Autumn time and Harvest time is here. The mellow
gentle sun, vibrant leaf colours and hedgerows
packed with berries herald the turning of the season.
It’s a time of year we give thanks for the food, “safely
gathered in”. Harvest time is also a reminder to be
grateful and mindful of the needs of others.
On Wednesday evenings we have been following the Just 10 series on the
commandments. The first week starts with the 10th commandment with
teaching about true contentment. And Canon J John told us some stark
statistics:
“If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back and a roof over your
head, you are richer than 75% of the world’s population.
If have money in the bank, you are in the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed
than the million who will not survive the week.
If you never experience the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the
agony of torture or the pangs of hunger you are more fortunate than 500 million
in the world today.”
So, this Harvest time may we be very grateful and content. - Remember to
share what we have and give to others generously. Can we live “more simply,
so that others can simply live”? When we live more simply – it means we have
more over to share- we reduce our demand on the world’s resources and we
can focus on what is important.
We have so very, very much to enjoy and be thankful to God for each day. Let’s
echo the words of this Psalm:
“I praise you, Lord God, with all my heart You provide streams of water in the hills and valleys, so that the donkeys and other wild animals can satisfy their thirst. Birds build their nests nearby and sing in the trees. From your home above you send rain on the hills and water the earth. You let the earth produce grass for cattle, plants for our food, wine to cheer us up, olive oil for our skin, and grain for our health. I praise you, Lord God, with all my heart.”
(Psalm 104, verses 1 and 10-15 and from verse 1 again, NIV)
Autumn is a really important time for us bees as we get ready for winter. Maybe
you've spotted us flying around – working long hours to collect enough nectar to see
us through the cold months.
The truth is, we’ve
been finding it tougher and tougher each
year to survive. Time
was, you could buzz around the countryside and find acres of grasslands and lots of
wildflower meadows. But now, with less and less space being left for nature and an
increase in pesticide use, we’re struggling to find food and shelter.
And if that wasn’t enough, we’re
also suffering from the extreme weather brought
about by climate
change. You can help us though.
As we head into
autumn, this is your last chance to plant some bee-friendly
wildflowers this year. You can contact Friends of the Earth and donate to receive a
Bee Saver Kit which explains everything.
A Bee Saver Kit includes:
Wildflower seeds – to help provide vital food and habitat.
Bee saver guide – with tips including how to build a bee hotel.
Bee spotter guide – to identify us when we visit your flowers.
Garden planner – to help you plan a bee-friendly green space.
Bee postcard – to send to your loved ones.
Bee Saver Kit folder – to store your bee-saving materials in one place. Your donation today
will help Friends of the Earth continue its important work, including protecting us bees. It’s
been campaigning for years to help nature thrive and fight climate breakdown. Will you help
build a better future for us bees and other pollinators?
Thank you so much.