Welcome New Members

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

The past week has been a busy one at SPPC. We began with holy communion last Sunday, and a return to passing the elements among the congregation. One more step in our return to "normal." 

We also received new members into the congregation. Welcome to Carla, Neill, Elizabeth and Brian. 

On Wednesday morning the Bible Study group watched the first half of the movie, "Ben-Hur." It's an oldie but has stood up remarkably well considering the developments in video technology since 1959. We'll watch the last half this Wednesday. Feel free to come along at 10:00 am to enjoy the film and discussion. 

Friendship Coffee met on Thursday morning. There were a couple of special guests from the Ukraine. As war drags on in that country our hearts ache for the suffering of the people there. We pray for an end to violence and, on Thursday, accepted monetary gifts as well.

Thursday evening the choir held their last rehearsal before the summer break and then adjourned for a choir dinner at Mary's Bleue Moon Restaurant. It was a noisy affair, but everyone was well fed. 

Congratulations to Peter. Once again, he is a provincial champion, this time in baseball. 

After the pandemic shut-down, it lifts the spirits to see sports and social events returning to the calendar. We also rejoice that our church has been able to hold in-person services these last few months--and to have many visitors coming to the door. 

Last night I looked out at a perfect crescent moon hanging low over Bazan Bay while the last purple streaks of the sunset limned the islands. I caught my breath at the beauty of God's handiwork. Amid the horrors and distresses appearing daily on our news screens, let us never forget to give thanks For the Beauty of the Earth.

Happy Summer!

A Wedding

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

Friday was a very special day at SPPC. Brian and Elizabeth got married!

I was fortunate enough to be invited. 

As I listened to the words of marriage and Rev. Irwin's homily on love, the cares of this world receded, replaced by the elation of the moment. 

I was reminded of my own wedding and the joy and excitement of that day.

I was reminded that marriage is a great gift, to be treasured, nurtured, and celebrated.

Listening to Brian and Elizabeth repeat their vows, I silently repeated my own. I wonder how many in the congregation did the same.

Brian and Elizabeth, husband and wife.

After the ceremony, we were treated to lunch. The tables looked festive.

Thanks to the hardworking crew in the kitchen, who also got a bite to eat. 

 

 Then came the cutting of the cake, created by Brian's daughter.  

Congratulations, Elizabeth and Brian, and thank you for sharing your day with all of us. 

May God bless, preserve and keep you;

May God look upon you with favour,

May God fill you with all blessings and give you grace

That you may live together in joy and love.

Discipline of Celebration

 This week's live-streamed service can be found here.

 From Pam's Garden                

The last session of Bible Study was on the discipline of celebration, so this week's blog is all about celebrations.

~~ Max has returned from his travels and is starting his new job this week. The job grew out of his co-op program, but it is now a full-time, real life, first job.

~~Speaking of Max, his convocation ceremony is this Thursday at UVic. 🎓 He is graduating with a Bachelor's in Software Engineering. Well done, Max.

~~Congratulations to Peter and the whole Stelly's Rugby 7's Team. Last weekend they won the provincial championship at a tournament in Richmond. Way to go, Peter.

~~Kathy was well enough to come to Bible Study on Wednesday and she brought along her brother and sister-in-law. Good to see you up and moving, even if your gait is slower than normal.

~~As seen on CHEK News, Valerie and Cedric celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary last week. 🎉

~~Neill and Carla are celebrating their anniversary on June 15.

~~ On Friday, June 17, Elizabeth and Brian are getting married in the sanctuary of SPPC. The entire congregation wishes them much joy.

~~ Happy Birthday to Bin Sie, also on Friday.

~~ We are still getting good vibrations from the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. This lovely tea-set was loaned by Joan, a friend of the congregation, to suit the occasion, and we've received a thank you note from the local Commonwealth Society in appreciation of our efforts. 

~~ We had new volunteers in the kitchen for coffee hour on Sunday morning. Thank you Rosalie and Fred.

~~ On Thursday night, a newcomer to the church came to choir practice. Joyce is working on her English as well as her music. There was much laughter. 😀

~~ Finally, next Sunday, June 19, we will celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Wasn't That a Party?

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

What a party! 

The organizers worried all week about the weather, but the rain stopped and the clouds lifted mid-morning so we set up outside. 

Then at 3:00 pm just as we were getting underway, the English weather rolled in and we had to move the food and the musicians inside. still, many hardy souls chose to stay outside under our liquid sunshine.

Very hard to estimate the numbers who attended when we were so scattered about but we think maybe 150. 

We had folk visiting from England and from the USA. 

Members of the Commonwealth Society came by. An enthusiastic  monarchist from Colwood, brought her daughter to enjoy the fun and food. And there was lots and lots of food!

We even had a stand-in royal corgi!

The cut-out image of Her Majesty got nearly as many photos as the real thing.

The party ran from 3:00 - 5:00 but the work began weeks ago and when the guests went home the clean up crew went into action.

Note the morning working outfit and the fancy dress for the clean-up!

I think is is fair to say, a good time was had by all. God Save the Queen!

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 Sunday morning we bid farewell to one of our brothers-in-Christ. Archie is moving to Calgary where his family eagerly await his arrival. We will miss Archie's big smile and twinkling eyes, but we all wish him well in this new phase of his life. 

The teddy bear is to give and receive hugs -- just like Archie.

Fare thee well, Archie, and may the Lord watch between me and thee, while we are absent one from the other. Gn: 31:49

Back to the Blue Bus

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

On Sunday, SPPC hosted the Mobile Outreach of Youth for Christ in Greater Victoria, otherwise known as The Blue Bus. This ministry serves kids and teens on the Esquimalt, Quw’utsun, Tsawout, and Tseycum First Nations and has received support from our congregation for years. That support often takes the form of cookies and snacks for the after school programs, -- and prayer, always. 

Kurt Friesen has succeeded Rick Wismer ad the program director (and driver) of the Blue Bus. He delivered the sermon on Sunday morning and answered questions during a lunch put on by our Missions Committee, and on the bus. 

No matter which committee at the church puts on a lunch,  our congregation always responds well to the offer of food! 

Learn more about the blue bus ministry here

💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂💂

Get out your fascinator and your best British recipe for the "street party" in our parking lot on Saturday. Officialdom in Canada has largely ignored this milestone in Queen Elizabeth II's reign so SPPC has stepped into the breach with a celebration for her Majesty. It's a street party, not a tea party, so no need for your best bib and tucker but we encourage red, white and blue. Bring a plate of finger food to share (British recipes encouraged) and come on down. The party starts at 3:00 pm and is strictly come-and-go so set your own timetable. All are welcome. We hope the whole neighbourhood will take advantage of the occasion.

There will be music but no speeches. 

We hope for good weather, but will meet inside the church if the wind and rain are lashing -- of course, that's just good English weather, right? 

Watch her coronation

May Happenings at SPPC

 

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

Remember all those supplies we gathered in March for the Compassionate Resource Warehouse, bound for Ukraine? Thanks to Brian and Vivien we've received this report.

CRW UPDATE

Our POLAND-UKRAINE load was finished shortly before 6 pm today.
Over the last few days, some of the building supplies were loaded as they were delivered. This helped to have space inside the warehouse, and greatly reduced our loading time today. An amazing load of supplies-- plywood, sinks, doors, windows, crates of tools, plus so much more.

The back boxes of diapers were all collected and stored at Soap for Hope. They gathered these during our drive a few weeks ago. They still have more to share with future loads but they do make a colourful back door opening! Thank you Soap for Hope.

To all who have worked so hard, I hope you sleep well tonight, and tomorrow night and the next. This has been a heavy go and some very heavy days.

I am looking forward to seeing just how much this container weighs!

The consignee is already thrilled and excited to receive the load.
Thank you everyone.

This is good news indeed. However, they do not indicate they they are ready yet to receive further donations.  So we will keep checking to find out when this happens. -- Brian and Vivien

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The big wind on Wednesday did a little pruning on our the big cedar tree in the parking lot! Luckily no one was standing nearby when it happened, sometime between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm. 

It's all cleaned up now and turned into a pile wood. 

Thursday was Friendship Coffee. Good to see so many people out enjoying a visit and some goodies. I was especially pleased to see Kathy out and about and sounding like herself again. She hopes to come to service on Sunday.

      During Bible Study on Wed. morning we talked about worship as gathering together in "holy expectation." While we have all been glad of the opportunity to "attend" worship through the on-line streaming, we have missed the gathering together. 

 

Don't forget to mark your calendars for June 4, when SPPC hosts a Platinum Jubilee "street party" in the parking lot in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's seventy years on the throne. Check out the Peninsula News Review story.  We are on page A-4.