ROSEWOOD and District Lutheran Parish held a thanksgiving ceremony in the Kerle family’s Mt Walker olive grove, on Saturday.

The annual service was led by Pastor Andrew Schulz.

While traditionally Thanksgiving services are held later in the year, Norm said an earlier service meant it wouldn’t clash with people’s plans.

Having it on a Saturday was also a tactical decision so people from other churches didn’t need to “pick one” on a Sunday.

“It was windy and very cold but around 35 people still turned up,” Norm said.

“A lot of them brought perishable goods to the altar and made significant monetary offerings that went to the church.

“Our committee prayed that we didn’t get wet weather … and, well they weren’t precise enough and didn’t specify wind,” he quipped.

The service started with Norm and his wife welcoming everyone to the Olive Chapel and the theme of the service was about storing riches in Heaven and not on Earth.

There were three scripture readings, and one was Luke 12:13-21, and the parable of the rich fool.

“A man planted crops and was successful, he planted more and built more silos,” Norm said.

“When he sat back to relax thinking he’d be able to eat, drink and be merry but God said, you fool, you are going to die’.”

The parable shows a fool for putting faith and energy into earthly possessions when the riches in Heaven and the afterlife are more valuable than all the riches on Earth.

Thanksgiving was once called the Harvest Festival because it was set in the Spring when farmers had crops coming on.

“I remember as a young fella how most of the congregation were farmers, but they’ve become a minority now,” Norm said.

“The service is held to thank God for our talents, health, clothing, food and everything else.”