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Harvest Service - Sunday November 24th 10:00 AM
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Rector’s Harvest Message
Mathew 9:38
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”
Dear St. Elizabeth’s,
Lately, I have been enjoying the transition of the season. During this time of year, you see and feel the changing of the seasons, and I must say, watching the shiny, green summer leaves turn yellow and red and trees cast their leaves to the ground always amazes me. It is the time of year when nature’s work becomes tangible, and during harvest, we ease her of goodness and bounty, so the earth can sleep soundly until we sow our seeds again. Harvest is a season for working and sharing. We are grateful for this abundance and each Sunday, we give thanks for what God has given us personally; houses, cars, children, friends and good health are certainly worth thanking and praising God. This is the season that should and must be enjoyed by all.
This year, I personally, have had much for which to be thankful. During the wonderful celebration of the 25th anniversary of my ordination, I was asked to speak. But when I looked out into the crowd, I couldn’t find the appropriate words; words that would be significant enough for people to understand my feelings. Almost everyone I hold dear was in reach of my arms, and all I wanted to do was to hold them and to thank God for all the joys with which I have been blessed. I was overwhelmed by all that had been said about me and when I looked out in to the crowd, I was amazed by the sight of my dear friends, my loving wife and a church, St. Elizabeth’s, that is becoming more and more an integral part of its community. As you well know, I am a cancer survivor. A few years ago, I believed I would lose everything. When I looked out into the crowd, I knew God had given me everything, and I am so very grateful.
Gratitude is our acknowledgement of the gift of being on a journey with others and the ways our lives and souls have been lifted by our companions on this journey. You can say to yourself, “I’m not alone! My friends are my companions. My family are my companions. My companion is God”. Gratitude is also knowing God is doing good things through others, and when we thank someone, we are also giving thanks for the goodness God has given us through the hearts of others, and my friends, know our fellow travelers are thankful for us.
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. In this passage, I watched Jesus as He moved through towns healing, teaching and preaching to crowds of people who needed His love and support. Jesus never goes to farms or walks through fields to inspect crops. He is with the people. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” These people are God’s harvest, and there were so many who needed help. God is the Lord of the Harvest, and we, St. Elizabeth’s, are the workers called by God to journey with those who are helpless. My friends, St. Elizabeth’s has done so many things to embrace and help our community. We comfort the homeless, we teach those who need to learn English, we feed the hungry, we pray for each other and for those who need God’s help. You have answered Jesus’s call to work the harvest. We are on a journey together and we lift each other’s souls and fill each other’s hearts with gratitude for God’s gifts to all of us.
I invite you to join our Harvest Celebrations beginning on Sunday, November 24th. Please know, St. Elizabeth’s has received a donation of 100 turkeys from the Kings Corporation in support of our annual Thanksgiving Basket Give-Away event. The young people who are members of the Elizabeth Youth Corps will be helping us support this event as part of their own mission by handing out baskets. I want to invite you to join our efforts either by coming in the afternoon on November 26th and 27th to give out food or to provide monetary support so we can continue to feed our community.
On behalf of my wife and children, I want to wish you the best Thanksgiving Season ever, and we want to thank you for being our companions on this wonderful journey.
Sincerely,
Canon Andy Moore
Mathew 9:38
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”
Dear St. Elizabeth’s,
Lately, I have been enjoying the transition of the season. During this time of year, you see and feel the changing of the seasons, and I must say, watching the shiny, green summer leaves turn yellow and red and trees cast their leaves to the ground always amazes me. It is the time of year when nature’s work becomes tangible, and during harvest, we ease her of goodness and bounty, so the earth can sleep soundly until we sow our seeds again. Harvest is a season for working and sharing. We are grateful for this abundance and each Sunday, we give thanks for what God has given us personally; houses, cars, children, friends and good health are certainly worth thanking and praising God. This is the season that should and must be enjoyed by all.
This year, I personally, have had much for which to be thankful. During the wonderful celebration of the 25th anniversary of my ordination, I was asked to speak. But when I looked out into the crowd, I couldn’t find the appropriate words; words that would be significant enough for people to understand my feelings. Almost everyone I hold dear was in reach of my arms, and all I wanted to do was to hold them and to thank God for all the joys with which I have been blessed. I was overwhelmed by all that had been said about me and when I looked out in to the crowd, I was amazed by the sight of my dear friends, my loving wife and a church, St. Elizabeth’s, that is becoming more and more an integral part of its community. As you well know, I am a cancer survivor. A few years ago, I believed I would lose everything. When I looked out into the crowd, I knew God had given me everything, and I am so very grateful.
Gratitude is our acknowledgement of the gift of being on a journey with others and the ways our lives and souls have been lifted by our companions on this journey. You can say to yourself, “I’m not alone! My friends are my companions. My family are my companions. My companion is God”. Gratitude is also knowing God is doing good things through others, and when we thank someone, we are also giving thanks for the goodness God has given us through the hearts of others, and my friends, know our fellow travelers are thankful for us.
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. In this passage, I watched Jesus as He moved through towns healing, teaching and preaching to crowds of people who needed His love and support. Jesus never goes to farms or walks through fields to inspect crops. He is with the people. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” These people are God’s harvest, and there were so many who needed help. God is the Lord of the Harvest, and we, St. Elizabeth’s, are the workers called by God to journey with those who are helpless. My friends, St. Elizabeth’s has done so many things to embrace and help our community. We comfort the homeless, we teach those who need to learn English, we feed the hungry, we pray for each other and for those who need God’s help. You have answered Jesus’s call to work the harvest. We are on a journey together and we lift each other’s souls and fill each other’s hearts with gratitude for God’s gifts to all of us.
I invite you to join our Harvest Celebrations beginning on Sunday, November 24th. Please know, St. Elizabeth’s has received a donation of 100 turkeys from the Kings Corporation in support of our annual Thanksgiving Basket Give-Away event. The young people who are members of the Elizabeth Youth Corps will be helping us support this event as part of their own mission by handing out baskets. I want to invite you to join our efforts either by coming in the afternoon on November 26th and 27th to give out food or to provide monetary support so we can continue to feed our community.
On behalf of my wife and children, I want to wish you the best Thanksgiving Season ever, and we want to thank you for being our companions on this wonderful journey.
Sincerely,
Canon Andy Moore
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St Elizabeth’s
305 N. Broad Street Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207 Weekend Service Times Sunday: 8:00am, 10:00am Full Schedule |
