Moira Cowell, Wells Methodist Church steward, describes this year’s Harvest Festival at the church
“WE bring an offering of topsoil from the earth, symbol of God’s whole creation and goodness…..” So began our harvest liturgy with individuals bringing up various other symbols – wheat and flowers, berries and vegetables, seeds and a harvest loaf, to remind us all of God’s provision. Then the congregation brought their gifts of tins and packets of food which were later taken to our local Foodbank. Included in the liturgy was an empty bowl symbolic of harvests that have failed and those who hunger as a result, which prompted our prayers of concern later in the service.
The church looked beautiful, decorated with bunting knitted in autumn colours by the Knitting Group, each windowsill adorned with items appropriate to the liturgy, knitted fruit and vegetables, sheep and fish, even a knitted cow and knitted soil.
We were able to include not one but two shepherd’s crooks in the display as a symbol of the flocks and herds of animals and birds that give us meat.
This festival was the culmination of a four-week preaching series during the Season of Creation focussing on Caring for the Earth. Our minister, the Rev Tina Swire, led the service and instead of a “proper” sermon, she entered into dialogue with her husband John who is a former dairy farmer and now an agricultural journalist. He updated us on farming methods that have changed over past years, as science has discovered better ways, and suggested small changes we could make that would help us better care for the earth.
This article has been prompted by the one written by Clare Blackmore in last month’s Wells Voice, entitled ‘Church harvest decorations commended’. I can certainly commend the decorations in Wells Methodist Church this year as very tasteful and beautiful although I have not described them in the rather flowery language of yesteryear. I am only sorry that by the time this is printed it will be too late for visitors to see them. As our church is often used as a place for outside choirs to practise, we have left the windowsills decorated for them to enjoy the displays and be drawn to think about God’s provision for us all.
However, our church is open every Sunday for worship, and is used extensively during the week by outside organisations. Every second Saturday morning we hold a coffee morning and of course everyone is welcome to that. If you wanted to come and see it decorated, the next festival will be Remembrance Sunday, and then of course Christmas, when again our Knitting Group have made bunting in bright colours.
See you then?