I once rang an insurance company and the phone was answered straight away by a helpful human being. I was amazed. My usual experience – and I’m sure it’s yours too – is to be kept on hold for ages, while a computer reassures me that my call is important and may be recorded. Then I have to select various options and type in my account number, all of which information I have to repeat to the underpaid call centre worker who eventually answers. It’s no wonder I put off those calls as long as possible!

If prayer is just communication with God, I sometimes find myself similarly reluctant to make the call. It’s not because I have to wait on the line or might not get through – it’s often that I just don’t feel like it, or don’t know what to say. At such times, I find just simple thank-you prayers are the way to get started. Saying thank you is such an easy thing to do, and there’s such a lot to thank God for when you think about it – the beauty of the natural world, our families, the roofs over our heads, our food, health, safety…

Harvest Festival is the annual season of thanksgiving – for the crops safely gathered in, for the world we share, and for everything God gives us. Do come along on Sun 13th Oct at 4.00 pm to sing a few favourite Harvest hymns and add your thanks to God our Father. And of course you’re warmly welcome to all our services at Barmston Church. Service times this month are as follows:

Sunday 6th Oct – Holy Communion at 9.30 am

Sunday 13th Oct – Harvest Family Service at 4.00 pm

Sunday 20th Oct – Holy Communion at 9.30 am

Our weekly services on Sundays at Emmanuel in Bridlington are at 11.00. They are livestreamed on our Facebook page and are available shortly afterwards on YouTube.