From Rev. Tony McNeile:

“Belated greetings for the autumn equinox. I have spent the weekend with the Unitarians at Belper. Their chapel with its tiered pews reminds me of a courtroom. Like any Unitarian congregation they are a bunch of characters – Ukeleli players, poets, musicians, historians and biscuit bakers. The address was about bread. This is the prayer I wrote for the service:

“In our prayer, let us be aware of the balance in nature and in our lives. The autumn equinox is upon us, a time of equal daylight and equal darkness. The energy of the summers growth is in decline. The leaves are starting to turn, the grain harvest is being gathered in. Those who worship will be celebrating their harvest festivals, giving thanks for the abundance of the earth. Moods are turning towards autumn and a time for reflection, remembering the highlights of the summer, the highs and lows of sun and rain. Reflecting on the prospect of autumn and the coming winter, how we will face the challenges of dark evenings, picking up hobbies, learning new things in classes, planning the year beyond.
We acknowledge the changes in the cycle of the natural year.

Let us reflect too on our own life journeys. We too have summers of growth and fulfilments and we too have times of change, times of transition from activity to planning for reflection and rest. The cycle is annual and the cycle is also life long. Let us rejoice in life. Rejoice in its times of growth and harvest, rejoice in the the times of transition from growth to harvest to rest. Reflect within our own beings.

We are not machines in perpetual motion. We are spiritual beings also governed by the energy of the sun and nature. We have highs and lows, times of action, times of rest and times of reflection. Reflect too that within each of us is the spiritual soul that loves this world with its seasons and its changes, and how we have within us the passion to make it all beautiful and balanced. May it be so. Amen.”

Rev. Tony McNeile.