Ah! Summer

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

We hit the summer solstice last week and have arrived at the lazy days of summer. At least, we hope they will be lazy. Gardeners, farmers, travel agents, camp counsellors, life guards and park rangers will be extra busy over the next two months, but for most of us, the rhythm of life slows once school is out.

At SPPC we held our last study session on Wednesday, finishing off the Book of Ephesians as presented by Tim Mackie on the Bible Project. This was a very intensive study, spanning 35 episodes to cover just six pages of scripture. We delved deep! Class dismissed until the fall.

You may have noticed that the choir has dispensed with our heavy gowns during the month of June. That was a signal. We have now sung our last anthem until September. Over the summer this small group of dedicated servants gets a rest -- sort of. Our organist will still lead the music every

Sunday and individual members of the choir will offer their gifts. But, for two months, no choir practice on Thursday nights.

To celebrate, the choir and guests treated themselves to dinner out at the Waddling Dog following our last practice on Thursday night. 

Our special drive for the Sidney Food Bank continues until July 12. We collect for the Food Bank all year long but twice a year we make it the focus of our mission work. As well as food and cash, the Food Bank has made a special request for personal hygiene products and school snacks, including peanut butter. 😀 Donations can be dropped off at the church. There are collection bins in the narthex.

Hanging basket prize in food bank draw

The sermon on Sunday reflected on Psalm 122, which contains these lines: 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces. 

 

There is a very grand setting to these words by Hubert Parry and sung at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. You can listen to it here. It was also used at the thanksgiving services for her Golden and Platinum jubilees, and again at the coronation of King Charles III. For a simpler version with guitar try this one. It riffs on the play on words of "Shalom" (peace) and Jerusalem (Hebrew includes word shalom in the name of the city.)

However you sing it or say it, a prayer for peace is a fitting kick-off to summer. 

now that's lazy!

Please, Sir, More

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

This week at SPPC meant, food, food and more food. We began on Sunday with the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. We ate of the living bread, refreshing our souls and ministering to our spiritual hunger.

Even though I am reporting on the feasting for this week, I must mention that Norma, Pam, Elizabeth and Darlene started off the month of December with a quiche luncheon the folk in their elders districts.

Mid-week, the "out to lunch bunch" treated themselves to what has become a popular tradition, Christmas dinner at the B.C. Legislature. The pictures tell the story of beautifully decorated surroundings, good company and delicious food.

On Friday, there was food, fun and music in the Ross Lounge as Joan and Janet hosted a Christmas lunch for their elder districts. The music was a real treat as, Greg, our piano tuner, was in the church and accompanied our carols. The only payment we offered was a cup of tea and a mini-quiche. Fortunately, Greg loves to play and encourage others to make music, so we were all happy.

Today, Monday Dec 22, is the sunshine lunch, so more food for the body and friendship for the soul.

When Oliver Twist held out his empty bowl and asked for more gruel, the stewards of the orphanage were horrified. 

The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupified astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear. 

We don't live in Dickensian England, but, sadly, the need for "more" in children's bowls has not gone away. The Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank responds to hungry folk with compassion and a hamper.

At SPPC we support the Food Bank all year long, but particularly at Christmas. On Sunday, we wrapped our current food drive with several boxes of donations along with cash. 

Also, during the service the "white gifts" for our shut-ins were dedicated.

Just because it is Christmas we made the occasion more festive, entering the names of those who donated to the food bank into a draw. Rebekah performed the honours during coffee hour and Emily S. was the winner.  

Even though our official food drive has ended for this season, we encourage all who are able to remember the food bank on a regular basis. We can accept donations at SPPC, or you can drop into their location at 9586 Fifth St, Sidney, BC V8L 2W5  

Phone: (250) 655-0679

Next week, all are invited to our Advent 3 service at 10:00 am on Dec. 21.

The Great Peninsula Shortbread Bakeoff and Carol Sing takes place on the same day at 2:00 pm. Please join us.

Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, at 7:00 pm we hold our annual Carols by Candlelight service. This is a very special time of music and lessons, fellowship and joy. Please come, and bring your friends and family. There is room for all.

Christmas morning, Dec. 25 at 10:30 we gather once again for a short service of carols to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel - God with us.

The Giving Season

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

Friendship coffee met this past week, the last get-together before Advent. As usual, good friends, good conversation and good goodies filled a couple of hours on Thursday morning. 

In the "olden days" neighbours used to gather around a pot-bellied stove at the General Store to swap stories, catch up on the news, and bind the community

together. I think Friendship Coffee is reminiscent of that long-ago practice. The longing for human connections and close friendships goes back centuries. The venue changes but the desire for a "village" transcends the times.

A glance at the calendar shows Christmas racing toward us. I had a momentary panic last week as I considered my "to do" list and the short number of days in which to do it.

Fortunately, the charitable donations part is quick and easy. I can send a cheque through the mail, go on-line and click the "donate" button, or I can drop my envelope into the collection plate at SPPC.  

This time of year the letter mail and the e-mail is flooded with requests for donations. If you haven't already picked which to support -- none of us can do it all!-- SPPC is collecting for the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank. Foodstuffs, money, toiletries, personal hygiene products, and baby needs are all requested. There are collection boxes in the narthex of the church, and, you can enter a draw for a Christmas plant every time you drop off a donation. Win-win, as they say.

