Summer time 2025

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

Rev. Irwin is on medical leave this week. In his stead, we welcomed Rev. Wes Denyer to the pulpit. 

The Reverend Wes Denyer grew up in Etobicoke and attended St. Andrew’s Humber Heights Presbyterian Church. He received a B.A. in psychology from the University of Toronto and a Master of Divinity degree from Knox College.  

 
After graduation from Knox College, Wes served at St. Andrew’s (Kirkland Lake), Unionville, St. Andrew’s (Brampton) and Rosedale Presbyterian Church. 

Wes has served at various levels of church government within the Presbyterian Church in Canada, on the Knox College Board of Directors and Development Committee, and the Board of Evangel Hall.  

He retired at the end of 2021 after 38 years in ministry. 
 
Wes is married to the Reverend Canon Dr. Judy Rois. He has two children. His daughter, Laurie, is married and teaching Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh. His son, Paul, is a plumber in Calgary. Wes has four grandchildren, Arden, Jude, Emma and Jacob. 

On Sunday, Wes delivered a joyful sermon in time for summer holidays.

*************

Summertime equals playtime for many, especially children. 

At SPPC Miller and Owen, have started their summer playtime, using the "stove" in the lounge.

Miller has also made a start on his 
summer garden, with a few "tulips." 

I remember my brothers and I begging for an afternoon at "the lake" while my mother was trying to harvest the garden and preserve all the vegetables for the following winter, not to mention a stream of summer visitors and haying season on a dairy farm. Of course, she had time to spend a few hours watching us play in the water.😁

It was summer. No school. No homework. No worries. We had complete faith that our parents would take care of us,  see that dinner was on the table when we came home,  put clean clothes in our cupboards, and make provision for the winter. 

In Mark 10: 13, Jesus tells the disciples to let the children come to him for "to such belongs the Kingdom of God." In Matthew 18:3, Jesus tells the disciples to stop fussing about who is the greatest and to become like a little child if they want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It's summertime. Let us give our worries to God and find refreshment in His glorious Creation. Let us trust Him.

Oh, and if you're looking for a new craft, I once found this "flowering" tree in the backwoods of Algoma. Miller can tell you how to make the flowers. 

Welcome 2021

 

Has ever a year been more fervently wished on its way than 2020? Begun with hope and joy, now, all over the world, people can't wait to say good-bye to the misery that was 2020. 

2021 holds our hopes for a return to life as we knew it. A life that includes attending church services in person, HUGS, coffee dates, travel, reunions, office parties, regular classes . . . The list goes on and on. So many moments and so many lives stolen in 2020.

And yet, there is some trepidation around the new year. If 2020 taught us anything it's that life is uncertain. In other years we might have made resolutions, travel reservations, and arrangements for celebrations, confident that our plans would come to fruition. In 2021 do we still have that certainty? The pandemic has forced life-altering changes on our society. Will we ever return to our 2019 way of life?

Have we become so conditioned to social avoidance that we'll continue to shun casual acquaintance? What will our congregation look like when we return to the church building? Will our economy recover? Will businesses survive? How many more will die before we achieve herd immunity with the vaccines? 

Do we even want to return to 2019 patterns? Is work-from-home the way of the future? Are virtual connections a better way to conduct business?

When the scientific community announced the development of vaccines the world gave a collective cheer. Life could return to "normal." But we don't know what "normal" will look like in the months ahead.

More than ever, as we bid good riddance to the year of COVID 19, we need faith.

In the dark days heading into WWII George VI famously quoted these lines. "Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!"

Canadian song writer Gene McClellan put the idea into music. 

"Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water,"  first recorded by Ann Murray.

Victor Hugo said: 

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones: when you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.

A quick review of the Bible reminds us that fear and doubt have been part of the human condition throughout history. Time and again, God reminds His people to put their trust in Him. These are some of the best known and best loved verses. 

"Yea though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Ps. 23:4
 

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved".Psalm 55:22 

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 

I once heard a marvellous sermon about starting school. The preacher explained that his mother had taken him to school, seen him through the door and then left him there. "I thought my mother loved me!" he exclaimed, while the congregation chuckled. His point was that we have all experienced the unknown in our lives. Usually we face it with foreboding and only appreciate it in hindsight. He said new things are like going around a corner. We can't see what's ahead, so turning corners can be scary. He ended his sermon by reminding us that what lies around the corner, is not the frightening unknown. What lies around the corner are the loving arms of Jesus.

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." Romans 15:13 

The link for this week's live streamed service is   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBdyZ_QGGsk&feature=youtu.be

Encouragement

In case you missed it, the link for this week's youtube worship service is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZCbAYu1c4o&t=0s

Encouragement

 by Janet Smith

What a year 2020 has turned out to be so far. We started off on a high note with out 2020 celebrations at church and now look at where we are with COVID-19 and the tragedy in Nova Scotia.

