Psalm 1

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

This week we began a new Bible study on the Psalms. We began with Psalm 1 (a very good place to start.) That psalm was also the text for Sunday's sermon so those who were at Bible study went to the head of the class on Sunday morning. 

A version of Psalm 1 from the Scottish Psalter, is the first hymn in our Book of Praise. So we really are starting at the beginning.

We are using a study guide, Psalms - Prayers of the Heart, written by Eugene Peterson. He's maybe best known for his translation of the Bible called The Message. In our small group discussion we used various translations including The Message,  the NIV, the English Study Bible and the Good News Bible. 

For many of us, the language of the King James Version of the Bible is deeply rooted in our memories and brings comfort to our hearts. For study purposes, though, it is useful to read the same passage in different versions. Just the change of one word can bring out a whole other meaning. e.g. one translation of the first line of Psalm one reads "happy  are those. . .," while another reads "blessed is the man." The Message uses "How well God must like you—" The Scottish Psalter sings "That man hath perfect blessedness, Who walketh not astray."

"Happy" and "blessed" are both useful translations but there is no English word equivalent of the original Hebrew.  This is but a small example of how study of the Scripture can enhance our understanding and remind us that -- unless we can read Hebrew and Greek -- we are always reading through the lens of a tranlator.  

If you really want to delve deeply into translations, the website biblegateway.com has sixty-two versions of the Bible available with the click of a mouse.    

This week we move to lesson two of our study, and Psalm 2. One of the advantages of studying Psalms is that each one can stand alone. So, if you skipped last week, there is no reason you can't join in this week. There is a choice of class time, Wednesday at 10:00 am or 7:00 pm -- or go to both.                                                                                                                    

    Psalm 1 as a hymn.                                                                                                                                               

Knit a Prayer

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

Once upon a time, in the days before COVID-19, there were many busy knitters at SPPC. They usually worked during Friendship Coffee and produced thousands and thousands of cotton squares which were sent to the Compassionate Warehouse and distributed in Africa. The little squares, when hung in the sun, were sterile enough to be used to clean the eyes of newborns. One of our members loved to knit teddy bears for children in need of a toy or a cuddle. These two were distributed by the CRW.  

Then the pandemic came and friends couldn't gather in groups. The Compassionate Warehouse had to stop accepting donations as they couldn't distribute goods. Life changed.

The good news is that CRW is back up and running. SPPC is collecting goods once more and Friendship Coffee is back on a monthly basis. Brian and Vivien can tell you about both.

However, the busy knitting needles seem to have been packed away and forgotten. 

But if you are a knitter and in need of an easy project, let me suggest a prayer or healing shawl. These are simple to do -- knit three, purl three, for the width of the shawl, then turn and knit the purls and purl the knits. What makes these projects special is the love and prayer that go into every stitch. My friend, who has knit many shawls says they are "like a hug" to the recipient who may be feeling lonely or afraid.

I made one as a trial and gave it to our pastoral care committee to pass along to someone in our congregation who could do with a tangible reminder of our love and care for her. The gift exceeded all expectations.

So, I made another, which is on its way. As well as praying for the recipient while I'm knitting, I write out a little prayer and attach it to the shawl when it is sent off. It is that personal touch, and the reminder that we are all part of the Christian community that makes the shawls special.

The internet abounds with articles about forming knitting clubs for the purpose of making the shawls as a group. Other sites give you patterns and prayer suggestions and yet others will sell you a kit! 

While these resources may be helpful they are not necessary. What matters is that you imbue your work with love and ask God to bless it. Then give it away, trusting that the Holy Spirit will use it for good.

Just a reminder, Anna, Joan, Linda, Norma and Pam are on the pastoral care committee. They'd be glad to accept your knitting project and to supply you with names of possible recipients. More information is available from the office, 250 656-2241

A "New" Mother's Day

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

Sunday was Mother's Day. In the church we call it "Family Day," but everyone knows that Mom is the star of the show. How fitting, then that we celebrated the sacrament of Baptism at SPPC on that day. We welcomed baby Owen William Dean into the family of God and into the fellowship of Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church.

And we celebrated his Mom and his whole extended family as all of us together promised to uphold them as they raise, this child, offering guidance, teaching and support in Christian love.

We've had other baptisms at SPPC but more often than not, our connection to the baby is through grandparents or other relatives. Many times, the child doesn't live on the Saanich Peninsula, so our involvement is by long distance.

Owen, on the other hand, has been attending SPPC since he was only a few weeks old. His parents, his grandmother, and his aunt, his uncle and his cousin are all faithful members of our congregation. We look forward to watching him grow in "wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and man."

Of course, we celebrated with cake. 

And for those who may be missing their mom at this time, I found this little fragment of poetry.

. . . She taught me all of beauthy that I know 

The deathless creed of blossom and of wing

And still I find her love's reflected glow

      In every lovely thing.

Love never ends. 

Thanks, Mom.

forget-me-not

Presbyterian Women’s’ Retreat -- A Mountain Top Experience

 

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

 by Linda Cliff

I have been home from the retreat for a week and can still feel the joy of being in a Spiritual Community.  For those of you wadding through Larry Crabbs’ book The Safest Place On Earth, it is worth the work!

Rev. Mona Scrivens helped us to look at who we are in Christ… we are the children of God.   She looked at this in four parts.

You are IN:

INvited Luke 7:37-47

You are invited into the family

Invaluable:  1Corinthians 12:12-22

We have been created with a purpose, we each have our gifts, and we are the body of Christ

INfluencial:   Matthew 5:13-16 and John 4:9-39

We are the salt and the light. We have no idea how we can influence and change someone’s life. We are Influencers!

Invested: Luke12: 17-21 and Matthew 6:19

Don’t horde what you have.  It is better to give than receive.  Pour out don’t store.

Each session with Mona was powerful, she demonstrated through the scriptures each of her points in a way that was understandable and attainable.  There were opportunities for us to meet in groups and discuss topics such as Christ in the everyday, or go for a nature walk or visit the craft or puzzle table. Another opportunity the weekend offered was to meet people of different ages and from churches on the island. (7 decades were represented)

The organizers of this retreat wanted the participants to feel cared for and honoured.  They showed this in the decorations of the venue, the many treats, the hilarious movie they showed, the opportunities for quiet time, the worship music, the games we played.  I have not mentioned how wonderfully Camp Imadene met our needs.  The cabins were comfortable, there was a hot tub and the food was outstanding.

We ended the weekend with communion and on my part a desire to attend the next year. I hope you will accompany me!  This is an opportunity to be in a spiritual community:  to pray, sing, worship, play.

Please feel free to talk with Joan Adamcsack, Norma Scott or myself; we would love to talk to you!

$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.