HARVEST THANKSGIVING
11.00 am. Family Communion.
Hymns: 270, 273, 275, 272
Congregational refrain during the Gloria: “Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest”
During the service the St. Giles’ Singers will sing two items: “O Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving” by Sir William Harris (1883-1973) and “Thou visitest the earth” (words from Psalm 65) by Maurice Greene (1696-1755)
Act of Thanksgiving:
Let us give thanks to God, the God of all peoples of the earth
For the colour and forms of your creation and our place within it. All: We bring our thanks, good Lord
For our daily food, and for those whose work and skill bring your good gifts to us. All: We bring our thanks, good Lord
For the light and shades of the changing seasons and their variety and dependability; for new life and growth out of barrenness and decay. All: We bring our thanks, good Lord
For all in whose lives we see goodness, kindness, gentleness, patience and humility, and all the fruit of the Spirit.
All: We bring our thanks, good Lord
For the life we have been given, and for all those whom you have given us to share it
All: We bring our thanks, good Lord
Words of Confession:
Let us confess our forgetfulness of the needs of the poor, and repent of the ways in which we waste the resources of the world
God has blessed us, but God’s children still go hungry, Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy
God has blessed us, but still the poor cry out for justice; Christ, have mercy. All: Christ, have mercy
God has blessed us, but still we see inequality and oppression in the earth, Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy
May the almighty and merciful Lord grant pardon and remission of our sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today’s Collect: Eternal God, you crown the year with your goodness, and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season; grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
New Testament reading: 1 Timothy 6: 6-10
There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
Gospel reading: St. Matthew 6: 25-33
Jesus said, “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Post-Communion Prayer: Lord of the harvest, with joy we have offered thanksgiving for your love in creation, and have shared in the bread and wine of the kingdom: by your grace plant within us reverence for all that you give us, and make us generous and wise stewards of the good things we enjoy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Come and Sing”: at Little Malvern Priory on Saturday 12th October: Registration at 10 am; Rehearsal 10.30 – 3.45 pm; Free concert 4.00 pm. Bring a packed lunch (tea and coffee provided). Music will be provided. Works by Haydn, Goodall, Whitacre and Knight. £10 cash donation on the door – in aid of the charity ‘Help Musicians’. More information from Alison: alisonhunka1885@aol.com or 07763 464305.
Sine Nomine International Touring Choir: Concert at Christ Church Malvern, Saturday 12th October at 7.30 pm. Music of all styles by composers from renaissance to modern. Tickets £12 (£6 students/children) may be bought in advance from Malvern TIC 01684 892289 or http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/lovesinenomine or on the door.
Nota Bene Singers Concert at Upton Parish Church, Sunday 13th October, 5 pm. Works by Tallis, Parry, Eric Whitacre, Vivaldi. Organ solos by Simon Dinsdale. Tickets £10 from uptonlambs@gmail.com or 01684 592232/0787 3553531
Our annual Service of Love and Remembrance will be held at Little Malvern Priory on Thursday 31st October at 3.00 pm, giving thanks for the lives of the faithful departed. If you would like somebody’s name mentioned at the service, please let the Vicar know. All are very welcome to attend.
Heartstart Malvern are running courses (duration 90 minutes) on defibrillator training on Wednesday 16th October between 8 am and 8.30 pm. To reserve a place please ring the bookings co-ordinator on 07926 615812. For more details, view the website – heartstartmalvern.org.uk