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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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