Virtual Harvest Festival
* (If youtube asks you to join, click no thanks. Then click the play button again .)
John Rutter: For the Beauty of ther earth ( listen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTOfSKXkRa0
The land has yielded its harvest: God, our God has blessed us. Psalm 67:6
Come ye thankful people come
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imK0j7eBJsc
Prayer
Lord of the Harvest, thank you for creating this world, thank you for all that we gather from earth, the seas, and rivers.
Lord of the Harvest. Thank you for food that nourishes our bodies and for spiritual food that fills our souls. Thank you for life-giving water, and for the air we breathe.
We thank you for the seasons, for the sunshine, rain, snow, and wind.
Lord of the Harvest. We give you thanks for all of your gifts you have given to us. Amen
The parable of sower Mathew 13: 1 - 23 read, watch or both
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRehBbBTxbQ
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” NIV Bible
About the next hymn
"We Plough the Fields and Scatter" is an English translation by Jane M. Campbel of the German hymn, "Wir Pflügen und Wir Streuen" written by Matthias Claudius in 1782. The tune, 'Wir Pflügen' was published anonymously in the Hanover collection Lieder für Volksschulen in 1800. It has been credited to Johann A. P. Schulz. This performance is by The London Fox Choir. Video backgrounds by Video by Tuur Tisseghem, Kelly Lacy and Rick Coyle; all from Pixabay.
We plough the fields and scatter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccVEjKFkAV4
Harvest - A Short History
Harvest is from the Anglo-Saxon word hærfest, "Autumn". It then came to refer to the season for reaping and gathering grain and other grown products. The full moon nearest the autumnal equinox is called the Harvest Moon. So in ancient traditions Harvest Festivals were traditionally held on or near the Sunday of the Harvest Moon. This moon is the full moon which falls in the month of September.
An early Harvest Festival used to be celebrated at the beginning of the Harvest season on 1 August and was called Lammas, meaning 'loaf Mass'.
Farmers made loaves of bread from the fresh wheat crop. These were given to the local church as the Communion bread during a special service thanking God for the harvest. Nowadays the festival is held at the end of harvest, which varies in different parts of Britain. Sometimes neighbouring churches will set the Harvest Festival on different Sundays so that people can attend each other's thanksgivings.
Farmers celebrated the end of the harvest with a big meal called a harvest supper. Some churches and villages still have a Harvest Supper.
The modern British tradition of celebrating Harvest Festival in churches began in 1843, when the Reverend Robert Hawker invited parishioners to a special thanksgiving service at his church at Morwenstow in Cornwall. Victorian hymns such as "We plough the fields and scatter", "Come ye thankful people, come" and "All things bright and beautiful" but also Dutch and German harvest hymns in translation helped popularise his idea of harvest festival and spread the annual custom of decorating churches with home-grown produce for the Harvest Festival service.
This year is a little different it is the first time that I can remember when we have not been able to meet for worship and to decorate the Chapel. So today I ask you if you are able to send a small monetory gift to charity or to a cause close to you heart in lieu of the harvest produce you would have brought to the Chapel.
Sowing the seed by the dawn-light fair,
* https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9WaqnckaBg
1 Sowing the seed by the dawn-light fair,
Sowing the seed by the noonday glare,
Sowing the seed by the fading light,
Sowing the seed in the solemn night:
O what shall the harvest be?
O what shall the harvest be?
Refrain:
Sown in the darkness or sown in the light,
Sown in our weakness or sown in our might,
Gathered in time or eternity,
Sure, ah! sure, will the harvest be.
2 Sowing the seed by the wayside high,
Sowing the seed on the rocks to die,
Sowing the seed where the thorns will spoil,
Sowing the seed in the fertile soil:
O what shall the harvest be?
O what shall the harvest be?
Refrain:
Sown in the darkness or sown in the light,
Sown in our weakness or sown in our might,
Gathered in time or eternity,
Sure, ah! sure, will the harvest be.
