Celebrating Christ's Presence: Remembrance Sunday - 9 November 2025 - St Mary's Church, Portsea

Sunday Oct 5th Harvest 2025

God’s Generosity and our response

Over the last 3 years, we have joined with others in our Deanery in encouraging our Churches, Ecumenical Partners and other groups in our communities to join together in raising an awareness of the Harvest Season and the increasing food poverty in our society.

The pressure on Food banks, Larders and Pantries and others who distribute food to those struggling financially continues to increase. It continues to be a challenge to those groups to ensure a supply of food, as well as volunteers and funding.

At Harvest we have a chance to respond to these needs. This can be done in all sorts of ways, but we hope you might like to donate food to support the Robert’s Centre at our Harvest Celebrations

Or you may want to give some time as a volunteer to help at the Fratton Pantry – please let Fr Bob know if you could do this

In addition this year we are encouraging people to also perhaps make a financial donation to support the Kitchen of Hope based at St Simon’s. You may have been aware of all the protests and tensions in our city around Asylum Seekers who are living in the city. It is important that we seek to do what we can to support those who are targeted as people, rather than aa an object of fear.

There have been discussions with the City of Sanctuary organisation about how best we may do this Revd Jackie Twine describes the Kitchen of Hope

Kitchen of Hope is a project that has been running at St Simon’ s Church, Southsea for over 18 months. The project helps asylum seekers and volunteers to prepare and cook food together from around the world. We share the meal with anyone who wants to join us in the spirit of fellowship and unity. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn more about each other’s cultures and customs around a table of friends. Many asylum seekers (at the hotel especially), have limited access to cooking the food they love for themselves and enjoy this opportunity to cook and eat together. We feel it’s a ‘holy habit’ and mirrors Christ’s own tradition of sharing food with all sorts of people in the spirit of inclusivity without discrimination

Preparing for Harvest - Reflecting on God’s Generosity

As the days turn colder, the Autumn leaves begin to fall, and the evenings get darker our thoughts turn to Harvest

This year we are joining with parishes across the country in reflecting on God’s Generosity.

As we prepare for our own Harvest, we would like all of us to find time and space in the coming days to think about God’s generosity

Try to find a few minutes each day to pause – perhaps light a candle – and reflect on the day.

As you are still and reflect perhaps read again the stories of creation in Genesis ( yes there are at least 2 stories in Chapter 1 & 2)

In Genesis God creates all things and at the heart of that creation is humanity – He invites us to be stewards of all creation.

In the modern world we have become detached from that creation in many ways – and take so much of it for granted; treating things as if they are ours by right, rather than recognising them as a gift.

In the lives we lead we are often challenged by difficult situations or face issues that can overwhelm us. Our minds can become focused on the things that are wrong, or we do not want, and we fail to see beyond them to the gifts God continues to generously give us.

Look back at the last day and pray that you may see beyond the things that overwhelm us and may glimpse moments or signs of God’s generous love.

Create a list of those things and looking at it recognise the breadth and depth of God’s love and generosity shown towards you.

Our Harvest response to God’s Generosity

There is a long history and tradition within the Jewish and Christian faith of offering to God some of the gifts he has shared with us. This took many forms but included offering gifts in various forms in thanks for life itself, there has also been a long tradition of that offering being used to support our common life of faith and worship, and to meet the needs of those in need, including the stranger or outcast.

Next Sunday is our chance to continue that offering to God in thanksgiving for the Harvest and all he has given us, even life itself.

If you created a list of the generosity of God, then think about what you will offer to Him at our Harvest.

It could be gifts of food for others to share – please think about what you would like to receive if you were struggling with life and finances and donate those things

It could be a financial donation to support the work of Kitchen of Hope in our city – please place in a clearly marked envelope (or if paying by BACS mark as ‘Harvest’)

It could be by making a commitment regularly give to the Church to support all that we are and do. This can be done in a variety of ways – and there will be a form next week where you can identify what you would like to do.

It could be by offering your time as a volunteer to help us in our worship, or in our various projects and activities Again next week’s form wll enable you to make that commitment,

Use this week to think and pray about what you Harvest Response is this year!

Harvest 2025

We will celebrate Harvest this year – starting with

Messy Harvest at St Mary’s at 10am on Saturday Oct 4th . Come and explore the feeding with 5 loaves and 2 fishes through art, craft and activity. The morning ends around 11.30am with a free lunch.

Harvest Thanksgiving at both St Mary’s and St Faith’s we will hold a Harvest Service at 10am on Oct 5th. Bring your gifts of food, donations of money and response forms to offer to God in thanksgiving for all he has given you.

Harvest Supper Sunday Oct 5th 3.30pm at St Mary’s . This year we will be holding a Barn Dance (With a live band) ending with a sharing of food (if you would like to offer items let us know). Tickets are available – please book in advance if you can.

Then on Monday Oct 6th we celebrate St Faith’s Day at 7pm at St Faith’s Church with a service giving thanks for that Church and praying for Landport and all who are part of that community.

It was with sadness we heard of the death of Revd Sarah . There will be a service of thanksgiving at St Luke’s at 2pm on Tuesday Oct 7th . St Luke’s have asked for offers of cakes or help in serving drinks on that day – please let Fr Bob know if you can help with cakes or serving.

There will also be a Requiem Mass at St Mary’s – giving thanks for Revd Sarah’s ministry with us – on Weds Oct 15th at 7pm .

Two dates for the diary (more details to follow)

Friday Oct 24th 7pm : Emma, Jon and Lucas Chapman are organising a Wrestling Evening at St Mary’s to raise funds for the Music Foundation Tickets are available.

Saturday Nov 1st -10am – Parish Autumn Fair at St Mary’s – details of stalls and items needed to follow …

Best wishes

Fr Bob

St Faith's

St Faith's

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Celebrating Christ's Presence: Remembrance Sunday - 9 November 2025 - St Mary's Church, Portsea

Celebrating Christ's Presence: Remembrance Sunday - 9 November 2025 - St Mary's Church, Portsea

Harvest Celebrations 2025

St Faith's

St Faith's

Get in touch

Celebrating Christ's Presence: Remembrance Sunday - 9 November 2025 - St Mary's Church, Portsea

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Harvest Celebrations 2025