The Compassionate Resource Warehouse is an overseas mission supported by many churches, including SPPC. They went into recess during the pandemic and have been slow to re-open, but now, November 2025, they are building a shipment for a large orphanage in Ukraine. There are 250 residents ages 3 - 18, plus 50 staff. As you can imagine, they need everything.

Here are some specifics:

• toothbrushes and toothpaste, hairbrushes and combs
• balls and boardgames (checkers, chess, snap, snakes and ladders)
• reading glasses, sunglasses
• needlework supplies, art supplies, beading supplies
• socks and underwear, leggings, slippers, gloves
• bedding, tableware

This list is anything but complete but it is a start. 

If possible pack your donations in paper or cardboard (plastic is difficult to recycle) and drop it off by the donation box in the narthex at SPPC.

Last week, Rev. Irwin encouraged us to reflect the light of Christ in the world around us. A box of supplies for war orphans in Ukraine will send a beam of Christ-light into a very dark place.

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!

Peace of Christ

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

The theme for the second Sunday of Advent is peace.

The daily news reminds us that peace is far from our grasp. Wars rage in Euope, Africa, and the Middle East. Racism, hatred, and anger shout from the pages of our social media. How do we observe "peace" in such an unpeaceful time?

 Jesus was born into a troubled world. His ministry was marked with dispute and rejection. He died a shameful death. And yet, He said, "my peace I leave with you."  As we celebrated the Lord's Supper on Sunday, we reached for that deep, inner stillness (peace) that assures us God is with us. The baby, born in a manger, is the Prince of Peace. God's will is done.

food bank offerings at the communion table

Along with our communion service we welcomed Pat and Pierce into membership at SPPC. They have worshipped at SPPC for some time, but it is always a special time when congregants publicly declare their belief and become official members.

This Sunday we wrapped up our special drive for the Sidney/Lions food bank. The normal collection boxes were filled to overflowing. A welcome gift to the workers at the food bank, as well as to those who use it. 

Just because it's fun to have

prizes, each donation to the food basket gave the donor a chance at a Christmas poinsettia. The draw was made after service, with our newest member, Pat, doing the honours. 

And the winner was . . . . Ann.

Congratulations, Ann, and thank you for your contribution to the food bank.

As we go about our daily lives this week, may we "sleep in heavenly peace."

Food Bank Drive

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

The mission committee has launched a special drive for the food bank over the next six weeks. Of course, our congregation gives to the food bank on an on-going basis, but for the next few weeks we'll have some fun with it. 

We're having a draw. For every item you place in the collection boxes, either food or cash, you get a ticket to enter. The draw will take place on June 19 with two lucky winners. One will take home a planter. the other wins a  hanging basket.

You can also support the Food Bank by coming to a concert.

 Our organist, Larry Skaggs, belongs to a string quartet, the DieMahler Quartet. They are presenting a concert at SPPC on Saturday May 27, at 7:00 pm. Admission is by donation, and a portion of the proceeds will go to our food bank drive.

As they say on television, Not One but Two Great Chances to Win!

Speaking of television, did you see our own Gladys strumming her ukulele on Chek Upside?  Scroll down the list until you reach May 4 with Stacy to watch the broadcast.

Her segment is about 53 minutes into the broadcast so use the fast forward arrows and enjoy. Way to go, Gladys.

Sunday was Mother's Day so, as you would expect, SPPC celebrated with cake. Two beautiful cakes that were very well enjoyed by mothers and others.

Thanks to those who made it 

possible.

Summertime and the Livin' is . . .

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

Summer may have finally arrived! We certainly had lovely weather over the Canada Day weekend. I hope everyone got a chance to enjoy the sunshine and the parades and the music and the picnics. 

Even if you're too old for classes, the first long weekend of summer gives us all that "school's out" feeling. Rev. Irwin preached on the need to "remember the Sabbath Day" a couple of weeks ago, reminding us that God intended His children to rest. Most of us don't shut down entirely in the summer, but it is a time to recharge in body, mind and soul. 

We're certainly taking advantage of summertime rest at SPPC. The choir is on holiday until September. Bible Study held their last meeting in June. Even Session is taking a break.

Worship doesn't take a summer holiday but you may find dress a bit more casual and tourists in the pews. That is all good.

But some work continues quietly in the background. 

The prayer chain still receives requests, still lifts our brothers and sisters in prayer. If you have a request for prayer, you can send them by e-mail to prayerchain@saanichpeninsulapc.org  or  fill in the yellow prayer request card in the pew. All requests are confidential. We ask that you get permission from the intended recipient before requesting prayer.

The bottle drive is also an on-going ministry, even over the summer. Our sorter par excellence, Joan, is away on holiday, but others are filling in so continue to bring those drink containers to the church. All the ten-cent refunds add up and increase the total available for the next mission trip to the Dominican Republic. 

In the community, the Sidney Food Bank is putting out an appeal for donations. Soaring prices in the grocery store and at the gas pump have put many households in a financial bind. At SPPC we have collection bins for food bank items. Or, you can drop them off directly at 9586 Fifth St, Sidney, BC V8L 2W5

For a special summertime, event, we send congratulations to Helen on her 100th Birthday, this Friday!