Creationtide
Dear Friends
September brings the joy of harvest. This season gives us overflowing enthusiasm within us.
Whether we are admiring the colourful and catching smells of various fruits or flowers from the garden or making jam or fruit juice to have a delicious dinner, we never fail to feel the enthusiasm in our inner spirit which comes from the real joy and beauty of nature.
We do have different enthusiasms in Church life when we celebrate the season of Harvest. Since my childhood, I have been enthusiastically singing the song “All things bright and beautiful.” Singing this song generates the spirit of overwhelming joy in the worship Services, with gratitude for God’s blessings from His bounty. The composer of this song was an Irish lady called Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander. One of the stanzas says
‘He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well’
This enables us to recognise and focus our mind to praise God for His wonderful works.
The Psalmist is saying, ‘The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas and established it on the rivers’ (Psalm 24:1)
We reflect on the abundant blessings we receive from the Lord and give thanks to Him in our central worship on 22nd September. This reminds us of our responsibility as Stewards to take care of our environment in this current situation of climate change across the world. Many Churches are calling this month ‘Creationtide’ to bring Christians together to pray and work for the safety and sustainability of the environment because God is our Creator and we are His Stewards.
Sharing is also part of the thanksgiving. As usual this year also we share the Harvest gifts with the Homeless project at River Court Methodist Church, Hammersmith. Please bring your generous gifts to this Service to serve the Homeless people.
This Service also includes the Baptism for Ruby. As Ruby’s parents, Chrishanthy and Wyman are preparing for her Baptism, I request you to pray for her and her family. May she grow in the knowledge of Christ to share His love in her life journey and be a great blessing to her family and Church family.
With blessings
Revd Jessie Anand, Minister, LTCC 1st September 2019