Morning Service for Harvest 2022
HYMN Lord of the harvest – H&S 62
Lord of the harvest, Lord of the field,
give thanks now to God in nature revealed.
1. Give thanks for the sun, the wind and the rain
and thanks for the crops that feed us again.
The corn safely cut is gathered inside
we thank you, oh Lord, that you can provide.
Chorus
2. The trees ripe with fruit stand proud
in the sun.
We gather them now that summer is gone.
For yours is the wonder, yours is the power,
yours is the glory of fruit and of flower.
Chorus
3. So in all our plenty, help us to see,
the needs all around whatever they be.
With food for the body, strength for the soul,
it’s healing and caring, making them whole.
Chorus
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
We recall our Lord’s command to love and in a moment of silence we confess
the many ways we fail to keep his command:
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen
May the God of love and power
forgive us and free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by his Spirit,
and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE COLLECT
Eternal God, you crown the year with your goodness
and you give us the fruits of the year in their season:
help us to 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. Amen.
FIRST READING – Philippians 4.4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
HYMN When your Father made the world – H&S 110
1.When your Father made the world, before that world was old,
in his eye what he had made was lovely to behold.
Help your people to care for your world.
The world is a garden you made,
and you are the one who planted the seed. The world is a garden you made,
a life for our food, life for our joy,
life we could kill with our selfish greed.
2.And the world that he made, the seas, the rocks, the air,
all the creatures and the plants he gave into our care.
Help your people to care for your world.
Chorus
3. When you walked in Galilee, you said your Father knows
when each tiny sparrow dies, each fragile lily grows.
Help your people to care for your world.
Chorus
4.And the children of the earth, like sheep within your fold,
should have food enough to eat and shelter from the cold.
Help your people to care for your world.
Chorus
.
GOSPEL – John 6.25-35
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they 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 him, “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.
SERMON
Some of the Jews of Jesus’ day meditated upon the account in the Torah of the children of Israel’s escape from Egypt and their wanderings in the desert until they reached the promised land. They saw in it the roots of possible deliverance from the problems of their own time. Their saviour, God’s anointed one, would be a new Moses who would lead them to a new promised age, where their oppressors would perish and the world would acknowledge their God as the Lord of all the earth.
And so they ask Jesus to prove that he is the new Moses, this was, from their point of view, perfectly reasonable, and could be accomplished easily. A book of ancient Rabbinic exegesis known as Middrash contains the line, “as the first Redeemer [that is Moses] brought down Manna… so will also the last Redeemer cause manna to come down.” If he can do what Moses did, then QED, the matter is proven. A shade cynical perhaps, but logical.
So this is what lies behind Jesus’ reply “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven…” In their hunger for a deliverer, a new Moses, they had failed to see that deliverance comes only from God and only on his terms, Manna was not Moses’ party trick, it was God’s gift from heaven to sustain them.
It was not to supernatural signs that they should be looking but to the activity of God. It is what he gives that gives life to the world – and what Jesus says next turns everything upside down “I am the bread of life”. This is an extraordinary turn about, Jesus doesn’t identify himself with Moses, but with the manna that fed the people. It is his life that brings refreshment and nourishment. And, just as the journey across the desert was a spiritual one, so the nourishment that Jesus offers is to the life of the spirit. That life which is the real life of mankind – that life which is the raison d’être of all life.
Today we give thanks, and rightly so, for the bounty of the earth, and that we are fortunate to have such a good share of it. How much more should we give thanks for the food that takes all hunger from our souls, and reminds us to share what we have with others.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the scriptures;
he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles: this we have received,
and this we believe. Amen. 1 Corinthians 15.3-7
HYMN Autumn days
1. Autumn days when the grass is jewelled
And the silk inside a chestnut shell.
Jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled.
All these thing I love so well
So I mustn’t forget
No, I mustn’t forget.
To say a great big
Thank You
I mustn’t forget
2. Clouds that look like familiar faces
And the winters moon with frosted rings.
Smell of bacon as I fasten up my laces
And the song the milkman sings
Chorus
3. Whipped-up spray that is rainbow-scattered
And a swallow curving in the sky
Shoes so comfy though they’re worn out and they’re battered
And the taste of apple pie.
Chorus
4. Scent of gardens when the rain’s been falling
And a minnow darting down a stream
Picked-up engine that’s been stuttering and stalling
And a win for my home team.
Chorus
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION – Sheila Forbes
God our father of all peoples, we offer thanks for the blessings of Harvest, for our community and its thriving school. We pray that all who walk into this church feel welcome and the sense of a loving presence.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Lord we know that as we sing our grateful thanks for the food we eat, many people are facing hardship in this country. Turning our eyes to Ukraine we see the brutality of war. In Pakistan the devastation of floods and in Florida of a hurricane – bringing destruction to crops and food supply. We pray for all who are suffering that they may be brought to a time of normality, of peace and plenty and a time for justice.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.
God who is our mother and father we bring to you the friends, family and acquaintances whom we know to be in need, sickness or any adversity – remembering in this benefice Roger Lowman. We ask that you extend your hand of comfort and reassurance to them.
We pray also for those who mourn.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
BLESSING
Go forth into the world in peace; Be of good courage, hold fast that which is good,
render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted,
support the weak, help the afflicted, honour all people,
love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit;
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
HYMN – We plough the fields and scatter – Wir Pflugen – NEH 262
1 We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God’s almighty hand.
He sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
are sent from heav’n above;
then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love.
2 He only is the Maker
of all things near and far;
he paints the wayside flower,
he lights the evening star;
the wind and waves obey him,
by him the birds are fed;
much more to us, his children,
he gives our daily bread. Refrain
3 We thank you, then, O Father,
for all things bright and good:
the seed-time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food;
no gifts have we to offer
for all your love imparts,
but that which you desire now:
our humble, thankful hearts! Refrain