St Clement Church
Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday Community Service
Good morning
Another beautiful day, but I don’t think it will be on Sunday, when you read this!
Weather – we are very much controlled by it, aren’t we?
Nature, as a whole, is being greatly affected, so we must be aware of what we need to do for the good of all God’s creation.
Climate change is happening and we need to adapt to this change for the good of all.
My love to you all
Liz
God of harvest, gardener supreme, you place us at the centre, feed us, equip us and, having provided for us, look to a different harvest, a fruitfulness of lives in service to you, and others.
God of harvest, feed us, prune us, harvest us, that our lives might bring glory to you.
Amen
We say together:
Lord of the Harvest, thank you for all your generosity to us; for all the good things that you have given to us; from the plants that grow, to the foods we eat, and those who sit alongside us. Help us to share what we have, being generous as you are generous to us.
Thank you for the harvest.
Amen
Hymn: 259 Come, ye thankful people come
Harvest Prayer of Confession
We confess our sin, and the sins of society, in the misuse of God’s creation.
God our Father, we are sorry for the times when we have used your gifts carelessly, and acted ungratefully.
Hear our prayer, and in your mercy: forgive us and help us.
We enjoy the fruits of the harvest, but sometimes forget that you have given them to us.
Father, in your mercy: forgive us and help us.
We belong to a people who are full and satisfied, but ignore the cry of the hungry.
Father, in your mercy: forgive us and help us.
We are thoughtless, and do not care enough for the world you have made.
Father, in your mercy: forgive us and help us.
We store up goods for ourselves alone, as if there were no God and no heaven.
Father, in your mercy: forgive us and help us.
Amen
The Collect for Harvest
Eternal God, you crown the year with your goodness and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season: grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Readings:
Deuteronomy 26. 1 - 11
Philippians 4. 4 - 9
Hymn: 261 To thee, O Lord, our hearts we raise
Gospel: John 6. 25 - 35
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, the crowd said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’
Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’
Then they said to Jesus, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’
Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’
So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?
Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”’
Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’
They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’
Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
Today we are celebrating and giving thanks for the harvest.
At such a time we should be thinking of, and giving thanks for, harvest in all its forms and those who supply us with all that we need to sustain us. But, it isn’t that easy now, is it?
Let me tell you a story – forgive me that I am going back to my childhood but come with me!
One day, Frank planted some sweetcorn. In the warm sun and the rich earth, the sweetcorn grew beautifully.
But, in this land lived a nasty ogre who would send bad weather to destroy people’s crops …
‘Fee Fi Fo Fum, extreme weather, here I come.’
That year, the ogre stopped the rain from coming and made the heat from the sun stronger. Slowly, in the hot, dry weather, Frank’s sweetcorn plants began to shrivel up. The sweetcorn husks slowly drooped, before they shrivelled and died.
With no food to harvest, Frank and his family were hungry that year.
The next year, Frank planted some sweet potatoes. In the warm sun, and the rich earth, the sweet potatoes grew beautifully.
But then, the words of the nasty ogre rang through the land once more …
‘Fee Fi Fo Fum, extreme weather, here I come.’
This time, the ogre sent rain. Fantastic – rain! But the rain didn’t stop. It rained and rained and rained – so much that the fields flooded and swept away most of the sweet potatoes. The ones that were left grew mushy in the ground, until they rotted away.
With no food to harvest, Frank and his family were VERY hungry that year.
Frank was in despair. Everything he tried to grow was destroyed by the nasty ogre.
But then, he met a man who offered him some peas. These peas didn’t look anything remarkable, but Frank planted them anyway. What he didn’t know was that these peas were special – very special.
The peas that Frank planted grew big and strong.
Fee Fi Fo Fum, extreme weather, here I come!’
The ogre once again sent hot, dry weather to destroy Frank’s crops. But the peas didn’t mind, and in the hot sun, the peas that Frank had planted grew bigger and stronger.
Fee Fi Fo Fum, extreme weather, here I come!’
This time, the ogre sent heavy rains to flood the fields and wash away the crops again. But the peas Frank planted had deep, strong roots and, in the heavy rains, they grew bigger and stronger.
That year, Frank and his family harvested their lovely peas and ate until their stomachs were full.
In this story Frank didn’t destroy the ogre, but he did defeat him. This ogre is called ‘climate change’ and still lives in Malawi, changing the weather and hurting people’s harvests.
But, thanks to the amazing peas, Frank’s family can live alongside the ogre, and hopefully, will never go hungry again.
It isn’t just in Malawi that climate change is affecting farmers and produce growers. This year, in this country, an exceptionally hot summer, with lack of rain, affected many harvests. Growers are going to have to adapt and change what they grow to fit with the climate as it changes.
It isn’t just humans that are being affected, all nature is being challenged, so we need to think about that too and how that can be sustained.
We complain about how much the cost of everything has increased, and yes, we may have to change our lifestyle a bit, but generally, we are the fortunate ones. There are so many, in this country, and across the world, who are physically hungry every day; not occasionally, but every day.
We are told that there is enough food in the world to feed the whole world’s population – so why are so many people hungry?
Of course, in today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells us that we shouldn’t just be thinking about our daily bread – the food we eat each day. God has given us all that we need. Jesus tells us, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Because we are fortunate, and we do have enough - we have our fill, most of us, of food and water and shelter and other basic needs – we are in a unique position to hear Jesus’ words and understand that he is referring to our spiritual needs. We are in a unique, blessed, gracious, privileged position as God’s people on this planet. But, that gives us responsibility. We can’t just give thanks for all we have, we must think about and do something about those who don’t have.
