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HomeWorshipforJuly2018 bytheRevdAlisonSouthcombe

TendingthelandandgardeningwiththeLord

July1 AdamandEve PleasereadGenesis2:4-7

Adamah(BiblicalHebrew:אדמה)isawordthattranslatesasgroundorearth,andoccursintheaboveBiblicalaccountofcreation.Theconnectivelinkbetweenthewordadamahandthewordadamisusedtoreinforcethelinkbetweenhumankindandtheground,illustratingboththewayinwhichmanwascreatedtocultivatetheworld,andhowheoriginatedfromthe"dustoftheground".

InArcanaCaelestia29Swedenborgemphasisesthisconnection:

TheLordisHewhosows,the"seed"isHisWord,andthe"earth"isman,asHehimselfhasdeignedtodeclare(referstotheParableoftheSowerin:Matt.13:3-9,18-23,37-39).

PleasereadtheversesoftheParableoftheSowerindicatedabove.

Creationofvegetation NextreadGenesis1:11-12

ReturningtoArcanaCaelestia29,SwedenborgcommentsontheseversesinGenesisasfollows:Whenthe"earth"orman,hasbeenthuspreparedtoreceivecelestialseedsfromtheLord,andtoproducesomethingofwhatisgoodandtrue,thentheLordfirstcausessometenderthingtospringforth,whichiscalledthe"tenderherb;"thensomethingmoreuseful,whichagainbearsseedinitself,andiscalledthe"herbyieldingseed;"andatlengthsomethinggoodwhichbecomesfruitful,andiscalledthe"treebearingfruit,whoseseedisinitself"eachaccordingtoitsownkind.

Closingprayer:

DearLord,wetooplantseedswithouractions.Letthembewateredbyyourtruths,blessedbyyourlight.Maywefeelthewarmthofyourloveforus,thatwemaybringforthfruits.Amen.

July8 TheGardener

InJohn’sGospelaftertheresurrection,JesusappearstoMaryMagdaleneandshemistakesJesusforthegardener.OptionalsuggestedreadingJohn20:10-16.Atadeeperlevelisshereallymistaken?CanweseeJesusastheagencyforourregeneration,asheturnsovertheearthofournaturelikeafaithfulgardener?

PleasereadMatthew13:31-32TheParableoftheMustardSeed

Reflectingonthis,pleasereadthefollowingfromSwedenborg’sSpiritualExperiences[orSpiritualDiary]

SE1436.AbouttheseedsoffaithtakingrootSeedsoffaiththathavetakenrootinapersononearth,asoul,aspirit,andalsoinanangel,bymeansofenlightenedknowledge[implanted]andthenbranchingandsproutingindifferentdirections,areofthefollowingnature:

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Whenareligioustruthhasbeenimplanted,thengraduallyitgrowsoutintomanytruths,asiftakingoverthewholespace,andfalsitiesaregraduallyconsumed.Foratruthofreligiononceconceivedbegetsmany,likerivuletsofwaterfromaspring,orrootsofatreeintheearth;orlikeatuberousrootthathasgonedeepdown,andatlengthtakesupspacebyexpanding,andconsumesanythinginitsway.

First,evilsarewipedawayintheperson,otherwise[religioustruth]cannotbeimplanted.Evilsarethe"tares"thatputforthrootswidely,obstructingtherootsofthegoodseed.Afterthatcomesconvictionofthetruthofreligion,whichgivesbirthtoderivativeconvictionsjoinedwithotherenlightenedknowledge.Nextcomestheloveoftruth.Thusthatseedreproducesandbearsfruitbeyondmeasure.

Closingprayer:

PatientandlovingLord,Youbuildtimesofwaitingintothecycleofnatureandintoourlives.Althoughwestruggletoseethewisdomsometimesinthewaiting,helpusfacethebitsofourselvesthatneedthefirmyetgentletouchofyourpruning.Increaseinusthegoodfruitsothattothosearounduswemaybevibrantandattractivesignsofyourpresence.Amen.

July15 Growingandpruning

ReflectontheextractbelowfromIsaiah61-TheYearoftheLord’sFavour

Forasthesoilmakesthesproutcomeupandagardencausesseedstogrow,sotheSovereignLordwillmakerighteousnessandpraisespringupbeforeallnations.

PleasereadJohn15:4-8

Gooutsideandtakealonglovinglookatthenaturalworldaroundyou.Dothisinsilence,askingtheLordtobepresent,perhapsevenimaginingHimwalkingorsittingbesideyouasyoulookatcreation.

Lingeroveranythingthatholdsyourattention,lettingyourselfbeabsorbedinthedetail,colourandmysterybeforeyou.Whenyouarereadyrecordyourthoughtsinyourjournalifyoukeepone,orsilentlyspeaktotheLordinyourheartaboutwhatyouhavenoticed.

PleasereadthefollowingextractfromSwedenborg’sDivineProvidencewhichformsanicereflectiontoyourearlierreadingfromJohn15.

