Julie's Jottings for October
A Season of "Service Not Self" at St Mary's Church
Sacrifice, gratitude, and securing a future for others, these are powerful themes at the heart of our October services at St Mary’s Church. Throughout the month, we will be reflecting on the principle of "Service Not Self," focusing both on our history and how we might enact our freedom today by acting in the interest of our global community.
We celebrate our Harvest Festival on 4 October. We are the fortunate beneficiaries of both a literal harvest of food and a civic harvest of freedom. During our Harvest Festival services on 4 October, we will celebrate this abundance while looking out for the 'tomorrow' of others. We have an opportunity for us to share our abundance with those who struggle as a result of natural disaster, war, or failed harvests. We will give money for the Christian Aid Appeal, and give produce to the local Food Bank at Haverhill. In this we aim to plant our own seeds—giving a portion of our "today" (our wealth and resources) to secure a "tomorrow" for global neighbours facing poverty, conflict, or climate change. There is a bring and share lunch after the service.
The following week, 11 October our 10:00 am service will officially lay up the old Royal British Legion (RBL) standard flag. The RBL standard is far more than an organisational banner; it is a sacred object of remembrance, civic pride, and national gratitude. All RBL standards are dedicated before their first use at a commissioning service as a mark of this. Without words, the flag communicates some important messages about our thankfulness for the sacrifice of those who died, and the value we place on our freedom and an acknowledgement of those who continue to keep the memories and values alive by their service today.
It is paraded during civic events, particularly Remembrance Day, and at funerals. During the Last Post, it is lowered to a 45-degree angle to pay tribute to the fallen, before being proudly raised again. It reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice made by local people in wars, and it draws us towards our shared values. As the famous Kohima epitaph states: "When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today."
The fallen soldiers planted a harvest of peace and freedom that could grow for future generations. As we lay up a flag that has inspired local people to serve their country, we warmly invite you to join us this October to give thanks, remember, and also to reflect on how we might focus on “Service not self”.
Rev Julie Norris