Welcome to our newsletter for Trinity 17, Sunday 1st October and Trinity 18, Sunday 8th October.
Dear Friends,
I am writing this after spending an hour in the garden. It has been one of those beautiful September days that happen all too rarely. Mild enough to enjoy a coffee outside in the beautiful soft autumn sunshine, thinking about making an apple and blackberry crumble.
One of the old names for this time of year was Michaelmas and the word is still used for the autumn term in some Universities. It comes from the fact that the feast of St Michael and All Angels is kept on September 29th. This was seen as the true beginning of autumn, with the harvest gathered in , the barns full, and, in a good year, worries about a hungry winter set aside for a little while. We will be celebrating Harvest Festival on Sunday 1st October with a collection for the Foodbank and for the homelessness charity Barnabus. Please do give generously so that they can keep their store cupboards full and not worry too much about their ability to meet the needs of the people they support.
In addition to celebrating Harvest Festivals the Church of England keeps the time between the 1st of September and the 4th October, as Creation tide. A season dedicated to God as Creator and Sustainer of all life. October 4th is the feast of St Francis of Assisi. Francis called all creatures his brothers and sisters and even preached to the birds. His namesake Pope Francis shares his concern for creation reminding us all that the earth is our common home.
In the gospel readings for Sunday 1st Jesus tells the story of the rich famer who had to build bigger barns to store all his crops. He then declared he would spend his time earing drinking ad making merry, but of course he died and as we all know you can’t take it with you!
God has provided us with abundance, there is enough for us all to share and not go hungry in our common home. But we fail to care for God’s creation, or to treat our fellow creatures as sisters and brothers and share with them. This harvest festival let’s give generously so that the foodbank and Barnabus can fill their stores, not to hoard but to share abundantly. This Creation tide let’s recommit ourselves to care for Gods wonderful creation. And as we do this let’s remember those other words of Jesus in Sunday’s reading and take time to consider the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. Autumn really can be a beautiful season.
With Love and Prayers,
Cate
Sunday 1st October Trinity 17 HARVEST FESTIVAL
Our service on Sunday morning begins at 10.30 am. We look forward to a Service of the Word lead by our ALM Alison and the St.Nick’s Worship Team. Our organist and MD, Ollie Mills will accompany the hymns and lead the singing. Here are details of the readings and hymns for the service:
Sunday 8th October Trinity 18
Our service on Sunday morning begins at 10.30 am. We look forward to welcoming our new Priest, Rev. Cate Allison to preside and preach. Our organist and MD, Ollie Mills will accompany the hymns and lead the singing. Here are details of the readings and hymns for the service:
Nestled in the heart of the communities of East Didsbury and Burnage, St Nicholas Church stands as a beacon of faith, hope, and love. Under the devoted leadership of our Lead Minister, Revd Dr Augustine Tanner-Ihm, OMS, we are a vibrant, inclusive, and intergenerational Christian community committed to living out the bold faith of Jesus Christ.