DP332:IntheWord,weareinfactdescribedastrees,andourwisdom,whicharisesfromlove,isdescribedasagarden.ThisisexactlywhattheGardenofEdenmeans.Actually,wearebadtreesrightfromourseed,butwearegrantedascionorgraftfromshootstakenfromthetreeoflife,throughwhichthesaprisingfromouroldrootsischangedintoasapthatbringsforthgoodfruit.

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Closingprayer:

DearLord,giveuswepray,afreshawarenessofyourlifeexpressedthroughthenaturalworld,sothatwithopenedeyes,wemayseethisworldforwhatitis:yourpreciousgifttous.Amen.

July22 Palmsandcedars

ReadthefollowingextractfromPsalm92-readitslowlyseveraltimesandthinkhowitmightapplytoyourlife.WriteupanyreflectionsinyourjournalorspeaktotheLordinyourheartaboutthingsyouhavediscovered.

Psalm92:12-15(NIV)

12Therighteouswillflourishlikeapalmtree,theywillgrowlikeacedarofLebanon;13plantedinthehouseoftheLord,theywillflourishinthecourtsofourGod.14Theywillstillbearfruitinoldage,theywillstayfreshandgreen,15proclaiming,“TheLordisupright;heismyRock,andthereisnowickednessinhim.”

WecangaininsightsintothisextractfromSwedenborg’sArcanaCaelestia8369(3):

Here'apalmtree'standsforgoodand'acedar'fortruth.Since'apalmtree'meansgooditalsomeanswisdom,forwisdomisthediscernmentofgood.Thepalmtreeswhichwerecarvedalongwiththecherubsandflowersonthewallsofthetempleweresignsmeaningsuchwisdom.

WilliamWorcesterinhisPlantsoftheBiblehasthefollowingtosayaboutcedartrees:

Inlookingforthecorrespondingrelationshiptoourmentalgrowthwhenconsideringthisnobletree,ourattentionmustbedrawntowhatisrepresentedbythosesuccessiveplatformsofbranchinggrowth,mountinghigherandhigherintotheheavens,whicharethemoststrikingcharacteristicofthetree.InSwedenborg’sjourneytotheheavenoftheGoldenAge,theheavennearesttheLordandmostfilledwithHisinfluence,hecameatlengthtoagroveoftallcedars,withsomeeaglesontheirbranches.

Seeingthemtheangelsaid,"Wearenowonthemountain,notfarfromitssummit."

Thatthecedarsreachedtothatinmostheaven,representstheabilityoftheregeneratedmindtounderstandtheinnerspiritualtruthtaughtbytheouterform-asseenintheWordofGodintheBibleandwithinthekingdomofnature.

Closingprayer:

DearLordweknowwecannotabandonlifebecauseofitsstorms.Thestrongesttreesarenotfoundshelteredinthesafetyoftheforest;rathertheyareoutintheopenspaces-shapedbythewindsofallseasons.Weprayyouprovideusdeeprootsforourwide-spreadingbranches.Amen.

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July29 EdenRestored PleasereadRevelation221-2

DuringhisministryJesuswouldgooutandaboutinthecountryhealingandspeakingtopeoplewhowouldsimplysitonthegroundtolistentoHim.InfactwereadverylittleabouttheLordwithinthesettingofthetemple.Healsoprayedoutdoors-andforus,simplybeingoutsideinthecountrysidecanactasawayofhealingbyconnectingwithHimthroughthefaceofnature.PraisingtheLordforthebeautyandmajestyofcreationisapowerfulwayforustolinktoHim.

Takeoneofthefollowingreadingsoutintoagreenopenspace-agardenorpark:

Heislikethelightofmorningatsunriseonacloudlessmorning,likethebrightnessafterrainthatbringsthegrassfromtheearth.2Samuel23:4

Thedesertandtheparchedlandwillbeglad;thewildernesswillrejoiceandblossom.Likethecrocus,itwillburstintobloom;itwillrejoicegreatlyandshoutforjoy.Isaiah35:1-2

- Findingaquietspot-sinkintothebeautyofallthatsurroundsyou.- Cometothepresentmoment,bylettinggoofanytensioninthebodyandday-to-day

concerns-allowyourselftojust‘be’.- BeginbyprayingthattheLordwillhelpyoutounderstandhisWordasyousitandreflect

uponthepassageyouhavechosen.After10-15minutesyoucanwriteupanyinsightsinyourjournalorsimplysharethethoughtsofyourheartwiththeLord.

ClosingPrayer:

DearLord,youholdoutabranchofloveandprotectionanddrawustowherethegroundisgood.Blessusinyourgardenoflife.Amen.HomeWorshipforAugust2018 bytheRevdHelenBrown ParablesofthekingdomAugust5 WheatandTares:Matthew13:24–30Wheatandothergrainsaresmall,lightplantswhichneedtobegrowntogetherinlargenumberstothriveandbeofuse.Grainsarehardanddryandlessattractivethansucculentfruit,butareimportantonadailybasisasabasicfoodsource.fromSoulSymbolsWhensowingseeds,youhopethattheygerminateandgrow–butsotoodoalotofotherseedlings–weeds.Oftenyoucan’tweedthemoutforfearofuprootingtheplantsyouwanttogrow.Otherwiseyouwilllosethoseaswell.Youhavetowaituntilyouaresurewhichseedlingsareweedsandthosethatarenot.[Tares(aryegrass)whichlooksmuchlikewheatinitsearlystagesofgrowth.Romanlawprohibitedsowingryegrassamongthewheatofanenemy,suggestingthatthescenariopresentedhereisrealistic.]Andallthisisamirrorofourspirituallife.Thestoryofthewheatandtarestellsusthatthekingdomofheavenwithineachofusislikeafieldreadytoreceivespiritualseedsandproducegreatabundance.However,thereisalsoworktobedoneseparatingoutthespiritualweedsalsogrowingthere.

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Imagineforamomentabarefieldpreparedandreadyforsowing–thisisapictureofthe‘field’ofouroutermind.WhenthereisthepresenceofopennessthentheLordcandevelopandgrowthespiritualseedshehassownintheinnermostpartofus.Whathasbeenplantedinyourlifethatisatrueguideandsustainswhatisforthegoodofall?

However,alongsidethespiritualseedsareweeds.Weedsaswehaveseenappearwiththeseedthatissown.Theyseemtosowthemselves–justpopuptakingadvantageofthefertilepreparedearth.

Whatneedstobeweededoutinyourthoughtsandintentions?Whenarewespirituallyasleep?

Tobecomeawareofwhatislivinginourmindsandheartsisessential.ItistheservantsoftheLordthatnoticeandrecognisetheweedsgrowingalongsidethewheat.

What‘serves’andhelpsustodiscernatruedirectioninlivingaspirituallife?Whatisthe‘enemy’ofwhatisgoodforallandofwhatisheavenly,thatallowsfalseseedstobe

sowninus?WheniswhattheLordsowswithinus‘ripe’forthe‘harvest’?

LookathowtheLordreacts.‘It’stheenemy,’hesays.‘Waituntilharvestotherwisethewheatmightbeuprootedaswell.’Justasinthenaturalworldthefarmerwaitsforthewheattoberipe–soitisspiritually.Waituntilthetimeisright.OnlytheLordknowsthis.Heknowswhenwearereadytoturnawayfrompurelyself-orientatedthingsandallowhislovinggoodnessandwiseperceptiontodwellwithinus.It is according to Divine Order that things, which in the end are to be separated, should growtogether; so that when they come to an end, separation may happen more easily, andspontaneously,orofitsownaccord.paraphrasedfromApocalypseExplained911:7August12 TheKingdomofHeavenislikeanet:Matthew13:47-52ADragnet-aheavynetthatispulledalongthebottomofariverorareaofwaterwhensearchingforsomething

Howdoyoudecidewhatiswholesomeorwhatis'fishy'?

ANet-Ourmouthandnostrilsetc.helpustodiscerngoodfoodfrombad.Sotoo,doesthelowestlevelofourmindhelpusdiscernwhatisspirituallygoodforusandwhatisbad.Inspiritualterms,

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thenetsymbolisesourperceptionofwhatistrueandgood,thatsiftsandsortsoutwhatwewillchoosetoenterourmindandchangeourlife.

Howdoyoumakechoicesaboutwhatisbestforthegoodofall?Fish-gatheringknowledgefromtheworldFisharelikeournaturalcuriosity,gainingknowledgewhereverwego.Thinkaboutthewayfisheatupeverythingintheirpath,andhowexcitedpetfisharewhentheyarefed.Wecanbelikefishwhenwedoresearch,gatherknowledgeabouthowtodoaproject.Itmightbefindingouthowtofixthecaroranewskill.Wecanalso'fishforknowledge'inourspirituallives.Wecansearchforspiritualideasandknowledgetohelpputthingsintoperspectiveandtoseeourplaceintheworld.Itcanhelpdevelopourspiritualitywithintheworldwelivein.adaptedfromSoulSymbols

Whatspiritualknowledgehashelpedyouinyourlife?StorehouseInorderthatthespiritualmindmaybeopenedup….itmusthaveastorehousefromwhichitmaydrawitssupplies;sinceunlessapersonhassuchastorehousehe/sheisempty…..Thisstorehouseisinthenaturalmindanditsmemory.Here,everythingwehavelearntandknowisstoreduptoberecalledwhenneeded.Spiritualknowledgeandexperiencesoflovinggoodnessneedtobestoredineachpersonreadyforthedevelopmentoftheperson'sinnerspirit.basedonAE790[3]Endoftheage

Canyouidentifytimeswhenadoorclosedinorderforanewbeginningtodawn?Toallownewspirituallifetobeborninuswegothroughmanycyclesoflearningspiritualideas,tryingtolivethemout,goingthroughconflictsanddifficulttimesthattestourresolvetolivefollowingtheLord'sguidance.Inasense,weneedtocometotheendofourownresources-toturnandasktheLordtogiveusalifelivedlovinglyandtruthfully.AllthetruthweknowandusehasnoothermeaningthantobringtheloveofGodintotheworldtohelpothers.Prayer:DearLord,teachmetodiscernwhatnurturesthegrowthofyourkingdominmyselfandotherpeople.Helpmetoletgoofallthatiscontrarytoyourloveandwisdom.AmenAugust19 TheWeddingFeastisready:Matthew22:1-14Todaywewillbefocusingongettingpreparedforaweddingfeast.Inthisparable,wehearhowtheinvitationtocometotheweddingissentoutthreetimesbeforetheguestsrespond.

