Bringing Christ into your life
Rector’s Letter
Dear Friends
The real meaning of our harvest thanksgiving is all locked up within that word HARVEST.
Some people think that the concept of harvest thanksgiving is now outdated, and perhaps even, irrelevant. Traditionally of course, the annual Harvest festival was very important. In those days when most people still made their living from the fields, the harvest festival was a way of gathering in some of what had grown in the farms and offering it to God and thanking Him for it. Just imagine life in this village, not so very long ago, when people watched, and waited and prayed each year that there might be a good harvest this time; then imagine their relief when the conditions were right, the crops grown and there was security for the community over the coming winter. Harvest thanksgiving would have been a real celebration - not just about flowers and plants, but about the absolute necessities of life. It’s not surprising perhaps, that Harvest was one of the times of the year that most people went to church! Of course, times have changed. Nowadays we don’t watch the crops grow, or worry about what a bad harvest will mean for us this year. We just go down to Sainsbury’s where we can buy whatever we like pretty much at any time of the year. If weather conditions have been particularly bad, or if we’re shopping for something that is out of season, we may notice an increase in price, but generally speaking, we can get hold of whatever we want to, whenever we want to. For us the HARVEST is rich indeed!
And for that reason alone, but for much much more, it is still important to take a moment to say thank you to God for His provision for us and for all that we HAVE. Because the truth is that we can all too easily take all that we HAVE for granted and simply expect, when what we actually need is to be constantly thankful to our gracious God, and to remember our utter dependence on Him. We enjoy a time where so many now HAVE so much, when food is more abundant and varied for some of us than at perhaps any other time in human history. For us, food shortages are rare and the shelves of our supermarkets are always well stocked. It wasn’t always like this of course, as those who were alive in the war and before can no doubt remember. So HARVEST is a time to stop, to remember all that we HAVE and to give thanks to God for the land, for its richness, for those who work the land as well as for the labour saving machinery that’s available to us but which is certainly not affordable to more than a minority of the world’s farmers. HARVEST should remind us that we HAVE so much and therefore so much for which to give thanks to God.
And doing that should help us to remember that HARVEST is also a time for remembering to SHARE the fruits of the earth with those who HAVE so much less than us. Because if we can extract the word HAVE from HARVEST, sad to say, we can also extract the word STARVE. Jesus often talked about the perils of having too much and keeping for oneself what should be shared with others. He told a parable of the rich man whose crops were so abundant that he planned to build more barns in order to store them. He didn’t sell or SHARE his HARVEST; but then he died, and wasn’t able to enjoy the results of his wealth. It’s a parable that reminds us that acquisitiveness and hoarding are not virtues in God’s eyes. At harvest time we all need to think about those in need – especially those organizations which benefit from our harvest gifts. But harvest time should also remind us that the needs of people who are helped by organizations such as LoricaSt Patrick’s [our chosen charity for this harvest festival] exist all year around. There is much in the world of today which actively encourages self-interest and the pursuit of personal advantage above all else. This wasn’t always so – and so maybe harvest time is an opportunity for trying afresh to get the balance right between providing for ourselves and our loved ones and building a world based on mutual support and help for those in genuine need, rather than on materialism and greed.
Because, finally, HARVEST time is also a time for remembering that God sows spiritual seeds in our HEARTS. Seeds that he wants to bear an abundant harvest. Jesus reminded us that earthly food is transient, and that we should seek instead the food that lasts forever – the spiritual food which he offers to whose who believe in Him, and who follow His ways forever.
With my prayers and best wishes
Dear Friends
The real meaning of our harvest thanksgiving is all locked up within that word HARVEST.
Some people think that the concept of harvest thanksgiving is now outdated, and perhaps even, irrelevant. Traditionally of course, the annual Harvest festival was very important. In those days when most people still made their living from the fields, the harvest festival was a way of gathering in some of what had grown in the farms and offering it to God and thanking Him for it. Just imagine life in this village, not so very long ago, when people watched, and waited and prayed each year that there might be a good harvest this time; then imagine their relief when the conditions were right, the crops grown and there was security for the community over the coming winter. Harvest thanksgiving would have been a real celebration -
And for that reason alone, but for much much more, it is still important to take a moment to say thank you to God for His provision for us and for all that we HAVE. Because the truth is that we can all too easily take all that we HAVE for granted and simply expect, when what we actually need is to be constantly thankful to our gracious God, and to remember our utter dependence on Him. We enjoy a time where so many now HAVE so much, when food is more abundant and varied for some of us than at perhaps any other time in human history. For us, food shortages are rare and the shelves of our supermarkets are always well stocked. It wasn’t always like this of course, as those who were alive in the war and before can no doubt remember. So HARVEST is a time to stop, to remember all that we HAVE and to give thanks to God for the land, for its richness, for those who work the land as well as for the labour saving machinery that’s available to us but which is certainly not affordable to more than a minority of the world’s farmers. HARVEST should remind us that we HAVE so much and therefore so much for which to give thanks to God.
And doing that should help us to remember that HARVEST is also a time for remembering to SHARE the fruits of the earth with those who HAVE so much less than us. Because if we can extract the word HAVE from HARVEST, sad to say, we can also extract the word STARVE. Jesus often talked about the perils of having too much and keeping for oneself what should be shared with others. He told a parable of the rich man whose crops were so abundant that he planned to build more barns in order to store them. He didn’t sell or SHARE his HARVEST; but then he died, and wasn’t able to enjoy the results of his wealth. It’s a parable that reminds us that acquisitiveness and hoarding are not virtues in God’s eyes. At harvest time we all need to think about those in need – especially those organizations which benefit from our harvest gifts. But harvest time should also remind us that the needs of people who are helped by organizations such as LoricaSt Patrick’s [our chosen charity for this harvest festival] exist all year around. There is much in the world of today which actively encourages self-
Because, finally, HARVEST time is also a time for remembering that God sows spiritual seeds in our HEARTS. Seeds that he wants to bear an abundant harvest. Jesus reminded us that earthly food is transient, and that we should seek instead the food that lasts forever – the spiritual food which he offers to whose who believe in Him, and who follow His ways forever.
With my prayers and best wishes
