Dear Friends,

October 4^th is the day set aside for the church to remember St Francis of Assisi, perhaps one of the most popular and well known of all the saints.

Francis was born in Assisi in 1182, the son of a wealthy merchant. He had a lively, rather frivolous youth before opting for a career as a soldier. In 1204, as he was on his way to fight, he had a vision of the crucified Christ and felt that he was being called to some particular mission. He returned home, where he was disinherited and disowned by his father, and took upon himself a life of poverty. Later, he and his companions were authorized by the Pope to be roving preachers of Christ in simplicity and lowliness. Francis’s life and ministry were marked by poverty, simplicity and a particular closeness to the natural world. He is often shown in pictures surrounded by birds and animals – and there was a tradition that he could speak to the creatures he met in the forest.

Perhaps it is Francis’s beautiful Canticle of the Sun that has given rise to these traditions. In it he praises God for his goodness and greatness, and highlights the benefit to humanity of each aspect of creation. More than that, he talks of the created order as if it were part of our family. He refers to ‘brother sun’ and ‘sister moon’ to wind and fire and water and to ‘our sister, mother earth (who) sustains and governs us and brings forth many fruits and coloured flowers and plants’.

At Harvest time, we, too, give thanks to God for his goodness to us. And perhaps here, in the countryside, we are more aware of the need for humankind to work together with the natural created world if we are to feed ourselves and others. But do we consider that the earth governs us as Francis suggested – or do we consider that the earth is there to meet our needs by whatever means we choose to employ?

We have read much in the newspapers during the last few weeks about how many people in Britain today have lost touch with the countryside - about how they do not understand the life and the ways of the countryside. I suspect that even for many who live in villages this could be true too. Francis was aware of the closeness between all aspects of God’s creation – their interdependence - so much so that we are all part of the same family. All should work together for the good of each member – and this means there is no room for exploitation. We need to listen to the rhythms and the needs of the countryside itself – to understand how we are called to work together to preserve and cherish all that God has made. It is our only means of survival.

May we learn from the toughness, and from the gentleness of Francis at this Harvest time.

Yours in Christ

Jo Spray.

Our farmers and all who work on the land

A fairer distribution of the world’s resources

The work of Tradecraft and other fair trade associations.

Jo Spray

The Harvest Supper is in the Village Hall on Friday 8^th October, starting at 7:30 pm. Details and tickets from Sandra Nightingale (01234 881453).

Mothers’ Union.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 21^st October at 2:30 pm in the Manor Room. Diane Tomkins will give a talk on Amos.