‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ wrote John Keats – and this year the orchards and hedgerows seem to be bursting with apples and plums, damsons and pears – we have a wonderful crop of cob nuts – enough to see us through at least two Christmas seasons (if they last that long) - and quite a few walnuts. It always seems sad to me that even if we make endless jams and chutneys and clear as much space in the freezer as we can, there is so much to eat and to spare here – and in some places so little.

We are once more asked to support the ‘Bishop’s Harvest for the Hungry Appeal’ This year we are supporting TEDDO, the Teso Diocese Development Organisation. It is an Anglican organisation based in Uganda. Its aim is to provide tools and seeds for families displaced by civil war so that they can make new lives for themselves in the temporary camps where they are living. Some members of the group are also trained as ‘Peace Promoters’ so that disputes that may arise in the camps can be more easily settled. Just £1.40 would buy a hen for a family in a camp and £5.00 would pay for seeds and tools to help another family back onto its feet.

That is why I hope you will support our Harvest Auction. This year it will be held in The Three Cranes on Wednesday 4^th October, starting at 7.30pm. The more we raise, the more our surplus will be used to feed others.

It is particularly appropriate that we should support a Ugandan project this year as we are hoping to welcome Bishop Kisembo from Uganda at our service of Choral Evensong on Sunday 22^nd October. We hope that Mrs Kisembo will be with him and that they will talk to us about some of the challenges faced by their people, as well as about the thriving Christian church in that country.

I look forward to seeing you as we give thanks together for all the gifts God has given to us – and help to share them with others.

Yours in Christ

Jo Spray

At about 12:15 pm, after the 11:00 am service on Sunday October 15^th, Bruce Deacon (the Church architect) will talk about the proposed alterations to the bottom of the tower to give us a toilet and kitchenette. Anyone who is interested is welcome to come and listen and ask questions.

The next coffee morning will be at 10:15am on Saturday 14^th October at 8 Mill Green by kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. J. Edwards. There will be a raffle and a bring-and-buy stall, for which contributions especially of cakes and produce would be very welcome.

Last month's coffee morning raised £287 towards church funds. Many thanks to Mike and Winifred Pratt for hosting a very enjoyable event and to everyone who helped with and supported it.

The church will be decorated for Harvest Festival on Saturday 30^th September. If you would like to help, please contact Anne Claypole White (( 881661). We would be grateful for contributions of Autumn foliage, berries, vegetables and flowers. These should be brought to the church before Saturday please and left at the back of the church. Thank you!

FREE activities for children up to 10 years of age.

Parents of school-aged children need not stay.

Saturday 30^th September

3 – 4.30pm

in the Manor Room,

next to Central Stores, High Street.

Our Harvest Celebrations are on 1^st October, 11.00am Family Eucharist when you are all invited to bring Harvest gifts and 6.00pm Choral Evensong for Harvest. On Wednesday morning, 4^th October, Turvey Lower School has its Harvest Celebration in Church

Our Harvest Auction, in aid of the Bishop’s Appeal, is on Wednesday evening 4^th October. This year we are joining with a Ugandan Anglican organisation to buy tools and seeds to help farmers whose land was devastated by war. The Three Cranes has kindly agreed to host our auction this year, which will start at 7.30pm.

The Harvest Supper will be on Friday evening 6^th October, starting at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, tickets (£7 and £3.50 for children) from Sandra Nightingale (( 881453). This year the supper will be a cheese and ham ploughman’s – with puddings – and will be followed by a quiz.