SPPC Today

News for Sunday, May 31, 2026 - Trinity Sunday

Fifth Sunday

This weekend is a "Fifth Sunday." Taking to heart the teachings of the Centre for Missional Leadership, we are using these special Sundays to try something different.

So we will be transforming our traditional Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession into the Prayers of the People, and we warmly invite you to participate directly:

• Submit in advance: Share personal prayers with us before the service begins. Please submit your requests before Sunday morning.

• Share during worship: Offer a prayer request when invited just before we begin praying.

• Pray aloud: Voices from the congregation are welcome to pray aloud during the prayer itself. There will be a point in the prayer

This format allows us, as a community, to support what lies upon your heart and share each other's burdens before God, and allows you to share your prayers as you feel comfortable.

Because this is a shared journey, your feedback afterward will be very important. 

Trinity Sunday

While many of the major festivals in the church calendar celebrate a specific historical event, such as the birth of Christ at Christmas or the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Trinity Sunday stands out as unique. It is the only festival in the Christian year dedicated entirely to a theological doctrine rather than a narrative event. The roots of this day reach back to the intense theological discussions of the early church, culminating in the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, where the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was carefully defined. By the fourteenth century, Pope John XXII officially established Trinity Sunday for the wider Western church, placing it on the first Sunday after Pentecost to serve as a profound summary of everything that had just been celebrated from Advent through to the birth of the church.

The vital importance of Trinity Sunday lies in how it shapes our understanding of the very nature of God. Rather than viewing God as a distant, solitary ruler, this day reminds us that God is an eternal community of love—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existing in perfect, harmonious relationship. This is not a puzzle to be solved, but a mystery to be experienced. Because we are created in the image of this triune God, our own faith is meant to be deeply relational. Trinity Sunday calls us to move beyond mere abstract concepts and instead invite that divine, communal love to transform our daily relationships, our care for one another, and our service within the local neighbourhood.

Worship this Sunday

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

The Scripture readings are:

• Psalm 8

• Matthew 28:16-20

• 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

This week our choir is singing the anthem Go Now in Peace by Don Besig and Nancy Price.

Announcements

• Next Sunday, June 7, we are pleased to welcome the Rev. Grant Wilson back to the pulpit here at Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Irwin Cunningham will be attending the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada at York University, Toronto.

• Thanks to all of you who donated to the May Clothes Drive for the Mustard Seed Street Church. This Sunday, May 31, is the final Sunday we are collecting and the clothes will be received by the Mustard Seed the following week.

• The next Sunshine Lunch will take place on June 8; it will have a Hawaiian theme. Please sign up this Sunday.

• Our next Wednesday Study takes place on June 17 at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

• 2026 Vancouver Island Presbytery Summer Camps: These Weekend Escapes are a camping ministry for people of all ages. There will be speakers to engage the adults, activities to engage the children, and songs for everyone around the campfire. The times and locations are:

  • Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park June 8–12

  • Rathtrevor Provincial Park July 25–30

  • Rathtrevor Provincial Park July 30–August 3

  • For inquiries concerning the camps, you can connect with the Camp VIP Registrar at jermareng@outlook.com

Memorial

• The Memorial and Interment service for Charles (Chuck) McCaffree will take place this Wednesday, June 3 at 1:00 p.m. in the Garden of Remembrance.

Community Events

• Choral Evensong will be sung by the Youth Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church (9691 Fourth Street, Sidney). There will be a freewill offering. All are welcome. Choral Evensong has its roots in ancient English monastic tradition. The present format began in the sixteenth century. Today this old and beautiful service is sung every day of the week in many places around the globe. With its inspiring ethereal music and eloquent language, Choral Evensong can provide a peaceful, restful end to the day.

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!

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.