Fruits of the Spirit

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is 

Rev. Harold McNabb

As Rev. Irwin is on sick leave for the next two Sundays, we have guest ministers, Rev. Harold McNabb and Rev. Reid Chudley filling in at the pulpit.

Rev. McNabb was a recent visitor to our church as part of the presbytery visitation team in April. So, he knows a lot about SPPC while we might not know him so well.

Harold is originally a native of Southern Alberta, but has lived on Vancouver Island since 1980.

He is the former minister of West Shore Presbyterian Church in Langford and most recently interim minister

at Knox PC in Sooke. He is married to Valerie and they have 4 children and 5 amazing grandsons.

When not preaching elsewhere, they are members and attend Knox, Victoria.

Curious as I am, I looked him up on Google.

Among other things I found several of his contributions to the PresbyCan Daily Devotional series. I have that devotional delivered to my inbox every morning, but I hadn't seen the ones from Rev. McNabb. They were before I was a subscriber.

One in particular caught my attention. It was concerned with naming a new church he had been called to on Vancouver Island. On the drive across Canada he contemplated different names.   We are almost at the end of the Trans-Canada highway and have many seniors, and so I thought "Last Chance Presbyterian" would be good. No one else seems to agree 

When that idea didn't fly, he considered the Fruits of the Spirit.  Lutheran denomination favours such names as Peace and Grace, two of the fruits of the Spirit. In that vein he had a couple of suggestions for a church name. It is curious too, don't you think, that no one uses all the fruits of the Spirit for naming churches. I've suggested the name "Long-suffering Presbyterian Church", and get some knowing glances. . . .Come to think of it, I don't care for that name or even "Patience Presbyterian", though is has a nice sound.

On Pentecost Sunday our choir sang an anthem titled "Gifts of the Spirit," and named those gifts as love, joy and peace.

Now, wouldn't a church named "Joy Presbyterian," confuse folks?

Several years ago, we did a Bible Study on nine Fruits of the Spirit-- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Other sources include generosity, modesty and chastity in the list. 

The point of Rev. McNabb's devotional was not about the naming of Christian virtues, but rather the outward expression of those values. that in the long run we will be known by our fruit, if not named by them.

No matter which list we look at, love is always at the top. I was heartened recently when a friend, not a member of SPPC, remarked "There is so much love that comes down from your church. . ."

Although our church has an awkward name - Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church -- does not trip lightly off the tongue, it is reassuring to know that we bear fruit.

We'll miss Rev. Irwin in the pulpit this coming Sunday, but I look forward to hearing from Rev. McNabb.

P.S. I'm still looking for Father's Day memories. Please send them to me at avaldal@shaw.ca by Friday, June 16. Thanks.

Families

 The link to this week's live-streamed service is here.

 Our on-going food drive is doing very   well. The bins in the narthex are nearly   full, there are extra bags of groceries   stacked up around them and the cash   donations are mounting. In celebration   we held the draw for the first flower   basket after church on Sunday   morning. The winner was Margaret S.   Well done, Margaret, we hope you   enjoy the flowers.

• Congratulations to Peter! For the second year in a row, his Rugby 7's team from Stelly's Secondary School has won the provincial championship. Since the competition has only been held for two years, they hold the all-time record.

Peter is dear to our congregation, he's "family." As such, we can all bask in his achievement and cheer him on to the next challenge.

Families have been top of mind for me this week. Perhaps because summer holidays are approaching and I've made plans to visit my brothers in Ontario. They are a long way away and COVID made visits awkward if not impossible, so it has been over three years since we touched base. There have been many changes.

But, even without a pandemic, the family I meet this summer, will have changed. Over our lifetimes, we all experience family in different incarnations.

When I was a kid on the farm, all of the city relatives would spend their vacations visiting us. I knew my many aunts and uncles and hordes of cousins very well. We thought summer meant relatives. It meant hide and seek in the hay mow, taking shifts around the dinner table, begging some adult to take us to the lake for a swim, and, if we were lucky, ice cream cones on the way home. 

But, as I grew older and my siblings scattered, family meant something different. It meant less time with cousins and more precious time spent nurturing those bonds of immediate kinship that had seemed immutable in childhood. We could decide if we liked each other and wanted to be friends as well as family. As we chose to be close, the family bond grew stronger. 

