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.

We're Open -- a Little

 The link for this week's livestreamed service is here:

Last week, on the first Sunday of in-person worship since November, we had 38 people in the pews. It was lovely to see some familiar faces, even if they were wearing masks. This week we had 36, including Will who has grown so much since we last saw him I think he should count as two!

The only mid-week events at the church so far is the Tai Chi class that meets in the parking lot, and rehearsal with the week's soloist. Rev. Irwin was attending the virtual General Assembly in the first half of the week. (This page features highlights from the meeting.) Tore has made use of the lack of activity to do some painting. 

Inside, he has painted the conduit and electrical outlet that was exposed when the front of the church was rearranged. I am very grateful for this touch up as I found the industrial look irksome and distracting.

Outside, he has painted the wood on the office side of the building. Last summer and fall he and Al had replaced the rotted boards but now they have a fresh coat of paint to complete the job.

If you think our building is brick and stucco, have another look. There is a lot of wood panelling and trim that needs regular painting. This photo shows the outside of the lounge -- windows, panels and a door all freshly painted.

The cross on the north side of the church was a bigger challenge. Not only does it require the tall ladder, but the inside edges had to be hand sanded before new paint was applied. The ring on the cross is metal so it too had to be sanded, the area covered over and some trusty Tremclad paint sprayed over it.

One of the fruits of the spirit is hospitality. Keeping our church building safe, clean and attractive extends hospitality to friends and strangers alike. As the doors open wider when COVID-19 restrictions ease, we'll welcome each other with smiles and hugs and a cup of coffee. Until then, fresh paint, a tended flower bed, and a tidy lawn offer a welcome to all. 

Celebrate!

California Lilac at SPPC

 Link to our live-streamed service is here.

 This is a week for celebration.   Barb C. turns 104! I'd love to see a   cake with 104 candles but so long   as COVID restrictions are in   place,  we'll have to make do with   this photo.

Frank is turning 95, quite an age. Too bad he's sharing billing with Barb.

We have further reason for celebration. Dr. Bonnie has eased the restrictions on church services, so for the first time since early November, we are allowed to gather as a congregation, indoors. There are still requirements for social distancing, masks, no congregational singing and no socializing, but it is a start. BTW, even if we can't have coffee hour in the hall, you are able to meet with others not of your household at a restaurant or coffee shop. So, if you want a little after service socializing, book a table and meet a friend or two.

We can also celebrate that the new case counts for COVID on Vancouver Island have dropped substantially. There were only 3 new cases reported on Saturday.

In Sidney and North Saanich 77.5% of adults have had at least one shot. Within our congregation, many have had a second shot. I'm booked for mine on June 26. As the cases go down and the vaccinations go up, we can look forward to an easing of more restrictions over the summer.

And speaking of summer -- haven't we had a gorgeous week! The weeds in my garden are flourishing. Linda and Tore have been trying to keep up with the church grounds but it is a race. But, just look at the lovely California lilac in our hedge.

Last week I read a blog titled "We Only See the Weeds." This line stood out for me particularly, Instead of admiring the beautiful plants that remain, or patting myself on the back for blending shades of purple and synchronizing bloom times, I immediately look for more weeds.The post was actually about creative writing but the analogy of looking for weeds is true in many walks of life. This week I'm going to try to admire the good things around me and stop looking for weeds. 

• Instead of bemoaning the "no singing" rule at church, I'll give thanks that 50 of us can sit in the pews. 

• Instead of comparing our broadcast technology unfavourably with the CBC, I'll give thanks for our fantastic volunteers who make it possible to have a broadcast. 

• While I'll miss greeting Rev. Irwin after service, I'll say a prayer for the success of the virtual General Assembly.

When I concentrate on the weeds I get discouraged and feel like giving up. When I smell the roses, I know God's love. 

 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Isaiah 54:10 KJV

Hope

The link to this week's worship service is here

I was rummaging through my music library this week and came upon the script for one of our Christmas musical plays, "Bethlehem

Tours."  The tale sends the characters through a number of improbable journeys in order to arrive in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Once they are all assembled in the Holy place, they sing "Hope is a Happening Here." In this case our hope surrounded the birth of Jesus.

The song comes from the children's musical "Bones" by William Anderson. The Living Flame choir performed that at SPPC some years ago too. In that story, the dry bones dance, offering hope that the Jewish people would return from exile, the temple would be rebuilt and their relationship with God restored. 

Here is a youtube clip by the New Creation Choir. The clip is the whole musical. To listen to just "Hope is a Happenin' Here" fast forward to around 31:00

 

As a Christian Church we always have hope, that's what the Good News is - hope. As Christ's followers, we are to bring light to the world, spread the good news, offer hope to a hurting people. 

During the pandemic, some have found it hard to feel hopeful. As month after month went by and case counts rose and restrictions tightened and we were locked out of in-person worship, hope wavered. 

But when Dr. Henry announced that churches could resume in-person worship, albeit with some restrictions, what sprang to my mind was 

"Oh, we've got hope. Glory Hallelujah,
Hope is a Happenin' here.
Spread the news.
Glory Hallelu there's nothing left to fear.
So don't hang your head, don't wobble your chin,
Don't even shed a tear,
Just shake your hands and rattle your bones
'Cause hope is a happenin' here!"

Have a great week. See you in church.

Virtual Coffee Hour

 Link for this week's service is here.

Since we can't gather after worship to catch up on each other's doings, here is a sample of what might be said in coffee hour.

Tore and Alice celebrated their anniversary by putting in the vegetable garden. The space reserved for the squash family will be a labour of discovery. I know there are three butternut squash plants because Khim gave them to me. For the others, zucchini, cucumber, etc. who knows. I had started them on the windowsill and then the cat knocked over the seed tray! The seedlings are now in the ground and I wait to see what's what.

