How do you find the autumn? I know lots of people who have told me it’s their favourite time of year. They love the changing skies, colours of leaves going to red, yellow and orange, the sense of gardens and green areas preparing to rest for the winter months.
Some people have told me they prefer autumn for the light – soon the clocks will change and days will get ‘shorter’ (when of course, even I know they don’t!) Feeling warm and cosy when outside is blowing a gale or there’s thunder and lightning can of course be rather nice.
I’ve heard lots of people too talk about Eastbourne in the autumn being their favourite time, as the numbers of tourists get lower, the winds a little stronger, the waves a little more spectacular. Coast lovers adore the seas and cliffs whatever the weather, I suppose.
Autumn can also be a sadder time for some. The long days and warmth of the Summer come to an end, and the prospect of less light and more rain…with the thermostat needing to go higher as the outside thermometer gets lower. Sometimes there can be less going on too – and people can feel a bit lonely or isolated when that happens. Cost of living realities will also play on people’s minds, with fuel allowances cut or energy price caps too high.
As a church, we roll with the seasons, and enter into that cycle of life, maturity, decay and endings, knowing that new life will come again. The rhythm of weather and nature can speak to us something of God’s intention for us too – God’s presence in all things and at all times – not just for when the sun is shining. God’s creation is a blessing full of changes and movement, patterns we know and understand and some we don’t. We also are more conscious than ever of our effect on those patterns too.
Whether you are looking forward to the changing weeks ahead, or are doing so only apprehensively, a prayer for us all for the autumn days to come.
Loving God
of patterns and changes, of new life and old,
of death and rebirth,
be with us in these Autumn days and nights,
so that we accept the cooling of the summer,
and find moments to enjoy and celebrate.
May we remain together as one people,
ready to care for all who find life difficult or sad.
In sharing friendship and warmth together,
may these cooler and darker days still be moments
where your joy is to be found. Amen.
Rev Paul Tabraham
Excerpt taken from Emmanuel Magazine October 2024. The magazine, published ten times annually, features articles contributed or authored by our members. It includes a delightful blend of testimonials, devotions, book reviews, prayers, jokes, upcoming events, and more. Grab your copy of the latest magazine at the church foyer. If you prefer to receive a copy by mail or email, feel free to reach out to us.