One More Step Along the Return

 The link to this week's worship service is here.

Raven Baroque concert at SPPC Thursday, August 5 at 7:30 pm. 

This week we took another step in our return to normal Sunday mornings. We had coffee hour after service.

After so many months of "keeping our distance," it was a joy to sit down with church friends and catch up on the little things of life. 

I heard about the first visit with a grandchild.

The turn out in the pews is increasing week by week and more than half those present stayed for a cuppa and a chat. 

Many thanks to Janet and her family for setting up and hosting our first coffee hour since March of 2020.

I think this smile says it all.

Earlier in the month, some of the Friendship Coffee regulars got together in the rose garden by the library in Sidney.

Step four of B.C.'s recovery is supposed to begin on 4 September. I look forward to having Friendship Coffee at the church again, along with other activities like choir and Bible Study. 

And here's one more picture, just to prove you can't keep a good gardener out of the dirt. 

Inez lives in the Extended Care at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, where residents have been encouraged to plant a garden in these waist-high cabinets. You can see how the flowers have rewarded her for all the care she has lavished on her plot. What a way to cheer the soul.

The closing hymn in Sunday's service was "For the Fruit of All Creation, Thanks be to God." A perfect poem for a gardener, but buried in the last verse are words for us all, "For the good we all inherit, Thanks be to God...Most of all that love has found us, Thanks be to God."

Our Forest

 Due to technical difficulties, there is no stream of this week's worship service.

One of the lovely features of our church property is the forest behind the church. This green oasis provides a backdrop to the Garden of Remembrance and a cool and shady respite from life's busyness. But our forest needs tending. Last winter, with the heavy snow, many branches came down off the fir trees. Now, with summer drought and high heat, they are dry and tinder and present a real fire hazard.

So, Tore and crew did a clean up on Wednesday afternoon

. 

Loading up the trusty red truck

A hot and heavy task but very necessary. Thanks to all who helped.

These ladies weren't part of the forest clean up, but they were at the church the next day cleaning inside. 

A well deserved cup of coffee. Next Sunday, we will have fellowship hour after service so we can all enjoy coffee/tea and a cookie. It has been a very long time!

 The link for this week's service is here

Lovely to have Rev. Irwin back in the pulpit this Sunday. He seemed refreshed so maybe washing dishes at Camp Imodene is a kind of tonic. We also had two guest musicians, Kate and Hollis, to add an extra touch to this mid-summer Sunday. Thank you both for sharing your gifts with SPPC.

Speaking of musicians, it was Larry's birthday. We would have sung happy birthday, but the organist was otherwise occupied. 

We had some guests in the congregation as well. On a beautiful Sunday morning it is heartening to see visitors turning out for an in-person worship service. Now that we are hybrid with both in-person and livestream, it is hard to know what the congregation is like on a Sunday morning. 

I admit to being tempted, often, to stay home and watch but, for me, the in-person experience is more meaningful. I tend to get distracted by the tech stuff in the livestream. There is also something about "going" to church--getting up a little earlier, putting on my Sunday clothes, joining others in the pews--that settles my mind and makes me more receptive to worship. Of course, I like to chat so socializing after service makes me happy.

This week the prayer chain members had a meeting in the Ross

Lounge at the church. It was a joy to meet together as the group is celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Over that time we have prayed for hundreds of people both within and without the congregation. We have prayed for healing and for comfort. We've prayed for those with an immediate need and for those who are on a long journey. Sometimes the pray-ers have become the pray-ees. Some of our original members have completed their earthly journey and their place on the prayer chain has been taken by others. 

Because of the private nature of the prayer chain you don't hear much about it, but the work is constant and important, especially since the Wednesday morning prayer group has discontinued. We are grateful that Bin-Sie and Norma continue to pray through the church membership even without a meeting time.

God calls us to pray for others without ceasing and without fear.

Philippians 4: 6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

 The link to this week's streamed service is here

It has been a mixed bag of events at SPPC this week. 

First, we rejoice that we can meet together again. We sang two hymns on Sunday and I visited with folk I haven't seen since November 2020.

Rev. Irwin is away. We're happy he is having a little holiday after the strain of the past eighteen months. But is being a kitchen helper at Camp Imodene really a holiday? OTOH, Diane is head cook so he has an in with the boss.

Once again we welcomed Pastor George Hodgson to the pulpit. Although he regularly threatens us with ultra-long sermons, this Sunday we received only part one of his message. Come back on July 25 for part two.

Helen celebrated her 99th birthday last week. On Sunday morning she was in her usual pew at church looking fresh and pretty as ever. All our best wishes Helen. I'm looking forward to one great big cake later in the summer when SPPC celebrates all our missed birthdays.

And here's a date to put on the calendar for Friday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. The Raven Baroque--Larry plays cello with them--are playing at the Sidney Bandshell at the bottom of Beacon Avenue. Admission is free. Come and enjoy an evening of music in our lovely weather.

It was good to see Erik on Sunday morning. He had been working in a clinic in Lytton just hours before fire levelled the village.

On a sadder note, at the age of 92 Joan M was called home to the Lord. We will miss her. When we first came to SPPC she was a sort of unofficial welcome committee along with Archie and Victor. She organized no end of parties--St. Andrew's, St. Patrick's, International Day, Hawaiian night--you name it, Joan could whip up a feast suited to the occasion.

She served as an elder and treasurer, then created a roster for money counters for the offering plate on Sunday. She also set up a list of people to provide flower arrangements for Sunday mornings.