If only the world-wide physical need for nourishment was met, hope might be born; new life might take root; second chances might surface. Then what God promises, in Jesus, will be realised. All of God’s children can stop working for food that perishes … stop struggling for life … can begin working for food that promises eternity, and unending joy, and amazing grace in this life and the next.
Amen
Let us say together:
God, giver of all life and of our lives,
Blessed are You in the fruits of the earth
Blessed are You in the works of human hands
Blessed are You in the harvest of human creativity.
God of the poor and hungry,
Blessed are You in the striving for justice
Blessed are You in the fragility of peace-making
Blessed are You in the grace of hospitality.
God of the great feast and the simple meal,
Blessed are You in the sowing of the seed
Blessed are You in the breaking of the bread
Blessed are You in the sharing if the bread
Blessed are you in our daily bread.
Amen
Let us declare our faith in God
We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in one God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen
Hymn: 262 We plough the fields, and scatter
Our Intercessions by Helen Dunbar
Dear Lord, at this harvest time we thank you for all the good things you give us everyday.
As we thank you for our food we remember all those who do not have enough for even one proper meal each day. Bless all of those, Lord, who suffer, because of the greed of others. Help us to share the harvests of the world more fairly so everyone can be fed and there will be no more starvation.
We thank you for the hard work of all those who grow, protect and prepare our food; for the shopkeepers, delivery drivers, the processors and the farmers. Bless all those, Lord, who do not earn a fair day’s pay for their hard work both at home and in other countries. Help us to want to buy local produce and fairly traded goods wherever we can so that everyone can work with dignity and there will be no more poverty. We also pray for those who struggle to get land or have been forced off the land they need to be able to plant and grow enough food, for those who have had to abandon land because of conflict and have had to leave crops un-harvested.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
At this harvest time we thank you for the world around us; for the sunshine and the rain, for fertile soil leading to a bountiful harvest, for the flowers, the trees and the animals. Bless all those who care for them, Lord. Help us to protect your creation by being careful about how we use your resources so that there will be clean water, clean air and plenty of wild birds, mammals and insects to maintain the ecological balance of our countryside.
We give thanks for all that is good in your creation and all who bring in the harvest of the sea and the land. We are conscious of so much we get wrong, so we give thanks too for your grace and patience with us when we fail to look after your world as we should. Help us to change so that we become a new creation walking in the light of your Gospel.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
An acrostic prayer of thanksgiving
Happy are those who have bread to eat!
As grain grows in the fields and
Rains bring the water of life we share
Visions of all your people united in
Eternal praise and kneaded together to
Share good news of justice and peace:
Taste and see that the Lord is good!
We pray for governments and aid agencies and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation.
By the grace of your spirit,
touch our hearts,
and the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty;
and make us wise stewards of your gifts.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
We pray for the Christian Church, for all who preach and teach the Christian faith; we ask your blessing on our own Revd Diane and her family.
We pray for King Charles and Queen Camilla and all members of our Royal family.
Dear Lord, we bring before you those in need of your healing and love. Comfort the sick, the bereaved and the suffering with your healing and living presence. We especially pray for: Reverend Diane, Ken, Brian, May, Susan, Tony, Jan, Lynda, Dot, Maureen, Pam and David, Sandra, Roger, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Mary, Jeremy, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, Barry, Felicity, Coral and Paul, Barbara, Simone, Dinah, Daphne and David, Stanley and all who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we remember those who have died recently in the peace of Christ; both those who have confessed the faith and those whose faith is known to you alone, and grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
From our anniversaries book we remember: Denise Thomas, Bertram Wye and Frank Smith
Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Andrew, St Allen and St Clement and all Christian people to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Reverend Diane, Ken, Brian, May, Susan, Tony, Jan, Lynda, Dot, Maureen, Pam and David, Sandra, Roger, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Mary, Jeremy, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, Barry, Coral and Paul, Barbara, Simone, Dinah, Laurie, Daphne and David.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Clement, St Andrew, St Allen, and the blessed Virgin Mary, we commend ourselves and the whole of creation to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father: Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
We say together:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
When We See the Harvest by Susan Y Nildtenko
A harvest of apples, a harvest of corn;
A harvest of plenty, an autumn adorned.
With bright coloured leaves, a fall festive blend;
A wonderful time for families and friends.
A harvest of pumpkins, a harvest of grain;
A harvest of bounty, and cool autumn rains.
A big harvest moon – way up in the sky;
A harvest of blessing that God has supplied.
Be grateful, be humble, give thanks to the Lord;
He has showered His blessing here in our world.
But have we been faithful, and have we been true?
Have we put God first in all that we do?
A harvest that God sees is not food or crop;
Not pumpkins. Or grain, not apples that drop.
But God sees the harvest of souls needing Him;
A harvest of people who need saved from their sin.
A harvest of souls and a harvest of love;
A harvest of mercy from our Father above.
When we see the harvest, let’s see through God’s eyes;
And share with the nations the life He supplies.
The Peace
Jesus said: ‘Love one another. As I have loved you, so you are to love one another.’
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Hymn: 263 All creatures of our God and King (omit verses 5 & 6)
The Blessing
Creator God, you give seed for us to sow, and bread for us to eat; make us thankful for what we have received and generous in supplying the needs of others so all the world may give you thanks and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen