Whatever the weather, whether it has been a wet winter and a dry summer, or indeed
a mixture of both, we are fortunate to have farmers who produce a harvest. Many will
say that they work with three things: a tractor, the weather and God. Harvest is a time
to celebrate: the produce we all enjoy; the skills of all those who work on the land; and
the world that God has given us. We may independently be in awe of the countryside
we see, or we may take a silent moment to rest in the beauty of creation. We may seek
to do this in an act of worship, joining with many others to give thanks.
The annual County Harvest Service organised by the Chaplaincy to Agricultural and
Rural Life (CARL) will take place in the Cathedral today. Many members of the Young
Farmers’ Club (YFC) will help to lead the service, which involves a procession of produce
culminating with a traditional, large harvest loaf.
This is an opportunity to offer to God the contribution we make in bringing food to the
table; to give thanks and pray for others in the agricultural chain upon whom we are
dependent; and above all to praise God who gives life to all living things.
A Harvest prayer from the Arthur Rank Centre
God of the heavens and the earth,
You call us to share in the care of your creation
and to bring food and fruitfulness from field and farm.
Hear our prayer for all who make their living on the land
and make us grateful for the work of their hands
and for the generosity of your provision.
We ask this in the name of Christ. Amen.
If you want to take up a creation or environmental theme for Lent study groups next year,
there will be study resources available for the Archbishop’s 2020 Lent Book by Ruth Valerio,
‘Saying Yes to Life’.
Bromsgrove Deanery – Rural Dean: Paul Lawlor, Lay Chair: David Hargreaves
Church in Wales: Archbishop John Davies
Liverpool: Bishop Paul Bayes w Bishop Beverley Mason (Warrington)
Monmouth (Wales): Bishop Richard Pain
Haderslev (Denmark) Bishop Marianne Christiansen
