As we enter the season of Autumn, I guess many of us look forward to the quieter season of darker evenings with mixed feelings.
The harvest is gathered in and preparations for next year’s produce are already underway.
The schools and colleges too have now returned to start their new terms. It is a time when many are stepping out into new experiences. Moving up to ‘big school’, as I discovered it is often referred to in this area, or moving into higher education – involving a move away from the security of home. However, for many there’s no such dramatic change – just much of the same.
In many ways, September marks the beginning of a new year in the life of the church and, to a large extent, we are now back into the full swing of our autumn program.
I am delighted that, for us as a church, there are exciting things to prepare for in this Autumn season.
For the first time in a number of years we have embarked upon an Alpha course, where we explore the ‘Big Questions’ of life to discover what faith in the Lord Jesus offers. We have been encouraged by good attendance and look forward to what lies ahead.
Also, coming up on the weekend of 7th & 8th October, we have our Harvest Festival – which presents an opportunity to publicly express our gratitude to God for His provision and, in response, to support the work of both the New Hope Food Bank and the Baptist Missionary Society.
Before we know it, I’ll be penning an article reflecting on Christmas – by which time a great deal of preparation, both in the church and in our family lives, will have been undertaken.
Each step of the way let us seek to bring attention to the goodness of God for all that He is and all that He has done.
“…to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.”
Psalm 115 v1
