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Creationtide celebrated in rural parish
VILLAGERS celebrated the season of Creationtide with a range of services and events designed to promote care for God’s creation.
Worshippers from St Peter and St Paul, Hambledon, organised a range of activities throughout September and early October, which included a pet service, a Harvest tea, and a Communion service inside a farmer’s barn.
It started on September 10 with a family service run by the church’s youth group, led by Alice Goodwin-Hudson, to remind worshippers of the wonder of God’s creation and our role in its care, conservation and improvement. The young people powerfully talked about being in God’s presence in nature not only in Church.
The church then celebrated Holy Communion at nearby Rushmere Farm on September 17. Worshippers learned about Sue, Rob and George Crossley’s big decision to take the farm to organic production, conservation and what it meant to the finances of running a farm. The Rev Liz Quinn presided during a thunder storm, which added drama to her sermon.
The following weekend saw a wonderful Harvest tea in the Saxon part of the church on September 23, with guests from the Roberts Centre, the Meon Valley Foodbank, and Ukrainian friends who had started their time in the UK in our village. The all-age Harvest service followed the next day with the Church beautifully decorated by its flower team, village organisations and the Knits, which displayed a hive and knitted bees. Hambledon Primary School provided an art gallery of harvest pictures, and Harvest donations went to the Roberts Centre in Portsmouth to help struggling families.
Finally it was like a ‘dogfest’ at the church's Pet Service on October 2, led by Janet Harrison, Alice and the church’s young people again, including a personal blessing for each of the pets.
Churchwarden Paul Quinn said: “We all had to say who the biggest dog was, the smartest and yappiest. Our own miracle saw no fights and no accidents! It was a lovely way to celebrate the unconditional love our pets give to us and to think that God’s love is also unconditional.
“As a rural community at St Peter and St Paul’s, it is very important for us to celebrate and pray for God’s great goodness in providing such a wonderful place to live – but to recognise our responsibility to look after it. To that end we work with the village’s Greening Campaign, we have staged a Greening Festival in the church and churchyard, and we run repair cafes every month – with All Saints Denmead – and are working toward our Silver Eco-Church award.”