Then as the next generation came along, roles changed again. A new crop of carefree youngsters ran barefoot in the wet grass  and we were now the ones responsible for keeping everyone fed and safe and held close in the bosom of love. Family get-togethers were busy and exhausting. 

Now that my generation has moved to the head of the line, the family is different again. The succeeding generations are the doers, the ones who must choose if they want to be part of this clan or if they'd rather opt out. Do they have time for the "elders?" Apart from sharing a gene pool, do we have anything in common? Will we make new memories together?

I don't know the answers to those questions, but I do know that within the family of God, His love and care is steadfast, unchanging, unwavering and permanent. In Bible study, we've been looking at the Apostles' Creed, which opens with "I believe in God, the Father Almighty." What comfort lies in those words. Our heavenly Father is always there, with arms outstretched, ready to welcome us home. We are never too old or too young, too lost or too broken. 

In the poem, "Death of the Hired Man," Robert Frost says "home is where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in."  Those words are meant to be comforting, but it is a grudging comfort. With our heavenly Father there is no such reluctance. As in the story of the prodigal son, God runs to welcome us and throws a party.

The "lazy, hazy days of summer," are upon us. May yours be filled with rest, recreation and a renewal of the bonds of love that God has seen fit to bestow upon you.

For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild,

Lord of all, to thee we raise,
this our sacrifice of praise.

Ed. Note: Fathers day is just around the corner and I'd like to share your memories of your dad or a father figure in your life, in this space. Please send your reminiscence to me at avaldal@shaw.ca 

The Week that Was

 The link to this week's live-streamed service is here.

Friendship Coffee in the Rose Garden

 We've had a very social week at SPPC. Whether it's the good weather, the approach of summer holidays, or the phase of the moon, for whatever reason, folk at Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church have been in a visiting frame of mind.

On Thursday morning, Friendship Coffee was held in the rose garden beside the Sidney library. Covid prompted the use of that outdoor space when we couldn't meet

indoors. There are no longer restrictions on gatherings but so many people enjoyed the rose garden that Friendship Coffee gatherings are now held there by choice rather than necessity, when the weather is good.

And then . . .

On Thursday afternoon, the "out to lunch" bunch met at Zanzibar restaurant in Brentwood Bay to share some delicious food and lots of conversation. 

The special was a chicken and brie wrap that proved very popular.

Finally, on Saturday evening, the DieMahler Ensemble, with our own Larry, played a concert at SPPC. The weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cold. The music included some familiar favourites. The audience of around 30 enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere- no numbered seats, no usher

checking tickets. A share of the proceeds went to the church resulting in over $200.00 being donated to our Food Bank Drive. 

Speaking of the Food Bank Drive, don't forget the draw next week for the flower baskets. You still have time to make a donation (cash or food items) and get your name in the hat.

On Wednesday we continue our study of The Apostles' Creed. We confess this statement to our faith at every Lord's Supper. Considering and studying what "I believe," is time well spent. All are welcome, even if you haven't been there before.

Breaking Bread Together

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

An exciting morning at church on Sunday. Paul and Sharyn Branson, and their children, of House Upon the Rock Ministry, were guests with us. Paul delivered the sermon using faith in action as a theme.

Since our own mission team has only recently returned from their trip to the Dominican Republic, it was a bit of an "old home" weekend for them and the Bransons. 

As SPPC is a keen supporter of  The House Upon the Rock, and has sent mission teams three times to help with their work, you can browse through this blog to find previous posts on various aspects of their ministry, including the medical clinic and sponsorship opportunities.  

Of course, being SPPC, we marked the occasion with lunch after the service. It seems to me I'm writing about shared food week after week on this blog, so I wondered, 

why do we, as a congregation
spend so much time eating together?

• Perhaps it is because we are hungry after a sermon. 
• Perhaps it is because we don't feel like cooking. 
• Perhaps it is because the food is really good.

Or perhaps we are following the practice of the early church, Acts 2:46-47, meeting and eating together.

We are in good company with other congregations. Particularly in rural communities, church suppers are synonymous with fund raising The whole neighbourhood, church member or not, comes to talk and eat and laugh and learn together. Communities are strengthened and the church coffers get a boost.

