Harvest celebrations at Shap were observed on the first weekend of October, and St Michaels’s church had been beautifully decorated with flowers by women of the parish in readiness for the services. On the Friday pupils, teachers from Shap Primary School together with families attended for their own worship led by Revd Carole Marsden, their monetary gifts will be forwarded to Barnardos.
On Sunday morning a family service was held, the congregation were welcomed by Revd Marsden, and during the first hymn gifts were carried to the altar.
In her talk Mrs Marsden said that not many churches are decorated with lots of produce these days, as the disposal of the offerings can be impractical, however the gifts offered were representative of things that grow, and these would be sold and the money together with other donations will go to the Bishop of Carlisle’s Harvest Appeal for projects in India and Paraguay. Mrs Marsden then repeated the story she had used at the school service, about a farmer growing a turnip he couldn’t pull up, he enlisting the assistance of the whole congregation who joined hands to successfully pull it up.
The children from the Sunday Club had baked a loaf of bread for use at Communion and this was carried to the altar with the offertory which was collected by the children. Popular Harvest hymns were sung and Janet Wood was the organist.
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