SASS Weekly Newsletter

June 22 2020

 

 

Do you have a key and security code for SASS?

 

PLEASE, if you have NOT done so already, email Rick Zimmer, rzimmer@rickzim.com, and let him know you have a key / security code to the building. Thank you.

 

 

June 21 2020 :– Sunday Worship

Pastor Daniel preached on Sunday, June 21 2020, from Genesis 4:1-16; “Am I my brother’s / sister’s keeper?”

 

The quick answer is of course “yes.”

 

But if we know the answer, and we know that the answer refers to anyone, because everyone is our brother or sister, then we must ask ourselves “are we keeping my brother / my sister the way I would want, hope, expect them to keep me?”

 

That is the question that I have been asking myself all afternoon in response to Pastor Daniel’s wonderful sermon.

 

I have also felt challenged recently by what our “Statement of Faith” says in regards to “Justice.”

 

Justice opposes prejudice in every form. 

It rejects discrimination on such grounds 

as race, sex, age, status, or handicap. 

 

Justice stands with our neighbours
in their struggle for dignity and respect 

and demands the exercise of power 

for the common good. 

 

If we are our brother’s / sister’s keeper then surely we must stand up for those who are suffering injustice. Thank you Daniel for your challenge today. Bless you brother.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APOLOGIES

 

Last week, in fact, these past few weeks I have implied in the SASS Weekly Newsletter that you could click on embedded links in the PDF. I have just realized that saving WORD documents as a PDF does NOT save the web links.

 

So here’s the actual links from last week that you can “cut and paste”

 

“Inside the Vatican” Documentary - https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2020/03/two-years-for-lobbying-one-year-for-filming-inside-the-vatican/

 

The YouTube link to a wonderful rendition of “Amazing Grace” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA7pdABvpnc&feature=youtu.be

 

Todd Wiebe’s “Rector’s Cupboard” Podcast - https://rectorscupboard.podbean.com/

 

SASS YouTube Channel – recordings of past services - https://youtu.be/TfQQB_a5N5M

 

“Reading Through ACTS”

 

I hope you are continuing to spend 20 minutes each day reading and meditating on Luke’s 2^nd volume of his writings, the Acts of the Apostles. I have included the reading plan for this upcoming week, for your reference.

 

 

 

 

Competition Time

 

Last week’s competition was “Bible Facts” – 10 ‘simple’ questions

 

Here are the answers …

 

Answers :-

1. The quote does NOT exist I the Bible. 1 Cor 10:13 is similar but you will not find a quote that says “God never gives you more than you can handle”
2. Samson struck 1000 men with a Donkey’s Jaw Bone.
3. Manasseh
4. Elijah and Enoch did not die a normal human death.
5. Who cut Samson’s hair? – A male servant under Delilah’s authority.
6. Methuselah was 969
7. Job
8. Esther – I know some folks also rightly suggest that “Song of Songs” does NOT contain the word “God” there is a reference to “The Lord” in 8:6
9. Sarah is mentioned more than Mary
10. How many times does the phrase “fear not” show up in Scripture? Once for every day of the year!

 

Congratulations to – sorry there was NO winner. 

 

This week’s competition

 

“Name that BIRD!”

as requested by Dr. Nicola

 

Summer is here so let’s get to our vacations. Right? Whoops! Few of us will be flying anywhere this summer.

 

So, let’s get into the spirit of flying by naming the following “birds.”

 

The following pictures represent TEN airlines. Can you name them? 

Name the LEFT hand column as #s 1-5 and the RIGHT column as #s 6-10.

 

Email me your answers – pastormbaxter@gmail.com

 

To try and create some level of fairness all entries will be saved by the quizmaster and a winner will be drawn at random.

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to our 2020 Grads

 

On Sunday we celebrated our six 2020 grads.

 

Nicole-Renee Rausch will be going to Douglas College, to study a BA in Childcare.

 

Roelof Koedood is taking a gap year to work, and then is going to UVic to study History.