The scientific world has taken notice of communal dining, especially a research team from Oxford University in England. They found " that the more often people eat with others, the more likely they are to feel happy and satisfied with their lives. ... communal eating increases social bonding and feelings of wellbeing, and enhances one’s sense of contentedness and embedding within the community."

In another study the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) collected from nearly three quarters of the world countries. One of the conclusions of that study was that the truancy rate for fifteen year olds was about 15% throughout the world, but rose to 30% when pupils reported they did not eat meals with their families. 

If we need further proof that the early church got it right when eating together, a Cornell University study of 50 firehouses across a 15-month period found that firefighters who eat together, network and build social relationships around the shared table that greatly bolstered workplace morale and satisfaction. As a result, those who ate together had a vastly superior workplace performance outcome than those who dined alone.

Even without the scientist's research, we know from our pandemic experience that eating alone was among the most forlorn consequences of lock-down.

Breaking bread together has physical and mental benefits for people of all ages. Over a shared meal we tell our stories, build relationships, try new foods, learn from each other, and create bonds of friendship that contribute to our overall quality of life.

On Sunday, we shared a meal together to offer hospitality to Paul and Sharyn. Other times we celebrate a birthday or mark a holiday. Whatever the reason, we thank God for the privilege of sharing wisdom and laughter over a cup of coffee or while sharing a feast.

Give thanks my soul, for harvest, 

For store of fruit and grain;

But know the owner giveth

That we may share again;

Where men are lone and hungry,

Or little children cry,

With gifts from god's rich bounty

May thankfulness reply.

Food Bank Drive

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here

The mission committee has launched a special drive for the food bank over the next six weeks. Of course, our congregation gives to the food bank on an on-going basis, but for the next few weeks we'll have some fun with it. 

We're having a draw. For every item you place in the collection boxes, either food or cash, you get a ticket to enter. The draw will take place on June 19 with two lucky winners. One will take home a planter. the other wins a  hanging basket.

You can also support the Food Bank by coming to a concert.

 Our organist, Larry Skaggs, belongs to a string quartet, the DieMahler Quartet. They are presenting a concert at SPPC on Saturday May 27, at 7:00 pm. Admission is by donation, and a portion of the proceeds will go to our food bank drive.

As they say on television, Not One but Two Great Chances to Win!

Speaking of television, did you see our own Gladys strumming her ukulele on Chek Upside?  Scroll down the list until you reach May 4 with Stacy to watch the broadcast.

Her segment is about 53 minutes into the broadcast so use the fast forward arrows and enjoy. Way to go, Gladys.

Sunday was Mother's Day so, as you would expect, SPPC celebrated with cake. Two beautiful cakes that were very well enjoyed by mothers and others.

Thanks to those who made it 

possible.

One Down, More to Go

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

We had great excitement on Sunday morning as our mission team reported on their trip to the Dominican Republic and their work with House Upon the Rock. 

They served us a typical DR mission lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches plus lots and lots of tropical fruit, some sweets we'd never seen before and bags of snacks beloved of teenagers. Not the usual SPPC after church lunch.

A slide show followed, some of which I've included here. 

The medical clinic is a major part of the mission. Those full shelves on the bottom of this photo show the meds our team brought with them, especially vitamins and pain killers. Living in our rich country, it is hard to imagine the amount of malnutrition in Pedregal, but it is endemic, so all those bottles of vitamins are much needed.

Oddly, the team, this time, was made up of family groups -- mother and son, grandmother and grandson, father and daughter . . . That turned out to be an unexpected blessing as it drew family members closer together. 

One of the benefits of returning to the same place over a number of years is the opportunity to see the results of your work. Our group got to see the completed houses that they had begun in 2013. They got to meet the grown up children they had played with 10 years ago. They got to see changed lives, as folk who had shunned the church now came to Christ because of the interaction with our mission team and others.

This house for Anthony and Rosa is a case in point. You can see in 2015 that they were living in a leaky shed. the picture at right shows Rosa standing by the door of their clean, dry, cement block house.

The mission team on this trip was made up of 14 members from two different churches, SPPC and Saanichton Bible Fellowship. These two congregations are not alike, yet the Holy Spirit moved within them. They came together as one with a single purpose, built relationships in the DR and at home, and felt God's blessing upon them. 

They also brought home grateful hearts for the congregations that had supported them with prayer and donations. 

