October 2007

VICAR: The Revd. Martin Fredriksen Tel: 694109

PARISH OFFICE (Mondays to Fridays 9.30am – Noon) Tel: 697641

FROM THE VICAR: Apart from one or two little islands of sunshine at other times, most of us agree that summer this year, was in April. While parts of the Continent were sweltering in excessive temperatures, I know that some of our parishioners put their heating on occasionally in July and August – certainly, we have all reached for our jumpers in recent times. All that rain which caused devastating flooding in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire also wrecked important crops and this will make the average prices of all our food bills rise. We have had suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease and now the newly-arrived blue tongue disease. Some farmers have seen the animals that they so painstakingly bred and reared over many years, slaughtered and incinerated. Their livelihood has disappeared overnight.

As Harvest-tide approaches, despite all our apparent advances in technology and improved farming methods, we can see how much we rely on appropriate seasonal weather, so that the land will yield its fruit. Some disasters can be avoided with a little forethought, but other things are totally beyond our control and we have to rely on the goodness of Almighty God as he works through the powers of nature, to provide for our needs.

Looking back though past parish magazines around the period of the First World War, there was one year when Harvest Thanksgiving was nearly cancelled at St.John’s, because of the disastrous Harvest – and history has a remarkable habit of repeating itself.

Our prayers, petitions and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father are as important as they always have been – so do join us on October 7th in particular. But of course, you know that you are welcome at any time!

Martin Fredriksen

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