Bible Readings:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
(Psalm 19. 1 - 4)
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. (Psalm 24. 1 - 2)
A Thought
There’s nothing like the British for discussing the weather! Personally, I rather like the variety we have in England, as one season rolls into the next. There is something attractive about each season in turn.
Here at the Rectory, we have been trying to get back into a routine of a daily walk again, so this week we have managed a short walk across the fields most days. As we have walked, the Autumn colours are coming into their full glory. The acers are turning rich yellows, oranges and reds, other trees are showing off their golden browns. The holly trees are full of berries, which are quickly turning from green to a vivid red. There are polished conkers and acorns in their cups carpeting the ground. And a bit like a child seeking out muddy puddles to splash in, I enjoy the sound of crisp, dried, fallen leaves underfoot as I walk along.
The composer, Franz Josef Haydn, encapsulated some of this enjoyment together with majesty and intricacy in his musical masterpiece, The Creation. Although his critics challenged the excessive cheerfulness of his church music, Haydn defended it, claiming that contemplation of God and his creation made his heart leap for joy.
In every season, creation has its own way of declaring the greatness of God, and proclaiming both the majesty and the intricacy of his handiwork. Sometimes the Autumn colours look even deeper and richer in the sunlight; at other times, they cheer up a grey overcast sky. Go out on a clear Autumn night, and the stars make their own contribution with sparkling constellations. These are tangible reminders that the earth belongs to God, an amazing gift to us from the creator.
A Prayer
Creator God, all around us creation voices its silent praise. We thank you for sharing the glories of creation with us. Give us eyes to appreciate its beauty in the moods of the passing seasons, and may our hearts be filled with joy and gratitude. Amen.
You may enjoy listening to ‘The heavens are telling’ from Haydn’s The Creation sung by the choir of King’s College at: