HARVEST FESTIVAL

In the Lord’s Prayer, there are seven petitions, six of which ask for spiritual blessings. In their midst, however, there is one petition, which asks for daily bread. Similarly, in the middle of all the festivals connected with our Church Year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and so forth), during which we thank God for all the great deeds He carried out to secure our salvation, we have the Festival of Harvest, in which we thank God for our physical blessings. This is the only festival during the year when our physical, earthly wants come to the fore. This reminds us, first of all, that the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking. A festival service, once a year, when we think particularly of the body and its needs, protects us, however, from the false kind of spirituality which suggests that the earthly and heavenly, body and soul, have nothing to do with each other, as if at home during the week you are to think only of your daily bread, while on Sundays at church you are to think only of the Bread of Life.

The Festival of Harvest has always been a joyful festival.  Way back in Isaiah the prophet we read of the people who “…rejoice before You as people rejoice at the harvest” (Isaiah 9:3). Also encouraging the joy of harvest are the words from our first reading, which say: “…you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you...” (Deuteronomy 26:11).  We can celebrate the Festival of Harvest with true joy when we learn, from God’s Word, to receive joyfully, and to give joyfully.

 

OUR SERVICES FOR SUNDAY THE 3RD FEBRUARY

Warrnambool 9.00am

Harvest Festival Thanksgiving Service with Holy Communion

Ayrford 11.30am

Harvest Festival Thanksgiving Service with Holy Communion

Hawkesdale 9.00am

Service for the 4th Sunday after Epiphany

OTHER ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK

Monday the 28th January, Parish Council 7.30

Wednesday the 30th January, Parish Confirmation Class 4.15

Friday the 1st February, Western Zone Lutheran Ministers Fraternal, Portland (Pastor David will be away during the day attending this function).