For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. This week we celebrated our Harvest Thanksgiving with joyful song and gratitude to God for all the strength, courage and resilience granted to us in what has been a difficult year of bereavement, loss and rapid change. Afterwards, we shared a meal of Phil's home-made Harvest Soup, with the cheeses and bread generously provided by the farmers who worship with us.
The Jews observe their New Year's Day in the autumn. They call it Rosh Hashanah. It is followed 10 days later by the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Those 10 days are called the 'Days of Awe'.
According to Jewish belief, during this 10-day period God decides whether a person will continue to live or die in the coming year. These 10 days are believed to be the last chance to repent before God's judgment is finalised for the coming year.
Harvest is a good time to look at your life. We ask ourselves the question: What is the Harvest of my Life? If you have never had your sins forgiven by Jesus, this is the time to do that. There is complete and total forgiveness in Jesus Christ, if you accept His sacrifice for sins, and confess Him as the Lord and Saviour of your life.
If you are a believer, this Harvest is a time to renew your commitment to Him. Seek to uncover the work of God in the here and now. Strive to discern the signs of the time. For everything there is a season.