Theweddingfeastisready…...areweopenandreceptive?WhentheLordinvitesustoaweddingfeastofhisproviding,hewantsustohearhisinvitationandaccepthimandallthathecangiveus.Thisiswhatheoffersfreelytous:tomakehisdwellingplacewithinus.AswereadinPsalm84:'Howlovelyisyourdwellingplace,OLordAlmighty!…..’ItishardtoputintowordswhattheLordisofferingtousinthisinvitationtoaweddingfeast–tohisheavenlykingdom.Sufficeittosayittakesusoutofthesuperficialandmundane,ittransformswhataretheordinaryactivitiesoflifeintopurejoyandbliss.

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Thisinvitationismadefreelytoallpeople–theLordyearnstocomeandeatwithusandhaveuseatwithhim.Heearnestlydesiresit.Theparablehowevertellsuswhatourvariousresponsesmightbetothisinvitation.Beawarethatallthesereactionsareatonetimeoranotherpartofourexperience.Theservantsaretheangelicmessengerswhoarewithusconstantly.

• Thosewhorefusedtocome–Canyouidentifytimeswhenyoudon’twanttolistentothepromptingsofconscience?

• TheLordoffersthenourishmentthatheonlycanoffer–theoxenandfattedcalf.Thesespirituallovesforotherswhoseliveswetouch–thekindandlovingintentionthatwecanchoosetoactupon.Butattimeswehaveotherprioritieswedon'twanttochange.Thiscouldbemanythings,status,power,ourhappinessaboveothers.

• Theservantsarekilledoff.Infact,ourownvaluesaresoimportanttous–wewanttokilltheangelicandheavenlyinfluencesthatcomeandinviteustotheweddingfeast–thesewewanttorubbishanddestroy,toignoreandsilence.

Theconsequencesofalloftheaboveareclearlyshowninthestory.Inspiritualtermsthesechoicesbringspiritualdeathandthedestructionofallthatwehavebuiltupintermsofvalues,prioritiesandbeliefstructures.Thereisnoeternallifeornourishmentinthese.However,theLordnevergivesuponus;hetriesagain–hecanonlyreachandconnectwiththosethingsinusthatarehis.Whatdoesthestorytellsus?ThattheLordsendshisservants-angelicmessengerstothe'streetcorners'–wenowgetintothedifficultieswithtranslation.Invarioustranslationswehavethealternativesofhighways,crossroadsandthoroughfares….ThetranslationusedbySwedenborgisasfollows:Verse9:‘Gototheendsoftheways,andwhomeveryoufind,summontothewedding.’(AsinAC10422)Whatdothewords'theendsoftheways'evokeforyou?

Isitcomingtotheendoftheroad,theendofthewayswehavebeenfocusedoninlife?Thethoughtsthatcametomeare:

• Gettingtotheendofourtethersowecannolongercarryoninthesamemannerasbefore

• oradawningawarenessofthedirectionofourchoices• orarealisationoftheconsequencesofourpresentintentionsorloves.

August26 'Here'sthebridegroom!Comeouttomeethim!'Matthew25:1-13Thisparablebeginswiththephrase'thekingdomofheavenwillbelike'anddescribesthisintermsoftenvirginstakingtheirlampsandgoingouttomeettheBridegroom.Thisisnottenwomenbuttenvirgins,sotolearnwhattheheavenlylifeislikeweneedtolookatthespiritualsignificanceofbeingavirgin.WerememberMary,avirgin,whohadnotbeenmarriedorconceived.Weusetheterm‘virgin’todescribesomethingthathasnotbeendevelopedorimpregnated.Weusephrasessuchas‘virginterritory’or‘virginearth’.Andspirituallyspeaking‘virgin’describesapartofusthathasnothadarelationshipwiththeLord.Anaspectofusthathasnotreceivedhislifeandsoitliesoutsideoftheheavenlylife.

