$20.00 DEALS.

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

Thanks to our clerk of session for this week's blog post.

   Two quite different outings this week, both worth the $20.00 for each event.

The first one on Thursday with the ‘Out to Lunch Bunch’ when 13 of our congregation enjoyed lunch together at Zanzibar. We had a wonderful time of laughter, chatting and eating on a beautiful warm Spring Day.

You should join us next time & yes, my lunch and drink came in just under $20 00.

Then on Saturday, being International Organ Day, I caught the bus and went on an Organ Crawl with about 30 other people. It was arranged by the Royal Canadian College of Organists. Registration fee was $20.00! Proceeds were split between the RCCO Hart Memorial Scholarship Fund and the venues.

Both events were so enjoyable and worth every penny.

What an adventure this one was!

The morning was scheduled from 10:00am to 12:15pm, however, were didn’t finish until 1:00 pm.

Our host for the day was Mark MacDonald the Assistant Director of Music for the Cathedral. Mark is an internationally recognized performer, choral director, and teacher, based in Victoria and very knowledgeable regarding the 3 churches and their organs.

We met at the Church of our Lord, from there we walked to St. Ann’s Academy and finally up the hill to Christ Church Cathedral.

The Church of Our Lord, built in 1866-1870 and is located at 626 Blanshard Street in Victoria, it is an historic Carpenter Gothic church that is designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. A typical Anglican Church.

The oldest extant organ in B.C. stands in the chancel of this building where it has been since 1876 and came from America.

The organ, was purchased by Sir James Douglas and was transported to the brand-new Church of Our Lord and set up by John Bergstrom in 1875

Bishop Cridge, Emily Carr, Sir James Douglas and other such well known people have most likely sat in the pews and heard this organ.

Across the road at St Ann’s Academy, we found a very different venue.

It has a French-Canadian history.  The chapel, now deconsecrated but it is still used for weddings, was built in Roman Catholic French style, very ornate, lots of gold paint, very open and bright. The organ too is French and located in the loft at the rear of the church. The organ is by a French company started by Joseph Casavant of Montreal.

 

Finally, to the Cathedral which houses 5 organs that I counted, the largest being housed at the rear of the Cathedral up in the organ loft. This was an adventure in itself getting up there.

This one was built by Hellmuth Wolff a Canadian organ builder.

Mark played all of the 3 main organs at each church and here at the Cathedral he played, Holst’s, The Planets – Mars, as the grand finale.

Standing right by the organ console was an amazing experience and loud!

So that we could compare all of the organs, Mark played Judas Maccabeus by Handel (Thine be the Glory) @ each location.

There was so much more information that I could share, the background history of the churches and the organs in which they are housed but time and space is limited. If you are interested in more, just Google them.

 

 

 

 

 

Our safe place

 

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

Wednesday morning was a busy time at SPPC. Inside, a group had gathered to study "The Safest Place on Earth," while outside, a boom truck arrived carrying our new heat pump.  

At the moment the truck pulled up we were discussing Crabb's "Foundational Conviction #3" A safe place to own and trace our desires to their source will put us in touch with our hunger for God. 

The topic and the truck seemed to compliment each other. Keeping our physical sanctuary warm is not what Crabb had in mind while discussing a spiritually safe place to explore our faith, yet our church life is enhanced because we have a warm, safe place to meet.

Just because I love watching other people work, here are many pictures.

The old heat pump is loaded to take away

                       

The new heat pump is unloaded

The platform is removed and rebuilt

Rot in old beams cut out and replaced with new wood

New heat pump is hoisted up

heat pump on platform without ducting

Note the fresh beams on the platform

New heat pump with ducting

There is still some tidying up work to do and a bit of fresh paint to be applied but we are grateful to Coastal Heat Pumps for their hardwork in getting the unit functioning in time for Sunday morning service.

I didn't hear anyone singing "Work for the Night is Coming," but they did work hard, because Sunday was a-coming!

Annual Congregational Meeting, 2024

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

Questions: How many Presbyterians does it take to change a lightbulb?

Answer: I don't know but I'll form a committee to find out.

We often joke about how many committees we have in our congregation, and in our denomination as a whole. The annual congregational meetings is an opportunity to note the work of all those committees. 

On Sunday morning we held our annual congregational meeting and received reports from the following committees:

• Compassionate Resource Warehouse
• Fellowship
• Friendship Coffee
• Sunshine Lunch
• Garden of Remembrance
• Geneaology Group
• Library
• Mission and Outreach
  
• Dominican Republic Mission
• Pastoral Care
• Prayer Chain
• Sunday School
• Web Ministry
• Music and the Choir
• Property and Grounds
• Rentals
• Finance Committee

And that doesn't include the various volunteers who serve the congregation and the community on the A/V system, cleaning, greeting, office assistance, and a host of other tasks that arise from time to time. 

It is remarkable to see how many groups and individuals operate mostly behind the scenes to ensure the smooth operation of our congregation. It takes a lot of work to make it appear that the place runs itself! 

The ACM was an opportunity to recognize and say thank you to all those worker bees.

It was also an opportunity to say thank you to our choir director and church secretary.  Their work is visible week to week, but there are many hours of unseen preparation as well.

Finally, we said thank you and congratulations to our minister, Rev. Irwin Cunningham, who celebrated his 60th birthday this week. Ministers will tell you that it is the congregation that makes the church, but our congregation will tell you that it is the minister who guides, teaches, encourages, commisserates, befriends, comforts and blesses the congregation.

Happy Birthday, Rev. Irwin, and thank you.

A Passion for Worship

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

Christians are admonished to "rejoice in all things." Most of us found it hard to rejoice in COVID-19. However, one of the consequences of the pandemic is that more and more churches have put their worship services on-line. For the curious among us, that has been a blessing.

Now that I can check out the worship at a neighbouring church, I often find myself scrolling youtube, just to enjoy -- or not-- another service. We have had some new members at SPPC because they found us on-line first. So, in that way, the pandemic was a blessing, although we didn't know it at the time.

When the Presbyterian Connection arrived in my mailbox a few weeks ago, I put it aside to read when I wasn't so busy. When I opened it up, my eye was caught by two articles about worship. The first was on the preaching of the Word, the second on the habit of worship.

In our book study on Wednesday morning, we pondered the concept of "a passion to worship."

I feel I've been nudged toward a blog post on worship!

According to one authority, Robert Webber, "Worship is the response of the people to God's saving initiative. The inner person receives God's acts of salvation communicated in public worship with humility and reverence, service and devotion."

Using that definition we should note that worship is a response . . .to God." 

When I'm scrolling church services on the internet I'm responding to the event more than to God. My response is that of an observer, distanced from other participants. I'm more judge than worshipper. Similarly, reading a printed sermon, becomes an intellectual exercise. I'm more focussed on typos and syntax than on the message.

On the other hand, being present in a concert hall soaking up the sound of a great oratorio, or standing in a forest of tall trees and hearing the wind brush their branches, or experiencing the might of a storm, with its flashes of lightening and rolling thunder, do provoke a worship response. I am humbled, and cannot help but respond. I bow down in awe to the Creator and give thanks.

We can't bring the grandeur of nature or the talent of a hundred voice choir into SPPC but our worship can and should bring us closer to God. 

For me, being present when the Word is preached, when the Gospel, with all it's grace and judgement is expounded, when the words "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life," -- when those words are spoken directly to me, I do respond to God. 

A recent choir anthem, "Wondrous Love," touched many in the congregation with its portrayal of the unfathomable love of Jesus, "who chose the cross out of love." A response to God, not the choir.

The larger catechism of the Presbyterian Church says, "It is required of those that hear the Word preached, that they attend upon it with diligence, preparation, and prayer; examine what they hear by the scriptures; receive the truth with faith, love, meekness, and readiness of mind, as the Word of God; meditate, and confer of it; hide it in their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives."

Reading the catechism is not common practice in our day, but we can take note that the response to God depends as much upon the hearers of the Word as upon the preacher.

Perhaps another choir anthem, "Here I Am to Worship," provides an more accessible instruction than the catechism. The next time you come to church, remember . . .

Here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down.

 Here I am to say that You're my God

You're altogether lovely, 

Altogether worthy, 

Altogether wonderful to me.

Easter 2024

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

Easter morning at Cy Hampson Park. Even though Easter came early this year we had one of our nicest days in recent memory. As is our custom, we took a photo. There are two here. Your task is to find who swapped out for the second photo.

For many years we had a little sparrow come to our service, but the tree she sat in was cut down. This year, we had a lovely robin come to sing in the Resurrection.

Back at the church, we were treated to hot coffee and a breakfast buffet.

The sanctuary was decorated with lilies. Thank you, Janet.

We celebrated the Lord's supper.

Happy Easter.

Bow Down Low

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

The title for this week's blog comes from an old Shaker tune. The text speaks of the humble servant, working in the Lord's house. This past week at SPPC we've had many examples.

Last Sunday we inducted two new elders. Those who accept the role of elder in our denomination have responsibility for the physical, financial and spiritual well-being of the congregation. The element of "servant" is clear in these vows.

" to abide by the governance of our denomination while  providing a leadership that nurtures the peace and unity of Christ within their own congregation and within the worldwide church."

" to serve in an uplifting and gracefilled manner that will bless and encourage the church’s ministry of hope, peace, joy and love in the world."

We are grateful to Elizabeth and Pam for their willingness to serve.

***

On Wednesday there was another Sunshine Lunch. This one had a St. Patrick's Day theme. Again, thanks are due to the faithful servants who prepare and serve this treat for those of our congregation who live alone. Good food, good company and a party vibe. What a gift!

On Friday another group showed up to "sweep the Lord's House clean," literally. We scrubbed floors, cleaned the stoves and refrigerator, vacuumed the rugs, dusted and polished every wooden surface in the sanctuary and lounge, washed windows, swept out the cobwebs and spider nests hiding in buried corners -- and had a good time doing it. That's the thing about servants of God -- they rejoice in their work.

It has been a good week at Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church.

~~~~~~~

Next week is Easter. Please join us for any or all of the following services:

• Thursday, March 28 is Friendship Coffee at 10:00 am in the hall. All welcome
• Good Friday, March 29, 10:00 am in the sanctuary we hold a time of worship through a selection of readings and hymns. Please joine us as we contemplate the day of Jesus' Crucifixion. .
• Easter Sunday, March 31, 8:00 am we begin with an early morning service in Cy Hampson Park. Easter is early in the spring this year so don't expect the best of weather. Do expect joy and jubilation, and maybe a visiting songbird. 
• Easter Breakfast. After the service in the park we can warm up with a hot breakfast in the hall. Please join us at 9:00 am even if you do not go to the service in the park.
• Easter Worship in the sanctuary at 10:00 am. Please join us for a service of praise as we celebrate the joyful Resurrection on Easter morning. This service will also include the sacrament of Holy Communion.

More Travels

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

This week's guest blogger is Barb Lyon, but before we get to her post, just a few words about upcoming events at SPPC.

• This Friday, March 22 is the spring cleaning bee. Even if you haven't signed up, feel free to come along at 10:00 am and lend a bit of elbow grease.
• Sunday, March 24 is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week.
• Thursday, March 28 is Friendship Coffee at 10:00 am in the hall. All welcome
• Good Friday, March 29 we hold a service of readings and hymns at 10:00 am in the sanctuary.
• Easter Sunday, March 31, we will begin with an early morning service in Cy Hampson Park. Easter is early in the spring this year so don't expect the best of weather. Do expect joy and jubilation, and maybe a visiting songbird. The service begins at 8:00 am. 
• Easter Breakfast. After the service in the park we can warm up with a hot breakfast in the hall. Please join us, even if you do not go to the 8:00 am service.
• Easter Worship in the sanctuary at 10:00 am

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As my childhood friend Shirley and I look forward to our rail tour of Switzerland and cruise of the Norwegian fjords in June, I have been remembering a trip I took to Holland a few years ago. I visited the Royal Delft Shop where they manufacture and sell the iconic blue Dutch china and assorted china ware.

 

Royal Delft has been creating high-end Delft Blue since 1653. The centuries-old craftsmanship was passed down from generation to generation. The craftsmen create iconic pieces to this very day. Besides classic pieces, the collection also consists of contemporary decorations.

Being a lover of all things small I bought a tiny Dutch "wooden" shoe.

 

 

In Amsterdam a bike is a necessity!  It is the preferred method of transportation.  With so many bikes one would expect collisions would be commonplace.  Not so, I am told.  Riders are so safety conscious that most ride without helmets.

 

Of course, one must have a place to "park" one's bike and so here is a parkade that can store 9,000 bikes!  Just don't forget where you put it!

Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal) is the fourth and the longest of the main canals in Amsterdam. It is named after the Prince of Orange. Most of the canal houses along it were built during the Dutch Golden Age of the United Provinces. The bridges over the Prinsengracht canal connect with the streets in the Jordaan in the West and the Weteringbuurt on the East side.

Notable buildings along Prinsengracht include the Noorderkerk (Northern Church), the Noordermarkt (Northern Market),^[19] Anne Frank House,^[20][21] and the Westerkerk (Western Church.

 

This is the canal we took a ride on.

During my visit, the Rijksmuseum was celebrating the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt's death. Here is a quote about the occasion. 

Rijksmuseum marks the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt’s death in 2019 with ‘Year of Rembrandt’. The year-long celebration opens with ‘All the Rembrandts’, in which the Rijksmuseum will present for the first time an exhibition of all 22 paintings, 60 drawings and more than 300 best examples of Rembrandt’s prints in its collection.

As well as holding the world’s largest collection of Rembrandt paintings – including The Night Watch, the portraits of Marten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit, The Jewish Bride – the Rijksmuseum collection offers the world’s most comprehensive and representative overview of Rembrandt’s painting oeuvre.

Given the extreme rarity that many of these delicate drawings and prints go on display, All the Rembrandts offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to glean an unparalleled perspective on Rembrandt the artist, the human, the storyteller, the innovator. 

This exhibition was spectacular!

Ed. Note: thanks for this Barb. Food for the armchair traveller.