Pew Sheet, Sunday, September 22nd, 2024. Harvest Thanksgiving Service
Today, we celebrate our Harvest Thanksgiving Service, which is the time when we give special thought to all those in need, and try to give back a little of all that we have received from God to those less fortunate than ourselves. It is always heartwarming to see the extent of people’s generosity towards others, and today, our collection will support the work of our own St Laurence Food Cupboard which distributes food parcels of fresh, dry, and canned goods to families in need not only in Winslow, but across the whole area from Calvert Green to Great Horwood and beyond. We are fortunate to have so much support for this much needed resource in our community, and for those who not only donate food and goods to the service - including the community allotment association, but all those who help deliver the parcels to families without the means of getting to the shops in Winslow or surrounding areas, and I find myself increasingly giving thanks to God at this time not only for all we receive from him, but for the many volunteers who give so unceasingly of their time and energy to help others across our community, not only in the foodbank, but in so many other ways as well.
Research has shown that doing good and making acts of kindness can have a lasting and beneficial impact on those who engage in such acts, as well as those who benefit from them. It reduces stress, increases happiness and wellbeing, improves both the physical and mental health of the giver, strengthens conviction to others in the community, and aids with social integration and cohesion. It is always beneficial to give to others, but it is also, quite literally, good for the giver as well. This is why St Paul told the Corinthian church that ‘God loves a cheerful giver’ since he knew that something positive happens when we show our care and concern for others in practical ways, whether our time or our money, our skills, or any of the other attributes we have in the service of others when we are able.
Nothing builds community better than a community building itself, and it is always heartwarming to see how much good can be done with even the smallest of gifts. This year, we are not only collecting for the St Laurence Food Cupboard, but will also be launching the Church of England’s and Christian Aid’s “Generous Giving Week” in which you can make a real impact to the lives of people in the war-torn middle-east (see weekly information sheet). I know that times are hard, but please do give what you can on October 6th.
Collect
Creator God, you made the goodness of the land, the riches of the sea, and the rhythm of the seasons. As we thank you for the harvest, may we cherish and respect this planet and its peoples, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalm 65
Thou, O God, art praised in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem.
Thou that hearest the prayer: unto thee shall all flesh come.
My misdeeds prevail against me: O be thou merciful unto our sins.
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and receivest unto thee:
he shall dwell in thy court, and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
Thou shalt shew us wonderful things in thy righteousness, O God of our salvation: thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the broad sea.
Who in his strength setteth fast the mountains: and is girded about with power.
Who stilleth the raging of the sea: and the noise of his waves, and the madness of the people.
They also that dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth shall be afraid at thy tokens: thou that makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to praise thee.
Thou visitest the earth, and blessest it: thou makest it very plenteous.
The river of God is full of water: thou preparest their corn, for so thou providest for the earth.
Thou waterest her furrows, thou sendest rain into the little valleys thereof: thou makest it soft with the drops of rain, and blessest the increase of it.
Thou crownest the year with thy goodness: and thy clouds drop fatness.
They shall drop upon the dwellings of the wilderness: and the little hills shall rejoice on every side.
The folds shall be full of sheep: the valleys also shall stand so thick with corn, that they shall laugh and sing.
A Free Yamaha Baby Grand Piano has been offered by a parishioner to anyone who would like it and would be able to use from it. Please speak to Steve if interested.
Joel 2:21-27
Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! Do not fear, you animals of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and vine give. their full yield.
O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before.
The threshing-floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you.
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Matthew 6:25-33
‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith? Therefore, do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed, your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Please pray this week for:
All victims of violence both here in the UK and abroad. Pray especially for those affected by war and the ongoing impact of climate change. Pray too for all those who seek to alleviate poverty, and for those working with the most vulnerable in our world, that they may receive what they need to survive on.
This Week’s Events
Monday
Bell ringing at 7.30pm in St Laurence. Contact Jan on 07835 461361.
Tuesday
Zoom Morning Prayer at 9am ID: 748 9970 4493 Password: Trinity or contact Didier on [email protected]
Morning Coffee for Breast Cancer Now, 10.30 – 12.00 noon at the Royal British Legion.
Wednesday (Lancelot Andrews, Bishop of Winchester, 1626; Ember Day)
Morning Coffee from 10.00-11.45 in the St Laurence Rooms.
Midweek Holy Communion at 12.00 noon, St Laurence Church.
Thursday (Wilson Carlile, Founder of the Church Army, 1942)
Friday (Vincent de Paul, Founder of the Lazarists, 1660, Ember Day)
Ember Days are days on which we are asked to pray for all those candidates being ordained as deacons or priests on, or as close as possible, to the feast of St Michael (Michaelmas). Please do pray for everyone taking this step of commitment to God and to the Church at a time when the numbers of those entering ordained ministry are falling dramatically. Pray for all discerning their vocation, that they might know and discern God’s calling on their lives.
Saturday (Ember Day)
Sunday 6th October- Christian Aid Week - Generous Giving Week
Next Sunday sees the start of the Church of England’s
“Generous Giving Week”, in which we are asked to donate to Christian Aid’s Middle East Appeal. Gifts will be used to alleviate the suffering of those who have been affected by the hostilities in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. Special envelopes will be issued on Sunday the 29th of September, and will be collected back on Sunday 6th October during our services. Please do give generously and don’t forget to bring your envelope back on Sunday 6th October!