SASS Weekly Newsletter
September 22 2020
2020 Fall Sermon Series
This Fall we are going to spend six weeks …
singing “songs of praises”
Obviously NOT singing together the way we all want to but hopefully we might learn how to sing better by reflecting better on what it is we all want to sing. On Sept 13 we started our series looking at Hillsongs United’s song “Who You say I am” along with Ephesians 1:1-14.
On Sept 20 we built upon week one as we looked at Bethel Music’s beautiful song “The Goodness of God.”
Here are the lyrics for you to pray through and give joyous thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never failed me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God.
'Cause Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now, I give You everything.
Catch up on any of our Sunday Worship services you missed on our YouTube channel, which you can access by clicking on the YouTube icon on our church homepage, www.sasspc.bc.ca, or by simple searching for “SASS Presbyterian” on YouTube.
Sunday Morning Worship
For the past six months we have been livestreaming a worship service using ZOOM, from the sanctuary of the church. Generally the only people present in the sanctuary during the service are the Maritnez-Roa clan, the Baxters and Owen. The restriction on mass gatherings, >50, are still in place and in all likelihood will be for some time to come. As such we, at SASS, do not see ourselves going back to any “normal” worship gatherings any time soon.
However, from Sept 27 on, we are opening up the sanctuary on Sundays to a small number of people each week, who would like to come and be present as we continue to livestream our services using ZOOM. The maximum number of people at his time will not exceed 15.
Would you like to come? If so, you need to contact Angela, in the church office, before NOON on the Thursday of each week. You can contact Angela by email or phone.
admin@sasspc.bc.ca
604 987 6800
Angela is going to coordinate those requesting to come on Sundays to ensure we do not exceed the number expected and to ensure those coming are aware of the following ...
- Access to the Sanctuary will be between 10:15am and 10:30am, through the main door on Chesterfield Ave.
- You must use the hand sanitizer provided before entering the building.
- An usher will check off your name for the purposes of the contact tracing log.
- You must wear a mask at all times. Please bring your own but we will have some disposable masks for those needing them. If music is played at any time during the service you may sing but please keep your mask on.
- Please sit so that you maintain an appropriate social distance from others.
- Please do not see this as an opportunity to fellowship because for the time being we want to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Thursday Morning Bible Study
Pastor Daniel is leading the weekly Thursday Morning Bible Study, using ZOOM, 10-11:30am.
The Olive Press
The Olive Press team are planning an “Advent / Christmas 2020” edition of The Olive Press.
The theme will be “Hope and Acceptance” and they are accepting submissions up to October 13th. They are looking for articles that are current and family friendly, personal stories of faith, a book or blog review or favourite recipe. It’s Christmas, after all, they would love to have your favourite family secret recipe. It is the season for sharing and giving so let’s give every effort to participate in this edition and make it the BEST OLIVE PRESS EVER!
Email your submissions to … olivepress@sasspc.bc.ca
SASS’ Missions and Evangelism Ministry Team
The Cariboo Presbyterian Church are having a tough start to 2020 with a number of tragedies affecting their community as well as coping with the CoVId pandemic. MEMT has sent them an extra $1900 over and above our usual donations and we ask you to remember them as they try to faithfully serve, meet and minister with the added challenges of being geographically isolated.
MEMT has also sent an extra $2000 to Camp Douglas to help them during this year when no campers were able to attend. They were able to offer some online activities but certainly the uptake was nothing like a usual summer. We pray that they will have the financial resources to cover basic up keep costs and pray for the staff to stand firm and look too God’s provision to do immeasurably more despite the limitations.
Nate Hartley is riding his bicycle to raise funds for Inner Hope. We will be sponsoring him $300 and wish him well! Inner Hope are using the Ride for Refuge event to raise funds. and if you would like to support Nate directly, please check out;
https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=4782253&langPref=en-CA
Its nearly time for the Annual Christmas Shoeboxes again! MEMT are going to be ordering about 100 boxes this year and we hope to hold some “drive through and pick up a shoe box” events in the church parking lot towards the end of October. Collection week will be 16-22 November and we will give you more details about how to safely drop off your packed shoe box closer to the time. So start thinking about picking up those essential items now!
Competition Time
Name that HYMN
Can you name the well known hymn that these lyrics come from, without GOOGLING them?
