Our harvest service went very well this morning, and was very mad... in a good kind of a way.

Quite a few visitors with us, representing quite a few nationalities, and most people back from their various times away.  Almost a full quota of children, keen and eager to join in, and adults in good spirits.

A table groaning under tins for Glasgow City Mission

Well stuffed envelopes for Operation Agri

Nearly every bag of rice sold for the Malawi Kitchen rice project

Lots of fun was had by me anyway!

One manse moggy at around 5 a.m. ... Check those scary eyes!!!

It's harvest thanksgiving today, and yes, the time stamp on this post is correct... the manse moggy in her wisdom dragged me from my slumbers at some unearthly hour demanding food.  Unusually I gave in!

As I type the Brazilian honey cake is baking in the oven and a lovely smell is wafting my way... said moggy is of course fast asleep once more!

A very world-wide harvest celebration today as we have three different focuses!

Firstly, we are collecting tins and packets for Glasgow City Mission, to support the vital work they do among disadvantaged and homeless people.

Secondly, our children are participating in the Just Trading Scotland rice challenge, selling 90kg of rice, which will enable one Malawian farmer to send one child to secondary school for one year.

Thirdly, we are supporting Operation Agri, in their 50th birthday year, with an envelope collection, and using their material to focus on a honey project in Brazil (hence the cake, their recipe), a coffee project in Thailand and a project to train farmers in Uganda.

In our multi-ethnic, multi-national church that all feels very appropriate.

Hopefully everyone will feel part of the service and we will each find space for gratitude and response to the Lord of the Harvest

All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above

So thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord, for all God's love.

PS No ploughing fields or scattering... (i) we're urban (ii) since when did you scatter seeds in October?!