St Andrew’s, Bentley, came together on Sunday 18th October to celebrate its Harvest Festival, with services held at 10am and 6pm. The church was filled with an abundance of fresh produce, creating a fitting setting for a time of thanksgiving, worship and fellowship.
The displays of fresh fruit, vegetables and other produce served as a reminder that all good gifts come from above and that the harvest is a blessing for which we should continually give thanks.
Both services were well attended, with members of the congregation reflecting on the importance of gratitude and sharing with others. Worship formed a central part of the celebrations, with the congregation singing a selection of traditional and contemporary hymns, including We Plough the Fields and Scatter, Blessed Be Your Name, God Is Working His Purpose Out, Wonderful Grace and Lord for the Years. As part of the service, each member of the congregation was given a paper leaf on which to write the things for which they were grateful. The service concluded with the final blessing given by Bishop Paul, followed by the singing of The Peace.
Alongside the services, St Andrew’s also held a special Messy Harvest, bringing families together for an enjoyable time of harvest-themed activities.
In keeping with the Christian call to love our neighbours, the fresh produce was carefully packaged into bags to be given to those in need.