Dear church family,

All the farms in our area were built over long ago, and we feel removed from the rural rhythms of planting and reaping.

Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to remember where our food comes from, and pause to give thanks for those who get it onto the shelves and around in the delivery vans.

Behind all of the agricultural and retail workers, stands the Lord our creator who gives us all the food we enjoy, and who is to be thanked above all. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:3 that God created food and marriage ‘to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received 
with thanksgiving …’

There were and are very religious, ‘spiritual’ people who, then and now, abstained from certain foods and even from marriage. And there is a time and a place for fasting in both, to free up time and energy to seek the Lord in prayer. But most of the time, and at harvest time particularly, marriage and food is to be enjoyed with thanksgiving and celebration with family, friends, and loved ones in the community.

So, come and join us this Sunday 9th October for our harvest service and lunch in the hall after. We’re having a simple soup and bread lunch to celebrate harvest, in recognition that two thirds of the world don’t have enough food, while our one third has too much. At the lunch there’ll be an opportunity to give to the Barnabas Fund, helping Christians in Pakistan after the recent floods.

Also, join us for the 90 anniversary celebrations on the 15th October from
2pm – 5pm in the main Church building. There will be plenty of burgers, cakes and other delights at ridiculously low prices, at the family and community celebration for the building being 90 years old. As well as refreshments, there are games for all ages, live music and ‘join-in’ demonstrations from groups which meet in the Parish hall. Scouts have a knotty problems stand, and there is a chance to see more about the history of the church, and spot your road as it looked almost a century ago. 

I hope to see you and am looking forward to that,
 
Every blessing in Christ,

Ian

^{Photo: Margaret Jaszowska on Unsplash}

Harvest Lunch this Sunday 9th October

After a harvest service in the church building at 10.45,
please bring along some soup or bread for a simple lunch together.
Please speak to Ruth or Denise if you’d like to
contribute some soup or bread. 

Please bring along donations for Barnabas Fund who are
supporting those affected by the floods in Pakistan.

This is what your donation could buy: 
Mosquito net (one per family) £2.50
Emergency family food package to last 25-30 days £20
20 plastic sheets for temporary shelters (one per family) £28
Clean drinking water and water purification tablets for 50 families £38

90th Anniversary Celebration
October 15th
2-5pm

Keep inviting folk to this event. We’ve had a few changes to the programme and have more solo singers and light jazz. 

If you’d like to make cakes to go alongside the drinks on the day, please bring them along at 2pm.

Family games will kick off the afternoon from 2pm – 3pm

Food bank donations are welcome.

And a prayer that we can all be praying together: 
Lord of creation,
whose glory is around and within us:
open our eyes to your wonders,
that we may serve you with reverence
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen