I wonder if you have ever been asked what your favourite season is?

I would always say summer, because I love the sun and those balmy summer evenings. However, there is always something special, too, about the change to autumn with the changing colours of the trees, the crisp evenings, and those particular aromas of bonfires, coal fires and piles of leaves gently decomposing.

But it’s also a time of year for remembering.

Many churches begin October with a Harvest Festival, remembering with gratitude God’s goodness as we gather produce we have grown or bought, fresh or canned.

The Foodbank, which does such essential work in providing for people who struggle to make ends meet in our increasingly cruel society, will have a huge influx of donations at Harvest time, as generous offerings are delivered both by churches and local schools, and we remember those who are not as fortunate as we are.

This month, we also remember those who have passed away over the last twelve months. Lots of churches will invite grieving families to a special service where we recognise the pain of loss, but also celebrate the love and the permanent legacy that those lives have left behind.

These are opportunities for us to offer our care and prayers for those who are coming to terms with life without a loved one.

We continue our time of remembering on Remembrance Sunday as we remember those whose lives were given in the two World Wars and in subsequent wars since, those who fought so that we might have peace and prosperity.

We remember them with gratitude and we rededicate ourselves to do all we can in an increasingly divided world to turn away from violence and hatred, prejudice and greed, so that our world may be a safe and just place for all.

So at this time of year, our remembering is bittersweet, celebration and pain all mixed together – all part of the human condition, but it reminds us that God is at work in all of this as creator, healer, comforter, provider and redeemer.

The world turns, the seasons change, but only he remains constant, a source of life, hope and love that we can always depend on.