She was a real supporter of the Living Flame Choir, especially when we put on a musical drama. I'd ask if she would cater a "small" reception, i.e. coffee and cookies, and she'd lay out a spread of tempting and exotic treats.

On Sunday morning Pastor George spoke about the behest to "shine" with the gifts God gave us. Always elegant and gracious, Joan had many gifts and she used them all to glorify God and to serve her community at SPPC.  We mourn her passing and pray for peace for her family, and we thank God for giving us Joan for more than ninety years.  

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11  

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

   
     
    
     

Welcome Back

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

Happiness is going to church without restrictions!

A joyful congregation gathered in person on Sunday morning to an almost normal church service. We greeted each other before and after service -- still no coffee hour but no running away after the last amen either.

We stood up and sang with gusto a couple of favourite hymns. We smiled across the pews and our smiles could be seen. Masks are now optional.

Our elder still greeted us at the door, but there was no sign in sheet. She was just there to welcome us all with a big happy grin.

Hymn books and Bibles are back in the pews and in the narthex shelves.

Even the plastic covering the mail slots is gone and we can freely leave and receive cards and letters. I even found my name tag.

 

The guest book is back in its 

usual place and I'm happy to report we had a couple of guests on Sunday morning. 

Just because it felt good, we sang the doxology during the opening of the service and we sang the choral amen after the benediction. We've all been away for so many months I worried we'd forgotten how to "do church," but my worry was misplaced. Some rituals are implanted so deeply in our souls, it takes more than a pandemic to erase them.

Thanks to Rev. Irwin and all the crew who put the church building back to the welcoming place we love. 

We Love the Place, O God/Wherein Thine honour dwells.

Simply Christian -- Book Review

 

The link for this week's worship service is here

Simply Christian by N. T. Wright

 

                “Simply outstanding. It will confirm, challenge, and deepen your grasp of Christian faith and practice.”  Christianity Today 

 

Simply Christian is divided into three main parts.  The first part “Echoes of a voice” contains four chapters that explore: the longing for justice, the quest for spirituality, the hunger for relationships, and the delight in beauty.  This first section raises questions which are then bit by bit addressed and tied together throughout the book.  The handling of these voices is well done and will resonate with unbelievers anywhere.

 

Part two explores the central Christian belief about God.  This section is titled “Staring at the sun” and discusses God, Israel, Jesus and the coming of God’s kingdom, Jesus: rescue and renewal, God’s breath of life and living by the spirit.  In this section he discuses how heaven and earth overlap and intersect, and claims that the most important point of intersection is Jesus.  I very much enjoyed the chapter on Israel as it was like a short history of the Old Testament and how it relates to the coming of the Messiah.

 

Part three,” Reflecting the image” is where Wright describes what it looks like in practice to follow Jesus, to be energized by the spirit, and to advance the plan of creator God.  Wright again emphasizes how heaven and earth intersect by exploring worship, prayer, Scripture and the sacraments.  He looks at the Church not as  a building or even an institution but as the company of those who believe in the God we see in Jesus and are trying to follow. 

 

The structure of the book is logical and follows the themes introduced in the first section; however I would not say the book is simple to read.  I found some portions very interesting and informative but others were disturbing.  The chapter on Jesus: rescue and renewal, painted a picture of Jesus that I had never considered.  I will not go into describing what was written as I suggest you read this chapter then call me so we can discuss it together!

 

The secondary part of the title of this book is “Why Christianity makes Sense” and I feel that Wright has presented a logical argument for why we need God, why Jesus was sacrificed on the cross, why we need worship, the Spirit and the Church.  So stretch yourself and give this book a try.  Read it with a friend so together you can look at each section and dive deeper into living a Christian life.

 

Linda Cliff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compassionate Warehouse Reopening

 The link for this week's livestreamed service is here

I received a note from Brian this week informing me that he and Vivien were once again acting as a pick up service for the Compassionate Warehouse. They have already delivered some bags of donations from the church.

CW has been in hiatus for a long time due to COVID 19, but last Monday Brian learned they were reopening.  They still had to telephone ahead to the Warehouse at:  250 - 381 - 4483, to be given a suitable time to bring the stuff to them, but the doors were open at last.
They were pleased to receive our items and are hopeful that they
will be able to keep going, as restrictions begin to ease for exporting.

Brian says, "usually our church members would drop off items at the church for us to collect and deliver to the Warehouse.  However, given these still uncertain times, it would be best for anyone wishing to donate household items to first contact Darlene Crawford, or Joan Adamcsak, 250 656 6130, to find out if space is available in the nursery to store these items and when the church would be open to accept them. [If you prefer, call the church office at 250 656-2241. Our church secretary, Patricia, is always ready to help.]
If, however, anyone wishes to make a donation directly to the Warehouse, they should first contact them at the above number and make an appointment for delivery.  The Warehouse is situated on Devonshire Road in Esquimalt."

On Sunday I tested the system and asked Joan if I could leave a small item and she said yes. My linen closet desperately needs a clean out but before I tackle that I'll have to make sure the church and the Compassionate Warehouse are able to handle a really big box of stuff.

Brian's closing line read: I trust this will be an acceptable item for the Blog.
Yes! Yes, yes, yes! The church blog is meant to represent the many aspects of life at SPPC and all of its members. Send along anything that interests you. It's a great way to connect with the larger community.

Thanks Brian for sending along the information and thanks Tore for giving him a nudge.