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Moseley Chimes
October 2008
If you are like me, you probably do not take notice of every word of a service. Perhaps because the words are so familiar, some words simply slip past us. We make the correct responses at the right times but much else just flows straight over us. Still having admitted to this, and hoping I am not unique, sometimes a phrase or just a word does become real to us.
Something like this happened a few weeks ago. Rosemary was presiding at St Anne’s and said we would use Eucharistic Prayer F. As you know, in our Common Worship Order, the president can select one of seven eucharistic prayers. Perhaps because it is low in the order, Eucharistic Prayer F is rarely used. However it is lovely prayer, which starts differently to the others. I was struck by its opening words, ‘You are worthy of our thanks and praise, Lord God of truth, for by the breath of your mouth you have spoken your word, and all things have come into being’.
The point that struck me then and does every time I read these words is that this statement starts at the very beginning. God has created everything, all creation has come into being by His Word. All the wonders of the universe, the land, the sea and the sky come from the mind of God through his Word. Even more wonderful is that God wants us to know him and to praise and worship him as our Creator. But this is not all; the God who so wonderfully created us has also redeemed us. In fact the prayer continues with this theme, ‘You fashioned us in your image and placed us in the garden of your delight. Though we chose the path of rebellion you would not abandon your own. Again and again you drew us into your covenant of grace’.
This month, our churches will celebrate Harvest. Almost as soon as this edition of Moseley Chimes is issued, some of us will be enjoying a meal and a dance in the style of the 1940s. More importantly, at both our churches, we will have the opportunity to praise and thank God for his bounty as he provides food for our bodies and spiritual sustenance for our souls.
Some people accept and believe in God as Creator but hold that he then retired from the scene, leaving lesser beings to maintain his Creation. This is not the Christian view. We believe that God not only started the process of creation, he continues to run it. It is not enough for us to thank God for the wonder and goodness of his creation just once a year when we celebrate our Harvest Festivals. We must thank him daily, and pray for those who bring us the bounty. Particularly we need to remember those who work in dangerous places such as in mines and on the seas. Let us also not forget and try to help those who have less than us to be thankful for. May we all know the grace and goodness of God as we celebrate our Harvest Festivals.