From the Vicarage
Harvest
“Everything in heaven and on earth is yours,
All things come from you and of your own do we give you.”
We often speak these words to God as we offer our alms and our gifts of bread and wine at the great Eucharistic Thanksgiving. But do we really believe it ? Years ago, when almost every household baked their own bread, each household would bring the finest of that weekend’s loaves to place on the altar to be blessed so that a part could be used for Holy Communion and the rest could be distributed to those who were unable to afford to bake or buy bread. What do we bring to God for him to bless, for our use or for others ?
At Harvest Thanksgiving we have an extra reminder of God’s goodness to us. Most people know the story of the vicar who admired a parishioner’s garden, saying, “See what fine flowers the Lord has planted here.” The parishioner replied, “I planted those, the Lord was only growing weeds here before that !” But even weeds are really only flowers where we don’t want them, and many of them nourish the soil or form the basis for vital medicines.
We are set in a world which is full of beauty and wonder, and remembering to give thanks for all the good things helps us to notice them and appreciate them so much more. Do join us for our Harvest Festival Supper at 7.30pm on Saturday 22nd September and for our Harvest Service at 10.30 am on Sunday 23rd September, and repeat with us the words at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer,
“Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.”
With every blessing,
Ann
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