mission complete with socks, a toothbrush, a chocolate bar, and other sundries. Great example of generosity.

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Looking ahead, next week is Advent 1, so we're thinking decorations, carols, and special offerings. After two years of restrictions and lockdowns, we are so glad to approach this Advent and Christmas season with open doors and open hearts.