General Chat

Good morning :-)

That's interesting about a possible new vicar Gwyn as we have our
thrust upon us' and we have to like it or lump it as the saying goes. At the moment, we are 'lumping' it as our Vicar - now called a Hub Leader - is not very popular and is imposing all sorts of things on us with which we are not happy. There is a rebellion brewing going on the discussion after church on Sunday.

Okay.......Harvest.

The harvest season marks an important date in the British farming calendar as crops are harvested for food and animal feed.

Prior to the 1850s, the harvest was marked with lots of celebrations by the village folk. Festivities involved folk music, dancing, and village parades, as well as popular sports of the labourers such as bull baiting and cock fighting.

These festivities descended into drunkenness and promiscuity; and so by the mid -19th century, the clergy organised the harvest celebrations into a Christian context in order to calm things down and establish some kind of social order. After just a few years of the Church’s involvement, Harvest Festival became a day of joy.

Gradually, the Christian Harvest Festival gained popularity and spread throughout the country. New hymns were written to support it, including most famously All Things Bright and Beautiful.

Harvest suppers, were traditionally hosted by the farmer. Today, many churches still hold a Harvest Supper maybe as a fundraiser, but generally as an opportunity for the clergy and volunteer lay folk to spend time together after a busy time at church.


'All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small; all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.'

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Harvest Mouse – what a cutie – and I don’t even like mice!

The harvest mouse is tiny - an adult can weigh as little as a 2p piece! It prefers habitats with long grass, but you are most likely to spot its round, woven-grass nests.The harvest mouse is a native species. It is mainly found from central Yorkshire southwards.

Sir John Betjeman wrote a poem……rather long but well worthwhile.

Diary Of A Church Mouse
Here among long-discarded cassocks,
Damp stools, and half-split open hassocks,
Here where the vicar never looks
I nibble through old service books.
Lean and alone I spend my days
Behind this Church of England baize.
I share my dark forgotten room
With two oil-lamps and half a broom.
The cleaner never bothers me,
So here I eat my frugal tea.
My bread is sawdust mixed with straw;
My jam is polish for the floor.
Christmas and Easter may be feasts
For congregations and for priests,
And so may Whitsun. All the same,
They do not fill my meagre frame.
For me the only feast at all
Is Autumn's Harvest Festival,
When I can satisfy my want
With ears of corn around the font.
I climb the eagle's brazen head
To burrow through a loaf of bread.
I scramble up the pulpit stair
And gnaw the marrows hanging there.
It is enjoyable to taste
These items ere they go to waste,
But how annoying when one finds
That other mice with pagan minds
Come into church my food to share
Who have no proper business there.
Two field mice who have no desire
To be baptized, invade the choir.
A large and most unfriendly rat
Comes in to see what we are at.
He says he thinks there is no God
And yet he comes… it's rather odd.
This year he stole a sheaf of wheat
(It screened our special preacher's seat),
And prosperous mice from fields away
Come in to hear our organ play,
And under cover of its notes
Ate through the altar's sheaf of oats.
A Low Church mouse, who thinks that I
Am too papistical, and High,
Yet somehow doesn't think it wrong
To munch through Harvest Evensong,
While I, who starve the whole year through,
Must share my food with rodents who
Except at this time of the year
Not once inside the church appear.
Within the human world I know
Such goings-on could not be so,
For human beings only do
What their religion tells them to.
They read the Bible every day
And always, night and morning, pray,
And just like me, the good church mouse,
Worship each week in God's own house,
But all the same it's strange to me
How very full the church can be
With people I don't see at all
Except at Harvest Festival.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Harvest is an opportunity for us to be generous...

In the ancient world some people believed that your possessions should be buried with you, so you could take them into the next world! I wonder what each of us would choose?

There is a story of a wealthy man who died… The relatives asked the solicitor: “So, tell us, how much did he leave?” The solicitor replied: “He left everything!”

Harvest reminds us of the need to be generous because God is generous… Our generosity is not only with our money but also with our time, patience, loving kindness and serving one another.

Lord, teach us to be kind in heart, so that love, grace, and charity flow forth like a river. Give us a generosity that reflects your own, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Love the traditional Harvest hymns but sadly none of them were included in our service this year.

Praying for everyone connected to Air Cadets, Boys/Girs' Brigade, Brownies, Guides, the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and other sports and recreational groups for children and young people in all areas.

edit..... just read the news of the death of the Conservative MP Sir David Amess who has died after being stabbed in a constituencey surgery held in a church in Essex. How shocking and so sad.

Condolences to his family. RIP Sir David Amess.

Another interesting week Cynthia, thank you. The Betjeman poem is well worth a read. I don't know why it is but some of the traditional Harvest Festival hymns are among my least favourites.

At times it is a sad world we live in. I join kandj in sending condolences to the family of Sir David Amess, a well liked and well respected man.

Thank you kandj for your concern for myself and OH. I am fine but we have had some concerns about OH's health. He has had good news regarding one of his problems and not quite so good regarding other worries and we are awaiting news from the hospital as to what the next step will be. However he is not in much pain now and remains calm and cheerful. I hope all the positive Covid cases in your circle are not too poorly and other worries in your life have eased.

