Help Wanted

     As the fall term begins and programs at SPPC get into full swing, I thought it might be a good time to share a lesson from the Sunday School that I saw earlier in the year.  This comes from the senior class but the message fits all ages.

The topic was "putting Jesus at the centre of our lives."  The teacher began with a discussion of the many things that compete for the number one spot in our lives --hobbies, possessions, skills, friends. But Jesus wants to be that number one spot.  He wants to get our focus off worldly priorities and onto him. Because if Christ lives in our hearts by faith, our lives will be strong in love. (Eph 3:17)

The lesson moved on to an activity.  The teacher read the following story and the students acted out the parts.


   Control Tower Tragedy
Once upon a time at a busy airport, four renegade air controllers did not want to listen to their control captain. The renegade air controllers plugged their ears. Then they carried the control captain to a corner and made him sit there. The renegade air controllers marched out to the four corners of the airfield. Each of them set up their own control area. They began yelling at four airplanes that were buzzing and flying around the airport. The pilots and copilots couldn’t figure out where to land, so they circled round and round the airport. The renegade air controllers began to wave their arms. This made the planes go round and round faster.  This made the pilots and copilots throw up on each other. The planes turned sharply. This made the pilots and copilots fall all over each other. The renegade air controllers shouted even louder. By now the planes were running out of fuel. One plane crashed and rolled across the runway. One plane crashed into the people in the terminal. The people in the terminal sreamed. One plane landed safely, but then the last plane landed on top of it. The end.

Questions: Who was in control of the airplanes?
               Why is one central control captain essential for air 
                traffic safety?       
               Who or what controls your life?
               How is Jesus like a central control captain?
               What do you think it takes to make Jesus the centre of
                your life?
                What difference does it make when we make Jesus the
                 centre of our lives?

The students were then each assigned one of the following Bible passages. Matthew 6:24, 6:33, Mark 12:30; Philippians 3:7-11, and asked to create a "help wanted" ad for God, based on their readings. Here is the result.

The lesson ended with one more assignment.  Students were given an index card and asked to write at the top, one thing they tended to make the centre of their lives rather than Christ. Then they wrote a prayer asking Jesus to be the centre of their lives. The cards were taken home and placed in a prominent place as a reminder to keep Jesus at the centre.

As we return from vacation and get back into the swing of things, do you feel moved to respond to God's "help wanted" ad?

Resource for the lesson was

High Energy Meeting for Young Teenagers

Copyright 1999 Group Publishing, Inc.

ISBN 0-7644-2083-6

Rejoice with them that do rejoice

by Michael Denton

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
The above verse from the Book of Romans, Chapter 12:15 (King James Version) came to my mind the other day. I was listening to a conversation between two people. One of the two was describing the loss of a loved one and her pain was obviously very troubling to her. She was telling the man she was speaking with about her relative's struggle with Pancreatic Cancer. Immediately, the man said something along the lines, "Oh my friend's mother had Pancreatic Cancer and she only lasted a few months after diagnosis. He really was upset and has never got over it......." Her painful experience had just been "blown out the window." She wanted to pour her heart out, but was immediately cut off. She wanted him to weep with her.  Instead, he robbed her of the emotion she was trying to share.

     In almost any conversation between two people, the person being spoken to will relate a similar story or situation being discussed. Have you ever noticed that?
I challenge you to listen carefully to two people having a discussion and see if you can pick up what I'm describing here. I'm sure it won't be long before you hear of what I speak.

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
What is this verse telling us? Well, in my humble opinion, it's telling us to listen to the other person in an empathetic manner. You see, when someone has something to say, be it joy or sorrow, we must let that person "own the emotion." All too often, we cut the person off by speaking of our own experience. What that does is basically say to the other person, "I'm not interested in what you're telling me; I want you now to listen to my story." That leaves the person owning the emotion politely listening to the experience being told by the other, but feeling somewhat hurt and disappointed that they've not been able to "pour their heart out."