Linda planted nasturtiums in the back bed at the church. They will look lovely spreading over the earth and bearing bright flowers. Just so you know, Linda is not exclusive about her gardening at SPPC. There are at least five areas that could do with a hand,

so if your green thumb is itching, call Linda at 250 656-7858 or email her at linda.g.cliff@gmail.com

I hear Irene has a surfeit of rhubarb pies. You might want to arrange a coffee date in the park with her this week.

Our university students have finished exams for this term. Benjamin is taking summer courses. Max is getting ready for his last co-op placement and Rebekah is continuing with her job in the doctor's office. Peter has school for a few more weeks, but is getting in lots and lots of baseball practice. If restrictions loosen, he might even get to play a game against another team.

The entire Smith family is vaccinated, including Abigail. She is finishing up grade three and looking forward to a visit with Felicity this summer.

Thanks to the kindness of the grocery store who supplied chicken manure in small batches and a neighbour who dug a trench, Gladys has a thriving patch of rhubarb. She has had three pickings and looks forward to more. If you go by her place and wonder about her mental state, she is not talking to herself. She's talking to the world's most affectionate cat.

Roy and Dorothy report their teenaged grandchildren are booked for a vaccine this coming week.

Aarol and Ken have forwarded their new address in Calgary. They are happy with their move but sorry not to have had a chance to have one last meal with the "out to lunch bunch."

So there you have it. I've made the rounds of the hall. The kitchen staff is shooing us out so they can do the dishes and put away the extra food. Have a good week, everyone.

No idea what this bush is called but it is blooming in front of SPPC.

. . . not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 NIV

At the Name of Jesus - Hymn

 

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

Celebrations: Diane has a birthday; Linda and Albert, Alice and Tore have wedding anniversaries this week.

                             ♫♫♫♫♫♫ 

The recent survey of the congregation showed strong support for congregational hymns. Hardly a surprising result when one considers how enthusiastically our congregation sings the familiar hymns. 

Some years ago, Dr. Kirk emceed an evening of hymn singing that was very popular. I can't recreate that event, but I do have the ms for his book on hymns for the church year. I found his choice of a hymn to compliment Ephesians 1:15-23 (our scripture reading this Sunday.) "At the Name of Jesus," by Caroline Maria Noel. Here is an excerpt from Dr. Kirk's unpublished work.

Caroline was the daughter of Canon G.T.Noel and the niece of the Rev. Baptist Noel who left the Church of England to become a Baptist minister, and a very prominent one. . . The hymn deals in successive verses with the pre-existence of Jesus, His condescension in becoming man, His Saviourhood, His call to service and His coming again. It is interesting to note that the author reluctantly changed the first line to "In the Name of Jesus" to avoid the complication that she merely meant genuflection at the word. In effect the reference is to adoration at our contemplation of the person of Jesus as the manifestation of the divine nature and glory. Happily, the original wording has been restored.

The hymn is a commentary on the scripture. It is "the Father's pleasure" that all people shall bow before Jesus the King of Glory and acknowledge Him as Lord. From before the beginning of time, He "was the mighty word" that called the worlds into existence. Jesus is the eternal Son of God . . . If we do not accept this fact, then we have only a man who is not also divine, and no mere man can redeem the human race. Jesus was willing to be humbled for a season and receive a human name from those He came to save. He bore that name spotless to the last in that while He lived among sinners, He himself did not sin and in fact, came to bear the sins of many (Is. 53:12). The name He bore was brought back victorious when Jesus rose from the grave, triumphant over sin and death.

Jesus is the Saviour and Lord who should be "worshipped, trusted and adored." We can trust Him because of what He has done on our behalf. We must also offer Him our obedience and service as Lord. We must not take lightly what He has done for us, but rather look on Him with "awe and wonder", enthroning Him as king within our hearts so that He may subdue everything that is false within us. Because He himself was tempted, He can assist us in the time of temptation if we "crown him as . . . captain" and allow Him to have control over our wills.

The hope of the Christian community lies in the fact that "this Lord Jesus will return again." That coming will be in absolute contrast to His first coming. Then it was in weakness and humility to a cattle shed but when He comes again it will be "with His Father's glory, with His angel train." Then He will come in power to reign for he will be crowned, not with thorns as at His crucifixion but with the "wreaths of empire" and, as Paul wrote, "every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil.2:11)

This is a hymn of victory and assurance to inspire hope in the breast of every believer. As Jesus knew weakness and apparent defeat so do we. But we also know that the final victory has been won, that Christ reigns and that He will return to take His own unto Him. Then we shall be pure with His purity and victorious with His victory and we shall reign with Him for ever. That is cause for celebration and worship.

                            ♫♫♫♫♫♫  

It's lilac season

At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,

every tongue confess Him King of Glory now;

this the Father's pleasure, that we call Him Lord,

who from the beginning was the mighty word.

 Humbled for a season, to receive a name

from the lips of sinners unto whom He came;

faithfully He bore it spotless to the last,

brought it back victorious when from death He passed.

 Name Him, brothers, name Him, with love strong as death,

but with awe and wonder, and with bated breath;

He is God the saviour, He is Christ the Lord,

ever to be worshipped, trusted and adored.

 In your hearts enthrone Him; there let Him subdue

all that is not holy, all that is not true;

crown Him as your captain in temptation's hour,

let His will enfold you in its light and power.

Brothers this Lord Jesus shall return again

With His Father's glory, with His angel train;

for all wreaths of empire meet upon his brow,

and our hearts confess Him King of Glory now.