- 1. I once was lost, but now am found
- 2. Chanting bird and flowing fountain
- 3. Thou hast brought me to this place
- 4. Granted in what He ordaineth
- 5. We are His flock, He doth us feed
- 6. He shines in all that’s fair
- 7. Never more thy temples leave
- 8. Ye have seen His natal star
- 9. Where meek souls will receive Him
- 10. To Pardon and sanctify me
- 11. And keep them by thy watchful care
- 12. All the world is God’s own field
- 13. We are going to see the King
- 14. Let us labor for the Master
- 15. Then at last, when on high He sees us
- 16. Do thy friends despise
- 17. Dressed in His righteousness alone
- 18. What He says we will do
- 19. And we’ll guard each one’s dignity
- 20. Which wert and art and evermore shalt be
Email your answers to pastormbaxter@gmail.com
Prayer
What a blessing to have Pamela Roa lead us in prayer on Sunday September 20.
The following is a transcript of her prayer, for your continued blessing.
Loving and Gracious God, we thank you for this opportunity of gathering together as a family of Christ, even though we can not physically see each other, we are together in your Spirit. We thank you for the technology that helps us to keep connected and for the blessings you give us every day. Thank you Lord, for the changing season, the changing colour of the leaves, which reminds us that your work is perfect and you are God above everything. Thank you for the country we live in, for the freedom we have to worship you and pray for one another.
Merciful Father, we live in a broken world, where suffering is all around us.
We pray for all the consequences of Covid-19. For the people who have lost their jobs and the ones who struggle to find one. For those who are lonely and desperate to see family and friends. For first responders that risk their own lives for others. For those who are sick and isolated and fighting for their lives. For many parents who struggle between jobs and child care. For schools, staff and teachers that are trying hard to keep everyone safe. Dear God, the whole world is being affected by this illness, we ask that you take our hands and hold us to get through it.
Righteous Father, we pray for justice and peace in the world. Guide our leaders and give them wisdom to lead their countries in a way that is just and according to your will.
We also pray for the wildfires that are affecting North America. Give strength and protection to the firefighters. We also pray for the victims that have lost their homes and love ones because of these fires. Merciful God, give them peace.
We pray for all the residents of the east coast in the States that have lost their homes and belongings due to Hurricane Sally. Be with them during these stressful times.
Lord we put in your hands the Kier family. Last year we were interceding for their son Max who was injured in a ski accident, now we bring to you his brother Lachlan who recently has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Hold his parents Dave and Allison with your strong and loving arms as they face another scary and worrying time.
We cannot forget our brothers and sisters in our community of faith that are fighting an illness. We lift prayers for Jean and Alan Bone, Margaret Williams, David Ballentine, Liz Lilley, Lorne Dennis, Joanne Graham, Jim Hall, Dean Scott, Don Campbell, Kel Kejser, Penny McDonald, and David Forrest.
Loving God, at this time we especially remember Darrel Smith as he is grieving the loss of his wife Jan and the sudden death his son Michael. We ask you to hold your caring arms around him and let him feel the love and care from all of us. Give him peace as he is grieving the departure of two loved ones. Dear God, sometimes we can not understand the circumstances of life, but we trust that you will be with Darrel filling all emptiness, and giving him hope that one day you will restore the lives we lost because of the resurrection of Jesus.
Almighty God, we ask that your light shine upon all of us. Open our eyes to see the needs of others. Help us to become more like your son, Jesus Christ. Guide our lives to live according to your purposes. Let us be the light in the darkness.
Prepare our hearts to hear your voice today, and help us to put in practice the message you have prepared for this Sunday.
In your name we pray
Amen
St. Andrew’s & St. Stephen’s is a “community of faith”, a fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s continue to uphold each other, and share our burdens during these days.
The Kier family are good friends of Nicole & Darren Pringle. Last year Max was horrendously stabbed by a ski pole on Grouse Mtn. Lachlan’s surgery yesterday went well and now he begins a lengthy recovery period. Laclan is in Grade 7 at Upper Lynn Elementary.
Some of you may remember Charlotte Solomon or her daughter, Leah, who attended youth group at SASS for many years. Charlotte was a member here many years ago. She has been attending Fairview Presbyterian recently and they have let me know that Charlotte died a few days ago.
During these strange times we want to pray for you. So we have created a new prayer email account. Send your prayer request to prayer@sasspc.bc.ca
Stamp Collection
Edward Knight was an avid stamp collector and Rosalind would like to pass his collection on to someone who would appreciate it. Contact her at 604 916 1637
SASS Worship Service information
We continue to hold our Sunday worship services online, via ZOOM. The link to all SASS meetings and worship services is easily accessible. Just go to our homepage – sasspc.bc.ca and scroll down and click on the following graphic. The password to access our ZOOM meetings will be “sass” – lowercase, no quotes.
