General Chat

Hello all

No sermon in our church yesterday. It was the Harvest Service and we had a talk from the organiser of the village food bank, all very interesting, but upsetting hearing that so many villagers (young and elderly) are struggling now.

I loved singing the traditional hymns yesterday.

Come Ye Faithful People Come.

We Plough the Fields and Scatter.

All Things Bright and Beautiful.

Good morning :-)

Yesterday, we had the gospel reading for the day – the parable of the mustard seed, that tiny little seed which grows into a very large shrub. Jesus was indicating that however small our faith is, nothing will be impossible for us.

Interesting:

It seems that there are many types of mustards ranging from sweet to spicy.

The trees can grow between 6ft - 2-ft in height.

They produce small green/yellowish flowers followed by pink or scarlet berries.

The tree originated in Persia but is now grown worldwide.

There are at least 40 types of mustard varieties ranging from black, brown and white.

Mustards are among the fastest-growing plants.

Extracts from the plant include making toothbrushes due to its anti-bacterial properties and is helpful in various medical conditions but mustard oil is considered dangerous.

Mustards are among the world's most widely consumed plants.

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you know my every need. You said that if I have faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for me. Lord, my faith feels so weak but I thank you that you are strong. It is not the power of my faith that does the impossible but it is your power. Let my faith increase as I trust in your power. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today :


O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers
of your people who call upon you;
and grant that they may both perceive and know
what things they ought to do,
and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

The Gospel reading is where Jesus tells the parable of the tiny mustard seed.
Luke 17

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Father, as we celebrate this season of thanksgiving We give thanks for the blessings of food, provision and nourishment. Please grow in us a harvest for the world.

Come sow a seed of hope within our souls Lord, that we might yield goodness, patience and kindness in abundance.

Come sow a seed of peace in our lives Lord, that we might bear the fruits of forgiveness, compassion and righteousness.

Come sow a seed of love in our hearts Lord, that others would reap the blessings of family, friendship and community.

May each seed of hope, peace and love grow within us into a harvest that can be feasted on by all. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Aspects of Harvest

The year has turned its circle,
The seasons come and go.
The harvest all is gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.
Orchards have shared their treasures,
The fields, their yellow grain,
So open wide the doorway—
and praise our God again!


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Aspects of Harvest

The Harvest mite…….a parasite……No. Forget that! :-D

Harvest hymns have always been popular……

We Plough the Fields, and Scatter
Matthias Claudius (1740-1815) was a newspaper man in Germany. The son of a Lutheran pastor, he found his faith slipping away after rubbing elbows with some of the leading philosophers of the day, including Goethe. However, a serious illness caused him to rethink his values and to rekindle his faith.

Claudius set out to write a poem rather than a hymn. The poem depicted friends coming to a home to partake in a feast. It depicted God as the one whose generous providence made it possible for those people to enjoy that festive gathering.

A British English teacher, Jane Campbell (1817-1878), translated Claudius’ poem, reshaping it as a hymn.

The hymn celebrates God’s role in providing the food and other good gifts that sustain us. It says what, while we sow and scatter the seed, God is the one who feeds and waters the seed so that it might end up as the daily bread on our table.

The hymn offers God thanks for “all things bright and good, the seed-time and the harvest, our life, our health, our food.” It then asks, “Accept the gifts we offer for all your love imparts, with what we know you long for: our humble, thankful hearts.”


And if you want to have it going round in your head all day....... :-D

1 We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God's almighty hand;
he sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine
and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above,
then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
for all his love.

2 He only is the maker
of all things near and far;
he paints the wayside flower,
he lights the evening star;
the wind and waves obey him,
by him the birds are fed;
much more to us his children,
he gives our daily bread.
All good gifts...

3 We thank you, then, O Father,
for all things bright and good,
the seed-time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food:
accept the gifts we offer
for all your love imparts;
and that which you most welcome,
our humble, thankful hearts.
All good gifts...


Cx :-)

Hello all

I also watched Songs of Praise and sang along. Vera, the history of the "Wool church" was very interesting.... a beautiful building inside too.

Sadly, no fresh produce or a Harvest Supper like in past years. Tinned/packet items are requested and will be passed over to help the village food bank.
Needed, but not quite like it used to be years ago.

Thank you for the Harvest theme postings Cynthia.

Good morning :-)


Aspects of Harvest – Harvest moon

The Harvest Moon isn’t like the other Moons.

Usually, throughout the year, the Moon rises an average of about 50 minutes later each day, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the moonrise comes soon after sunset. This results in an abundance of bright moonlight early in the evening, which was a traditional aide to farmers and crews harvesting their summer-grown crops. Hence, it’s called the “Harvest” Moon!

Father, thank you for farmers. We are so blessed to have men and women willing to put in the time and work it takes to produce crops and livestock. Thank you for blessing their efforts in producing healthy food for our families. We are grateful. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Vera, I used to love the smell that hit you when you went through the church doors at Harvest but, yes, you are right - much of the fresh produce didn't last long and we had to get it out to people the next day.

Aspects of Harvest - Micromys minutus
Description: Blunt nose, small eyes, and small hairy ears.


This isn’t the description of anyone I know, ?? simply the description of a tiny animal connected with Harvest – the Harvest Mouse. They are always depicted as being rather cute and cuddly but many people would prefer to view them from a distance.

This brings on the thought of the saying ‘As poor as a church mouse’. If someone is as poor as a church mouse they are extremely poor. Likewise, ‘as hungry as a church mouse’ is in a similar vein.

