The Parish of Sutton with Seaford Seaford, East Sussex Home | About the Parish | Worship | Teaching | Children & Youth | Music | Find out more | Contacts | Links | Events Spring Harvest 2009 Apprentice ‘Come to me, learn from me;’ claimed Jesus, ‘for I am gentle and humble in heart...’ (Matthew 11:29). In 2009, the theme for Spring Harvest will be Apprentice. We will be learning how to be apprentices, disciples and followers of Jesus... Visit the Spring Harvest website 2008 The Big Story: One Hope In 2008, Spring Harvest will follow the theme One Hope - focussing on what it means to have a hope that is 'steadfast and certain' in a society where change is the only certainty. As we unpack the Big Story of God, we'll discover how central HOPE is to the Christian faith. We'll also discover what Jesus being the hope of the world really means. And how embracing Jesus - and the hope he offers - changes how we live and brings new vitality to our faith. Hope is God's big idea. This year we'll explore: creation hope the hope of God's people as they were liberated from Egypt our hope in Christ summed up in his cross and resurrection the hope of the early church our hope for eternity 2007 The Big Story: One People In 2007, Spring Harvest unpacked the big picture to help us consider the privilege of being One People. The challenges and opportunities are huge and demand that we ask some vital questions. Who are we? Why are we here? How can we negotiate our way through change? How do we connect with and serve our communities, without becoming faceless do-gooders or merely ranting truth-tellers who don't deserve an audience? We considered what it takes to make the Church move into God's purposes together and asked honestly how we can cope with conflict and disagreement. 2006 The Big Story: One God At a recent Reflective service Paul described a visit to an event such as Spring Harvest a 'pilgrimage' as opposed to a 'journey'. For many of those attending Spring Harvest in Skegness it was both. Skegness in Lincolnshire is one of those places that seems to have been located so as to make the journey there as challenging as possible. Given that you can't approach it from the east unless by chance that you have an amphibious vehicle there is little choice other than to journey across the beautiful Lincolnshire fens. Beautiful that is until you come to within a cat's whisker of your destination and meet the town of Boston. Now Boston is a very characteristic place full of charm and beauty, unless that is, you are trying to drive around it and then it is the showcase for Britain's traffic light industry. After negotiating Boston weary Spring Harvesters need all the prayer, blessing and forgiveness that is available in the following 6 days. Journey complete finding your chalet, unloading and settling in is a relatively straightforward operation, unless that is you have been allocated a chalet in the far flung reaches of site. As you wander there is a true sense of eager anticipation at the week ahead. The current three year theme for 2006 is The Big Story of God. In 2006 we looked at One God, in 2007 it will be One People and in 2008 One Hope. The Spring Harvest programme guide (indispensable unless you want to spend 6 days wandering and wondering) gave a rationale for the theme. 'We live in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic, multi-ideological, multi-faith society. Liberal voices tell us that all religions are equally valid but 'religious pluralism' is a reality that requires a practical response from Christians'. Our challenge during the week was to seek answers to some big questions such as, Is the Bible's revelation of God unique or just one view among many? How can we engage with our multi-faith, multi-cultural society but stay distinctively Christ-centred? Tough questions that required deep thought and prayerful consideration. So it was that those at Spring Harvest could engage at many different levels. For the young there was a children's programme which whilst it featured fun and games had a challenge to meet with God and an opportunity to engage in the theme. For the adults there was chance to listen to a daily Bible reading and exposition by Kent Hughes, The Big Picture, and to attend seminars, The Big Conversation, that considered the application of the reading for us today. These were of course separated by a mid morning break aptly named The Big Latte. After lunch there was opportunity to relax, perhaps to have a swim, take part in a sporting activity or attend a Big Stretch seminar. In the early evening a variety of worship styles are on offer including an All Age Celebration and The Big Encounter a celebration service held in the Big Top. Lead by Kristyn Getty (aka Mrs Keith Getty, he's the one that composed In Christ Alone) the worship in the Big Top was exciting, vibrant and extremely thoughtful. With significant contributions by the Red Balloon Theatre Company, The Big Encounter followed on with the themes for each day as we encountered the One Creator God, the One Universal God, the One Human God and the One Sovereign God. After this there was chance to chill, to meet with others, to browse the bookstall or just relax. Many joined The Big T-Shirt queue. This was an opportunity to gather with other liked minded Christian folks who wanted to wear their faith on their chest! Astonishingly there were even people buying matching t-shirts for children and puppets! Look out for the St Leonard's puppet team and you might just spot the flash of green with the slogan, 'God Loves Me Even When I'm a Little Monster'. By 10.30 many were retiring, but the night was yet young and there was just a chance to take in The Big Night Out with a rich variety of Christian speakers, groups and singers. I must say that some were a tad too highly gifted with access to the upper reaches of the decibel scale (they were loud and probably aimed at the large student presence on site) others were more reflective, relaxed and suitable for a late night. Jonathan Veira, Adrian Plass, Kristyn Getty and the Saltmine Theatre Company were just a few of the contributions that brought to an end a busy day. Finally there was time for The Big Bedtime Drink before The Big Sleep. The hope and prayer of Spring Harvest is that we will be inspired by The Big Story of the One True God, revealed supremely through Jesus; and that we would leave asking how we can know Jesus more deeply and make him known throughout the whole earth. Those from Seaford were certainly inspired and refreshed and Spring Harvest is a great chance to spend some real quality time considering how Jesus can be relevant to us today in our lives and how we can share the good news and celebrate with others that our God is the God of the whole earth. Spring Harvest 2007 ran for three separate weeks from 31st March to 15th April. Visit the Spring Harvest website Find out about Butlins Skegness