Harvest Hope

Dear friends,

Planting a seed is an act of faith. The miracle of soil, water, air, and light works a mystery, and as we tend the plant we share in the wonderful work of creation. And, in the same way that our horticultural skills are honed by repetition, and experience, so too our faith grows as we tend to it, by prayer, worship and acts of service. The miracle of scripture, sacrament, fellowship, and the grace of God’s Holy Spirit bring gifts and fruits of character in our lives, and to our communities. Our Harvest Festival is on one level a celebration and thanksgiving for God’s good gifts in Creation, but it is also a reminder and celebration of the Harvest that the Holy Spirit works in our innermost being, should we invite him to do so. I do not believe it to be a coincidence that at his first resurrection appearance, outside the tomb to Mary Magdalene, that Jesus was mistaken not for a Priest, or a Prince, but as the gardener.

Worship Services for Sunday  1st October

9.30am Harvest Service at St John’s, Stoke Row with Revd Romey Poston

11am Harvest Festival at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies and Miss Robin Hart

Midweek zoom service: Wednesday Evensong at 5.00pm  410 935 129

A great crop

Frances Woolaway (MBE) and husband Steve will be joining us on Sunday at Checkendon with their produce stall from Manor Farm. In our collection we’ll be supporting The Ways and Means Trust, our local mental health charity, which is based at the farm, along with the global Christian relief and development charity Tear Fund. If you are not able to join us at church, please nevertheless consider making a donation for our harvest appeal, which you can do here. I’ll also be interviewing Robin Hart about her experiences learning to run the family farm in the last year, and the issues now faced by the British farming industry.

There is so much to be thankful for; notwithstanding the beans, tomatoes, courgettes and the like, perhaps you have a special flower, or shrub, which has really shone this year. Sparkling yellow rudbeckias, and fiery red/bronze sunflowers are bringing a final flourish to the flower border in our back garden right now. I’m resisting cutting back the dahlia blooms, as they seem to be going on forever, despite being batterered by the wind and rain last week. Praise God for the life he gives!

May the deep peace of Christ be with you all.

Revd Kevin