With
uniformed organisations – ask them to have a look at what they can see in the
porch … and remember as many things as they can …
It’s great
to welcome everyone to our celebration of Harvest – let’s all stand as we
welcome our uniformed organisations
Welcome uniformed
organisations
Our year
has a pattern to it – just as the school year begins in September, I always
think of our year at church starting in September and at the end of the month
each year that I can remember we have celebrated harvest thanksgiving. This year, Shirley, our worship ministry
leader asked people to request some of their favourite harvest hymns – between
both services we have managed to use all of them.
And so we begin with a favourite hymn for harvest …
292 We plough the fields and scatter
Opening Prayer from
the Harvest Sheet
Heavenly
Father,
You have
given us the green earth,
The wide
seas,
The arable
lands and the pastures,
The
forests and the rivers.
You have
created plants
that will
grow in rocky places
and you
have given your people
the
inventiveness to survive.
You accept
all of us as your children
in spite
of our differences.
We thank
you for all that you have given us.
May we
begin to hunger and thirst
for
justice and peace.
In the
name of your son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Celebrating God’s
Creation
For me
harvest is a celebration of the wonder of God’s creation – it’s great to have
things that have grown – not just flowers – a great welcome in the porch – a
challenge – how observant were you as you came in.
Can you
tell me ten things that were in the wonderful display in the porch?
What else
can you see? - a reminder of the wonders
of God’s creation.
And this
is something to celebrate.
Judi
wanted us to celebrate – her choice of songs was to catch that spirit of
celebration in all we do – so Hy-Spirit are going to lead us in two songs of
celebration – as we celebrate God’s creation around us
Hy-Spirit Songs – Come on and
celebrate
O
give thanks to the Lord
One of the
age old customs that I associate with Harvest is to give a special gift – and
that is something that goes way back to the mists of time. In the Old Testament as the people settled in
the land – they were to bring an offering to say thank you to God.
In those
passages there is a call to think of other people. But all too often we fail to do just
that. Maybe we need to say sorry –
that’s what we are going to do in our next prayer, a prayer of confession.
Prayer of Confession
Lord God,
You have
given us this world
and all
the beautiful things in it.
You have
given enough
for all
your people to share.
But we
have created imbalance.
We who
have plenty have wasted our resources and left others with nothing.
We see
images of want in distant lands,
and we
feel sad but helpless.
We see
conflict
and say
there is nothing that can be done.
We pretend
to be too insignificant
to make a
difference.
We do not
love our neighbours as ourselves.
Forgive us
our sins
and teach
us not to make excuses.
Teach us
to speak out in situations of injustice
and to
work together
so that
all may share in a plentiful harvest.
In the
name of Jesus Christ.
Amen
That’s
what we do at Harvest as we invite people to bring gifts of packaged food that
can be used in CCP’s Foodshare.
Thinking of Others – CCP Foodshare
Song: At harvest time
Richard to
reflect on what olive trees need to grow – water, tender care … and patience –
as it’s 8 years before they bear fruit and have olives.
Maybe a
thought for us to take to heart – things sometimes need tending, and patience
before they happen.
Then a bit
of fun with the children …
When apple
trees bear their fruit how do you harvest the apples?
When pear
trees bear fruit how do you harvest the pears?
When plum
trees bear fruit how do you harvest the plums?
Maybe get
three people out to be an apple tree, a pear tree, a plum tree …
And then a
fourth – when olive trees bear fruit how do you harvest the olives …
Listen
carefully to this reading from the Bible – and see if you can spot how it’s
done
Reading Deuteronomy 24:17-22
You have
to shake the olive tree
That gives
me something to think about.
Sometimes
if we want something to be done … or something to happen we have to shake
things.
Can you
think of something that needs shaking so that something can be done – and maybe
that’s something we can each commit to doing
Make an affirmation
of faith
Harvest service sheet
Whenever
we see a seed of hope planted
We trust you, Lord to make it grow
When we
see fragile green shoots reach for the light
We reach for you
as our protector and guide
When we
climb strong branches and view the world you have made
We remember your olive branch of
peace
When green
leaves shelter us from rain
We have faith
that you will bring justice to the
oppressed
When we shake
the tree and harvest the fruit of the branches
We look forward to a future of
plenty of all
When we
plant the seeds again, in a never ending cycle of renewal
We celebrate
the promise of salvation and
eternal life.
Offering for our
Harvest Collection
and Dedication
282 God whose farm is all creation
Prayers of Concern
CP 650 Now sing we a
song of the harvest
Words of Blessing
From the Harvest
Service sheet
May God the Father,
who is the source of all growth,
the provider of refreshing rain,
nourishing the earth and warm sunlight,
pour his blessings on us and all his children, and send us
out in the power of his spirit
to live and work for his praise and glory.
Let us go in peace
to love and serve the Lord.
Amen.
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