SPPC Today

News for Sunday, May 18, 2025

Why, in 2025, do we still mark Victoria Day? For many, it is simply the welcome "May long weekend," a signal of summer's imminent arrival, a time for gardening, camping, or gathering with family. The direct connection to Queen Victoria herself might feel distant for some. Yet, its persistence points to something deeper about us and our need for tradition.

Traditions, whether national holidays like Victoria Day, family rituals, or even the familiar rhythm of our local community events, act as anchors. They provide a sense of continuity in an ever-changing world, connecting us to a shared past and a collective identity. We hold onto them tenaciously because they offer comfort, predictability, and a way to mark the passage of time together. Traditions often embody values, stories, and a sense of heritage – even if we don't always consciously articulate it. They become part of the story we tell ourselves about who we are, as a nation or a community.

This human instinct for tradition, for meaningful, repeated practices that bind us together and root us in a larger narrative, finds a profound echo in the life of the Church. Think about it: our Christian faith is steeped in traditions that have been passed down through millennia. We follow a liturgical calendar that annually rehearses the great story of salvation – Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost. These aren't just arbitrary dates; they are sacred traditions that shape our worship, our prayers, and our understanding of God's ongoing work in the world.

Our sacraments, like baptism and communion, are also ancient traditions instituted by Christ himself, connecting us not only to God but to countless believers throughout history and across the globe. The hymns we sing, the creeds we affirm, even the scriptures we read and preach upon – these are all part of a vibrant, living tradition.

Like national holidays, these church traditions can risk becoming mere habit if we lose sight of their deeper meaning. But when embraced with understanding and intention, they become powerful channels of grace, spiritual formation, and communal identity. They remind us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves–a "great cloud of witnesses." Just as Victoria Day, for all its evolving interpretations, still offers a pause and a shared marker in our civic calendar, our church traditions offer us sacred pauses and holy markers in our journey of faith, grounding us in the unchanging love and faithfulness of God. This long weekend, as we enjoy a break from the ordinary, perhaps we can also reflect on the traditions, both civic and sacred, that shape and enrich our lives.

Worship this Sunday

Our Sunday service begins at 10:00 a.m. You can participate in person or connect with our community online via the livestream. The link is available here.

The Scripture readings are:

• Responsive Psalm 66:1-9, 16 & 20

• Acts 9:1-30 - Saul’s conversion

This week we also look forward to our choir singing of both the introit, God reveals his presence by G. Tersteegen & J. Neander, and the anthem, The Lord is my Shepherd by W. Griffith.

Upcoming

• Our Wednesday Study, The Gospels: The Extraordinary Life of Jesus of Nazareth, continues on May 21 at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. 

• Our Dominican Republic Mission Luncheon and presentation will take place next Sunday, May 25 following the worship service. All are invited

• The next Friendship Coffee gathering takes place on May 29 at 10 a.m. Bring a friend to enjoy this fellowship.

• We will be celebrating SPPC’s 35th Anniversary on Saturday June 7, at 12:30 p.m.with a special catered lunch at SPPC. Tickets are $25.00 each. The menu and sign-up sheets are available in the Narthex.

SUNDAY MORNING

Welcome to Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church. 

Our worship takes place at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning both in-person and online (via the SPPC YouTube Livestream button above). We invite you to join us each week as we continue to explore and follow the Word of God. Following the service, there is a fellowship time at the back of the sanctuary.

For the safety of your neighbours, when you attend worship: 

• Please, perform a health check prior to attending.

• While masks are not required, feel free to wear one if you prefer.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.