Those congregations are  grateful to the missionaries for sharing their excitement, their joy, and their stories of life and work in the mission field with House Upon the Rock.

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

Even as one mission ends, needs around the world remain. One place of desperate need is the Ukraine. As the war drags on, the number of those who have lost everything grows. The Compassionate Resource Warehouse, is one of the organizations that we support in filling those needs. They have sent out a new request.

 If you can help with any of the items listed here, please bring them to the church for drop off.  If you are coming mid-week, check with the office, 250 656-2241, before you arrive to be sure the doors are unlocked. Once we have collected a load, it will be delivered to the CRW.

    COMPASSIONATE RESOURCE WAREHOUSE UPDATE

CRW is working on loads for MOLDOVA, POLAND & UKRAINE

CRW will be loading out 2 container loads in the next while for MOLDOVA, POLAND & UKRAINE

These loads are targeted at children who are living in orphanages, group homes, safe homes, and families who are experiencing difficulty in providing for their families.

There are homes for children with special needs; children who have experienced trauma; children who have been trafficked, children who are internally displaced and or refugees.

We are especially in need of

1. hygiene: toothbrush/paste, wrapped soap, lotions, hair combs and brushes, etc

2. art supplies: paints/brushes, art paper, glue sticks, scissors, beads, colouring books, etc

3. non-word games- checkers, matching, dominoes, etc

4. 1st aid supplies

5. outdoor play- balls, skipping ropes, Frisbees, etc

6. child clothing and shoes

7. infant and child dishes, cups, bowls, plates, bottles etc

8. child re-useable diapers

9. 1st aid supplies

10. coloured face cloths and towels

We are looking to load out one in mid-May and one in later May/early June.

Thank you in advance for partnering with us in sending much needed supplies and a box full of "care, concern, and hope" to those who will receive our gifts.

Thank you to all who have given to the Compassionate Warehouse before and who continue to support this vital work. Christ called upon His followers to "feed my lambs." 

At his coronation this weekend, the new king, Charles III, took the gospel message for his pledge to his realm, "I come not to be served, but to serve."

Each of us, to the best of our own abilities, can serve in God's kingdom here on earth, and feed His lambs.

Life at SPPC

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here

After looking at the church calendar for May, a friend remarked, "what a busy church." 

At a memorial service on Saturday, one of our stalwart kitchen helpers showed up in running shoes. 😲

So, I took a look at the calendar and discovered they were right. We have been and will be very busy at SPPC over several weeks.

First, we have our regular SPPC events: 

• Service on Sunday mornings including choir and streaming
• Session on the first Wednesday of the month and Bible Study, morning and evening, on the other three (4 in May) 
• 
  Choir practice every Thursday evening
• Worship Committee on Friday morning

Then we have all the congregational extras

• Sunshine lunch on the first Monday of May--our running shoe lady is key to this event
• A presentation from the team that went to the Dominican Republic on Sunday, May 7. There will be a lunch too.
• Mother's Day Cake
• Visit from the leaders of "House Upon the Rock" and lunch
• Food Bank Sunday 
• Memorial services --two in the past three weeks
• Presbytery visit --hours of preparation and two days of meetings
• Friendship Coffee at least once a month
• Bottle collections ongoing with money going to missions
• Volunteer cleaning and grounds-keeping weekly or more
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Other Users -- our facilities are used by other 

                          organizations

• Stratas - Eagle Ridge and Summergate regularly hold meetings in our building. While not a church event, volunteers from the congregation are needed to set up tables, chairs, water jugs, and microphones. Someone has to run the sound system and be on site to answer questions and troubleshoot, then take down the tables, chairs, etc. and lock up the building. 
  
  
  
• Genealogy group meets once a month in the lounge
• Parkinson's support group meets once a month in the whole building
• Jesus is Lord congregation meets every Friday evening and Sunday afternoon in our sanctuary and uses the kitchen. Next Saturday, a special training session will use the building for the whole day. 

I may have missed some events, but I've listed enough to illustrate that our congregation is a-doing, even if we don't all wear running shoes. 

After COVID-19 restricted our communal life, it is a sign of hope that the place is hopping with activity again. 

To conclude this post I considered the hymn "Work for the Night is Coming," but on second thought decided this one was a better choice.   "Many Gifts, One Spirit."