Page 21 - Issue 78 Online

MANEA MATTERS
MANEA MATTERS

St Nicolas’ Church Services

The summer days are leaving us for another year. It’s all part of the rolling
seasons of our world and we begin to notice our world is now full of the harvest.
One of the great benefits of living in this flat Fenland of ours is that we are
privileged to witness the harvest all around us.
I’m reminded of a scene from an old James Stewart film. He’s a farmer in the
south during the American Civil War. He sits down to a meal with his family of sons
and their wives and says grace. It goes something like this, ‘Lord, We thank you for
this food from our land. We claimed this land, we cleared it, we ploughed it, we sowed
the seed, irrigated the fields, we gathered the crop but we thank you anyway.’
We do need to ensure that we do not drift into this way of thinking,
In this country, we continue a tradition of celebrating the harvest. Of giving thanks
to God that, every year, that miracle of harvest happens and that we have provisions
for life.
Over the years our church harvest services have changed. The days of young children
carrying fresh garden produce to be offered has developed into a balance with grocery
products that are able to be sent to Food Banks, helping those of our community in
need.
As Church fellowships we cannot remain static. We are required to move forward and
develop in all aspects of our ministry. We may actually be required re-examine how
we ‘Do Church’ in today’s world.

Stephen Tooke
Licenced Lay Minister for Six Fen Churches

OUR SERVICES

13th Oct 10.30am Holy Communion
27th Oct 10.30am Morning Prayer
10th Nov 3.00pm Remembrance Service
24th Nov 10.30am Morning Prayer
8th Dec 10.30am Holy Communion
6.00pm Carol Service (with Manea Silver band)
22nd Dec
24th Dec 2.30pm - Christingle Service
10.30am - Benefice Christmas Service at St Mary's, Doddington
25th Dec 10.30am - United Benefice service at Christchurch Community Centre
29th Dec
Benefice Administrator - Christine Day 01354 688063
Church Wardens- Rosemary Hankins 01354 680585 & Bob Day 01354 688063

DEADLINE FOR ISSUE 79 (WINTER) – FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2023 PAGE 21
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