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In the October
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D
ear Friends,
CELEBRATE HARVEST FESTIVAL WITH US!
Even in this new millennium, Gamlingay is still a real country village, with fields and farms all
around.
And in our village, Harvest Festival is just around the corner. Usually, church is a place to be lifted up to
heaven; but Harvest is a time to come and be brought down to earth. We can look around us and think about
all the good gifts which make life on earth possible.
So what should we expect at Harvest festival? The short answer is, CELEBRATION! wonderful songs
and hymns; beautiful decorations of flowers, fruit and veg all around the church. And a warm welcome for
everyone.
By now the season of summer plenty is coming to an end, and thoughts turn to winter. In times past, people
brought their produce to church for Harvest Festival; but this year, I invite you to come empty-handed and
take something away with you instead! Perhaps you could put in a bid for some of the fruit and veg: or
perhaps you might stock up on goodies from our Traidcraft stall, which sells tea, coffee, sugar, sweets, nuts,
cereal bars, chocolate (and much, much more!) – all produced by people who are paid a fair wage instead of
being exploited to feed Western greed. Let’s make this Harvest a real time of celebration for all that God
gives us, both in the wider world, and also here in our village.
The Bells were ringing! The bishop came! The church was packed. It was 6 o’clock in the evening.
WHY?
A service of thanksgiving for the dedication of the new bells (to the memory of William and Tony Ellis,
Randolph Eayrs and Muriel Gorton) and the restoration of the old ones and the clock.
Bellringers from far and wide rang the bells before and after the service, and the choir sang ‘Doxology for
Bells’ composed by Johnathan Cole (Alan’s son) especially for the event.
The service was to say thank you for the hard work and donations from people near and far for their help in
restoring the bells.
After the service everyone gathered in the garden of Andy and Sue Banham for food and drinks.
Congratulations are due to John Boocock, captain of the Tower who led a dedicated team of helpers to this
day. Thanks to Andy Banham and his family for providing the setting and victuals to celebrate.
A good time was had by all!
May the bells ring out for many more years as a symbol of the call to worship and to mark world events.
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