Bible Study and New Elder

by Ruth Rockliff


I was so thankful to be able to attend the last two sessions of the Wednesday morning Bible study in the spring. Having just moved to the Island from Chilliwack I have been wondering how The Lord would be leading me to find Christian Fellowship and spiritual support. 

The Bible study was beyond my expectations!

 The topic "How We Got the Bible" could have been very dry indeed if it weren't for the passion and extensive knowledge ‎of Reverend Cunningham. I learned so much from his excellent and very inspiring presentation style. SPPC are truly blessed to have such an amazing teacher.

I also loved the discussion groups and the warm and welcoming reception I received. All in all I can't wait until September for the start of a new topic. 

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

With that recommendation fresh in your mind, all are invited to come to the new Bible Study "How to Pray in Your Own Way," by Kathy Cawsey.  We're talking about personal prayer, not public prayer.  Don't be afraid you'll be asked to pray aloud in front of the class.  Instead, the course explores techniques to help individuals reach deeper into their own psyche and personality so that personal prayer is more meaningful.

And speaking of prayer, the entire congregation joined in thanksgiving and commitment on Thanksgiving Sunday as we ordained Joan Adamcsak as an elder.  She has accepted a role of great responsibility within the congregation and we offer her our thanks, our assistance and our prayers as she undertakes her ministry. 

 Lord, pour Thy Spirit from on high,
And Thine ordainèd servants bless;
Graces and gifts to each supply,
And clothe Thy priests with righteousness.

Wisdom, and zeal, and faith impart,
Firmness with meekness, from above,
To hear Thy people in their heart,
And love the souls whom Thou dost love.
                                    --James Montgomery

Let Us Give Thanks

At Thanksgiving, this blog usually features gratitude for the harvest of the garden, the field and the orchard.  This time, I want to celebrate a different harvest with a poem.

Let Us Give Thanks

Let us give thanks for a bounty of people:

For children who are our second
planting, and though they grow like weeds
and the wind too soon blows them away,
may they forgive us our cultivation and 
fondly remember where their roots are.

Let us give thanks,
For generous friends - heart-
and smiles as bright as their
blossoms;

For feisty friends as tart as apples;

For continuous friends, who, like scallions
and cucumbers, keep reminding us
that we've had them;

For crotchety friends, as sour as 
rhubarb and as indestructible;

For handsome friends, who are as gorgeous as
eggplants and as elegant as a row of corn,
and others, as plain as potatoes and
just as good for you;

For funny friends, who are as silly 
as Brussels sprouts and as amusing
as Jerusalem artichokes, and serious friends,
as complex as cauliflowers and as intricate as onions;

For friends as unpretentious as cabbages,
as subtle as summer squash, as persistent'
as parsley, as delightful as dill, as endless
as zucchini, and who, like parsnips, can be counted
on to see you through the winter;

For old friends, nodding like sunflowers in the 
evening-time, and young friends coming
on as fast as radishes;

For loving friends, who wind around us
like tendrils and hold us, despite our
blights, wilts and witherings;

And, finally, for those friends now
gone, like gardens past that have been harvested,
and who fed us in their times that we
might have life thereafter;

for all these we give thanks.

                          -- Max Coots

Ed. Note:  Bible Study begins this Wed. Oct. 12, 2016

 The Parking Lot Club is every Thursday, rain or shine.  When it rains, we play hockey in the hall.

Church Life

This blog is always looking for new topics to discuss, new programs to present, new people to interview.  But "new" is not really necessary.  At SPPC, we're a community and stuff happens in a community.  So here's a glimpse of life at SPPC over the last week.

Barb and John celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.  They shared the occasion with the congregation.  The cake was not only beautiful, it was delicious. 

 Also on Sunday, we led worship at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.  That's another event that comes around regularly, but each time is different, because the people are different.  This time we sang lots of naval hymns because there was a retired submariner in the congregation.  "Will Your Anchor Hold" was a hit.

  On Thursday night the Parking Lot Club began its weekly schedule.  There was a threat of rain, but it didn't dampen the spirit of the hockey players. 

  Our woods seem like magic to two little girls. 

There was also pizza.  Good thing, since some of us stayed for Choir practice at 7:00 pm.  Barely time to clear up the parking lot, let alone go home for supper and get back again. 

Speaking of Choir practice, it is every Thursday from 7:00 - 8:00 pm.  Larry would love to have more singers join us.  Even if you can't read music but love the sound of choral voices, come talk to him.  Come on a Thursday and give it a try.  We don't bite.

Yesterday we celebrated World Wide Communion.  Bombs and injured children are so far from our peaceful corner of the world, but on World Wide Communion, we celebrate the Lord's Supper with Christians everywhere.  Some will be affluent and safe, like us, others will live in fear, yet we are one in spirit.  We claim "One Faith, One Hope, One Lord."

