Dear friends
We are in the midst of harvest season - a wonderful few weeks of celebrating the gifts of the harvest - the food and produce that the land gives us and which we share with those around us. We have two more harvest festivals this weekend, in Tatworth and Winsham, so please see the details of those services below.
As I thought about what to write about in this e-letter I was reminded of the passage towards the end of C S Lewis's wonderful 'Narnia' book; The Magician's Nephew. If you haven't read it then I highly recommend it for child or adult! Digory (one of the central child characters in the book) has been sent by Aslan (the lion) to fetch an apple from a distant garden. Overcoming the perilous journey to find it, and the temptation not to eat it, and not to mention a run-in with a witch along the way; Digory completes the quest and brings the apple back to Aslan:
"Well done, son of Adam," said the Lion again. "For this fruit you have hungered and thirsted and wept. No hand but yours shall sow the seed of the Tree that is to be the protection of Narnia. Throw the apple towards the river bank where the ground is soft."
Digory did as he was told. Everyone had grown so quiet that you could hear the soft thump where it fell into the mud.
"It is well thrown," said Aslan.
There then follows the Coronation of the King and Queen of Narnia. Whilst everyone celebrates this moment of great joy Aslan interrupts the revelry:
"Look!"
Everyone in that crowd turned its head, and then everyone drew a long breath of wonder and delight. A little way off, towering over their heads, they saw a tree which had certainly not been there before. It must have grown up silently, yet swiftly as a flag rises when you pull it up on a flagstaff, while they were all busied about the coronation. Its spreading branches seemed to cast a light rather than a shade, and silver apples peeped out like stars from under every leaf. But it was the smell which came from it, even more than the sight, that had made everyone draw in their breath. For a moment one could hardly think about anything else.
"Son of Adam," said Aslan, "you have sown well. And you, Narnians, let it be your first care to guard this Tree, for it is your Shield. The Witch of whom I told you has fled far away into the North of the world; she will live on there, growing stronger in dark Magic. But while that Tree flourishes she will never come down into Narnia. She dare not come within a hundred miles of the Tree, for its smell, which is joy and life and health to you, is death and horror and despair to her."
The joy of harvest is in the celebration of gifts received; but it is also (and more so) about gifts given too. It is about letting go of what is dear. Digory has risked life and limb, and overcome massive temptation, to obtain the apple. And now Aslan tells him to throw it away! What is so cherished is now left vulnerable on the river bank and forgotten as the crowds turn their attention to another matter. But unbeknownst to them, that apple - now exposed - takes root and gives rise to something even greater; new life; new future; protection and joy.
As we celebrate harvest this autumn; take time to celebrate what you receive in life and give thanks for. What is it that you strive for and cherish? Are you prepared to set that free and let it flourish and bring unknown joys to those around you?
SERVICES FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS:
Harvest Meals
Harvest Supper in Jubilee Hall, Winsham; Saturday 30 September at 7pm.
Harvest Lunch in Chaffcombe; Sunday 8 October at 12 for 12.30pm.
Sunday 1 October
8.00am: BCP Holy Communion, Forde Abbey
10.00am: Harvest Festival (Family Communion) St Stephen's, Winsham; Rev'd Philip
10.30am: Harvest Festival, St John's Tatworth. This is the monthly Emmaus gathering! All welcome from 1030 for cafe style morning refreshments. Worship starts at around 11am. Rev'd Michelle
Tuesday 3 & 10 October
9:30am: Celtic Morning Prayer. St John's, Tatworth
Saturday 7 October
WILD CHURCH - Harvest. 3pm outside St John's, Tatworth. All Welcome for a Harvest themed Wild Church!
Sunday 8th October
8.00am: BCP Holy Communion, St Stephen's, Winsham
10.00am: Morning Worship, St Mary's, Thorncombe
10.30am: Harvest Festival (Family Communion); St Michael & All Angels, Chaffcombe
Wednesday 11 October
11am: Holy Communion, St John's, Tatworth.
CHRISTMAS SHOE BOXES
Olive Mitchell in Thorncombe, and Rev'd Michelle in Tatworth, are coordinating the annual appeal for Christmas Shoe Boxes to go to those in need in Eastern Europe. The organising charity are Blythswood Care, who will distribute shoe boxes filled with required items. You will find information on this appeal in S Mary's Thorncombe and St John's Tatworth. There are links here too with further information:
Shoe Box Appeal | Blythswood Care
https://blythswood.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ShoeBox_leaflet_2023.pdf
Completed shoe boxes need to be dropped off in Tatworth for Rev'd Michelle by 18 October or in Thorncombe for Olive by the 24 October please! They can also be dropped off at the Welcome Bap in Chard.
INTERCESSIONS FORUM - 10am Tuesday 3rd October; Thorncombe
I will be in St Mary's, Thorncombe, on Tuesday 3rd October at 10 am to go through preparing and leading prayers of intercession in church. About an hour-long session particularly aimed at those who lead intercessions in church, or who would like to! I will be providing guidance on how to structure prayers for those writing them themselves, and signposting resources for 'off the shelf' options.
PRAYERS
Please hold in your prayers all you know who are struggling in any way, in body, mind or spirit. We are asked to pray by name for:
Dave Boyland; Terri Boyland; Wendy Cotton; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Di Nicholls; Hester Down; Stella Hutchison; Margaret Shields; Andrew de Pury; Cyril Larcombe; Lynn Ranson; Keith Legge; Peter Harper; Ron Bone
We remember all those who we love but see no longer, and particularly at this time Margaret Golesworthy, and hold all those in mourning in our prayers.
A Harvest Collect prayer:
Eternal God,
you crown the year with your goodness
and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season:
grant that we may use them to your glory,
for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Blessings
Philip
The Reverend Philip Butcher
Rector - Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie)
The Vicarage
3 Home Farm
Tatworth
Chard
TA20 2SH
01460 221286
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