Dear Friends,

This month in our church calendar is the time that we celebrate Harvest.  Whilst the actual harvesting of farmers’ fields across the country may have happened a few weeks ago, it is an opportunity for us to give thanks to God for His goodness and provision in our lives. 

In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul writes of a similar sense of gratitude to the members of the church in Philippi.  One of the opening paragraphs of his letter to the people of the church states, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:3-6 NIV). 

Imagine receiving a letter with an opening paragraph like that!  Would it not make you feel good to know that whenever the person remembered you, they thanked God for you!  It struck me as to how often are we actually thankful to God for other people?  Whenever we remember a person, is the first thought that comes to mind a positive one or a negative one? 

The apostle Paul’s attitude challenges us to reflect on how we think of people.  Are we thankful to God for others, for only the people that we like or can we even find something good in people that we don’t like?  I have great sympathy for politicians who are subjected to immense scrutiny and criticism these days.  When reflecting on Paul’s words to the Philippians I found myself thanking God for the politicians.  They may not always get things right but I do thank God that they have the courage to take on these positions of great responsibility despite the huge amount of criticism that they receive at times.   

A Christian church can and should be a wonderful example of a place where people can feel accepted and welcome and one in which the other members are thankful to God for who they are, even with our imperfections.  As we celebrate Harvest, let us be thankful to God for His provision in our lives and let us be thankful to God for each other too. 

May God bless you,

Paul & Louise Wood
Captains