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Whatdoesthatmean?Weallattimeskeepourfaithandlifewithinaboundaryourselfishsidefeelscomfortablewith.WeallowtheLordtobepresentonlysofarandkeepcontrolofwhatweallowhimtoinfluence.Therearealwayspartsofusthatarevirginspiritually.Buttheheavenlylifeisallornothing.TheLordlovesusanddesirestobewithusinallaspectsofourmind,heartandlife.TherearenohalfmeasuresifwewishtobeunitedwiththeLord.Whenwelookatthisparablewearepresentedwiththecontrastofwhatis'wise'andwhatis'foolish'.Thewisehadlampsandoil.Thefoolishhadonlylamps.IfwewishtoreceiveaheavenlylifefromtheLord,wearewisewhenweareprepared,andthisinvolveshavingtwoessentialsinourlife.Alampandoil.ALampInthetimeofJesustherewasnoelectriclight:theonlylightwasprovidedbywhattheyhad–oiltoburn,thatcouldbelit,andacontainerforthatoilmadeoutofclay.Nothingelaborate–everydaythingsmadefromclayandfruitoftheolivetree.Alampthatactsasacontainer,acontainerfortheoilwhichcanbeignited.InspiritualtermsthislampiswhatouroutermindlearnsabouttheWordofGod.AswereadtheWordwegaincontainersofknowledgeinourmemory.Thesememories,experiences,arecontainersthatifweareopencanbeasourceofenlightenment–theycanbeignitedbytheLordtogiveusadifferentwayoflookingatlife.Thenlightcanshineinourmindandbringanewunderstanding.

Yourwordisalamptomyfeetandalightformypath.Psalm119:105You,Lord,aremylamp:theLordturnsmydarknessintolight.2Samuel22:29

Whatshinesinspiritualdarknessandgivesyoulight–guidanceanddirectioninyourlife?

Forthelamptobelitthereneedstobeoil.Oliveoilisapreciouscommodity–itwasusedaspartofthesacrificesintheTentofmeetingandtheTemple.Itwasanintegralpartofworship.Oilisthesymboloflove,associatedwithjoy,withthetouchofhealingandwiththeanointingofpriestorking.Theword'Messiah'meansliterally'anointedwithoil'.TheMessiahislovegivinglighttotheworld.See:Exodus27:20,Psalm18:28,Luke12:35,Luke10:34,Mark6:13,Psalm45:7,Psalm23:5IntheinnersenseofthisparabletheoilislovetotheLord.Thisisanessentialpartofbeingwiseandthereforepreparedforheaven-toactinwardlyfromtheteachingsoftheLordJesusChrist,tousethemtolovewisely.Weuseoilto'oilthehinges'toeasetheopeningofdoors–anditislovethatcanopeninnerdoorsinusandothers.Itopensheaventousandothers.Wecannotbuythisfromothers–asweneedtoallowthislovinggoodnesstotransformandregenerateourmindandheart.Thefoolishvirginsknowthetruth(andhavealamp)butliveandactfromselfishness.Henceintheparableitsaysthatthedoorisshut.MakenomistaketheLordnevershutsthedoorofheavenonus–butwechoosetoshutitfromourneedforourowndelightsandhappiness.NowtakeafewmomentstoreflectandbringbeforetheLordwhatneedshispresence,theflowinginofhisloveandwisdomatthistime.

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HomeWorshipforSeptember2018 byPaulineGrimshaw Harvest

SEPTEMBER2THEHARVESTSERVICE READINGS:GENESIS8:22; EXODUS23:14-19

Harvest timeaswe know it and celebrate it in churches today stems froma serviceofHarvestThanksgivinginstitutedbyRevRobertHawker,theAnglicanvicaroftheparishatMorwenstoweinCornwall. Hawker, who was a Cornish patriot and poet, thought that as well as the villagerscelebratingthepaganaspectsofharvest,theyshouldalsogivethankstoGodinaspecialchurchservicewheretheycouldoffergiftsoftheirownhomegrownproducetothelordforthebenefitofthepoor.

ButHawkerwasonlyrevivingatraditionthathaditsrootsintheOldTestamentasfarbackastheearliestchaptersofGenesiswhenCainandAbelbroughttheirofferingstotheLord.AlittlefurtheroninGenesiswereadofGod’spromisetoNoah,“Whilsttheearthremains,seedtimeandharvest,andcoldandheatandsummerandwintershallnotcease.”AsatokenofthispromiseGodsetarainbowagainstacloudinthesky.InthebookofExodustheLordalsogaveMosesotherlawsthattheIsraeliteswerecommandedtoobey.Weare told thataceremonyshouldbeheld tocelebrate thegatheringof the first fruits,namely,thefirstcropsproducedatthebeginningoftheyear.Thefirstsheafofthe‘Barleyharvest’waspresentedtoGodonthefinaldayofthePassoverfestival.InourcalendarthiswouldbeaboutthemiddleofApril.Theninautumnwasheldthefeastorfestivalof‘ingathering’themostpopularandjoyfulofallJewishfestivals.Thiswasheldwhenallthefruitcropshadbeengathered.Inbygonedayspeoplerealisedthatiftheharvestwaspoortherewasastrongpossibilitythattheywouldbeveryhungryindeedduringthecomingyear.IimaginethatitmighthavebeenveryhardforthemtogivethefirstfruitsoftheirlabourasanofferingtoGod.Icanimaginetoothefeelingsofreliefandthankfulnessandjoywhentheharvestwasgood!Today inmany respects our lives and the foodweeat aredivorced fromwhere food is grown.Many children do not realise that everyday foods such as cornflakes, rice crispies, chips andchocolate come fromwhatwereoriginally livingplants.Until recentlypeoplehad toworkhardphysically to get food. Planting, digging and weeding were hard work and often efforts werefrustratedbydroughtorflood,animalsorinsectsthatatethemorhumanenemieswhodestroyedthem.Topeopleofthosetimesgrowingcropsmusthaveconvincedtheancient IsraelitesofthepowerofGodtopunishortobless.Today,ofcourse,weknowthatGoddoesnotusetheforcesofhiscreationtopunish.Eventoday,althoughwemostlydonotnoticeit,thegrowingandharvestingofcropsstillunderpinsthewholeof human activity.Without agriculture we could not live. The agricultural processes are also apicture of our own spiritual growth. During our earthly lives we are growing and developingspiritually aswell as naturally.Our individual spiritual crop is the things thatwe have done forothersinthecourseofourownlives,notforourownbenefitbutforthesakeofothers.ItistheeffortthatwehavemadetobecomemoreliketheLordourCreator.Hopefullybythethingsthatwehave learntand the love thatwehaveshownour liveswillbe like thecrop thatproducesahundredfold.MaytheLordtrulyblessournaturalharvestsandthespiritualharvestofliveswelllived.PRAYER:OLord,youarethesoweroftheWordblessuswiththegoodgroundofanhonestandfruitfulheart,thatneitherweedsnorthorns,thecaresofthisworldnorthedeceitfulnessofrichesmaychoketheWordandmakeitunfruitfulinourlives.Amen

