News from our Churches

Sunday 27th September - Harvest Festival / 17th After Trinity

Hempstead 9.30am Harvest Festival Eucharist (CB)

Thaxted 11.00am Harvest Festival Mass (DS)

Thaxted 1.30pm Baptism of Hallie Blower (DS)

Thaxted 6.00pm Ecumenical Harvest Service and Supper

Gt Sampford 6.00pm Evensong for Harvest and St Michael & All Angels (SL)

Please bring your gifts for Uttlesford Foodbank to any of these services

Monday 28th September

Thaxted 7.30pm Praying the Rosary

Tuesday 29th September - St Michael & All Angels

Thaxted 7.30pm Festal Mass (DS)

Wednesday 30th September

Thaxted 10.00am Low Mass (CB)

Sunday 4th October

Thaxted 8.00am Low Mass (DS)

Radwinter 9.30am Eucharist (SL)

Thaxted 10.00am Open Doors (DS)

Thaxted 6.30pm Evensong (DS)

Monday 5th October

Thaxted 7.30pm Praying the Rosary

Wednesday 7th October

Thaxted 10.00am Low Mass (DS)

Friday 9th October

Thaxted 1.30pm Servants of the Sanctuary Mass (Fr Alex Shannon)

Dear sisters and brothers,

Lord God, up from this Holy ground we pray you grow your church. This has been my prayer here in the benefice for some time. I hope it is yours too 🙏. My belief is that God grows the church, not us. That it is God who is sowing seed generously and extravagantly into all areas, some to flourish and some to yield fruit in another season. There is, as I mentioned last Sunday when preaching on the labourers in the vineyard, no waste in God’s economy, however generous and extravagant it seems. This is why St Paul got it so right  when he wrote (see our epistle for Sunday morning’s harvest thanksgiving services):

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

In other words, by giving - and this can be our harvest festival offerings for the Foodbank, or regular planned financial giving to the church for ministry share payment, or bringing bread and wine to the altar for God to give back as His body and blood -  we are given so much more back, ourselves, in return for our gifts to others.

I am reminded of this when visiting people in hospital or at home when they are sick, often gravely ill. My small sacrifice of time is always enriched by the blessing I feel I have been given in return, from the person I visit. In return for time and travel, I see the presence of God in the face and the very being of the person visited.

We can be cheerful givers this harvest thanksgiving and at all times, because of the joy that overflows as generosity produces, as St. Paul wrote: thanksgiving to God through us.

From the epistle:

He who supplies seed for the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Thank you for who you are. Wherever you are, wherever you are going, may God bless you and the precious, holy ground you stand on.

I am ever yours, in the love of God,

Fr David - Rector of Thaxted, the Sampfords, Radwinter & Hempstead

We pray for:

Christian mission - at home and abroad.

Our friends in other denominations - our work together now and in the future.

Local farmers and gardeners who grow their own produce.

The work of Uttlesford Foodbank and for those who live on or below the poverty line.

Local branches of environmental societies.

The Collect Prayer

Harvest Festival

Eternal God, You crown the year with your goodness and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season: grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Sunday 27th September Harvest Supper.  We look forward to welcoming you to Thaxted Parish Church at 6.00pm for a short ecumenical service followed by the Supper.  Please contact Maggie Catterall (mcatterall49@gmail.com) to book your place at the table.  Donations of food or money will be collected at all our church’s Harvest Festival services and will be donated to the Uttlesford Food Bank.

Monday 28th September 2.30pm HIGNFY, St Mary’s Little Sampford.  This week’s theme “What is your worst fear?”.  Refreshments will be available and all are welcome!

Saturday 3rd October 10.00am - 12.00noon Radwinter Church First Saturday Coffee Morning.  All welcome!

Tuesday 13th October Messy Church returns to Thaxted URC from 4.00pm - 5.30pm. As usual, we will be having fund with crafts, games and songs, followed by a shared tea.  Please book by calling 01799 524944 or by emailing thaxtedmessychurch@outlook.com

Saturday 17th October Coffee Morning & Lego Club 10.00am - 12.30pm at Thaxted URC.  Join us for coffee, tea, cake and chat.  Toy & Lego club for families.  All welcome.

Saturday 17th October Arts & Crafts Fayre 10am - 4pm Over 60 carefully curated stalls from local artists and makers at Thaxted Parish Church.