Anyhow, God is in control and God knows what is good for us, although for our little minds, we might wonder and ask WHY?

This reminds of a solo I used to sing.

LIVING BY FAITH IS NOT ASKING WHY.

Why do things happen the way they do?

Why so much gray sky instead of blue?

Why are there troubles along my way?

Why aren't there answers each time I pray?

CHORUS

Living by faith is not asking why,

Living by faith is to do or die -

Trusting His word that He cannot deny:

Living by faith is not asking WHY.          

His perfect ways are past finding out,

Still there's no reason His word to doubt;

In spite of struggles and trials and cares,

Vict'ry through Jesus a Christians shares,

CHORUS

Faithful is He tho the path be dim,

I'll walk by faith - leave the sight to Him;

And I'll not question what life may bring,

Give thanks to God in everything.

CHORUS

Words by Al Kuhnle

Not always easy to do, especially at time like this but the world has overcome other troubles worse than this and so we wait.

 Isaiah 40:31 KJV

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Psalm 121 King James Version

121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

While we wait, the lilacs are in bloom

Loyalty in Action

Our guest speaker this morning, Rick Wismer of the Big Blue Bus, told a story about his new puppy. (She still has much to learn about the way the world works.) 

It reminded me that I have another dog story in my files. This story came from Dr. Cecil Kirk, late of this congregation. His story was intended for the children's time, but I think it works for adults too.

The Faithful Dog

There is a story about a boy and his dog. They lived in Pompeii in Italy which is situated near a volcano. In AD79 it erupted. Smoke and fire burst out from the mountain. Ashes fell on the city. Burning rocks came tumbling down its slopes.

This didn’t happen without warning: some people took heed and fled the city in advance of the eruption. Others had disregarded the warnings.

Those who remained in the city were trapped in molten lava. Soon the whole city was buried in ash and lava; everyone died.

Centuries passed, the city was forgotten about. Then about 180 years ago people began to wonder about Pompeii. They began to dig through the ashes, cut away the lava. After time many streets, fine buildings, beautiful works of art were discovered.

In one place they found the body of a young boy, near him lay his dog, both killed by the eruption of the volcano.

On the dog was a collar; “This dog has three times saved his little master; once from fire, once from drowning, once from thieves.”

By himself, the dog might have escaped but he remained faithful to the very end. Dogs can teach us about loyalty - they stick with you through thick and thin.

The New Testament tells us that Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. No matter what happens He will stand by us.

And Jesus wants us to be as faithful as Him. There are some fair weather friends. They talk a lot but when the going gets tough they drop away. Jesus does not want people like that. We should be like the little boy’s dog. No matter how bad things are we should stay faithful to Him.

As well as occasionally filling in at the pulpit, Rick is part of a search and rescue organization and a youth leader. This is risky work. There may be times when Rick's courage is tested, but he knows that Christ will be faithful to him until the end. 
Thank you, Rick, for the work you do and for your example of faith in action.

P.S.  Here are the answers to last week's puzzle.
Puzzle Answer:

The Apostles' Creed

After a brief holiday for spring break, Bible Study resumes this week.  The evening group is still working on Galatians, but the morning group is starting a new, six week study of the Apostles' Creed.  Many of us know it by heart, others will recognize it when they hear it.  It's that bit in the communion service that begins "I believe . . ."  In Latin it begins Credo in Deum.  The root of the English word "creed" comes from the Latin Credo.  Anyone who has sung in choirs will recognize the phrase from the many settings of the Mass that form the heart of classical choral repertoire. 

The Apostles' Creed is an attempt to summarize what Christians believe.  i.e. we believe in God the Father, in Jesus Christ . . . our Lord. This is one of the earliest statements of the church, dating from the fourth century.  Through the ages some slight adjustments were made, but the words we know today were fixed in the seventh century.  Imagine that -- fourteen centuries of Christians proclaiming the same words of faith.  Talk about the "communion of saints."

A creed does not take the place of scripture, but it provides a convenient summation of our faith.  It can be a handy reference to test suspect statements about Christianity.  Any confession that leaves out or contradicts the essential elements stated in the Apostles' Creed must be found wanting.

Finally, the creed reminds us that we belong to a community of faith.  We "belong!"  There is such longing in the hearts of humans to belong and the church answers that need.  The Apostles' Creed affirms that we are members of the church, tracing our roots all the way back to the upper room.  Such a mighty company, open to all who can say with conviction, "I believe in God . . . and in Jesus Christ . . . our Lord."