The ZOOM Meeting ID for our SASS worship services is – 795 930 7120
If you DO NOT have access to a computer / internet then you can phone in and listen to any SASS meeting / service using the above meeting ID.
- Dial 778 907 2071
- When prompted enter the Meeting ID: 795 930 7120, followed by #.
- You will be asked for a participant ID - just hit the # key.
- When prompted enter the password: 676824
PLEASE REMEMBER on Sundays to check that your MIC is muted and that your video is disabled / turned off, to limit bandwidth usage and potential on-screen distractions.
If you dial in using your phone please MUTE your phone, if that option is available.
Let’s SHARE
Are you meeting in a small group, cell group, Bible Study during this pandemic? PLEASE send me a photo that I can share with everyone to encourage each other that there are ways of being together.
Are you reading, or have you read something lately you would love to encourage others to read? PLEASE send me a short reflection that I can share with others about the book.
Have you watched something, or listened to a new piece of music that has just made you praise God? PLEASE send me your reason why I should watch it, or listen to it, that we can share with others.
Let’s share with each other. Let’s encourage each other. Let’s help one another.
Pastor Martin’s Musings
“Hand Sanitizer”
Hands up, how many of you are fed up using hand sanitizer? It’s become part of our new norm, hasn’t it? Every shop we go in to we are hand sanitizing and most places are now requiring us to wear masks. Let’s do what we can to help reduce our curve and keep each other as safe as possible.
I really don’t want to knock using hand sanitizer because I fear the wrath of Dr. Nicola if I do. I’m sure Nicola would be more than happy to point me on the straight and narrow about why we should be using it and more to the point what hand sanitizer we should be using, depending on its ingredients.
Recently I was getting the girls what they needed to go back to school; pencils, paper, a new thermos, and of course masks and hand sanitizer.
The girls were adamant, they wanted some hand sanitizer that smelt good, not that stuff that stinks. They wanted some fruity or mint smelling hand sanitizer.
They got me thinking.
Why do we use hand sanitizer? I’m no medical person but I’m assuming that a good hand sanitizer will kill the germs we have on our hands. So in essence we have bad stuff on our hands and hand sanitizer gets rid of it. Again I can hear Dr. Nicola telling me that washing your hands frequently with soap and water is a better way to do that, but this musing is about hand sanitizer so let’s keep with the idea that it does actually remove the thing we want removed.
Isn’t it great that we can so easily remove the stuff we don’t want from ourselves, and isn’t it even better that we can pick and choose the stuff we want to use in order for our clean selves to smell better afterwards.
I’m guessing all of us would prioritize using a hand sanitizer that removes the crud whether it smells good or not, right? Actually the worse the hand sanitizer smells the more I think it is actually doing what it is supposed to do.
Am I the only one who thinks that way? Sometimes I spray this sweet smelling thing on my hands and I wonder has it actually done any good, or do I need to go and wash my hands as soon as I can. even though my hands smell like a strawberry I wonder if all that has happened is that I have added an oily lotion to my hands which enables the germs to slide around easier from one place to another rather than actually destroy them.
To me the worse the hand sanitizer smells the more convincing it is that it is going to do what I need it to do.
Imagine being covered in something awful, so awful in fact that no soap would remove it, ever? Imagine being so covered in this dirt and grim that you don’t even know it because it has just become part of the norm.
Then one day you come to a realisation that you are covered in this stuff and that’s not the way you were meant to be. So all you need to do is get this hand sanitizer and cover yourself in it. So you ask for it and you discover it is blood. The blood of a man who died for you so you can be washed in his blood. Sounds horrific doesn’t it? But it is exactly what we need, all of us.
We need to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Can you hear the lyrics of that old hymn? I can hear you singing …
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
In the midst of this ongoing pandemic our lives have taken on some new habits, not least wearing masks and using hand sanitizer all the time.
The next time you use hand sanitizer smell your hands as soon as you do it? I hope they stink. If they do I hope they remind you that your hands were filthy and they so badly needed to be washed. And then take a brief moment and say “thank you” to your Loving Father in Heaven who loved you so much He died for you, so He could wash you in His blood so that in His eyes you are completely clean and you smell so so so very sweet.
Bless you, now and always.
Pastor Martin
pastormbaxter@gmail.com
Direct Line in Church Office – 604 770 1025
www.sasspc.bc.ca
