During the week after St Mary's harvest Service, Ann Cam School came into church for their own harvest celebration, after which the different aspects of harvest were explained to the children using the five displays, plus a sixth on the "Fruit of the Spirit". (Return to top)

Gardening can be like farming in miniature. Farmers grow fruit and vegetables in large quantities for our tables and kitchens. Gardeners grow not just beautiful flowers, but fruit and vegetables too, only usually in smaller quantities! Autumn is a favourite time for gardeners because they’re able to harvest the fruit and vegetables that they’ve been patiently tending for many months. They’ve waited for exactly the right time to dig up or cut down their crops. (Return to top)

Reflection
Every gardener knows that patience is very important. Harvesting too soon would mean that the crops were not fully grown or property ripened, but harvesting too late would result in them going rotten and being wasted. (Return to top)

Sometimes it’s important for us to be patient and wait for the right time for things to happen. The Jews have been waiting centuries for God to send another saviour like their greatest king, David. Christians believe that God has already sent him, Jesus of Nazareth, except God thinks in bigger ways than humans. He sent his Son to save all humanity, not just the Jews, and to save us from our own misdeeds not just warring neighbours, and so make us fit for his perfect kingdom – eternity – not just an earthly kingdom! (Return to top)

Being patient is a challenge, but like slow growing fruit and vegetables, growing in patience helps us grow in wisdom and maturity and helps make us fit for heaven. (Return to top)

But they don’t just have the sea to contend with – there’s politics too! In the 1950s and then again in the 1970s, Iceland attempted to protect its waters and fish stocks from over fishing, especially by British Fishermen – the so called ‘Cod Wars’. (Return to top)

In 1995, the European Union declared that its Common Fishing Policy was failing. Stocks were being over-fished because the fishing fleets had got too big (there were too many fishermen and they were too good at it!). Too many fish were being caught so there’s been a series of ever-reducing quotas to limit the amount fishermen can catch and therefore the numbers of boats... and so the amount they can earn. (Return to top)

Fishermen feel they’re alone not just at sea but when they’re contemplating their future too. (Return to top)

Reflection
One windy night Jesus saw his disciples, trained fishermen, struggling to sail their boat on the Sea of Galilee. They were amazed and frightened when they saw him come towards them, actually walking on the water!
The Bible tells us that Jesus spoke to them at once, “Courage! It is I”, he said. “Don’t be afraid”! Then..... he got into the boat with them, and the wind died down.  (Mark chapter 6: verses 50-51). (Return to top)

Sheep are either sheared in the early summer months, or immediately prior to winter housing. Since sheep no longer molt naturally, shearing is necessary to prevent the animals from overheating during the summer months. Shearing is often carried out by shearers from Australia and New Zealand who travel the world to shear sheep all year round. (Return to top)

From sheep, we ‘harvest’ meat, milk, cheese and wool – woolen threads are used to make clothes, blankets, carpets and many other useful things. (Return to top)

Reflection
Many different coloured threads are used to make a weaving on a loom. One thread on its own can’t do it, just as one person on their own can’t make a family, or a school, or a church. (Return to top)

From the Bible we learn that everyone is precious and equally loved by God. Each person has been given gifts to share with those around them, so we must learn to celebrate and accept the gifts of others. (Return to top)

Many different metals have been extracted from the earth since pre-historic times and used to make weapons, as well as useful objects like ploughs, or objects of beauty like jewellery. (Return to top)

Clay too is harvested from the earth. People have been harvesting clay for thousands of years to make both useful and beautiful objects, ranging from giant urns for storing water, wine and oil to much smaller cups and mugs, or carefully decorated pieces of jewellery made as special gifts. We know this because museums collect and display ancient pieces of pottery that have been dug up by archaeologists at sites where our ancestors lived (There are examples of Roman pottery found around Dymock in the display case in the side aisle of the church). (Return to top)

Reflection
If you have ever made a gift for someone you love, you will know the joy that it can give to them – and to you. (Return to top)

The Bible tells us that:
Isaiah said, “In the last days.... they will beat their swords into ploughshares” (Isaiah Chapter 2: verse 4).
Jesus said, “Love God with all your heart.... and love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark Chapter 12 verse 30-31), but he also said:
“There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”
(Acts: Chapter 20: verse 35) (Return to top)

Like clay, bread too goes back to pre-historic times. Years ago, if you were put on a basic diet, such as if you were in prison, you were given bread and the other staple we need – water. (Return to top)

There are of course many other grains such as maize and barley, both used for animal feed, but barley is also used to give us a particular joy – in the flavouring of beer and whiskey! (Return to top)

Reflection
God shows great goodness in his gifts – there’s enough food in the world for everyone to have enough to eat if the earth’s resources are shared fairly, but many people don’t have enough. 947 million people every day get less calories than are essential for healthy living. 1 child dies of hunger every 5 seconds. We all have a responsibility to work for justice for the world’s poor. (Return to top)

Which charities do your family or school support to help the developing World?

Father God, thank you for the gift of bread. May we never waste what we are given. Help us to do all that we can to help those in the world who don’t have enough to eat. Amen. (Return to top)