SPPC Today

News for Sunday, June 22, 2025

This past Tuesday, the Presbytery of Vancouver Island met at Comox Valley Presbyterian Church. We extend a warm welcome to the Reverend Jacqueline Cleland, who attended her first Presbytery meeting as the newly ordained and inducted minister of Knox Presbyterian Church, Sooke. Having just started her ministry on Monday, she truly jumped in at the deep end, and we congratulate her! We also marked the occasion of the final Presbytery meeting for the Reverend Laura Kavanagh as minister of Knox Presbyterian, Victoria, before her retirement at the end of August. We are nonetheless certain that Laura will continue to be involved in the life of the Presbytery moving forward. That evening, the Presbytery gathered for a very pleasant retirement dinner in Laura’s honour.

With the Reverend Laura Kavanagh’s retirement, Knox Presbyterian will now be vacant. However, the church will not be seeking a minister for the foreseeable future. Instead, Knox will be moving into an ecumenical shared ministry with Hollydene Community Church, sharing Hollydene’s ministry and worship leadership in Knox’s building.

On the other hand, St. Andrew’s, Victoria, recently completed an extensive ministry review facilitated by the Reverend Doctor Dale Woods from Westminster Presbytery. They have prepared a congregational profile and will likely begin their search for a new minister in early fall. At that time, I will serve as their Interim Moderator. In the meantime, Trinity, Victoria looks forward to the Rev. Mitch Coggin as their new IM.

Overall, it was a very positive Presbytery meeting. Immediately following the formal meeting, the Presbyters participated in a brainstorming session led by the Reverend Jeremy Bellsmith of St. Andrew’s, Nanaimo. We explored the greatest stressors facing congregations today and discussed how the Presbytery and its congregations could collectively help alleviate these pressures, specifically in areas of financial management, administration, and discipleship training. While this was just a first step, we anticipate rapid progress on these initiatives in the fall.

We covet your prayers for the congregations of the Presbytery, but especially for Knox, Sooke, and St. Andrew’s, Trinity and Knox, Victoria as they all face the challenges of change. 

On a different note, I will be away on leave for two weeks starting this coming Monday. The first week is for study leave, as I will be taking a Formational Prayer Seminar with Healing Care Canada. The second week is a medical leave that will prevent me from being in the pulpit on Sunday. In my absence, we look forward to the Reverend Arnie Alksne sharing the Word with us on July 29. The following Sunday, July 6, we will welcome the Reverend Wes Denyer, who recently retired to Victoria from Rosedale Presbyterian Church in Toronto.

Worship this Sunday

Our service this Sunday begins as usual 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 93

• Revelation 1

• John 8:13-20

This week we also look forward to our choir singing of both the introit, Give thanks to God, and the anthem, O Give Thanks by Hal Hopson.

Upcoming

• Rev. Irwin Cunningham will be on leave for the next two weeks. So next week, June 29, we welcome the Rev. Arnie Alksne back to the pulpit. The following Sunday, July 6, we welcome the Rev. Wes Denyer.

• For our final Wednesday Study before the summer break we will be watching the movie The Blind Side from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

• The Sunshine Lunch takes place this Monday, June 23 at noon. The luncheon follows a Hawaiian Theme.

• The next Friendship Coffee gathering takes place this Thursday, June 26, at 10 a.m. at Resthaven Park, next to the Sidney Library. Please, if possible, bring your own coffee, or beverage, and a folding chair. If it rains, we will meet at the church. Feel free to bring a friend.

• Our Food Bank Drive continues until June 29. There is a special request for personal hygiene products, tea bags, canned milk, canned meat and pasta sauce. There will be a draw for a flower basket for all donors.

• If you still need to update your Earthquake Emergency Kits with fresh food and water, please contact Janet or the office before the end of the month, so we may make a bulk order.

May the Lord 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.