This dates back to the 1600’s and stems from the fact that food was not stored in a church, so any mouse that ventured in would not find anything to eat. These days, Café churches are becoming commonplace, so there probably aren’t many hungry church mice anymore!

Dear Lord, please bless those who are facing hardship and hunger today. Help us to share our harvest with those in need. Amen.

Cx :-)

Harvest Festival isn't the same as it used to be. I well remember going to church with a little cardboard box containing some veg or fruit and proudly processing down the aisle with the other children to have our offerings displayed at the front of the church.

It's a lovely memory but I suspect half of that produce was going off before it could be used. Tins and packets don't look as beautiful or smell wonderful but are much more useful and, after all, the contents were once part of God's good harvest, though I do wonder if young children realise that..

I was watching Songs of Praise yesterday which was about the harvest and our need to care for the environment. It was from Long Melford which isn't far from my home and I know it well, including Holy Trinity Church which is a very beautiful, large "Wool" church. It was interesting to hear from a farmer who had a moment of enlightenment when he was spraying his crops one day. He has now become organic to help wildlife and nature. We also heard from the manager of Foxearth Meadows which is a sort of Christian run, but open to all, nature reserve. That is also only a short drive from my home so is now on my "To Visit" list.

Good morning :-)

Many churches are celebrating Harvest around this time. They are not as they used to be really with lots of fruit and veg and that lovely smell. It tends to be more about supporting foodbank with tinned goods. We had a good supply in yesterday.

Genesis 8:22

“While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
And cold and heat,
And summer and winter,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today :

God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit
upon your Church in the burning fire of your love:
grant that your people may be fervent
in the fellowship of the gospel
that, always abiding in you,
they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Gospel for today: Luke 16 19-31
The story of The Rich Man and Lazarus



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


In a changing world, we are assured that.............

Our God changes not.

In a world of much uncertainty
And void of Godly truth,
When everything around us shakes,
It's God we hold on to

We must not trust in what we see,
In what this world holds dear,
For often it will start to crumble
When we are least aware

We can know God's sustaining peace
When our future seems unsure,
And know our confidence in Him
Brings new hope in the Lord

Keep holding on to the Word of God,
The truth you can depend on,
For it will stand the test of time
When heaven and earth are gone

So, even though this world's unstable,
He's still our solid rock
And the only certainty in life,
For our God changes not.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Happy Autumn!

All change. New King, new government….change. Change. Change. I’m sure most of you have heard it said “Old people don’t like change”. It’s sometimes not realised that the older folk have undergone many, many changes in their lives. A priest once said ‘People don’t fear change. They fear loss’. There’s something in that. Sometimes change can mean the loss of something people hold dear, and that can be hard to deal with.



God of Love,
You are with us in every transition and change.
As we enter into this new era with excitement
and even some anxiety,
we recall your deep compassion, presence,
and abounding love.
We thank you for the gifts, talents and skills
with which you have blessed us.
We thank you for the experiences
that have brought us to this moment.
We thank you for the work of others
that gives breadth and depth to our own work.
Be with us as we move forward,
rejoicing with you and supporting one another.
We ask this in your Holy Name.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

All change! Not only do we have a new King, but we also have a new Prime Minister and all that that entails.

In Parliament, the Speaker's Chaplain usually reads the prayers. The form of the main prayer is as follows and we add our prayers to this.

"Lord, the God of righteousness and truth, grant to our King and his government, to Members of Parliament and all in positions of responsibility, the guidance of your Spirit. May they never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all mankind; so may your kingdom come and your name be hallowed.
Amen."

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



For two weeks, we have been a nation in mourning but, today, we think of those families who are grieving for a dear one who has died – whether recently or in the past.


Lord,
For all those who woke this morning
to the loneliness of bereavement -
the empty bed or chair,
an unaccustomed quietness,
a life now incomplete -
may they know your presence
in the stillness of the day,
and through the love of friends
who offer their condolence.
And in the darker moments
may they reach out to hold your hand
and feel the warmth of the One
who has already passed from death to life
to welcome others into God's Kingdom.


God of love and mercy,
embrace all those
whose hearts today
overflow with grief,
unanswered questions
and such a sense of loss.
Grant them space
to express their tears.
Hold them close
through the coming days. Amen


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

What a rollercoaster of emotions it has been over the last two weeks. A new Prime Minister, the death of our beloved Monarch, a new Monarch, and an incredible funeral.

If we are exhausted, think about what it must have been like for those behind the scenes - those people who, in so many different ways and purposes, have worked hard during the difficult time this country has faced at such short notice.

We think of those within royal circles and their staff; those in the government, the police, and the military (especially those young pallbearers). Those in broadcasting and, of course, those within the church. There will be many, many more we could think of and we thank God for them all.

Lord, bless those who have worked tirelessly in so many different ways during the recent upheaval within our country. We thank you for their dedication, commitment, and expertise. May they find time for some rest and recuperation in the days ahead. Amen.

Added. A friend of this page has sent a link to extra photos from yesterday which may have been missed if you are interested.

https://www.facebook.com/royalfamilyofbritain

Cx :-)

Heavenly Father

Thank you for blessing us with our Queen. What a wonderful example she was in the way that she lived her life and in the faith that she had in you.

Eternal rest, grant unto her O Lord
And let Perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.

Thank you Ma'am..............for everything <3

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Almighty God,
whose only Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence:
give us pure hearts and steadfast wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

The Gospel reading for today is the Parable of the Dishonest Manager. Luke 16 1-13

Cx :-)