Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. 
On Sunday we started the service with cries of Hosanna! then moved to the sacrament of the Last Supper. 
This seems a very sudden transition from joy and excitement to sorrow and remorse, but it mirrors the Biblical story. Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the adulation of a crowd waving palm branches and hailing him as "Messiah." Before the week was out He had been betrayed and now the crowd shouted "Crucify Him." Mark 11: 1-11.
In the midst of the beauty and sunshine of spring, the Christian church enters its most sombre time of year. 

On Thursday, we will remember the meal in the upper room, the last time Jesus supped with His disciples.
On Friday, we gather in solemn remembrance for Good Friday worship.
On Saturday, we wait.
On Easter Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection with song and word. We cry "Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed." We sing hallelujah, giving thanks for God's gift of our risen Lord.

Join us. Here's the schedule:

Maundy Thursday, April 18, 6:00 pm. "Meal in the Upper Room"
Good Friday, April 19, 10:00 am  Worship with strings and choir
Easter Sunday, April 21, 8:00 am Sunrise service at                                                                                     Cy Hampson Park  
                                                  9:00 am Breakfast in the hall.                                                             10:00 am Worship in the sanctuary                                                                            

Everyone is welcome at these events. Easter bonnets welcome but not necessary.

April Showers

Not rain showers, but showers of blessing.
On the last Saturday of March, SPPC reached out to the community by hosting a Food Safe Level 1 course put on by VIHA. There were over twenty attendees, about 1/3 from SPPC and the rest from the area. Linda Cliff was there and sends this report.

The by-line for this course is Food Safe: Makes Good Food Better.  Health Canada estimates that more than 4 million Canadians surer from foodborne illness every year.    So you may ask: Does the course deliver? Why should someone who does not work in the food industry take the course? Has my behaviour around handling food changes?

The course does meet the objectives of describing the food handler’s responsibility in protecting food from contamination, the course also helps the participants to identify major improper food handling practices that can cause food borne illness outbreaks, it also describes how to serve food safely, wash your hands and clean dishes properly.These are the aspects of the course that are important to those of us who serve food in the non- commercial system.  There is also information given for those who will be working in the restaurant system and highlights the laws and practices that are required to meet provincial and federal laws.  After learning of all the regulations and practices that are required by commercial establishments I know I would think twice before opening a restaurant.  So we should really appreciate all that the staff must do to serve us food that is safe and fun to eat.
What did I learn?  First of all wash your hands, wash your hands.  Food is most often contaminated by people who have improperly washed their hands.  Also to store food safely before it is served.  Along with this is the need for a good food thermometer.  Hot food must reach an internal temperature of 74 degrees Celsius to destroy food pathogens and must not fall below 60 degrees Celsius if it is being served in a Buffet.  If you are unsure of the safety of food it should be discarded, which we may be reluctant to do.   The principals we learned at the course are adaptable to your home kitchen especially the information at about internal food temperature.  A course participant told me that since they have bought a good thermometer, they find their food tastes better as they are no longer overcooking their meals.

Yes my behaviour has changed.  I look at the church kitchen with new eyes, I have a good food thermometer and I wash my hands, wash my hands.    

Our congregation is blessed with many, many April birthdays, including the minister and the clerk of session. On Sunday we had cake for all of them. It was very tasty!

Finally, I was reminded that I hadn't posted the answers for the hymn quiz from two weeks ago. Here they are with links to video performances. You'll notice some aren't sung to the tunes in our hymnbook, but they are lovely. Give them a listen.

1)All things bright and beautiful
2)For the beauty of the earth
3)This is my Father's world
4) From Ocean Unto Ocean
5)For the fruit of His creation
6) Morning has broken
7)Joyful,Joyful
8)Praise my soul, the King of heaven
9)Fairest Lord Jesus
10) God who touches earth with beauty.

Welcome Home

     Sunday at SPPC centred on the theme of "home."  Of course, we always try to be a welcoming congregation, but this Sunday we went the extra step and said "welcome home," not "welcome stranger."