Can you imagine God doing that to us? Imagine speaking to God in prayer and He cuts you off to recount a similar request or situation of someone else. Would you feel good about it? Would you feel heard?
     I can tell you, it takes a lot of practice not to "jump in" with your own story when someone is speaking to you about their joy, sorrow or experience. I know we mean well, and often think it will help the other person to know their situation isn't unique, or that they're not alone. But what we are doing, whether we realise it or not, is cutting the other person off and letting them know that their story or their situation isn't important enough to gain our full attention.

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
And so I challenge you again. The next time someone is telling you something that invokes a personal memory, please resist the temptation to "jump in" with your story. Let the person speaking to you "Own the Emotion." It will make them feel much better. They'll feel listened to and will appreciate your empathetic ear, or the support you're giving them. There's always another time when you can share your story.

Michael Denton is the organist/choir director of SPPC.  For more about Michael, click here
　
　
　

Golf Tournament

Thanks to Gladys Calder for organizing the ?th annual golf tournament at SPPC.  We met at The Ridge golf course on a beautiful sunny, summer Saturday.  Some admired the huge trout in the pond, others muttered about water hazards.

   If you are wondering how a golf tournament can be part of a church program, let me assure you that it gave us plenty of opportunity to practice the Christian disciplines like "thou shalt not bear false witness", "thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain", "thou shalt not covet" particularly your opponent's good luck.

We divided into teams, men against the women.  The men led off so that the women could admire their style -- or not. 

After nine holes the individual scores were added, then averaged to determine a team score.  At one point it appeared that the women were the winners but a sharp-eyed member of the men's team spotted an error in our arithmetic.  Thus it was that the men had a better score, by one stroke, but when their handicap was figured in, the match was declared a draw.  Cookies and cold drinks completed the tournament.

Getting to Know You

  

   A congregation is made up of individuals so today I thought I'd introduce you to Janet Smith, one of our newly elected elders.  Janet's is a well-known face around SPPC, she's been a member since 1999, sings in the choir, performs in the Christmas play, was on the Board of Managers for 7 years and is a faithful participant in Bible Study and the Prayer Group.  She is married to Peter, has six children and, before her retirement, fostered 59 children.  I interviewed her over coffee last week.

Q.  How do you see SPPC in our community?
A.  I see it as open and available to outside groups like Elections Canada, Probus and the Dean Park Resident's Association.  I wish it were more visible.  I'm often asked "where is your church?"  I also think we as a congregation could be more visible in the life of our community.

Q.  What made you choose SPPC as your church home?
A.  I like the traditional service, the music, the organ, the hymns.  Do you think I'm a traditionalist? <g>

Q. Desicribe a highlight in your church life.
A.  I think the day I became an indepentent member of the Congregational Church in England was a highlight.  It marked a major life passage.  I had made my own choice, not just come along because my mother did.  I remember the lady beside me was 90.  The communion hymn we sang, "Here O My Lord, I see Thee Face to Face," has remained special for me to this day.  I took my first communion that Sunday. 

Q.  What do you see as the role of the world-wide church in today's world?
A.  I believe that the church needs to be a witness in the community.  We, as Christians, need to be visible and to remember that we are called to speak out on moral questions.  As Christ said, we may be like a tiny measure of yeast, yet that yeast can leaven the whole loaf. (Lk 13:21)

Q.  Tell us something odd or funny that has happened to you in church.
A.   I was telling a object lesson  to children using water, a saucer and a dime, (I can't remember what it was about now) but all went well and at the end I said "you see, I didn't wet myself at all." "Good," came a voice from an adult in the group at which everyone burst out laughing. 
On another occasion I was singing a solo, "Let us break bread together on our knees" and I sang, "When I fall on my face with my knees to the rising sun" I realized it as soon as I sang it but no one blinked an eyelid so I guess no one was listening any way and so I just carried on to the end!

Thanks Janet, for sharing your time and your thoughts.