Morning study is Wednesdays at 9:30 am in the Ross Lounge.  Evening study is at 7:00 pm.  All are welcome.  Don't worry if you can't attend all sessions.  Each lesson can stand independently.

Joy Cometh in the Morning

1. The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended,

The darkness falls at Thy behest;

To Thee our morning hymns ascended,

Thy praise shall hallow now our rest.

Sorrow has come to our congregation.  This week we hold services for two of our faithful members who have passed away. 

2. We thank Thee that Thy Church unsleeping,

While earth rolls onward into light,

Through all the world her watch is keeping,

And rests not now by day or night.

Many funeral professionals use these three points to explain the purpose of a funeral

• Help the bereaved family, and their community, publicly acknowledge the death of one of their own.
•  Support the grieving family by surrounding them with caring friends, co-workers, and neighbours.
•  Move the deceased from one social status to another.

3. As o'er each continent and island

The dawn leads on another day,

The voice of prayer is never silent,

Nor dies the strain of praise away.

I have no complaint with the points listed above, but I believe, in the context of the church they fall short.  A congregation supports the bereaved, provides a forum for remembering and acknowledges the passage of a person from one stage of life to the next.  But faith offers more.

4. The sun, that bids us rest, is waking

Our brethren 'neath the western sky,

And hour by hour fresh lips are making

Thy wondrous doings heard on high.

Faith offers reassurance.  

Jesus said, "In my father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."  John 14:2

Faith offers comfort. 

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21:4

Faith offers hope. 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

⁴ To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you," 1 Peter 1: 4-5

Faith offers joy.
"Weeping may endure for the night; but joy cometh in the morning." Ps. 30: 5b

5. So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never,

Like earth's proud empires, pass away:

But stand, and rule, and grow for ever,

Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.

                                           The Day Thou Gavest  Author: John Ellerton (1870)

                                                                                Tune: ST. CLEMENT (Scholefield)

LOVE IN ACTION

  The question of faith vs works came up in conversation this week.  It's a knotty question, oft debated among theologians and laity alike.   Those on the works side often quote from James 20. while those who argue for justification by faith alone like Galations 2.  At SPPC this week we saw faith AND good works in the same events.

     On Tuesday the Pastoral Care committee hosted a talk by Linda Cliff on "Life before Death."

It sounds a bit grim but the emphasis was on the "life" part of the equation.  There was a video showing people at various stages of their life journey.  One interview was with a fairly young woman who had suffered so much pain, her life held no hope, no joy and no ease.  Through the marvels of palliative care, she was given a drug that took away her pain. Now she felt truly alive, her face filled with joy, her mind teaming with plans for the future.  She talked about the blessing of doing the dishes, taking a walk or working in the garden.  She could live her life.

  Other interviews showed people in the latter stages of terminal illness.  With good palliative care, they were able to remain relatively pain-free and it made all the difference.  They could talk with loved ones, build up special memories, treasure the moments they still had.  A sad contrast to those in some countries which lack palliative care, where nurses can only offer a drink of water and a hand to hold.  We are very lucky here in Victoria to have access to the very best in hospice care.

    Linda is a dedicated member of the Hospice community and a champion for palliative care.  That passion, combined with her faith, showed through in her compassion for those who suffer and in the work she and others do to relieve suffering.

   On Sunday, the Living Flame Choir put their faith into action by presenting a concert at the Shoal Centre.  Our youth is very busy and rehearsal time is hard to come by so we squeezed in some extra practice after church.  Then had a social time and shared some pizza.

Then we packed up our music and our noise-makers and headed off to the Shoal Centre.
   We presented a half-hour concert that included "Dem Bones", hence the noise-makers, as well as "When I Turn My Heart to Heaven."  The latter was necessary since it refers to God's promise in the rainbow.  Since we have a lovely backdrop of a rainbow, we're happy to have the opportunity to put it on display.

Our audience was made up of Shoal Centre residents, a few of our own congregation and some visitors.  It was wonderful to see the joy on the faces in the audience as the music reminded them of happy times in their own lives.  Faith -- music -- sharing -- love in action.

    I can't leave this week's blog without mentioning that our Bible Study sessions begin this week.  We will be using a study based on a book by Ann Voskamp called One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are.  I just finished reading the book and found it spoke to my soul. The author shares her own journey of faith and thankfulness in our ordinary and marvellous daily work.   I can't wait to see what we do with it in Bible Study.  We meet Wednesday at 9:30 am and at 7:00 pm.  Everyone is welcome at either or both of these session.

    

   So there you have it, a sample of our week filled with works, based in faith and given with joy.  Pretty good week, I'd say.