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SEPTEMBER9 FRUITSOFHARVEST PSALM1; MATTHEW13:1-10

The celebration of harvest, is I think, one of the loveliest services of the year. This service ofcelebrationandthanksgivingremindsusofthewondersofcreationthroughalloursenses.Wecansee the rainbow colours of fruit and vegetables, feel the texture of peel and skin, smell thedistinctive earthiness, taste the sweetness of the fruit, and whilst we can’t hear fruit andvegetables,wecanenjoysingingthespecial,evocative,harvesthymns.

Thepurposeofalllivingthings,whetherplantsoranimalsistomultiplyandbearoffspring.Whenthe purpose is completed, fertility usually declines and the living thing dies. From the smallestbacteriumtothelargestmammal,fromthetiniestflowertothegiantredwood,allgothroughthesamecycleoflifethatnothinglivingcanescape.Weourselvesaretheonlyexception,forastheWritingsofourchurchtellus ‘TheLord’sProvidencehasas itscreationaheavenofangelsfromthehumanrace.’Aloneamongstcreation,humanbeingshave theability tobear twosortsof fruitsoroffspring -naturaloffspring,thefruitofourbodiesinourchildrenandgrandchildren,andalsospiritualfruitor the actions and deeds thatwe do in the course of our lives. Sometimeswe use the phrase‘Fruitsofourlabours’todescribethethingsthatwehaveaccomplished.In theWord of the Lord a human being is frequently compared to a plant. In Psalm 1 a goodperson iscomparedtoa treeplantedbya river thatbears fruitat theappropriate time.Wheredoesatreecomefrom?–obviouslyfromtheseedofamorematuretree.Atthistimeofyeartheseasonal cycleofa year in the lifeofa tree isentering its autumnalphase. Foliageand flowershavegrowninspringandearlysummer;pollinationhastakenplaceandtheovariesoftheflowershaveswollentobecomefruit.Whatdoesatreeneedtomakeitasuccessfulfruitbearer?Itneedsto become established with strong roots within the soil; the trunk needs to have producedbranchestobear leaveswhichfeedandoxygenatetheplant;and itneedstoproducebudsthatgrowintoflowers.Toenablethisprocesstotakeplacesuccessfullythetreeneedsplentyofwater,fertilesoil, lightandspace. Itmightalsoneedpruningandtrimmingandpreventativemeasurestoguarditfrommothsandaphidsandotherpests.Thegrowthofatreeisapictureofthegrowthofourownspirituallives.Theseedsinusaretheideasandsuggestionsthatareplantedinthesoilorgroundofourminds. Inthe“parableofthesower”relatedbytheLordwehearwhathappenstosomeoftheseseeds.Ideasmightdieorgetswallowedupbutsomeideasalwaystakerootandflourishinreceptivepartsofourminds.Spirituallyspeakingwemayhaveanintentiontodosomethinggoodanduseful;wemightneedtostudyanideaandtothinkaboutitbeforewecanputitintopractice.Withmanyoftheideasandprinciples of life we need to develop a certain maturity before we finally develop our lives inaccordance with heavenly principles.When our knowledge and principles have become strongtheneventuallywegrowtodelightinthemandtofeelhappywiththemandthisisthefloweringstage.Theculminationofknowledgeandloveinourlivesproducesbeautifulfruit intheformofusesthatwedoforothers.Ofcourseifourprinciplesandthoughtsarehellishtheresultingcropisthistles,thornsandweeds.Thetreeofourlifeisevidentfromthethingsthatwedowithourlivesandthewayinwhichwelivethem.It is the Lord’s purpose that one day we will all become angels but the development of ourheavenlynature isanongoingwork.Sometimes ifweexamineour lifetreewemightseethat it

