FROM THE MINISTRY TEAMThe weather is definitely becoming autumnal. Jumpers and warmer clothing are out of the wardrobe and I’m finding it hard to recall those incredibly hot dry days of only a month or so ago. It has amazed me, that in the midst of such dramatic weather, we were able to enjoy some splendid flower and harvest festivals. I mention the flower festivals particularly as they were so dependent on flowers and greenery that had had to withstand and survive the heat.Crowfield Flower Festival was held over the August Bank Holiday weekend and I’m sure that many readers will have visited. Wonderful stalls and refreshments, all centred on some highly inspired and talented arrangements in church. The theme was Desert Island Discs. Some contributors focused on what various guests on the programme had selected as their “discs” and why. Some imagined what it would be like to be marooned on an island, and what discs they would choose; many of these centred on special memories. Sir David Attenborough was most frequently remembered – a superb reflection on his contribution to our natural world. Personal song choices included Songbird, by Fleetwood Mac – a song of universal love. There were some playful takes on the theme, as well as spiritual interpretations.There were so many talents showcased, all celebrating our world in a glorious church setting – a wonderful way to bring God’s creation into church, and to worship Him and thank Him for both the flowers and greenery, but also for the gifts of those who worked so hard before and over the weekend.The first weekend in October saw Hemingstone’s Flower Festival which linked, as always, with their harvest, and complimented in the Hut, by many stalls and excellent refreshments. This time, the theme asked arrangers to think of a diary that they could represent in flower and plant. Like Crowfield, the arrangements were inspired – again a wonderful way of thanking God for his bounty and worshipping him through the flowers. As at Crowfield, it would be impossible to mention all of the arrangements, but diaries included those of Samuel Pepys, Captain Scott, Anne Frank, the diary of the seasons of the church year, of An Edwardian Lady, of Margaret Fountaine, the celebrated Butterfly collector and pioneer for women, diaries of a grandfather who had lived through World War II and served as a fire warden, as well as some light hearted interpretations. The arrangement which stood out for me, because of the message it conveyed, was the Diary of the Church Mouse, at the font, explained through a poem written by the mouse (aka Val Garwood) and read by her at the harvest service on Sunday evening. (Please see the poem printed in full in the Hemingstone entry to this magazine). A fitting climax to an amazing weekend. In the mouse’s words – “All Are Welcome in This Place.” What stands out, I think, from both weekends, is the way in which they involved people from right across the villages, as well as the churches. There was such a strong sense of community at both events. At Crowfield, folk arrived for an hour and stayed for two or three, partaking of the excellent refreshments and meeting friends. At Hemingstone the Hut was buzzing: as at Crowfield, there had been a hive of activity in the weeks leading up to the festivals, of putting up marquees, cooking and baking, collecting preserves and produce and organising rotas and gifts for tombolas and raffles and manning the stalls and the refreshments. A real sense of community coming together and a true sense of achievement afterwards,I look forward to next year’s festivals and hope to see you all there. If you wanted to help by arranging flowers or providing your services elsewhere, I can promise you that you’d be welcomed with open arms! Rev Helen Norris
From the Ministry team In August, Anne and I, together with Francis and Allie, went to the Keswick Convention in the Lake District for the first time, enjoying good teaching in the mornings and fell walking in the afternoons – a wholesome combination! Before the main talk, Anne and I went to lectures on Martin Luther, William Tyndale, John Wesley and George Whitfield, and Elizabeth Fry and I note that three of these are commemorated in the church’s calendar this month: William Tyndale, who translated much of the Bible into English, is celebrated on 6th October, the day of his death in 1536; Elizabeth Fry, who brought about significant prison reform, is remembered on 12th October, the day that she died in 1845; and Martin Luther (1483-1546), who spearheaded the Protestant Reformation, realising that the Bible teaches that people are justified by faith rather than works, is commemorated on 31st October, the anniversary of the day that he posted his ninety-five theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg in 1517. The main talk each day was on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, in the final chapter of which Paul exhorted them to ‘be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power’ and to ‘put on the full armour of God’: ‘the belt of truth’, ‘the breastplate of righteousness’, ‘feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace’, ‘the shield of faith’, ‘the helmet of salvation’ and ‘the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God’. The point was made that these are largely defensive items, helping one to stand firm against the schemes of Satan, in the knowledge that Jesus Christ has already won the victory. One other person who is celebrated this month is St Francis of Assisi, on 4th October, so I will conclude with his prayer: Lord, make us instruments of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is discord, union; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; through the love of thy Son, who died for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Henry Stanford - Reader
