A Peaceful Place

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

This week Rev. Irwin is at General Assembly in Toronto. Please remember this highest court of our denomination in your prayers. To tune in to the Assembly, you can use this link.

We were happy to welcome the Rev. G. Grant Wilson to our pulpit. His theme was transformation.

Last week we held a small interment service in the Garden of Remembrance at the north-west corner of the church. As we witnessed the placing of the ashes of our brother in Christ, sang a hymn and listened to scripture and a few memories, it struck me that this little corner of our property is a very special place. 

It moves between the built structure of our church and the natural beauty of the forest. A few cultivated plants mark the front edge while the back merges into the woods. 

Benches on both sides invite the visitor - or mourner- to rest. A gazebo adds a note of whimsy.

    

Because this little corner of our property is a "Garden of Remembrance" and not a cemetery it is intended for the interment of members and adherents of the congregation. There are no markers in the garden itself. Instead, a plaque on the wall of the church records the names and dates of the deceased. Flowers may be placed in the containers against the church wall.

Family and loved ones often come here to rest and meditate and remember. 

There are times when I think the world is too much with us. We are bombarded on every side by news of disaster or outrage, or misinformation, or demands for our attention and our time.  I consider our Garden of Remembrance a refuge, a place of calm, where we can sit quietly, listen to birdsong, hear the wind in the trees and seek peace for our souls. 

To echo the Sunday sermon, here is a quiet place, a place to listen for the still, small voice, a place for transformation.

Worker Bees

The link for this week's on-line worship service is:                     http://bit.ly/sppcworship

For much of the summer we've enjoyed beautiful bouquets from Norma's garden on Sunday mornings. Thank you Norma for sharing the fruits of your labour with SPPC.
For anyone who would like to donate flowers, the sign-up sheet is in the Narthex. Or you could call the office, 250 656-2241
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Our church building is now 30 years old, and showing some wear, particularly on the south side. Our stretch of good weather has given the property committee a chance to do some repairs. 

Who measured this?

Where did you go?

Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: (NIV)






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Linda continues to bring order to the flower beds. There was an internment in the Garden of Remembrance on Saturday and the landscaping looked beautiful and peaceful. Thank you, Linda for your gift of a green thumb -- and your determination to beat back the horsetail!

Along with Tore, she is now making progress on the front beds. The thicket created by a self-seeded Hawthorne tree and a holly bush is gone. The heather has been rediscovered and the ornamental grasses given some breathing room, and the sidewalk edge cleared of creeping buttercup.

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Tore and his multi-tool have cut back wild rose, blackberry and ivy to freshen up the large plantings along the north and east perimeters. He's been stung a few times for his efforts, too.

No fig crop this year but the tree is lush

the more he prunes the more it grows!

Nice work, everyone. With most activities at the church suspended, it is easy to forget that the maintenance needs continue apace. 

Proverbs 16:3
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. (ESV)

More news

The link for this week's worship service is: https://youtu.be/XECBk4XLv6E

While the COVID 19 restrictions have been difficult for everyone, those in communal living situations have had extra challenges. For example, a prime reason to move into these types of facilities is for more community engagement. Kay took up residence in The Peninsula for just that reason. She was tired of eating alone. Three days after moving in, the dining room was shut down and she spent three months eating along in her room!
Life is better now as restrictions ease. The facility has made adjustments so that residents can dine together, two to a table, six feet apart. Since Kay is assigned to a certain table with a certain tablemate, it's a good thing they are friends. In fact, her tablemate is a neighbour from her previous residence so that has worked well. There are still no visitors allowed into the building, but there is a patio where outdoor visits can take place. Kay is also able to walk over to the rose garden beside the library and enjoy a chat with friends and admire the lovely surroundings. Medical appointments outside the building are now allowed too, so Kay can go to her physio appointments.

Despite the restrictions, Kay is very happy with her move. She says getting groceries and managing by herself during the province-wide shutdown would have been much more difficult than staying in her room while someone else looked after all that daily living stuff. 
She is enjoying the church services over youtube--and keeps up with the congregation via this blog. She's happy to chat on the phone, or would be glad to walk around the rose garden with "safe" visitors.

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All the rainy weather has kept the tomatoes from ripening, but the weeds have loved it--especially the weeds in the Garden of Remembrance.

Linda has decided to take a hand. She has dedicated the time that would have been used for our Bible study, to clearing out the chickweed and rediscovering the flowers. One corner at a time, she's making a difference. The result is lovely. Thanks, Linda. 

The weeds are gone

ornamental grasses rescued and transplanted

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My electric bike (E-Bike)  

                                                        by Brian Altenkirk

                                                          

I have always had a passion for cycling.

Growing up in South Africa, I was able to ride to school summer and winter all year long. Even when I went to Medical school in Pretoria I rode to classes every day.

I have cycle toured with light weight camping equipment in Canada, Mexico, Chile and Japan.

Wherever I have been, I have met hospitable people when I needed some form of help.

More recently due to ageing and health my feet have been sending me a message that some help in cycling would be a good idea. I have always enjoyed the challenge of getting up every hill I could find without getting off the bike as well as simply being out early in the morning.

Now the E-Bike helps and the challenge has shifted more into how far I can go on a single charge of the battery.

I am never happier that when I am on the saddle and pedalling the open road or trail.

As the saying goes, ``Keep pedalling or the bike will fall over``.

Ed. Note: At the time Meta sent this picture, Brian was off to the Brentwood-Mill Bay ferry en route to Duncan.