It’s the Hap, Happiest Season of All! Why? You may ask. Because it’s Tomato Season! This is the time of year when the tomatoes are ready to pick.

 

There’s nothing I like better than a freshly picked, homegrown tomato. And 3 times now, I’ve found a bag of tomatoes hanging on the front door of the parsonage where I live. They are a gift from a dear couple in the church who grow a vegetable garden each year. They know how much I like tomatoes and graciously share them with me.

 

As soon as I open the bag, I go straight to the bite sized tomatoes. They’re bigger than the cherry tomatoes you can buy at the grocery store but still small enough to pop into your mouth. Some are red, others are yellow and there’s even some orange ones. They are just so tasty and sweet. I must confess that when I found the first bag handing on the door I immediately opened the bag and had eaten almost all the small tomatoes before my husband even knew they were there. Suffice it to say he was not happy with me.

Then there are the regular tomatoes which I eat whole – like eating an apple. Sometimes I use a pinch of salt – or sugar – but mostly I eat them just as they are. My husband and I have been eating a lot of salads lately and when you look at my salad it has more tomatoes in it than lettuce.

 

I’m so thankful for this couple who thoughtfully share their bounty with us. They told me that the weather has not been conducive to growing tomatoes this year. The harvest will not be as plentiful as in other years. But still they share them.

 

I love living in Crete. I love this church I serve. I love the thoughtfulness and kindnesses of the people in this community.

 

And I love this season. In the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 it says,

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.”

 

So this morning I am giving thanks for this time, for this season, these last days of summer days, and for tomatoes that have been plucked up and given in generous hospitality.

 

Yours in the journey,

Pastor Kristen

 

 

Announcements:

 

This weekend will be The Crete Woman Club's Annual Plant Sale, in the church's parking lot from 8 to 12p. For sale will be mums, Fall planters, and pumpkins. Flyer is attached.  

 

On September 28th, the fourth Sunday of this month we will be collecting for Penny-Pantry Sunday.

 

Now till the end of September for Penny-Pantry Sunday we are collecting for PADS which provides temporary shelter, job training, and meals to the homeless.  To learn more about PADS, please click here.

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The next Women Club meeting will be held on Monday, October 6th, in the narthex, at 1:30. All are welcome to attend.   

 

The Crete United Methodist Thrift Shop is open Saturdays, from 9-30p. 

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