Make the most of Creation Season
Harvest won’t be the same this year. To be honest, very little has been the same this year. But we’d like to share some thoughts and prayers with you about how you might mark this special season of the year.
Harvest gives us an opportunity to thank God for the bounty of the earth and the good gifts of creation, as well as thinking about the needs of others. It’s a time when our thoughts might turn to foodbanks and farmers, the beauty of a tomato, as well as combatting hunger globally and locally. It’s a joyful time of year – that connects us back to the land – whether that’s our homeland, or our little veg patch in SE London.
It’s a time when we can find some joy in the small things – like the giant marrow we grew… as well as reflect on some bigger issues like climate change.
This year, whether or not you’re able to come to church, make some time to mark Harvest and enjoy the natural world at this time of the year.
Resources and Ideas
- Worship: Come to the church service: Harvest Service: 10am 4th October, St Catherine’s. This year Sharon from “Feed the Hill” is going to come and talk to us about the local project that fed over 200 households during Lockdown – including some from our own congregation. As is the new norm, the maximum amount of people that can come to this service is 30. Everyone must socially distance, sanitize their hands on entry, wear masks throughout the worship and leave quickly at the end. There is no singing or physical sharing of the peace. There is music, prayer, bible readings, a sermon and Holy Communion.
- Online worship: You could also watch the national Church of England service found on the homepage of https://www.churchofengland.org/
- Donations to SDCAS – as normal we are giving donations of tins and toiletries to the Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers. Please bring those either to the Harvest Festival on 4th October, or to one of the private prayer spaces on Wednesday 30/9 between 6-7pm and Thursday 1/10 10am-11am.
- Get creative: gather some items from the natural world and create a harvest windowsill/make some delicious autumnal food/make a piece of art
- Enjoy the natural world: go on a woodland walk on your own and focus on the natural world around you, the trees, the light, the smells, the colours
- Harvest: gather in the last of your homegrown items and spend some time in prayer giving thanks for the bounty of the earth. Perhaps make some jam/chutney and give it to a friend.
- Foodbanks: as we know these are in greater and greater use – next time you go shopping, think about dropping some items into the Foodbank box
Prayers
Please make use of any of these prayer resources as part of your own personal prayers. You could light a candle and play one of your favourite Harvest Hymns and then use these intercessions and prayers:
Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world
and for all God’s people in their daily life and work.
God, the beginning and end of all things,
in your providence and care
you watch unceasingly over all creation;
we offer our prayers
that in us and in all your people your will may be done,
according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord.
Lord of all life:
hear our prayer.
We pray for all through whom we receive sustenance and life;
for farmers and agricultural workers,
for packers, distributors and company boards;
as you have so ordered our life that we depend upon each other,
enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before
our own.
Lord of all creation:
hear our prayer
We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease,
and to produce abundant life among those who hunger
and whose lives are at risk.
Prosper the work of their hands
and the searching of their minds,
that their labour may be for the welfare of all.
Lord of all wisdom:
hear our prayer.
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 of all justice:
hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are ill,
remembering those in hospital and nursing homes
and all who are known to us.
We pray for all who care for them.
Give skill and understanding
to all who work for their well-being.
Lord of all compassion:
hear our prayer.
We remember those who have died,
whom we entrust to your eternal love
in the hope of resurrection to new life.
Lord of all peace:
hear our prayer.
We offer ourselves to your service,
asking that by the Spirit at work in us
others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace.
Lord of all faithfulness:
hear our prayer.
God of grace,
as you are ever at work in your creation,
so fulfil your wise and loving purpose in us
and in all for whom we pray,
that with them and in all that you have made,
your glory may be revealed
and the whole earth give praise to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A prayer for Harvest
Creator God,you made the goodness of the land,the riches of the seaand the rhythms of the seasons;as we thank you for the harvest,may we cherish and respectthis planet and its peoples,through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
Words of wisdom
Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)’Lord, purge our eyes to seewithin the seed a tree,Within the glowing egg a bird,Within the shroud a butterfly,Til, taught by such, we seebeyond all creatures, thee.’
“Things great have small beginnings. Every downpour is just a raindrop; every fire is just a spark; every harvest is just a seed; every journey is just a step because without that step there will be no journey; without that raindrop there can be no shower; without that seed there can be no harvest.” William Wilberforce
Pastoral Care:
Do remember, if you are worried about anyone email stcatherinehatcham@gmail.com and they will pass your message on to the pastoral team.
St Catherine’s Church Team