Church Member part II

 The link for our streamed service this week is here

Linda being a servant

Continuing - I Am a Church Member By Thomas Rainer

 

I have set myself the task of discussing the Pledges that Thomas Rainer has given us in his book I Am a Church Member.  Previously, we looked at what it means to be a functioning and unifying member of a church community.  This week we will look at what it means to be a servant, the responsibility to pray for our church leaders as well as our responsibility to our family and church membership.

 

Rainer’s premise is that even though we like the churches we belong to, we are there to serve others, to give and to sacrifice.  The church is not there to cater to our wishes, we are to be the servant rather than the one who wants to be served.   The word servant occurs fifty-seven times in the New Testament and the word serve, fifty-eight.   Jesus said we are to be last of all and servant of all.  What does this mean in real terms?  It means we will not always get things our way.  We are to be obedient and put others first. 

 

The next task we are given is to pray for our church leaders.  Our ministers need prayer for their sermons, we should pray to God to give wisdom, insight and words to preach.  Their families need our prayers, as they face the expectations and pressures of being the minister’s family.  Rainer suggest that as a church member you should pray for the minister for at least five minutes a day.  Not too much to ask when you consider that his work is never ending, and his days are filled with constant demands for his time.   

 

The last two pledges Rainer wants to look at are helping our family members be contributing church members and for us to cherish our church membership as a gift.  Not all members of a family have accepted the gift of salvation.  However, we are to pray for them and by demonstrating our respect and love for the church we are living Christ’s example.  In my own family, I find that I am always being asked what I am doing “up at the church and what was the sermon about today”, opportunities to witness about Jesus.  Writing this blog leads to questions and opportunities!

 

Now that our communities are beginning to open up after COVID, we are looking at what we like about the before times and our now times.  I want my church to be a place of love and celebration.  Of finding the best way to serve each other and our community.  A place to grow in the love of Christ.  For me, this book has given me new tools and energy to be an active church member.

Ed. Note: My thanks to Linda Cliff for the blog this week. As well as including prayer in her daily life, she reads the Bible faithfully. Recently she completed Loving Jesus More Bible reading plan from @YouVersion!

Check it out here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving 2021

 The link for this week's streamed service is here

With thanks to Janet for all the photos.

The decorating committee for the sanctuary on Thanksgiving had promised themselves to keep it simple. However, when the harvest was brought in, it was generous, so the table decorations are twice the size that was intended. When God is bountiful, we could not be miserly.

Thanks to everyone who contributed the fruits of the garden, orchard and field.

One of the items on our gratitude list at SPPC is the return of worship without restrictions. On this high Sunday, we sang the great hymns of harvest, had the choir in attendance, and then gathered for lunch. What a joy to be "church" once again. 

Many thanks to the willing hands who prepared and served our delicious lunch.

Looks like there is plenty with some left over.

What a beautiful tray of treats.

May you and yours be blessed with love and friendship and may you know the grace of God on this Thanksgiving weekend.

A Bit of This and a Bit of That

The link for this week's streamed service is here

Sunday was World Wide Communion and we celebrated the Lord's Supper with Christians from around the world and all the saints. The service was extra special as the choir was back in attendance. We're a bit out of practice, but the joy of making music together remains. We're doing short practices on Sunday mornings instead of a lengthy one on Thursday night. New members always welcome.

                                                            ~~~

Now that the fall rains have begun, winterizing the church building has begun.

Leaves and needles were blown off the parking lot and the gutters, which were really mucky, have been cleaned out. 

                                                        ~~~

A couple of weeks ago the Jesus is Lord congregation, who use our sanctuary on Sunday afternoons, held a celebration. During their shutdown for COVID 19 a number of the congregation completed an on-line study course. Now that in-person worship services are allowed, they had a graduation ceremony and a really good party.

 Too young for the course but old enough to be very excited by the celebration.

May you all experience the joy of dancing in your faith this week.

The Attitude That Makes a Difference

 

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

by Linda Cliff

In January 2021 I wrote a blog about being a church member based on a book, I Am a Church Member, by TS Rainer. The author gave six steps on how we as believers can impact our church and community.  Now that we are able to meet in person and restart our church activities, I felt that a more comprehensive review would be in order, so I will review the book in more depth. 

 

This week we will look at how to be a Functioning and Unifying Church Member.  The apostle Paul tells us we are individual members of the body of Christ.  This body is made of many parts and all parts make one body. Hence with church membership, everyone has a role or function; we are different but necessary parts of the whole.  When one part of the body suffers we all suffer, when one part of the body does well the whole body prospers. 

Functioning church membership means everything we say and do is based on the Biblical foundation of Love.  Read 1 Corinthians 13, and apply what you read to your church.  It is not difficult to love the lovable; we are to love the unlovable as well.  We are to pray and encourage fellow members when they do things we don’t like as well as when things are going well. Functioning members commit to giving cheerfully and abundantly; to serving without hesitation.

 

Unifying members get along.  Jesus says that people will know we are his disciples by the love we have for one another. This does not mean that you will always agree with everyone all the time.  This does mean that you may need to sacrifice your own preferences to keep unity in the church.  Gossip and negative talk can be destructive in a church.  We have all heard sermons about gossip and remember James’s writing about the negative power of the tongue.  Hence we should keep our tongue under control and we should kindly tell others we don’t want to hear negative talk.   