Sending a hug to anyone who needs one and wishing you all a peaceful and happy weekend <3

Good morning :-)


I'm glad that things are fairly stable for you at the moment Vera.....life is so full of ups and downs, I hope that things improve gently. <3

Dreadful news about the murdered MP Sir David Amess. We pray for the repose of his soul and for his family, that they may be given strength at this sad time.


HARVEST – EAT, REST, HAVE, SHARE

Harvest is a time of commitment.

Jesus told his disciples… “There’s a great harvest out there waiting to be reaped but a shortage of workers! (As farmers in Britain are finding today!)

Some of us are great spectators but less good at being actively involved (including prayer, encouragement and finance). Others of us will be involved in a work for a period of time but lose heart and motivation and fade from the scene.

Harvest reminds us that commitment to Christ is forever, not just in the early days or when it’s convenient for us. If the good seed of God’s word becomes embedded and rooted in the soil of our lives, we must make sure that we plough our life field through regular bible reading, prayer, fellowship and expressing our trust in God.

St. Paul writes to Timothy: "I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith "

May we be as committed and as faithful as St. Paul.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

God, the giver of life,
whose Holy Spirit wells up within your Church:
by the Spirit’s gifts equip us to live the gospel of Christ
and make us eager to do your will,
that we may share with the whole creation
the joys of eternal life;
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.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

It was our Harvest Festival yesterday and, although it went very well, it was not what we were used to. We actually sang a hymn - We plough the fields and scatter!!!

I started off at 6.30am. yesterday and ended at 11.30pm. Back and forth to church - harvest, baptisms, cleaning the church loo. You mention it, I did it :-D :-D

Most people will agree that the changing colours of autumn are really fantastic.

We know that the leaves are falling and soon we will be left with just bare branches of the trees and the only sign of life will be the evergreens, but let’s not think about the gloomy side. Autumn is the time when nature shows off it’s full display of colour and we marvel at its beauty.

It’s also the time to be grateful for life and all the beauty it brings with its differences in colours. What would it be like if life had only one colour? It would certainly be boring. The various colours in nature, people, events and even our churches, make our lives worth living.

At the moment, the church’s year is in what is called ‘ordinary time’ and the colour is…………green.

Lord,
As we welcome the autumn months,
may the earlier setting of the sun
remind us to take time to rest.
May the brilliant colours of the leaves
remind us of the wonder of your creation.
May the steam of our breath in the cool air
remind us that it is you who give us the breath of life.
Amen.

Cx :-)

It's St Luke's Day today. I hadn't thought about it until 7am - you're correct Cynthia - the bells started clanging.

St Luke is the patron saint of the village. There maybe some sort of a fair and food stalls today, none last year. We'll know this evening as they'll be cars parked up here even though we are a distance from the activities.

We avoid it, went for 3 years but so much the same and aimed at children. Nice to go a few times though. :-D

Good morning :-)

As soon as I read your name Pat, I thought 'the bells', 'the bells' :-D :-D

At the moment, the church is in the season of 'Ordinary time'.

So, what is ‘ordinary time’? The Church year is divided into several seasons.

Advent - which looks forward to Christmas.
Epiphany - the visit of the Wise Men.
Ordinary Time
Lent - preparing for Easter
Easter - celebrating the Resurrection
Ascension - when Christ rose into heaven
Pentecost - the coming of the Holy Spirit
Ordinary Time

So the term “ordinary” does not mean “usual or average.” Ordinary here means “not seasonal.”

Each church season has its own colour which we see in the altar frontals and vestments of the clergy. These colours not only remind us of where we are up to in the church’s year, but they bring beauty and colour to our buildings. For Ordinary Time the colour is green symbolising a sign of triumph over death, like regrowth in springtime. The readings during Ordinary Time show us how to live out our Christian faith in our daily lives.

Lord of creation,
whose glory is around and within us:
open our eyes to your wonders,
that we may serve you with reverence
and know your peace at our lives' end,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Lovely, lovely, seasonal colours – in church.

PURPLE is a penitential colour, a time of remembering our sins, in contrast to celebrating. It is used during Advent and Lent which are both penitential seasons. The forty days of Lent, use this deep, rich colour which has come to represent solemnity, penitence, and prayer.

Violet or purple was a very cherished and expensive colour in the world Jesus lived. The dye used to make the colour was painstakingly acquired from a Mediterranean shellfish. It was therefore, only the rich who could afford it and was worn most exclusively by the royalty.

Jesus, the king of the Jews, wore a purple robe only once. Just before they crucified him, it is said that the soldiers put a ‘purple garment’ on him in order to ridicule him. Purple is used during Lent to remind us of the way Jesus was mocked and ill-treated and of the sacrifice that he made for our salvation.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father: We have sinned against you, through our own fault, in thought, and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all our offences; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Lovely, lovely seasonal colours – in church

Red
This colour symbolises both blood and fire and we are reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit which appeared as flames. Red is used on Palm Sunday, Pentecost and has traditionally been associated with martyrs – those who have shed their blood for their faith.

