Page 19 - Herald October 2023

OCTOBER 2023
NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE CHURCHES
SEEDS OF FAITH ...
THE NEW COUNTESTHORPE HERALD 19
Dear Friends
October is the traditional month for the church to celebrate Harvest. As a Somerset lad the Biblical phrase ‘We reap what we sow’ has a certain resonance.
In choosing a topic for my Harvest message, I have cart-loads of choice! The Bible is mostly written from a rural setting, and Jesus’ teaching is packed with farming illustrations and parables. For instance, when explaining that we all learn and respond to teaching differently, he tells the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13, where the seed falls on many kinds of ground); to explain that God provides, he says “look at the birds of the air – they do not sow or reap or stow away in barns, yet your heavenly father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26); and for livestock rather than arable farmers he declared: “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11-18). Reaping what we sow is obvious – “Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes?” (Matthew 7:16) – but there’s a lot more to farming than that, of course! There’s the important matter of choosing which crops to sow in which field, because
of what’s needed and saleable, and it’s really important to consider the quality of the soil, what was there last, and so on, and of course to sow at the right time, to make sure the crop is as good as possible. Relating that to ourselves, can I ask how you learn? Do you “clear the weeds” first, to have an open mind? Can you take in
else or even these thoughts have sown a seed of faith or enquiry into your mind, why not feed it – by reading the Bible or at least coming along to one of our Harvest Celebrations in the benefice (more details to be found on our website www.standrewscountesthorpe.co.uk) .... which in the fullness of time may reap a rich harvest.
With my best wishes
Richard
The Revd Richard Reakes St Andrew’s Church
ST ANDREW’S
Service Times
Just one service on a Sunday 1st Sunday - 9am Holy Communion 2nd Sunday - 11am Morning Praise 3rd Sunday - 9am Holy Communion 4th Sunday - 11am Morning Praise If there is a 5th Sunday in the month there is one service at 10am at one of the churches in the Benefice - Countesthorpe, Foston, Peatling Magna or Willoughby Waterleys.
At the other villages:
Foston 9.15am, 2nd and 4th Sundays Peatling 3pm, 2nd Sunday Willoughby 11am, 1st and 3rd Sundays
HARVEST FESTIVALS St Andrew’s: 1 Oct 9am Foston: 8 Oct 9.15am Peatling Magna: 8 Oct 3pm Willoughby Waterleys:
11/13 Wigston St, Countesthorpe, Leicester LE8 5RQ
Traditional to Modern
Open Monday to Saturday 10am - 4pm - Closed Wednesdays
Are you going
a scattering of facts, or does knowledge have to be drilled into you? The writers of the four Gospels have very different approaches to explaining the Good News of Jesus....
If you enjoy history books, then Matthew’s Gospel is a good read; he was a Jewish tax collector who carefully explains Jesus’ place in history.
If you like adventures, then read Mark. He was a young man at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, and his Gospel is the shortest and most action-packed account of Jesus’ life.
If you’re the analytical type, then Luke’s Gospel will appeal. He was a doctor, and at the start he says that his plan is to set down “an orderly account” of the events. And if you’re a romantic, then you’ll see John’s Gospel, written by Jesus’ closest disciple, as glorious prose in praise of Jesus’ commitment and love.
Whichever Gospel you open first, you’ll meet Jesus who understands our way of life – and not just because of his rural roots, though that helps! If He, someone
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