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requireswatering,alittlemorefoodormaybeadrasticpruningoftheunsatisfactoryparts.Atthisharvesttimeletusthinkabouttheharvestcropwhichisourownlife.Mayitbecolourful,usefulandbringjoytoothers.AMENPRAYER:OLordyougiveusallgoodthings.Giveusthankfulhearts.AmenSEPTEMBER16 THEBREADOFLIFE JOHN6:29-35and47-51;AC3478Itdoesn’tstandoutinthesupermarketastheleadingofferfortheweek.Youdon’tseeitstackedupinthe‘twoforthepriceofonedisplays.’It’snotheavilypromotedontelevision.It’snotpresentedinelaboratepackaging.It’sahumbleeverydayproductthatmostofuspickupandputintoabasketortrolleywithouteventhinkingabout.

Itisyouraverageslicedorunslicedloaf,brownorwhite-nothingfancy-butstickitinatoasteranditprovidesaquickhotmeal-withmarmaladeorhoneyorevenscrambledeggsforbreakfastorbakedbeansorsardinesorcheeseforaquicksnack.Eatitasitiswithjustbutter,orsandwichtwoslicestogetherwitheverytypeoffillingyoufancy.GotoanIndianrestaurantandusethenaanbreadtomopupyourcurry,goItalianandhaveithotwithgarlicbutter,orMexicanandstuffitwithchillibeansandmince.Whereveryougointheworld,breadofsomekindisabasicorstaplefood–acheap,nutritiousfillingfood.Thereisstilltheoddstreetcornerbakerywithdelicioussmellsofhomebakedbread!Thewonderfultasteoffreshlymadebread–somethingthatwemisswhenweeatfactorymadebread.

Breadisoneoftheearliestfoodsknowntoman.Itissometimescalledthestaffoflifebecauseintimespastitwasoftenthemainoronlyfood,andthelivesofwholecommunitiesdependedonasuccessful grain harvest. In Biblical times two kinds of cereal plantswere used tomake bread,eitherbarleywhichmadequiteacoarsesortofbreadandwasusuallyeatenbypoorerpeople,orwheatwhichmademuchfinerbreadandwaseatenbybetteroffpeople.Makingthebread,evenafterthecropwassown,grownandharvestedwasalongprocessrequiringgreateffort.Afterthecornwasharvestedithadtobethreshedandwinnowedtoseparatethegrainsfromtheiroutercovering and sifted to remove stalks, before being crushed or ground between large stones tomakeflour-usuallythewoman’sjob.

AllpeopleinBiblicaltimeswerefamiliarwithmakingbreadandinsteadoftakingitforgrantedaswedotodayknewjusthowimportantitwas.Togetaworthwhilecropofcornyouhavetogrowthecerealsen-masse.Thestalks,growingcloselytogether,protectandshieldtheindividualplantsastheygrow.Theresultinggrain issmallandhard–quiteunlikethefruitsthatgrowonbushesandtreeswhichtendtobesweetandjuicy.Yetthesesmall,hard,unexcitinggrainsbecomefoodthat fills andmakes us feel warm and satisfied – rather than themore spectacular and easily-picked fruits.Our daily lives are notmadeupof spectacular things. It is the everyday acts, theroutinethingsoflifethatgiveussatisfaction.Itisthesumofmanysmallthingsthatmakeusthepeopleweare.Thesmallactsofkindnessorthingsthatwefeelweoughttodoanddon’trelishdoing,butwhichneverthelesswecarryoutfaithfullyandwell-suchtasksascaringforothers.Weshowourloveforothersinthewayinwhichweliveourlives.

In our reading from John’s gospel the Lord compares himself to bread. Just as he literally fedcrowdsofpeoplesohefeedsusspiritually inthesacramentandthroughouthisWord.ThefoodwhichhegivestousthroughtheteachingsinhisWordsustainsus,satisfiesusandnourishesus.TrulytheLordhimselfisthelivingbreadthatcomesdowntousfromheavenandgiveslifetotheworld.

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PRAYER: Dear Lord, you are the true Bread of Life. We ask you to feed our souls with yourheavenlybreadandnourishuswithyourlove.Amen

SEPTEMBER23 SEEDS GENESIS8:20-22;and9:1-3;LUKE8:4-15;AC932

Almost as soon as we have celebrated harvest autumn is upon us and the green and gold ofsummer is replaced by the brown, orange and russet as leaves change colour and fall to theground along with any remaining fruits. The conkers that children collect are the potentialchestnut trees; the spinning jennies that seem to land everywhere are the potential sycamoretrees; thehipsandhawsonbushesarepotential rosesandhawthorns,and theblackberries,aswellasprovidingfruitforthejamthatIoftenmake,arethepotentialbramblebushes.

Weoftenuse theanalogyof seeds inoureveryday lives.Wemight talk about ‘sowingan idea’whenwemakeasuggestion.Whenwetalkabouthaving‘thegermofanidea’thewordgermisshorthandforgerminatenotfortheviralinfluenza.