So, there is a glimpse of a week in the life of Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church.  Perhaps there's something there for you.  We're open every Sunday.

Parking Lot Extras

There was some unexpected use of our parking lot on Saturday afternoon when the neighbourhood turned out to try and catch a glimpse of Prince William and his family at the roundabout.

He truly is a prince because just as his car passed us, he rolled down the tinted window.  I actually got a picture. 

    On Thursday, Sept. 29, the parking lot will have a different purpose -- the Parking Lot Club will meet there from 4:30pm - 6:00 pm.  From our last experience, I expect there will be lots of ball hockey played.  We also have facilities to play volleyball, badminton, do crafts, walk in the woods or watch a movie.

Again, based on the number from last time, we're expecting over a dozen kids.  Rain or shine we'll be there. If it's raining we'll set up inside. 

    We're asking for prayers from the congregation as well as  baking (mainly cookies) from week to week.   There won't be hot food every time, but as a special treat, and because we found a sale,  this week, September 29, we're having pizza.

   Come and play, come and enjoy, bring a friend, have fun.

    

Food Bank Sunday

You may have received a plastic bag at your door this week, asking you to donate to the Food Banks of B.C.  If you missed getting your bag of food to the curb on Saturday, don't despair, you can bring it to the church on Sunday, Sept. 25.  In fact, you can bring it to the church any Sunday. It will be picked up and delivered to the Sidney food bank on the Monday after the last Sunday of the month.
Right now, in the season of harvest, many gardeners are overwhelmed with produce.  Don't despair. You can take that to the Food Bank too.  They will accept tomatoes and squash and apples and pears and similar fresh produce during the first three weeks of the month.  They are closed for distribution on the last week of the month and can't store fresh produce that long, so check the calendar. When I've missed getting fresh produce to the Food Bank at the right time, I've taken it to the Community Thrift Store on Third Street.  So long as the food can last a few hours without refrigeration, you can leave it there for customers to help themselves.
The Food Bank is just one example of SPPC working in co-operation with other groups such as Faith Link, Our Place, Saanich Peninsula Hospital and the Compassionate Warehouse for the benefit of our community and our world.  So, clean out your store room, clean out your garden, clean out your closet -- the church was in the recycling business long before the blue box!

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

Luke 3:10-11King James Version (KJV)

Parking Lot Club

The Parking Lot Club got off to a rousing start on Saturday afternoon.  There was a very enthusiastic ball hockey game -- Tore has a bruise to prove it --

there was a combination volleyball/badminton game and I understand some little girls went exploring in our woods, apparently looking for fairies.

   There was lots of good food, junk food, and cookies (not junk food!)  

There was loud music.(We thought it only fair to include the neighbours even if they couldn't attend in person.)

   We collected names and phone numbers and lots of "Let us know when you're doing it again."  Over the next couple of weeks the organisers will determine the time that suits the most people the best and we'll make the parking lot club a weekly event.

    Wonderful to see our space put to good use.  I heard something I'd never experienced before -- a child wanting to stay longer at church when his parents said it was time to go home.
   Watch this space, read the bulletin, or call the church(250 656-2241) for more information.  Hope to see you at the next parking lot event.

Endings and Beginnings

   

This weekend marks the end of summer vacation for most people.  Kids go back to school. Cottagers close up the camp.  Gardeners look out on bedraggled beds.  Along with the scent of ripe apples, there is a touch of melancholy in the air.  We've come to an ending.
     The best antidote for an ending, I've found, is a beginning.  While we may grieve summer, we're starting into the exciting new season of autumn.  The cooler temperatures quicken our steps.  Activities, dormant over the summer months, revive.   

• Choir practice starts again this week, 4:00 pm on Thursday.  New voices gladly received!  
• Sunday School reconvenes Sept. 11 
• Worship committee meets on Tuesday
• We have a BBQ on Saturday at 5:00 pm to welcome any wishing to be involved in our parking lot club

And that's only week one of the new season.

   With our church life returning to a regular routine, this might be a good time to remind members to wear their name-tags.  We welcome visitors and newcomers nearly every Sunday.  It really helps if people can read your name tag when introduced.  Even for those who have been around for a long time, it's helpful if you wear a name tag.  I may be having a memory lapse when I see you in the coffee room.  Or I may know your face, where you sit and what you take in your coffee, but never have heard your name!  That tag smooths the way for us all. If you don't have a name tag, there is a sign up form in the narthex.

   I confess, I do not practice what I preach.  I've a dozen excuses, the most common being that a choir gown doesn't play well with a name tag.  However, that is just an excuse and I resolve to do better. My way of greeting the new season.