3 Sowing the seed with an aching heart,
Sowing the seed while the tear-drops start,
Sowing in hope, till the reapers come,
Gladly to gather the harvest home:
O what shall the harvest be?
O what shall the harvest be?
Refrain:.
Sown in the darkness or sown in the light,
Sown in our weakness or sown in our might,
Gathered in time or eternity,
Sure, ah! sure, will the harvest be.
Sure, ah! sure, will the harvest be
Source: The Song Book of the Salvation Army
Prayer
Heavenly Father be with me as I go through days of uncertainty. May I feel your love and presence with me . I ask that you will help the scientists to find an antidote to Covid 19 virus . We ask that you be with those who are poorly, for those in hospital, for the front line services. Be with those who have lost loved ones. Be with all the medical services through the world. Be with those who are working to bring peace. And for those who are working to bring and end to injustice. Father God, may Governments and world leaders work together for the good of all. Lord of the Harvest, let the food parcels reach the hungry that they may be fed. Lord of the Harvest, bless the charities that are working to bring clean water and aid to every one in this your world. Help me always to be thankful and see you in the good that is around me and in the splendour of your creation. Father God in your mercy hear my prayers, For I ask them in the holy name of your Son Jesus Christ . Amen.
Listen to this song: Lord of the harvest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd6XGvqNGVc
Bible Reading 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Psalm 112:9
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
A photo of an Aero Broadcast Seed Sower D.L.K
It was a device that spreads seeds over a wide area using a cord and bow that spun a wheel that span out the grain or seed. It did not always go where the farmer wanted it to land. Some of it was eaten by the birds, some would land on stoney soil or among the weeds. And lots would land on good soil. It would them germinate and later in the year it would be ready to be harvested.
The modern word for broadcaster is associated with television and radio,
usually to do with the NEWS. North East West South.
Jesus came to spread or broadcast the good news of God and His wonderful goodness and love. Jesus Sat in a boat to Broadcast the news of the parable of The Sower.
The disiples came to spread the Good news of Jesus and how He died that we may through him have life in full abundance. Jesus asked his disiples to follow him, he asks this of us still today.
One way of looking at harvest is througth the eyes of Jesus as he talked about the meaning of the sower story to his disiples .
To day we we look at God’s word in the Bible. The word is the seed.
Preachers missionaries & Belivers Spread the word.
Another way of looking at harvest, is on a personal leavel. When we received the word with in us, did we nurture it? Have we propagated it with the warmth of God’s love , fed it with food from the Spirit, illuminated by the Light of Christ , and quenched it with water of eternity? have we weeded around it? Or has life’s calling smothered it? Did the seed grow only for a short time? Did someone take it from you ? Only you can answer these questions. The good news is that there plenty more seeds God will always be there beside you. If you have decided that you would like to have the word of God’s love planted in your heart this harvest then listen to the “Lord of the harvest” again while it is playing say “Lord of the harvest enter in to my heart, become real to me, that I may feel your presence, your love and your Peace”.
Have you ever watched seeds of a dandelion clock? You may have picked one and blown the seeds off. When I was a child I was told that when you blow them and count the puffs it takes to empty the head that is what the time was in fairy land. Even today some fifty years on I love watching the seeds being carried on the wind. God’s word is carried on the wind by the holy spirit. When the fruits of the spirit fall on us we must not make excuses for not wanting to spread His word.
As we know Covid 19 is flexing its strength, we cannot meet together so what can we do? Some one may be hoping for a letter or phone call from you,
Something may have happened and we feel we want to share it, We are here for each other.
Please do not sow your seed sparingly. Pick the phone and chat to some one, drop them a line or card. Love generously.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
All things bright and beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUnQMvwaXlc
For a few months now we have been putting services on line for you to follow but I never thought for one moment that folk like your selves would be reading this from all corners of the earth. So friends, May The Lord of the harvest fill you with His Love and Peace this day and always. Amen
God bless you.
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