What is in Kelvin's Head?

10 Things to Remember about Corpus Christi

18/06/2014
1. It is on Thursday 19 June 2014 this year.
2. It is always on a Thursday.
3. It is one of the most extravagent and lovely religious festivals that human beings have devised.
4. Thomas Aquinas is said to have invented it to bring the focus back to Jesus Christ in churches which were rather keen on his mother.
5. It is about gazing in wonder – and we don’t do that nearly enough.
6. Our Lord himself comes and wanders amongst his people – just like in real life!
7. Abraham (as Bishop Kevin was always wont to say) would have understood this feast
8. We scatter flower petals hither and yon to make a suitable pathway for God to come amongst us
9. It smells. Lovely.
10. The service takes place at 7.30 pm in St Mary’s on Thursday evening – please bring flower petals to the sacristy by 7 pm if you can
anglicans, Corpus Christi, What is corpus christi

20 responses to “But when is Harvest? Please, please, when is it?”

Sue

06/10/2010

Knitted food patterns…
http://www.knitfish.com/12/

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Elizabeth

06/10/2010

I really appreciated the Lammastide sermon and service. But I’m not sure if I said so at the time – probably not!

I’m reminded how important it is to share appreciation as well as (more than!) criticism. Perhaps a new year’s resolution in the making.

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Jimmy

07/10/2010

Harvest.

Autumn is here
and there is no harvest
The trees have leaves but no fruit
The wheat has ears but no grain
and if you should return
I wouldn’t know
how to begin to explain

I would offer you a gift
but of all the things I own
all I have is my sin
all I have that’s mine alone

Spare me – I pray
another year or two
if you will extend your hand
I will fill a harvest basket for you

I have laboured in these fields
among this bracken, broom and whin
and a lifetime to understand
all you wanted was my sin.

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PamB

07/10/2010

Ah, the Grauniad! No – I only see that when I’m in a primary school staff-room, and never had the time to open it.
But cute pattern – might be the next addition to the Choir dog collection.

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Scott from the States

09/10/2010

Over here in the U.S. we have our national Thanksgiving Day (when very few actually go to church) designated to celebrate the harvest, peace and an end to civil strife, and general thanksgiving. Perhaps the UK needs to take a page from the U.S. and Canada and just make it an official government holiday!

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Sarah from Virginia

10/10/2010

But what I was taught in school was that the first Thanksgiving was held in imitation of the traditional Harvest celebrations back home in England. Perhaps these were not actual church services? Anyhow I’m now confused!

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Tim

11/10/2010

Incidentally, from a sample of 13 comments made on my photo of a harvest display in church, I deduce people’s expectations include:
a) it’s long-life products, tinned or pasta, that one brings
b) giving them to old dears who don’t really need them
c) it’s something relegated to childhood memories

Up to you where you draw the churchy/non-churchy line amongst that lot. Maybe it means there’s a *lot* of scope for a message of mission (to folks who normally exist outside the door) and ethics?

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