MONTHLY UPDATE FROM SIMON

September 2026

Dear Friends

I am writing this in the aftermath of the New Forest and Stourbridge fires, with the landscape still parched and lifeless, and with no end in sight to the prolonged drought.  For many farmers it has been yet another disastrous harvest; some are speaking of likely food shortages in the coming years.  Here, as elsewhere in the world, the effects of climate change are palpable and serious.

It is partly in response to the global climate crisis that the weeks from 1st September to 4th October (the Feast of St Francis of Assisi) are designated by the Church as an annual Season of Creation.  The original purpose of the season was to celebrate the beauty and diversity of nature, but increasingly it has become an occasion to focus on the poor health of our planet, and to pray for the resolve to reduce carbon emissions and help lower global temperatures.

It is endorsed by church leaders including Pope Leo, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the General Secretary of the Council of World Mission (Reformed Church), and Patriarch Bartholomew, and it is marked by special church services and events.  As it happens, this year’s theme is ‘Living Water’, with inspiration being taken from words of the prophet Ezekiel (47. 9,12) which offer a powerful vision of hope and ecological healing.

I would like to encourage you all to mark the season by renewing your own commitment to sustainability and the care of creation, and by praying that ways can be found to address the complex issues that the world is facing.  Our politicians have their part to play, but with the encouragement of Harting CAN and Rother Eco Action I’m sure there is more that we can all do at local level.

We shall be holding the following special services to mark the season:

On Tuesday 1st September (‘Creation Day’) there will be a simple service of Compline at the Parish Church at 7pm, lasting about 20 minutes.  The service will include both penitence and intercession.

On Sunday 6th September (weather permitting) we invite you to gather in South Gardens at 3pm for a service using this year’s ‘Living Water’ material, at which we will pray especially for our own springs and rivers.

On Sunday 4th October - the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi - we will be celebrating our harvest festival at Harting at 10am.  After the service we invite you all, including children, to help plant 450 bulbs in the churchyard.

And on Sunday 11th October we shall celebrate our harvest festival at Elsted at10am and will be holding our service of blessing of animals at Harting at 3pm.  Further details in the October Parish News.

With my prayers and best wishes

Simon

Come and help us plant bulbs!

As the finale of our 450th anniversary celebrations we shall be planting 450 bulbs in the churchyard after our harvest festival on Sunday 4th October at 10am (not on the Saturday, as originally planned).  We invite you all, including children, to come and take part, and we look forward to seeing the fruit of our labours next spring.

Atom Heart Floyd: Saturday 12th September

Come and enjoy the music of Pink Floyd played by this established five-piece tribute band.  The atmosphere and acoustics of the church should make it a very special event.  All details on the church website: Harting.org.uk

‘The Annunciation – a Pilgrim’s Quest’: Thursday 7th October at 7.30pm in the Law Room

The final event of our 450th anniversary year will be a talk by Mark Byford, a former Deputy Director of the BBC and Senior Chapter Member of Winchester Cathedral.  His interest in the Annunciation (the good news which the angel brought to Mary) led him to explore the ways in which it has been treated as a subject by both artists and theologians.  In 2018 he published a book based on his research.  Drinks will be served from 7pm.

‘The Unfortunate History of the Churches of Elsted, Treyford and Didling’ – a talk by Andrew Shaxson: Wednesday 21st October at 7.30pm at Elsted Village Hall

We are delighted that Andrew has agreed to give this fascinating talk to help us raise money for a new noticeboard for Treyford churchyard.  By way of introduction, he has written:

 “At one point during the 19th century there were five places of worship in the parish of Elsted Treyford cum Didling, an unsustainable number which lead to all of them either being abandoned at some point or demolished.   We benefit today from two small churches that are in good condition, but as you will hear even their survival was far from assured.”

Do come and enjoy a wonderful evening of local history.  Drinks will be available from 7pm.

Other dates…

Our final Quiet Garden Afternoon of the year will be on Wednesday 16th September, starting at 2pm.

Our monthly discussion group will meet that same evening in the Law Room at 6pm.

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