Harvest Festival Turns on the Tap...

As the name suggests, St James' chosen charity to benefit from the harvest funds this year is involved with supporting some of the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged people who have no access to safe water. Their aim is to provide hand dug wells, water filters and boreholes along with health and hygiene education. In this year when we in this area have struggled through the wettest harvest on record it seemed impossible to think that the cry for safe water has never been more urgent or powerful in parts of the world which are only a 10hr flight away.

Having adopted this cause the PCC decided to hold a non-eucharistic “All Age Service” after which the auction of perishable gifts took place in the church whilst refreshments were served. The service tried to focus on the importance of water – remembering the seeds of prayer which had been planted at the last family service – through lack of regular water these were pretty sick specimens. A "prayer tree" was also introduced which will stay in church giving an opportunity to all to write their prayer or name of someone they would like to be remembered in prayer on the ticket provided and hang it on the tree. It is hoped that a regular supply of water (and prayer) will keep the tree going for a long while.

The final part of the harvest celebration was a walk to Frampton Cotterell following the river Frome. It was a beautifully warm sunny day and the welcome cup of tea served to us by Jane Tailby once we arrived at St Peter’s was just enough to refresh participants before the return journey. Once back in Iron Acton walkers enjoyed squash and cakes with Caroline and Peter Huish and family – thank you to everyone for coming and making Iron Acton's harvest a successful celebration. Pleasingly £350 was donated to “Turn on the Tap” and Mike took the non-perishable goods into the Little Sisters of the Poor to help with their generous efforts to help those in need in Bristol.