St Peters RC Church Hamilton

Bronze and brown bracken,

Lemon painted mustard leaf,

Prickly, thorny thistles darken,

Seedheads show up in relief.

Autumn winds whine and whistle

Across orange amber countryside,

Grasses bend, break and bristle,

Splendid sunsets above abide.

Golden, tan leaves on trees,

Lovely lilac, pink the aster,

Weather colder by degrees,

Dahlias impact adding colour.

God with us creating,

Season by splendid season,

Ever beautiful His making,

Giving praise a real reason,

For thanking with rejoicing,

Nation across to nation,

Happily sensing our belonging

In love’s splendid creation.

Celebrate garden colour shifting

Prior to finally fading away,

Knowing God is still gifting

An even brighter day by day.

The time soon forthcoming

For us, winter in December,

A promised child arriving,

Offering Himself as shelter.

The pinnacle of gifting

In Christ Jesus’ arrival

God’s grace is uplifting,

Ensuring our eternal survival.

Spring, summer, autumn, winter,

Each its particular splendour,

Christ Jesus born as Saviour,

Revealing God as loving Father.

All the long year

Twelve months of glory,

God with us, here,

Holy love’s own story!

Oh Lord, how can we ever thank You sufficiently for the beauty of Your creativity and Your Son born as Saviour, that the world can recognise and respond to the power of holy love? We cannot! But we will try.

“So I have looked for You in the sanctuary”, (Psalm 63 v 2) that safe stronghold of prayer. I looked “To see Your power and Your glory”, (Cont) and I found this in the Lord Jesus as the Holy Spirit impacted

upon me.

“Because Your loving kindness is better than life” (v 3) for absolutely nothing compares with the joy of seeing You at work, dearest Father. Therefore “My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I

live,” (v 4) or at least, I will try to daily.

Thank You for being here with us, writing Your story of holy love placed upon our heart, in our mind and imagination. I long to express my gratitude, therefore “My mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.” (v 5)

Amen.