Church Library

    SPPC is a small church, with a small church library, but within that library are some amazing resources.  Do you know that we have 30 adult dvd's, videos and cassettes, including one for country and western music lovers titled, 50 Country Gospel Songs? 

    If you want a different translation of the Bible, our library offers the Good News, King James, The Message and a children's edition of the New Revised Version.  The library offers 30 study guides to help you delve into those Bibles.

      There are 34 Titles listed under Christian Education, but I'm a bit nervous of the one labelled A Handbook of Skits and Stunts. 
       Under Christian Life, there are 109 titles listed, including several from the Women of Faith series.  C.S. Lewis is well represented with ten books, including The Screwtape Letters and The Problem of Pain.  I hope Who Put the Skunk in the Trunk, by Phil Callaway is not one of the stunts included in the handbook listed above.  For all you golfers, there's a biography of Payne Stewart.
       There are 46 Commentaries listed, including You Too May be a Presbyterian.  How's that for a conversation opener?
        The Adult Fiction section lists 50 titles including the whole of Jan Karon's delightful Mitford Series, as well as old stand-by's like Lloyd C. Douglas and Janette Oke.  Under Junior fiction we have 44 titles as well as 44 videos.  The ever popular Veggie Tales among them.

      The library is at the back of the Molloy Hall.  Books are shelved by section, then alphabetically by author.  Checkout and return is self-serve, just look for the blue folder. 
     So, next time you're hanging out at the church, check out the library.  You'll be amazed, enlightened, amused and informed.

I Have No Friends

by Peter Waldin

  He was in his early eighties.  An electrical engineer who had gone to the top of his profession.  Connected with the extraction of coal in Alberta.  Sent to various great oilfields of the world to check out their electrical systems.  A teen aged boy, a refugee from Germany, and now a millionaire.  Professionally at the top of his class, yet had to confess, "I have no friends."  I think that these are the saddest words I have ever heard uttered.
     The other day I had the pleasure of giving a friend a copy of hte book I've recently written.  In the flyleaf, as I recall, I wrote the simple words, "To Simon, a gentleman and a friend."  Our friendship is not longstanding and Simon has not made possible any great gain materially.  He's simply given himself.  He understands that I'm suffering great sorrow.  His invitation, "Let's go for coffee!"  And evident quiet sympathy speaks eloquently of his friendship.
    There are others, many others, in that circle of friendship.  My life is encircled by that golden chain of love.  That word I don't hesitate to use; it's the golden path to friendship.
    Friendship comes close to the heart of Christianity.  No finer thing was ever said of Abraham than that he was "the friend of God."  Jesus, before his death, comforted his disciples with the words, "I have called you friends."  Judas had no more bitter memory than the words of Christ, at the time that he betrayed his Lord, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?"

Yay for Us

     SPPC has received a very nice thank you letter from PWS&D (Presbyterian World Service and Development, the mission arm of the national church.)  Apparently our givings to PWS&D in the January to June period were considered worthy of comment. 
   Among other things, the letter mentioned the value of micro loans that allowed women in Guatemala to invest in their own land, improve their agricultural methods and thus increase their food production, which not only allows them to feed their own families, but to sell their excess and provide more income, and employment (and income) for others.  The ripple effect of a small donation is truly amazing.
    PWS&D has partners all over the world who ensure that our contributions are used wisely and efficiently to promote health, education, agriculture, income-generating businesses, skills training, clean water and emergency relief.  For those who attended the Laura Kavanagh presentation earlier this year, you will remember that one of the purposes of her trip was to inspect projects that had received PWS&D funding and to receive an accounting of how those funds were used.  With so many charities begging for funds on television, by the mail, door-to-door and via telephone solicitors, it is reassuring to know that 94% of the money given to PWS&D goes directly to those in need. 
    As the U.N. declares a state of famine in East Africa, it is worth noting that any money made to  PWS&D will generate matching funds from the federal government.
    So yay for us at SPPC and yay to PWS&D for their amazing work in the world.

For more information on PWS&D, etc. simply follow the links in this post.