 

Taylor Groundwater will be going to CapU in a jazz program

 

Sarah Lilley will be going to UBC to study Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Engineering.

 

Rebecca Pringle will be working with her dad this coming year, and doing her level II ski instruction for VASS (Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports). Then she plans to study Psychology.

 

Isaac Edmonds will be studying Human Kinetics at UBC Okanagan.

 

Congratulations to all of you and to use Rebecca’s words “show as much love as you can,” wherever you go, whatever you do. 

 

God bless you.

 

 

 

Let’s PRAY TOGETHER

 

Once again we were so so so very blessed to be led in our prayers of the people on Sunday.

 

I have asked Alisha Lilley to include her prayer for our reflections this coming week.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

 

Today we come to you with songs of thanksgiving. We sing for joy of what your hands have done. We praise you for your vast and complex creation and for your loving and life giving nature. You are a good good father, your love and provision sustains our every need. Give us the eyes to see and the ears to hear of your many blessings that are so often taken for granted. Thank you for our earthly fathers that nurture and support your children. May they always seek to be a reflection of your loving encouragement and comfort. You are a gratuitous God. 

 

Forgive us for our misdeeds and faults that distance us from you. Draw us near to you so that we may live in accordance to your will. Heavenly father, we ask for your reassuring presence as we face many challenges separating us physically or dividing us racially. Remind us that you maintain control no matter how chaotic and confusing our lives may seem. Remind us that what we see is only part of the picture. Reassure us and reignite our trust in you. We pray especially for our world leaders, grant them wisdom and discernment as they make challenging decisions that affect our everyday living. 

 

Almighty father, time and time again you are faithful to your promises, coming to the rescue of your people. In these times of confusion, anxiety and concern, guide our eyes to your word. Speak your truth to us. Touch our lips so that we may only speak of your faithfulness and restore our hope and trust in you. For you lord are our refuge, sheltering us. You are our fortress, protecting and defending your precious, beloved people. We lift up those in our congregation who are mourning loss, feeling lonely and living with chronic illness and pain. Whether their hearts are filled with anxiety, fear or despair let your promise of protection and love permeate their thoughts and hearts so that they may feel your comfort.  

 

We ask that you teach your people the nature of gentleness. You are a gratuitous God who has created each and everyone of us. As we continue our journey of faith in these ordinary days of extraordinary living, allow us to be gentle with ourselves and each other. As we walk in step with you as a church family, help us to help each other. Though we may be overpowered by uncertainty and physical distance from each other, unite us. Allow us to build a deeper connection with you and each other. Guide our steps, hold our hands and lead us closer to you. 

 

In your gratuitous and powerful name, 

Amen 

 

Don’t forget, in order for us to pray and give thanks for each other we all need to share what’s going on in our lives. Send your prayer concerns, requests, stories by emailing prayer@sasspc.bc.ca

 

 

From the Community Engagement Committee

of the Presbytery of Westminster

 

At our recent Presbytery meeting, via ZOOM, the Community Engagement Committee included the following information about Anti-Asian Racial Violence in British Columbia and Across Canada.

 

In only the first four months of the year the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) reported 20 such hate crimes. On May 22, CBC news reported that the number of anti-Asian hate crimes in the GVRD had risen to 29. In all of 2019, there were 12. Many additional incidents go unreported, according to Carol Liao at the CBC. This increase of racist incidents is part of a recent trend in Canada. Lee-Young reports that between April 23 and May 18, 2020, an online poll received reports of 128 anti-Asian racist attacks and micro-aggressions across Canada (87% in BC) including verbal harassment, physical attacks, and vandalism. As a result, long time Asian Canadians living in Vancouver “fear going out for dread of being attacked.” These attacks are motivated by the entirely erroneous belief that the COVID19 virus is carried by all Chinese or Asian people. A poll by the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice found that 14% of respondents in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal either believed this (4%) or were uncertain it was not true (10%). Research has shown most COVID19 infection spread to Canada from the USA. 