It is appropriate for any services which focus on the gift of the Holy Spirit, and is therefore suitable for Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination.
Something I had not really picked up on, is the fact that the Pope occasionally wears red shoes, for all the above reasons.

Prayer for Christian Martyrs
Lord, so great is our love for you
That even though we walk in a world
where speaking your name can mean certain death
Your faithful still speak it
And speak it all the louder.

Help us work for a world where all may speak their creeds
And pray their prayers
Without fear of violence.

Hear the prayers of those who abide with you
in dangerous times
and in dark valleys,
And who die with your name on their lips.
Draw them quickly to your side
Where they might know eternal peace.

AMEN


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Lovely, lovely seasonal colours ……...in church.

WHITE
White represents light, innocence, purity, joy, triumph, glory and, as such, is used at church festivals. Christmas, Easter, Festivals of Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary, All Saints’ Day and the Festivals of those saints who did not die as martyrs. The list goes on. It is used for Marriages, and is suitable for Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination and may be used in preference to purple or black for Funerals, and should be used at the Funeral of a child.

Toward the end of the 4th century, references are made to shining white garments worn by celebrants at the Eucharist – imagine how heavenly that must have looked.

God of life,
whose love enfolds us,
and spirit fills us,
we praise your holy name.

God of joy,
whose sunrise wakes us,
and sunset amazes us,
we praise your holy name.

God of hope,
whose promise sustains us,
and power upholds us,
we praise your holy name.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


This week we have been looking at the colours of the seasons in the church’s year.

Colour. Colour is everywhere. Colour is God's way of filling his world with beauty and giving pleasure to those who live in this colourful world. Christians, for centuries, have used colour in divine worship to emphasize how God sent his Son to die for us.

Colour, like music, plays an important role in the life of God's worshiping people. The various colours complement the message of the seasons and occasions during the church year. When we sit in church, our eyes are often drawn to the colour of the altar frontal, of the flowers, of the windows. Liturgical colours help to create an atmosphere in which we are open to hearing the word of God.


Colour, like light, stimulates our senses. Colour allows us to see the Light of Life, Jesus Christ. It communicates the message of salvation especially when it reinforces a specific “colourful” chapter in the life of our Lord and his church, retold annually by the church calendar.


God of love,
whose patience humbles us,
and touch can heal us,
we praise your holy name.
God of peace,
who breaks down barriers,
and walls that divide us,
we praise your holy name.
God of eternity,
who has always loved us,
and by grace has saved us,
we praise your holy name


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Almighty God,
who alone can bring order to the unruly
wills and passions of sinful humanity:
give your people grace so to love what you command
and to desire what you promise, that,
among the many changes of this world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed where
true joys are to be found; 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 forever. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Timmy didn’t want to put his money in the offering plate Sunday morning, so his mother decided to use some hurried creative reasoning with him.

“You don’t want that money, Timmy” she whispered in his ear. “Quick! Drop it in the plate. It’s tainted!”

Horrified, the little boy obeyed.

After a few seconds he whispered, “But, mummy, why was the money tainted? Was it dirty?

“Oh, no dear,” she replied. “It’s not really dirty. It just ‘taint yours, and it ‘taint mine,” she replied. “It’s God’s.”


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


A devout old shepherd lost his favourite Bible while he was out looking for a wayward lamb. Three weeks later, a sheep walked up to him carrying the Bible in its mouth. The shepherd couldn’t believe his eyes. He took the precious book out of the sheep’s mouth, raised his eyes heavenward and exclaimed, “It’s a miracle!”

“Not really,” said the sheep. “Your name is written inside the cover.”

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Little Philip was walking home in the rain with his mother following Sunday worship. It finally stopped raining as they rounded the corner, where to their surprise and delight appeared a vivid double rainbow in the sky.

“Doesn’t it look like an artist painted this rainbow?” his mother exclaimed. “I bet God painted this just for you!”

“Yes,” replied Philip, “God did it, and he did it left handed.”

Confused, his mother asked him, “What makes you say God did this with his left hand?”

“Well,” said Philip, “we learned in Sunday School that Jesus sits on God’s right hand.”


Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia for last week's "colours" posts and this week's lovely stories.

I hope everyone is well and contented. We had some good news in that OH's latest health scare just needs to be monitored for the time being so further scans in 6 months but no treatment at the moment. We do have another problem, not health related, which is causing some anxiety so I am focusing on our blessings and all the things we have that make us thankful.

Good morning :-)

Good news about your husband Vera and sending love and prayers as you deal with the other anxieties in your life. <3


Bent over and obviously in pain, the old man with a cane hobbled laboriously through the sanctuary and into the pastor’s office while the choir was practicing.

Ten minutes later he came out, walking upright and moving with grace and speed.

“Good gracious,” the choir director exclaimed. “Did the pastor heal you by faith?”

“No,” the old man said with a smile. “He just gave me a cane that wasn’t six inches too short!”


Cx :-)