The scripture reading was "The Prodigal Son." We all know that one so well -- the youth who demanded his inheritance then went off and squandered it on riotous living. When he'd run out of options, he decided to go back to his father and beg for a servant's place. Instead, the father ran to greet the prodigal, threw a big party and gathered him back into the family fold. 
Welcome home.

     After coffee hour, the newest members of the congregation, those who formally joined in December of last year, were welcomed home with lunch. The feast was catered by session and we were invited to ask any questions we might have about our church. Problems or issues we wanted to discuss.

Welcome home.

     When I was growing up, our home was a welcoming place,  always ready to set another place at the table. There was a plaque on the kitchen wall that began with the words "Friend you are welcome here, be at your ease." Small wonder that, among my mother's treasurers, I found this little homily.

There is magic in that little word ...Home. . . Home is the sweetest word in the Saxon tongue. It has in it the brightness of sunshine and the fragrance of flowers. It suggests love, peace, rest and gladness. It calls up pictures painted imperishably on the heart. It speaks of father's love and mother's care... 

      At SPPC, we strive to be that place. The place that gives a tiny foretaste of heaven. The place that opens its arms to all who call. The place that offers friendship, support, laughter, love and prayer. The place that says ...
Welcome home.

     If you're feeling a little lonely, a little lost, a little down, a little adrift . . . our doors are open.  
9296 E. Saanich Rd. N. Saanich. 
250 656-2241. 
Call or drop by, and . . .
Welcome home.

Happy Spring

After our hard (for Victoria) winter, the sunshine this week has been a welcome relief. Hard to stay gloomy when the flowers bloom, the birds sing and the air is soft upon your face.  No wonder  hymn books are filled with hymns that praise God for the weather!
Here's a quick sample:
Birds are singing, woods are ringing... 
As Comes the Breath of Spring
When morning gilds the skies, my heart awaking cries ...
Walk softly in springtime ...
In the bulb there is a flower . . .

Now, here's a challenge for you. Below are lines from hymns about nature, but not the first lines. Can you identify which hymn the lyric is from?  Most of them are very familiar. Looking it up on Google is cheating. If you feel like a winner, leave a comment in the comments section. Come back next week for the answers.
Here are the test questions. :-)

1. "...each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings . . ."
2. "...hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light..."
3. ... the birds their carols raise, the morning light the lily white . .."
4. "...our prairies and our mountains, Forest and fertile field, Our rivers, lakes and fountains To Thee shall tribute yield."
5. "...For the ploughing, sowing, reaping, Silent growth while men are sleeping..."
6. "...Like the first dewfall on the first grass. Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden..."
7. "...Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flowery meadow, flashing sea. Chanting bird and flowing fountain..."
8. "Frail as summer's flower we flourish, Blows the wind and it is gone..."
9. "Fair are the meadows, Fairer still the woodlands, Robed in the verdant garb of spring..."
10. "Like Thy dancing waves in sunlight, Make me glad and free, Like the straightness of the pine trees, Let me upright be."

In Romans 1:20, the Apostle Paul proclaims that creation itself reveals God, even to the heathen. How much more does He reveal Himself to the believer? Enjoy the flowers and give God the glory.

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 

Romans 1:20 English Standard Version (ESV)

Beetle Drive

Sunday was St. Patrick's Day and there were lots of people wearing green to church, but the party began the day before. SPPC held a beetle drive. No, we weren't racing hard-shelled insects. We were playing a game and having some fun.
Of course, "fun" at our church always includes food!

Studying the rules?

Green, green, green and some  very odd beetles.

Some may wonder if the fix was in because the preacher won! Here he is with his loot, a toque and a chocolate bar.  

He won a medal too and showed it off during the children's story on Sunday morning.

Maybe the next party will be a contest to see how many presbyterians can fit in a beetle.

What I Did Last Year

About this time last year I decided I should read the Bible cover to cover.  So I started at the beginning as you would with any book and quickly found that once I got into Leviticus and Numbers that I needed to find another way to accomplish my goal.  I was already using a Bible app call YouVersion so I signed up for a plan that would lead me towards the goal of the Bible in a Year. 

The introduction to the plan reminded me that the Bible is God’s love letter to each one of us.   Each day started with a devotional that asked the reader to follow this pattern: 

• ASK-God to connect with you, slow down, pray for God to be present
• READ- the selected section of Scripture slowly, take note of what stands out for you
• REFLECT-how might God be speaking to you, thank God for speaking to you through His word
• RESPOND-speak directly to God for what you have learned, look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered

I wish I could say I was able to keep to the daily schedule but I was able to finish the readings in a year and two weeks!  
Now comes the best part, the blessings that came to me.  

• Weekly Bible study at church became more interesting as I was able to see how one part of the Bible we were studying related to the whole of God’s message.  
• Sunday sermons began to fit as part as a whole and I was excited to see what I would learn next. 
• I have become very curious about the story of God’s people in the Old Testament and I can see how this part of the Bible relates to me as a Christian.

During this journey through the Bible I also found some aids to help me meet my goal.  I found that the Bible app I use would also read to me so I listened to the Psalms as well as reading them.  The poetry opens up when heard aloud.  When I had a question about something I was reading I would search for explanations and found that the videos produced by the Bible Project were excellent in helping me to see the whole picture.  In fact there is a video available for each Book of the Bible that relates what is happening in the book and its relationship to God’s plan revealed to us in His Word.

This year I am using other YouVersion plans to Delve into the Old Testament.  I have completed one on Covenant History, and will continue with a study of the Prophets and the Writings.  There is so much information available, it is free, easily accessible and will feed your soul.  Why not give it a try? 

For the gardeners among us, this cold, snow-laden February has been a trial. By the end of the month, I should have had my roses pruned, the fruit trees pruned and doused with dormant spray. 

The crocus would

March 2018

ordinarily have laid a blanket of colour under the birch tree. Warm weather would  have had me itching to get seed in the ground, or at least in the cold frame.        Given the weather this past month 

none of that has happened. Even the geraniums in my planter boxes are hiding in a styrofoam box to shelter them from the frost.

  The gardening columnist in the local paper acknowledged that the season was a month late and warned that gardeners needed to be ready to leap into action the minute the soils warms up--and the snow goes away!

  At SPPC we might not be “leaping” into action with the warm weather, but we are moving forward with “Beyond 20/20.” The prayer team has posted prayer requests for the work of the church.  (See here for more details.) 

  The transitions team has already provided assistance to people dealing with major life changes, like illness or grief. Our medical system has many helps for those who need home care, or re-housing, or a support group, but sometimes those aids are difficult to find. We have people at SPPC who have experience in hospital and community settings. Their knowledge can make a huge difference in negotiating the ins and outs of different types of care. If you are reading this post and are not a member of SPPC but would appreciate some help, please ask. The church is a “light for the world” not a private club.

  The in-reach team is looking for blanks in the services we offer to our members. One of the easily identified needs is a ride to church. As people age, they often must give up driving. Located as we are in the countryside, SPPC has a big parking lot. We recognize that most people will drive to get to us.  There is a bus now, that stops at the roundabout outside the church, but bus schedules don’t always match personal schedules. So, we have a number of volunteer drivers to help out. Again, if you wish to attend service or some other event at SPPC but need a ride, let us know. 250 656-2241.We’re glad to help.

 The out-reach team is looking for new opportunities to serve the community. Of course, many of our regular programs are open to non-member,e.g. Friendship coffee on Thursday mornings, Bible Study on Wednesdays, and a sympathetic ear any time. Pastoral office hours are Thursday and Friday mornings.

  So, the weatherman promises that spring will come. I have my seeds ready, my pruners sharpened and my garden plan drawn out.  When the soil warms, I’m ready. 

  At SPPC we have our helpers standing by. We’ve asked God for guidance, and we sincerely desire to serve our neighbours. The season is now.