 

This “shadow pandemic of anti-Asian racism” is part of a long history of anti-Asian racism that has been endemic in Vancouver since the 19th Century. 

• The “Chinese Head Tax” required Chinese immigrants to pay a huge entry fee when they arrived in Canada that was not applied to European immigrants. 
• Chinese citizens (and all “non-whites”) were deprived of the right to vote in 1871 by an act of the BC legislature. 
• In Vancouver, Nanaimo and Kamloops, Chinese residents were confined to ghettoes on the outskirts of the towns. 
• In West Vancouver, persons of Chinese and Asian ancestry were forbidden by legal covenant to own property in the British Properties neighbourhood. 
• Even in death, Chinese burials were excluded from “white” cemetery areas. 

Today, because of peoples’ fears about the COVID19 pandemic, “the toxic echoes from the past resonate through the racial slurs of the present,” according to Fiona Lam. “People persist in seeing themselves as superior, and others as inferior, based on skin colour and ancestry.” 

 

Personal responsibility for racist attitudes is deflected by finding scapegoats to blame.

 

This current trend to demonize Asian Canadians is especially unacceptable because, according to Wikipedia, there are almost as many Asian Canadians (43.9%) as European Canadians (48.6%) comprising the population of the GVRD. This is racism directed by one minority against another. Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, warns that if Vancouverites do not confront these racist acts, it will encourage others to embrace what may have been latent biases “as though they are righteous.”

 

Anne Kang, MLA for Burnaby-Deer Lake, and Minister of Citizen’s Services, said, “Hatred will thrive whenever we fail to denounce it.....Government on our own will not be able to end racism but people standing up together will.” Apathy, and turning away, has never alleviated racism. “Purposeful and concerted actions of many people are necessary to change the trajectories of our histories,” says Liao, who adds that “the resurgent racism has made my belonging here feel conditional.”

 

John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia, stated recently that “hate has no place in British Columbia.” He observes correctly that “We are a strong and vibrant community because of [our] diversity.....I’m grateful to see citizens standing up to racism when they see it. We need to do that with increasing regularity.”

 

I am sure you, like me, have been watching the news’ feeds from the US these past few weeks in utter disbelief. But racism is alive and thriving on our own doorsteps. What can we do?

 

Sometimes we think we can do nothing because we can’t change the world. We are NOT called to change the world. We are called to follow Jesus who loved everyone despite their race. Jesus’ church is sent to every nation to preach the gospel and we preach not merely by our words but our actions. That also means our inaction speaks.

 

One of the things that has been so appalling to witness in the news is the amount of inaction that has seemingly been occurring at occasions where racism is so apparently obvious. We must be a voice. We must act to show love to every neighbour. We must educate the next generation to grow up in a society that sees everyone as brothers and sisters in Christ no matter if they speak with “strange” accents. We must take seriously that our identity is “IN CHRIST.” All the other stuff that supposedly identifies us is superfluous.

 

 

SASS COVID-19 Safety Plan

 

Due to the ongoing pandemic which will undoubtedly affect us for many months to come the Session have formulated a COVID-19 Safety Plan, so that anyone accessing the facility will do so in a way which minimises any risk of transmission of the coronavirus. This plan is a work in progress and we will revisit it as we move towards using the building for small groups etc in the Fall.

 

I have attached the current Safety Plan as a separate document, and it is also posted on the church website, as per the BC Provincial Health Officer / WorkSafe BC regulations.

 

Following Dr. Henry’s guidance we have started to use a “log book” in order to help with contact tracing in the event that someone at SASS contracts the coronavirus. As detailed in the Safety Plan, anyone entering the building at any time MUST sign in / sign out so that we can maintain this log book for the foreseeable future. The ONLY entry point into our building will be the main door from the car park. If you would like to speak with someone in the office please arrange an appointment with them in advance. The external office door will be closed until further notice. Access to the offices will only be through the hallway door.

 

SASS Church Finances

 

For the past 14 weeks we have been doing online ZOOM worship services. For many churches, finances have become a major worry due to the lack of in-person gatherings.

