Sunday 1st October – Harvest Thanksgiving
This Sunday we celebrate Harvest Thanksgiving. The cycle of prayer and thanksgiving related to the agricultural year is a very ancient aspect of the Christian calendar, and one that has roots in both the Jewish and pagan customs that preceded Christianity; the desire both to pray for the health and growth of crops and livestock, and to give thanks for what the earth brings forth for our sustenance, is a deep and universal human instinct, and yet something that is increasingly alien to contemporary society. We are ever more disconnected from the rhythms of the natural world, and also from our own history and traditions; in consequence, entitlement and anxiety comes to replace gratitude and trust.
Generosity is very closely related to thanksgiving, and so it is traditional to celebrate the harvest by remembering those less fortunate than ourselves. This weekend, there will be: a Coffee Morning in the Chantry House, raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support on Saturday morning; a talk from David Bausor of the Children’s Society, with a collection in support of their work, at St Mary’s at 9.30am; and at both St Mary’s and St Nicholas Remenham this Sunday, we encourage people to bring donations of groceries to church, to be passed on to the NOMAD Food Bank.
This Sunday:
8am Holy Communion (BCP) (St Mary’s)
9.30am All Age Eucharist (St Mary’s)
11.15am Sung Matins (BCP) (St Nicholas Remenham)
3pm Baptism Preparation Group (Rectory)
4pm Evening Prayer (BCP) (St Mary’s)
The week ahead:
Monday 2nd Church Clock reinstallation (all week)
Tuesday 3rd Organ tuning (daytime); 5.45pm for 6pm Julian Group (Forge Cottage, Hart Street); 7pm Henley Archaeological and History Group (Chantry House); Holy Eucharist 7.30pm (St Mary’s), offered for the Henley Churches Debt Centre
Wednesday 4th 10am BATS (Chantry House); 12noon Holy Eucharist (St Mary’s); 7pm Parish Hall Meeting (Remenham)
Thursday 5th 10am Holy Eucharist (St Mary’s); 11am Bible Study (Chantry House); 6pm Melody Makers (St Mary’s); 7.15pm Choir Practice (St Mary’s)
Friday 6th 12noon Holy Eucharist (St Mary’s)
Saturday 7th 6pm St Mary’s Harvest Picnic (Chantry House)
Morning Prayer will be said at 9am Tuesday to Friday at St Mary’s