Another important aspect of unity is forgiveness.  We are imperfect, yet our sins have been forgiven and we are asked to forgive others.  It is easy to say I will be a functioning and unifying member of my congregation.  However what are you doing to put these two principles into action?  Do you volunteer to visit the infirm, bake for church functions, help in committee work?  Yes we are busy and for some of us feeling our age, yet we can still pray for our church members and show them love and support when it is needed. 

 

I am feeling hopeful about my church membership.  Worshipping in community makes my heart sing.  That is why I reread this book and decided to look at Rainer’s recommendations in more depth.  Over the next month I will look at steps 3-6.  I am looking forward to sharing with you what I learn.  Let me know what you think. 

Ed. Note: You can respond to Linda in person, or leave a comment below. We have one faithful "unknown" reader who regularly leaves a comment in that section. It cheers the heart of your blog mistress to find those little notes. 

 

 

Life in the Fast Lane

The link for this week's streamed service is here

The link for Hal Rogers' memorial service is here

We've all been living with restrictions for the past 19 months, but that doesn't mean we can't have fun. The residents of Summergate village, including some of our congregation members were treated to a special ride earlier this month.

Here is Patricia L-G, ninety years old and dressed in her "fit for a queen" outfit, enjoying a some pedal power.

 

Barb C. at 104, has lots of zest as she get whizzed about the community.

Joan A. should be given a title, maybe palace secretary? for getting all her flock in on the parade. 

The sun was great for a rickshaw ride but the earth is so thankful for the rain this week. I just looked out my window and saw a rainbow arched over Bazan Bay. Having just come from the memorial service for Hal, it speaks to me of God and His care for all of creation, especially for His saints who have been called home.

                                                         For All the Saints

Farewell to Hal

The link for this week's streamed service is here

If you were unable to attend the memorial for Joan Larsen, the link for the streamed service is here

by Janet Smith

 On Tuesday, 24^th August in the afternoon heaven gained a wonderful new resident by the name of Hal Rogers. He moved from Saanich Peninsula Hospital to his permanent home, especially prepared for him with his Lord and Saviour in heaven.

Hal, for many years kept the bass section of our choir going hopefully he has joined the

heavenly choir and is enjoying singing once again. 

He was an elder at SPPC and the Clerk of Session from 2004 to 2010 according to the Session Minutes. Hal was the Clerk of Session when Rev. Irwin arrived at SPPC in 2007 and he did a lot to make the Cunningham Family feel very welcome here.

Hal was a real gentleman in every sense of the word, always calm and gentle with his wonderful Irish brogue!

[ed. note] When we first came to SPPC, Hal was our elder. He fulfilled his role conscientiously, visiting us in our home before every communion service and encouraging us to talk about anything in our church life that was troublesome or wonderful. When my Dad died he wrote me a heart warming letter that I have treasured ever since. 

Hal was also a gardener. When I complained that my tomatoes didn't like the cool nights of Vancouver Island, he gave me seeds for a Siberian tomato, guaranteed to withstand a N. Saanich evening.]

Hal, in recent years had been in extended care at SPH. With the COVID-19 virus, Ann and their daughters have visited as much as possible but there were restrictions.  On their 61^st wedding anniversary, one of the nurses took a photo of them together, Ann outside and Hal inside both against the window but I’m sure that is a special memory for Ann.

Hal and Ann have three daughters, Emily, Elizabeth and Julia, we extend our love and prayers to the family at this time.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm. on Saturday 18^th September, here at SPPC.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant

For my Friend

 

The link for this week's streamed service is here

I've been taking a trip down memory lane this past few days, remembering my friend Joan L -- accompanist extraordinaire. 

We started working together with the Living Flame Choir in 2001. It was a new venture for SPPC and a very new venture for me. I'd always been the singer, never the director/organizer for anything like a children's choir. 

As I felt my way along, finding music, discovering the children's talents, encouraging them to raise their voices, Joan was my stalwart supporter and collaborator.

 Here we are in the first iteration of the Living Flame Choir, enjoying some ice cream at the end of our first term.

                                 Bones

 
Heroes of the Faith

Joan could be found in various places at SPPC, including Bible Study and the kitchen, but her first love was the piano and making music.

Why the Chimes Rang

Not only did she share her talent and time with us all -- she was always ready to rehearse just one more time -- she hosted practice sessions in her home. Her husband John loved to listen to us going over and over difficult passages until we had them worked out to performance standard. 

Her great sense of humour made all those rehearsals fun too.

When Tore and I were asked to do some recital work, Joan was only too happy to play for us. Once again we spent many evenings in her music room working the repertoire until we had it memorized. We even made a CD for my family. 

Despite her skills and experience she never pulled rank, but offered whole-hearted support, giving advice only when asked, and always with a twinkle in her eye. 

My friend moved to Calgary some years ago. I've missed her ever since. She passed away this summer. A memorial service will be held for her at SPPC on Sat. Sept. 11, 2021 at 1:00pm. 

Years ago, she asked me to sing a particular number at her funeral. I'll be doing that this Saturday.