Parish Jottings

Harvest Festival

A group of diners celebrating at the Harvest Festival lunch

For this year’s Harvest Festival celebrations, we received a record amount of donated produce from churchgoers. As requested, this was in the form of non-perishable goods, which are easily stored and distributed to those in need, when required. These gifts comprised canned and packaged foods, together with a few treats, such as chocolates, to give some cheer to the recipients.

The windowsills, and almost every other available space around the nave, were crammed with a wide variety of the donated goods. An ornate harvest loaf in the shape of a sheaf of corn, and embellished with scavenging mice, was placed on the altar; it was made by Jill Hall, the school meals supervisor at Trinity School. Displays of flowers, arranged by our Flower Ladies, provided a bountiful natural ambience to the church. Pupils of Trinity School had provided a commendable array of paintings to cover the nave walls.

All donated food will be given to the Henley Food Bank (NOMAD). In 2018, NOMAD provided 206 emergency food parcels which directly benefited 264 adults and 157 children. In addition, it gave 34 food parcels, and 117 Christmas food parcels to homeless people.

The Reverend Duncan Carter and Licensed Lay Minister Michael Forsdike presided at the engaging Harvest Thanksgiving service. The sermon, based on ‘Sowing Generosity’ (Corinthians 2:6-15) was given by Michael Forsdike. Duncan gave a talk in which he asked seven quiz questions about harvest festival produce, and later he gave a talk about giving thanks for the various crops of the harvest.

Churchwarden Barbara Williams organised the event and, together with her helpers, provided us with a most enjoyable lunch. Over thirty churchgoers attended the event.

Harvest Festival pictures painted by pupils of Trinity Primary School