As I am on a course (on Hospital Chaplaincy and Spiritual Direction) and then having a few days with friends in England, these notes will have been sent into the Diocesan Magazine rather early. Anything not included here will appear next month.

A big thank you (in advance) to all who help to make the Harvest festival ‘season’ special.

Instead of the usual Missionary Giving Evening Service at Farranthomas this year we will make Sunday 12^th November (Farranthomas/ Kilmeen) and Sunday 20^th  November  (Kinneigh/Desertserges) times when we think again about our giving to Aid and to Missionary Societies. Many of you do give sacrificially and are always generous. Others might like to think along the lines of gradual saving – starting today as you read this. I know someone who always saves any two-euro coins, which come her way, for charity. By the end of the year the ‘saving’ is considerable. We have not had many retiring collections this year, so let’s dig deep on these two occasions!! In this parish we have pledged to give generously in money, as not many people can be generous in time to ‘fund raise.’

Loving God,

you have created the countryside:

its fields and forests,

hills and rivers,

birds and animals

and fresh, healthy air to breathe.

We thank you for this goodness and beauty.

Help those for whom rural life is hard and difficult:

            those who must travel far to collect firewood

            and bring their water from distant streams:

all who live in poor conditions.

Bless the efforts being made to improve conditions in rural areas,

            so that the people who work to feed this nation

            may themselves enjoy a higher standard of living.

                                                                                                            A prayer from Kenya.

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