Church matters

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Sept 20, 2003

Byline: By Frncis Wood

St pumpkin's DAY

So it's Harvest time again. Already I can hear preachers reaching for the old sermon files to remind themselves what they said at their Harvest Festival last year. After three years, it might (just) be worth repeating? Well, seven perhaps.

It matters not whether we've ever ploughed the fields or scattered, the festival seems RIGHT at this time of year. The sheaf of corn looks so lovely at the font as we sing of "the rushes we gather every day". And the smell as we enter the church makes us think of the BBC studio for Ready, Steady, Cook.

Yes Harvest gets caught up in nostalgia and well, nostalgia's not what it was, is it? But - and yes, there is a but - the Harvest Festival still has a message even for an urban church. In the city, it's easy to spend all your time in your own back yard. Today, children (and adults too) need reminding that milk comes from a cow and not a bottle. That without a shower of rain there'll be no sheaf of grain.

Looking more widely and more importantly, the festival should remind us there are countless hungry people in the world today. And, as the charity, WaterAid reminds us, one sixth of the world's population have to collect their water from a river or muddy holes. They have no choice but to drink it and feed their families unsafe water.

Such information makes our Harvest Festival more than just a custom. This is a time when humble and hearty thanks are in order. As for gathering rushes, they still do that at Grasmere in the Lake District. They have a service on that occasion as well.

LETTERS PLAY

HOW many times have you played around with the letters you see before you every day? Like BBC - the Broken Biscuit Company. Or GWR - God's Wonderful Railway. Or even YMCA - Young Men Can't Agree.

Well, now you have a chance to give your creativity its head as the SPCK Bookshop in Newcastle is having a competition to celebrate 60 years of trading in the City. You're asked to suggest what the letters SPCK stand for. Write down your answer on a piece of A4 paper and make a drawing, painting or collage to illustrate your idea. Then hand it in at SPCK Bookshop, 8 Ridley Place, Newcastle, before October 31.

Lots of prizes: under 5s, 5-8 years, 9-12 years and 13-16 years.

And if you think SPCK is a Stupid Painting Competition for Kids you're not likely to win! Someone's already thought of that.

REGIONAL government? Salvation or a sell-out? There's a chance to hear the arguments, for and against, at St Ann's Church, Breamish Street, Newcastle. Speakers include Gill Hale, Vice Chair of North East Assembly, Neil Herron of North East Against a Regional Assembly and Amanda Maine, Vice President of the Black and Ethnic Community Organisations Network. Date: Monday, September 29, at 12.30pm. Details from the Vicar of St Ann's, Canon Chris Savage, tel (0191) 232 0516

DIARY DATES

SUNDAY: Milfield Methodist (Wooler) Harvest. 6pm

TUESDAY: Brunswick Methodist, Newcastle.

OASIS (time for reflection) 12.45pm

All Saints, Quayside, Newcastle.

Lindsays String Quartet. 7.45pm

WEDNESDAY: Phoenix Theatre, Blyth.

Christian Coffee Morning. Testimonies. 10.15am

THURSDAY: St Mary's R.C. Cathedral.

Ecumenical Celebration to welcome Dean of Newcastle. 7pm

FRIDAY: Allen Memorial Methodist, Wallsend.

"Genesis" Flower Festival. Noon-6pm

St John Lee, Hexham

Three-day Seeds of Life Flower Festival. 7pm

St Mark's, Shiremoor.

Institution of Rev Paul Scott as Vicar. 7.30pm

NEXT SATURDAY: Elsdon Avenue Church, Seaton Delaval.

Backworth Male Voice Choir. 7pm

NPlease send items for CHURCH MATTERS to Francis Wood, 52 Albemarle Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3NQ, or telephone (0191) 284 5338.