I didn’t used to say grace before a meal. It didn’t occur to me to thank God for what I received. I took it for granted that there would be food in the shops.

There were no shops in the desert when the people escaped from Egypt, and little to eat or drink. They relied on God for manna, bread from heaven that appeared each day, and for water. When they were about to enter the promised land, Moses gave them rules to live by. They were to offer the first of the fruit to God with thanks: not only thanks for the fruit itself, but also to show appreciation that they were no longer oppressed slaves, that they were living freely in the fertile land that God had led them to.

It was important to remember the story of the times of hardship, and how God set them free, led and fed them. This would help them to savour the present moment.

We had the forties’ weekend in Sheringham recently. People who lived through that time have mixed reactions as to how it’s portrayed. It was important to keep up morale, and to work together for the good of all. We know that they were also bad times - not only did they suffer the death and destruction of the bombs, and the loss of family members who went to fight. They also had food shortages and rationing and childhood diseases to contend with. But it’s surely better to bring to mind what was good in the past, to learn lessons from rather than to dwell on what was bad, and to live for the present with an attitude of gratitude.

We don’t have to live the misery suffered by previous generations to be thankful, all we need are the stories. Our imaginations do the rest. We’ve got a lot to be thankful for. Not only do we have a lot to feed us physically and mentally today, with many diseases overcome, plenty of food and water and the Internet as well as books, we’re also given the spiritual nourishment we need, through our faith in Christ.

‘It wasn’t Moses who gave you the bread from heaven,’ said Jesus. ‘It’s my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread of God is what comes from heaven and gives life to the world... I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ (John 6:32-35)

What happens physically gives us insight into what happens spiritually. God led the Israelites out of slavery through the desert to the promised land, sustaining them on the way. God leads everyone out of the slavery of evil through his Son Jesus Christ to the fertile spiritual realm of God’s love, sustaining us on the way when we come to him, believe in and follow him. ‘Don’t work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life,’ said Jesus. (John 6:27)

As we remember the past, and hope for what is to come, let’s savour the moment today as we celebrate our Harvest Festival, thankful for all God has given us, for food to nourish us in both body and soul, and for the teaching, example, and story of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s do what Paul encourages us to do: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.’ (Philippians 4:4-9)

May the God of Peace be with us, always.

Amen.

Julie Rubidge, Lay Minister