HARVEST STUDY COURSE
In the run-up to Harvest Festival on 10 October 2004, there was a short study course based on parts of the book "Seeing Faith at Work", by Steve Bradbury, which explores a Christian response to the major problem of poverty and injustice in our world.

This was led by members of the congregation, and ran for three weeks, with a choice of three different times for each one-hour session. A total of at least 30 people came each week. The course aimed to compare what can be found in the scriptures about justice, grace and the needs of the world with the current thinking in our church in Surbiton. In the third session, we were asked to compare our fellowship with that of the early church in the days immediately after the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This was a very revealing exercise!

The fourth "study session" of the series took place in the context of a Harvest Eucharist that was put together by two of the group leaders. The material from the booklet we had been using on the course provided the material for the "sermon". This was a joint Eucharist at St Mark's for the whole parish, and the children participated by colouring in cardboard goats of almost life size. The Harvest Appeal was for money to support the "Recycle a goat" project, and the congregation were also urged to vote in the TEARfund Campaign for Trade Justice.

A final session took place on the following Saturday morning, led by Reader, John Kelly. The whole business of our giving, of time, talents and money, was explored and discussed. We also found out that the appeal made at the Harvest Service had moved people to give £2000 in the retiring offering. The course ended with a shared lunch.

The high level of attendance and the very positive 'feedback' from those who attended, bodes well for future courses. Our church owes a debt of gratitude to those who led the sessions so faithfully and to those who took time out of busy lives, to be there. More sessions are in the planning, using the same series ("Change Makers" from TEARFund and the Scripture Union) and they will take place during Advent and Lent.

Mike Moore