Sunday 31 October 2021

The Turning Of The Seasons

 

The clocks have gone back - and for me that always marks the turning of the seasons. My four small sunflowers, which were never going to grow into massive golden discs, like their sisters higher up the stem, have been snipped. They stand on the window sill in a red coffee pot - bringing joy and colour to these darkening autumn days. 

Half term is ended and the family have returned to London. November starts tomorrow and I shall begin serious preparations "to celebrate the birth of our Lord" [we've been using this phrase in family conversations so that we don't mention the C word in front of Rosie!]

For ten years, we arrived here at Cornerstones on Christmas Day in the late afternoon, after Bob had done the morning service at church. Last year we didn't come at all [pandemic] This year we will already be here on Christmas morning. That is, after we get back from Chapel, where Bob is taking the Midnight Christmas Eve service. 

Much has happened in the last 6½ months since we moved here, joyful things and sad things, but all part of the Circle of Life. Over 300 years ago, Nahum Tate, the Poet Laureate who wrote the hymn 'While Shepherds Watched ' also wrote a hymn base don Psalm 34, which reflects life through the seasons

"Through all the changing scenes of life, in trouble and in joy
The praises of my God shall still my heart and tongue employ"

In the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, the writer speaks of the different seasons. Take a few minutes to listen to those words, in this beautiful song written by Pete Seeger 60 years ago, singing here in a duet with Judy Collins.


15 comments:

  1. It was while listening to "Through all the changing scenes of life" that I found the courage to say "yes" to the call to ordained ministry. Thank you for this post.

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    1. That's a great testimony FC. And I know God has led you through all your life of service

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  2. Over here, we turn the clocks back on the first weekend in November. This year, daylight savings time will end on November 7. Your yellow sunflowers look very pretty in their red coffee pot vase! That's one of my favorite songs! A season for everything and a time for every purpose. :)

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    1. I forgot you turn your clocks on a different weekend. Judy Collins has a beautiful voice

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  3. Three funerals that I've helped to plan and have always chosen the reading from Ecclesiastes.
    The sung version makes me cry now

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    1. We sang an old hymn in church this morning and I found myself silently weeping. As the writer Garrison Keillor said "As I've got older, I've gotten more moist"

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    2. I chose it for my mother's funeral service, and would like it for mine, in due course. I love the song too, the Byrds' version. Morag

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    3. That's lovely https://youtu.be/W4ga_M5Zdn4

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  4. That is a much loved song.
    So good to have that extra hour this morning!

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    1. Oh yes! I really appreciated those 60 minutes!

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  5. Like Bless, we are still awaiting our turning back of the clocks, but it is rather nice as right now I feel an hour closer to you all in the UK!

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  6. I shall see your Pete Seeger and Judy Collins song and raise you
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCFelQwdk84

    I absolutely adored Judy Collins and used to have a couple of her LP's but that was in another life! Everytime I pass the huge swathes of new builds that are appearing as if by magic in my county, the Pete Seeger song 'Little Boxes' springs to mind!!I appreciated the extra hour this morning. It made the early unearthly time of 8.40am to go and get my flu jab seem not so early!

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  7. I forgot about the clocks going back but that explains why I seemed to get so much sleep last night!
    I love that Turn, turn song. I did this with KS2 in Singing Assembly a couple of years ago now and they seemed to really enjoy it. It comes from that Alleuia book- you know the one I mean (I think it is the same book as Love is something if you give it away magic penny song).
    Such a beautiful recording of the song.
    Your sunflowers look gorgeous!

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    1. You definitely needed your extra hour. Isnt it so rewarding to teach children lovely songs?

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