Dear Friends,
Autumn is my favourite season of the year and Harvest a much loved festival. This is the last autumn Anita and I will spend with you in the Cotswolds and we are hoping to be at as many Harvest Festivals as possible as we begin to say our farewells.
Harvest is an opportunity to connect in our minds the growing focus in our society on the environment, health and food with God. We offer to God the contribution our farmers make in producing food and we pray for others involved in the process of bringing the food from the farm to the table.
Above all, of course, we praise God for his creation, creating the soil, and the sun’s radiance, giving life to all things.
Harvest is also an opportunity to pray for members of the farming community. 2020 has forced farmers to contend with many unforeseen challenges. Severe flooding and significant disruption caused by Covid-19 has put immense strain on many as has the extra work required to prepare for Brexit. Farmers need our prayers!
We are holding in all our parishes socially distanced Harvest Services (which include the wearing of face masks) and you can find details in the Church Services section of this newsletter.
We would love you to join us as we celebrate this great festival – and raise the song of harvest-home.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Rendall