of St Mary’s Church, Thames Street, Hampton Harvest is coming… Welcome to our curate, David Lloyd 7


In the countryside I imagine there is nothing inevitable about harvest. To listen to Radio 4’s Farming Today programme, on in the early hours, is to tune into all sorts of anxieties and troubles.


On the other hand there are in parts of the world people who rather than having choice, count themselves fortunate if they have simply enough for each day.


What we can do?


We can value the food we have – so much is thoughtlessly thrown away.


Business Break Vintage


Brownies at St Mary’s


Hampton Sailing Club


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We can care for those who have less, here in the UK or those abroad – support is always needed.


Here in the city, Harvest is fixed in church and school diaries months in advance, irrespective of the punctuality of the crops ripening: ‘It’s in the calendar’ is enough. Away from the immediacy of the toil of food production, it is too easy to think everything is assured for us; it is only in far- flung places that crops fail.


Ask the Vicar: Who’s a Saint?


Kids’ Page


Date for your diary: Christmas Fayre


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So I wonder, if we did not put this date in our diary, whether we would take our farming community entirely for granted; we would find it unremarkable that the shelves of our shops would be filled.


But it is amazing that there is so much for us to pick from. We can choose food and drink from across the globe.


We can give thanks for those who have served us; sparing a thought and a prayer for those who have worked to produce food for us.


We can give thanks to God, the Lord of the Harvest, for what we have enjoyed. When we say thank you we remind ourselves that we have received a gift.


That’s the least we can do, isn’t it?


Join us for our Harvest


Thanksgiving – Sunday 3 October, 11.00


Derek Winterburn


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