RepeatedlyintheWordoftheLordthecyclicnatureofseedtimefollowedbyharvestisstressed.ThepromisetoNoahinthebookofGenesis‘Whilsttheearthremains,seedtimeandharvest,coldandheat, summerandwinter shallnot cease.’ Thispromise is thebasisof life in thisworld. Itremindsus that there isalwaysanewbeginningbut thatbeginningcomes fromwhathasgonebefore.

Everypersoninthisworld,whethertheyrealiseitornot,isconstantlytherecipientoftheseedsoflove and truth from the Lord. Every act of goodness done in theworld,whether the individualacknowledgesitornot,isaresultoftheinitialsowingdonebytheLord.

EachoneofusreceivesseedfromtheLordinmanydifferentways.Ifweconsidertheseedsthataresownthroughtheworldofnature, thenumbersthatneverevencometofruitionaremind-blowing.Inthesamewaysomanyspiritualseedsnevercometofruitionbutthesupplyisinfinitelyon-going.

Intheparableofthesowerwecanseesomeofthereasonswhytheseeds inourmindsdonotgrow,perhapsourmindsmighthavestonyplaceswithlittlesoilfornurturingideastotakeroot.Otherseedsarelikesuddenenthusiasmsandideaswhichstartoffbrilliantlybuttheenthusiasmwearsoffandtheideaandinterestwithersanddies.Someseedfallsbythewaysideofourlivesandbecomespreytothefirstbirdsoffalsityandiseaten.Yetamazinglysomeseedalwaysgrowsinourheartsandmindsforwehaveallbeenblessedwithsomegoodsoiland ifwecherishtheseedsofgoodnessandtruthinourliveswetoowillhaveharvests.Whatwillourharvestsbe–thejoyofinnerpeacethatwehavefromtryingtolovetheLordandfromtryingtolivealifeoflovingandservingothers?Itisultimatelythespiritualthingswithinusthatwillgrowtoeternity.

SEPTEMBER30 QUESTIONS GENESIS1:24-31Thistalkissuitableforafamilygatheringwithyoungchildren

Doyouaskalotofquestions?Notquestionslike‘What’sforteamum?’or‘CanIhavemypocketmoneyearly?’butquestionsthatyourmumanddadmightfinddifficulttoanswer.

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InthesummerIwentonafamilyholidayintheYorkshireDales.Myfiveyearoldgranddaughteraskedme,‘Grandmawhydoesmilkcomeoutwhitefromcowswhenthegrasstheyeatisgreen?’WellI’dnoideaaboutthatanswersoIjustsaid,‘Pass.’

Thenabeecamealong-justabittoonearmygrandsonforhisliking.Hebrusheditawaycrosslyandasked,‘WhydidGodmakebeeswhenthey’renousetoanyoneandanuisancetoeveryone.”

NowthatwasaquestionIthoughtIcouldanswer.’Godmadebeesbecausetheyareveryuseful.Peoplewouldhavea lotof trouble finding food ifwedidn’thavebees.As they fly into flowerslookingfornectartotakebacktotheirhivetheyaccidentallypickuppollenfromoneplantandtransferittoanother.’

Icouldn’trememberhowthenextbitworkedbecauseit’salongtimesinceIwasatschool.ButIdidknowthatflowerscan’tproduceseedswithoutbeespollinatingthem.Sonobees,nofruit,noseeds,nonewplants,nofruit,novegetables!‘IguessGoddesignedandmadebeesaspartofthiswonderful world where we all depend on one another and where everything has a use,’ Iconcluded.

Answeringquestionscanbestressfulforgrown-upsbutthenIhadagoodidea,‘Let’sgotoanicecreamfarm!’‘You’rekidding,grandma!’

ButIwasn’t!Thereisanice-creamfarm.TheykeeplovelyJerseycowsandturntheirmilkintothemostdeliciousicecream!There’safantasticicecreambarwithloadsofdifferentflavours,andacounterwithhighstoolswhereyoucanenjoyicecreamwithpancakesandwaffles.

‘Whatwouldyoulikemadam?’Nowthat’saquestionIhavenoproblemanswering!

Sofrombeestograss,tocows,tomilk,toicecream–it’sallapartofthewonderfulpatternofcreationwhereweareallinterdependent.

Here’swhattheWordoftheLordsaysinGenesis1:30-31Toeverybeastoftheearthandeverybirdoftheairandtoeverythingthatcreepsontheearth,wherethereisthebreathoflife,Ihavegiveneverygreenplantforfood.Anditwasso.AndGodsaweverythingthathehadmadeanditwasverygood.

APOEMPRAYER:

Theharvestshaveripenedinthesun.There’splentyoffoodforeveryone.

There’ssomeforourselvesandmoretosharewithallofGod’speopleeverywhere.

WORDMAKING:HOWMANYWORDSCANYOUMAKEOUTOFHARVEST?ICANMAKE20OF3ORMORE LETTERS. CAN YOUMAKEA 6 LETTERWORD THATHAPPENS TO SOMEPEOPLE IF THEIRHARVESTISPOOR?