#491 Thank you for the Harvest
All good gifts around us are sent from heav’n above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His love.
So we sang vigorously at the end of last Sunday’s Parish Mass at St Paul’s. I was hoping some of those good gifts from Heaven above might be left over for a mouse-sized Harvest picnic, but alas not even a crumb was left. The only consolation I had was hearing over the Harvest lunch that the auction had raised over £250 for our parish charities: a great effort!
Fr Sam writes
As I arrived in Wokingham in the middle of Ordinary Time, it was exciting to get to a genuinely Big Event in the annual cycle of the parish’s life: the Harvest Festival, auction and lunch. I had to send a delegate to the auction on my behalf, but have been enjoying the honey and chillis that we purchased. Then I thoroughly enjoyed the Harvest lunch that followed. Thank you to all the Social Committee who worked so hard on a delicious vegetarian spread!
It’s also a sign that more big events are on their way. I currently have orders of service for Christmas carol services and midnight mass in front of me on my desk. From Advent to Pentecost we experience the great story of our salvation, whether we are ready for it or not. It’s definitely time to get to work on all of this!
This Sunday
This Sunday, Harvest may be over but we continue the theme of thanksgiving. We hear the story of the prophet Elisha healing Naaman the Syrian from the book of Kings, and then the story of the ten men with leprosy, who were healed by Jesus but only one of whom returned to give thanks (from Luke 17).
Services this Sunday
9.30am Parish Mass St Paul’s (Fr Sam Tanna-Korn)
10am Holy Communion Woosehill (Revd Wes Hampton)
11am Community Eucharist St Nicholas’s (Revd Roy Burgess)
Image: Tobias cures his father’s blindness, Domingos Sequeira
Portsmouth Cathedral this Saturday
The coach for Portsmouth will leave from the Parish Rooms Car Park at 10am this Saturday. Please walk or car share if possible and when parking, park at the right hand end of the car park furthest from the building.
There are lots of places to eat in Portsmouth, particularly at Gunwharf Quays, which is a short walk from the Cathedral along the Millennium Way on the waterfront or in Southsea which is a short walk in the opposite direction.
There is a memorial service in the Cathedral at 12 noon followed by a reception in the Nave so access to the cathedral during this time might be restricted.
Evensong is at 5.45pm and the coach will depart at 7.45pm, allowing a short time for refreshments!
Thank you.
Lesley
Children Heard and Seen
The Mothers’ Union is involved with a charitable organisation called Children Heard and Seen, which is dedicated to helping those children and their families who have a parent in prison. There is no statutory framework to identify and support these children and, without support, many struggle to achieve with a large proportion (boys in particular) themselves going on to offend.
The members of our branch of the Mothers’ Union are passionate about supporting this charity and so we have invited a speaker from CHAS to give a presentation at our next meeting on Thursday 30 October and we would urge you to come along and listen. The meeting will take place in the Walter Room at St Paul’s Parish Rooms at 7.30pm for 8pm; light refreshments will be offered beforehand.
It would be useful to have an idea of numbers, so please register your interest in attending this meeting to either Teri Austen or Jean Vaughan or through the parish office: church.office@spauls.co.uk 0118 979 2122
Taizé service
Susannah will lead us in a Taizé service at Emmbrook Village Hall on Sunday 26 October at 3.00pm.
All are welcome to this peaceful, reflective service. There will be tea and cake afterwards.
This week’s calendar: the way of perfection
Wednesday 15 October is the feast day of St Teresa of Avila (1515–1582). She was a Spanish Carmelite nun, mystic, and reformer whose deep prayer life and writings renewed the life of her order and inspired Christians across the centuries. Her works, including The Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection, explore the soul’s journey toward union with God through contemplative prayer. Teresa is remembered for her warmth, humour, and courage. She continues to call the Church to a life of holiness grounded in love and prayer.
