Page 70 - Phonebox Magazine September 2012

Churches Together in Newport Pagnell
Letter From A Minister All good gifts around us are
Dear Friends
sent from heaven above; then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, for all His love
Recently I walked past a couple of the allotments in Newport Pagnell and couldn't help admiring the produce that is grown there. I was especially impressed by the neat rows of lovely vegetables, such as beans, leeks, onions, cucumbers and many others, which show the hard work and dedication of the gardeners with well-kept plots. Many more people successfully grow fruit and vegetables in their own private gardens. The best of their labours can be admired every year at the Newport Pagnell Horticultural Show.
VISIT TO GERMANY
All the beautiful produce of the land is a credit to the people who grow it. While hobby gardeners do their part, it is, of course, the farming community that produces the overwhelming majority of what we eat. Farmers and gardeners are, no doubt, aware that their ultimate success depends on nature. What supports them in their efforts is the trust in the power of the seed and in the goodness of the earth, which ensures that in due course the seeds will sprout and grow.
Since 2005 the Newport
Pagnell United Reformed
Church has had a
partnership with two village
churches in Southwest
Germany in the area known
as the Palatinate. In July
eight members of the church
visited their German
partners and spent four full
days with them beginning with a church service in one of the churches at which the Revd Jenny Mills reached the sermon.
But as Christians we recognise that the crop depends upon God. This Excursions into nearby France, a walk in the Palatinate Forest which God is behind it all to make rock and a picnic in a
doesnʼt just happen, but ʻAll good gifts around us are sent from heaven above; included climbing a high it happen. The produce is a Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, For all His Loveʼ vineyard were highlights
sign of God's goodness. “We Plough the Fields and Scatter” of the visit. The three I'm probably not the only young people in the
one who too often takes all
this for granted. Despite the economic crisis and the resulting austerity the supermarkets are well stocked all year round. September is the traditional time for Harvest Festivals. These are wonderful opportunities for taking stock and for thanksgiving. We thank God for sending all these great gifts to us. As it says in the familiar harvest hymn “We plough the fields and scatter”:
Newport Pagnell group shared a day of adventure
activities with their German friends. Hospitality was in German families and the visit included a barbecue and ended with an evening service in one of the churches followed by a buffet supper. Planning is beginning for the return visit of the German churches next year.
Rev John Reardon
D.V. Boddy
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70 Phonebox Magazine
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