Dear friends,

At last, temperatures have returned to seasonal norms, and some welcome rain has relieved the heat and dryness. It is remarkable how quickly the brown grass has turned green and other plants have begun to recover.

Nature is remarkable, and after the dry summer we are already seeing its power to regenerate and recover. It is especially fitting to celebrate this now, during the Church’s four-week Season of Creation, when we reflect on God’s creation, ecological concerns, and our responsibility to care for and steward its resources.

One way we do this is through our Harvest Thanksgiving service, where we celebrate the abundance of creation and the harvest. This year, however, many farmers have had poorer yields and face financial hardship and uncertainty about what, if anything, to plant next.

Even so, we can celebrate God’s bounty and the beauty of creation, giving thanks while considering how we can better protect its well-being—for ourselves, the wider world, and future generations.

The way we celebrate Harvest has changed. I remember home-grown produce, harvest loaves, and sheaves of wheat decorating worship spaces, even in urban areas; many of you may have similar memories. Today, although some fresh produce may still be included, our celebrations centre mainly on dried goods donated to the Foodbank.

I hope that as we give thanks and celebrate we will continue to reflect on our use of resources and the amazing creation made by God for us to enjoy.

Alison