 

But on behalf of the Session and Board we would like to express our thanks to you all for your continued faithfulness in giving to SASS.

 

Recently our Treasurer informed us that for the first half of 2019 our “Actuals” totalled $162,000. Up to May 31 2020, for this current year, we have received $144,000.

 

Like 2019 we are behind on our budget but given these current circumstances we want to celebrate how well we are doing during these past 4 months, and we want to encourage everyone to continue their faithfulness through the summer months.

 

There are a number of ways to continue supporting SASS during this pandemic.

 

Send a cheque to the church office, or you can drop your offering in to the secure letterbox attached to the Chesterfield Ave entrance door. This letterbox is checked and emptied every week day.

 

If you have a PAYPAL account - Go to our church homepage and scroll down and click on “DONATE NOW”. 

 

Using a credit card, or paypal you can donate to SASS through CanadaHelps.  Click on the following link to our donation form.

 

Sandi Romain can setup up for PAR (Pre-Authorised Remittance). This is a monthly direct debit from your bank account. Go to sasspc.bc.ca for more details. You need to download & complete the PAR authorisation and mail it directly to Sandi with a VOID CHEQUE. Sandi’s contact details are as follows :-

SANDI ROMAIN, 2208 Sorrento Drive, Coquitlam, BC V3K 6H5

604-931-6695, romainsandi@hotmail.com

 

Thank you for continuing to support the life and ministry at 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.

1. Dial 778 907 2071
2. When prompted enter the Meeting ID: 795 930 7120, followed by #.
3. You will be asked for a participant ID - just hit the # key.
4. 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.

 

If you are having any difficulty

connecting to our ZOOM services

please let me know.

 

 

 

 

Pastor Martin’s Musings

“You are so lucky …”

 

I have tried so hard to resist the temptation to make any comment over these past few years on President Trump. Primarily because one congregant was so disappointed in me for making a slight comment during the 2016 election campaign.

 

But I just can not let the rally from Saturday night drift past without referring to one statement I heard from President Trump.

 

In the midst of his speech he said “you are so lucky I am your President.”

 

When I heard that I choked on my coffee.

 

I have heard President Trump make numerous statements these past few years, including several about this awful pandemic and the protests following George Floyd’s terrible death, but to hear him proclaim how America, all 330m of them, are so lucky, disappoints me. That’s not what I would expect or hope to hear from a leader.

 

When I saw the unfolding of the events that Monday not so long ago when President Trump made his way to the church for a photo op, to hold up the Bible I was disappointed and saddened that the Bible I treasure was apparently being used as a promotional tool.

 

When I was ordained in 2008 I re-committed my life to following Jesus, to try my best to obey His word of life, and teach others to do the same. To teach others the way to life.

 

I first committed my life to Jesus in my teens because I thought then that Jesus was my way to get to Heaven. Selfish!

 

Daniel did a brilliant job this morning of highlighting how far short of the real Gospel that understanding is. The real Gospel is about SELFLESSNESS.

 

The real Gospel is about Jesus, who being in very nature God, considered what it meant to be God, and so he emptied himself. Jesus poured himself out. Jesus humbled himself.

 

Jesus did not stand up in front of anyone and selfishly say “you are so lucky I am your Saviour.”

 

I am disappointed and saddened that the man who leads a country that claims it still believes and trusts in God lacks, in my opinion, the most fundamental Christlike character; humility, selflessness.

 

America is not lucky right now. They are in a mess and need help.

 

They need to be led back to their real Saviour and His way of life – self-giving love.

 

On Saturday night I listened to the rally and was disappointed. Then I read Rebecca Pringle’s email and my heart glowed. 

 

Rebecca wants to show as much love as she can. She wants to give and give and give as much as she can.

 

Amen, sister, thank you for the reminder.

 

By the way, we are so lucky to have brilliant young people in our community of faith.

 

God bless,

Pastor Martin

 

pastormbaxter@gmail.com

Direct Line in Church Office – 604 770 1025

 

www.sasspc.bc.ca