St Mark’s Gratitude Garden #celebrating harvest

Harvest is a time to stop and remember that everything we have is a gift from God. In the four weeks leading up to our harvest services, take a few moments to think about why and how we celebrate harvest.

Week 4: Gratitude

Read: Deuteronomy 26

Moses instructs the Israelites to give the first fruits of their harvest every year as a gift to God. This annual offering will remind them to say thank you to God for rescuing them from slavery and for keeping His promise to provide for their needs. When we have everything we need, it is easy to become complacent. When there is food on the table, clean water to drink and a safe place to sleep, it is easy to forget to say thank you. Celebrating harvest is an opportunity to stop and appreciate the many gifts that God gives us that we often take for granted. Celebrating harvest is an opportunity to say thank you to God for these gifts and to show our gratitude by giving away some of what God had given to us.

Reflect: Why is it important to develop an ‘attitude of gratitude’? How can you practice being grateful not just at harvesttime, but all year round?

Pray: God of the harvest, all that we have is a gift from you. This harvesttime, help us to be grateful for all that we have and to offer you our thanks and praise. Amen.

St Mark’s Gratitude Garden #celebrating harvest

Harvest is a time to stop and remember that everything we have is a gift from God. In the four weeks leading up to our harvest services, take a few moments to think about why and how we celebrate harvest.

Week 3: Global

Read: Psalm 24

We do not live in isolation but rather as part of a global community. Much of the food we eat every day is grown by farmers who live in other parts of the world. Our choices have repercussions for them, not just in terms of the products we buy but also how our actions impact the climate. In many places around the world, families are being pushed to the limit as traditional farming practices become increasingly ineffective in the face of extreme weather events like powerful storms, prolonged droughts or flooding. So at harvest we are encouraged to engage with and respond to the climate crisis.

Reflect: Where does the food you eat come from? What impact is the climate crisis having on farming families in these countries? How will you respond to the climate crisis?

Pray: God of the harvest, nurture in us a vision for change. Stir in us a desire for justice, that our hope for a fairer world may become action. Amen.

St Mark’s Gratitude Garden #celebrating harvest

Harvest is a time to stop and remember that everything we have is a gift from God. In the four weeks leading up to our harvest services, take a few moments to think about why and how we celebrate harvest.

Week 2: Guardianship

Read: Genesis 1

God created a world that provides us with all that we need; food, water, shelter and so many other resources. The world also teaches us about who God is because God’s nature can be seen in the world around us. God cares about every aspect of creation and although humanity has a special place in God’s heart, this privileged position comes with the responsibility to be responsible guardians of the world God has made. So at harvest we are encouraged to reflect on how we care for our planet.

Reflect: How can you partner with God in caring for and renewing the world He has made? What choices can you make this week to play your part as a guardian of creation?

Pray: God of the harvest, forgive us when we take your creation for granted, abusing its resources and polluting its goodness. Help us to speak and act for the good of your planet. Amen.

#celebrateharvest Week 1 Generosity

Harvest is a time to stop and remember that everything we have is a gift from God. In the four weeks leading up to our harvest services, take a few moments to think about why and how we celebrate harvest.

Week 1: Generosity

Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Giving to others a share of what God has given to us is an important part of living a life that is God-centred and God-shaped. We do not give because we expect to get something in return if we do. We give because we are grateful to God for the many ways in which God lavishly and generously gives to us. So at harvest we are encouraged to be generous as an act of worship to God.  

Reflect: How has God provided for your needs this week? What do you feel especially grateful for? How can you join in with God’s generosity?

Pray: God of the harvest, you have blessed us abundantly. Help us to generously share what you have given us with thankful and cheerful hearts. Amen.

Four patterns are available: two to knit and two to crochet.

If you’ve passed All Saints in the last few days you will have noticed that the scaffolding has now gone to reveal our newly rebuilt Bellcote with a bright new Crucifix at the top. The repairs to the East End above the central ‘Morris’ window are also complete.

Many thanks to Dominic Barber and his team for all their efforts to complete by our end of July deadline – and of course very special thanks to everyone who has supported our appeals over the past years to allow this essential work to go ahead.

Saturday 9th September at 7.00pm in St Mark’s church.

Watch out for more details.

The St. Mark’s stall at the Village Festival today had Bottle and Chocolate Tombolas.

The stall raised £160 for the New Build Fund.

Thanks to Gaynor, Sheila, Ian and Jools who helped to set up and run the stall.