The Neglect of the Blog - rectified

I have just realised that I have been neglecting the blog over the last while (apart from sermons), well for a couple of months. Perhaps it has been the pace of parish life, perhaps it has been just laziness but whatever it has been, it will hopefully be rectified now.

We have reached harvest in the churches year. Today I was preaching at the all-age service in Hillsborough parish church which was full, music once again was great. It was lovely to be back in the church where I was ordained just over 3 months ago.

This evening was spent back at St. Columba's with a wonderful evensong - the choir were sounding fantastic :-)

In all the services today the theme as rightly been thanksgiving for God's bounty. Below are

some photos just off the memory card from my digital camera, around the theme of thanksgiving and God's provision.

The first is of the creation window in St. Finnbarr's Cathedral in Cork taken during Summer Holidays.

The next is of a market in Barcelona at easter -an amazing place

The others are some of the flowers and veg from St. Columba's harvest provisions.

In our prayers this evening I was challenged, as I prepared them that we need to be thanking God but also looking out for those who are without, those who have needs across the world and at home also.

This evening's intercessions as I have reflected upon them at home are very challenging.

As we come together this day to celebrate a good harvest in this land we know that across the globe there are lands where they do not celebrate, we pray for our brothers and sisters struggling with drought and starvation we pray particularly for Kenya where people are dying for lack of food.

Forgive us O Lord, and challenge us when we are content to throw away food when others would be content with our scraps. Help us see more clearly, as individuals and collectively as a society what our response to world food shortages should and could be.

We also pray for those in this land who, because of the financial crisis find it difficult to put food on the table for themselves and their families. Be with them O Lord and help them find help, help those who are called to minister to them to find the resources required to provide for their need.

We know that we all are called to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. Help us to fulfil that calling here on the streets of Belfast as well as in the slums of cities in Africa.

Today I was reminded of something I spoke to a friend about as they were preparing an assembly a few weeks back .... Kindness and from that ... random acts of Kindness. I received one today which was great, and I do intend over the next few days to pass it on.

But surely this shouldn't be a big thing, surely Christians always should be kind and showing love to those who are in need day in day out.

R