Harvest

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Harvest Dreams

Tread softly because you tread on farmers' dreams.

Of what does a farmer dream?

In the U. K.
Of a rich harvest?
Of a good price for the crop, covering costs with something left over.
Of enough capital to see him through the bad times.
Of security - for himself and his family.
Of a good well-managed farm to pass on to his children, as his father passed it to him.

It may be easier to ask ‘what does a farmer fear?’
Because fear of failure is ever present!
Fear of too little rain - or too much.
Fear of rain and wind spoiling a good crop.
Fear of low prices for his produce, falling bank balances and an overdraft refused.
Fear of sickness or injury - how will my family cope without me?

And all these apply in the world wide farming community
along with other fears:-
Fear of total crop failure.
Fear of an invasion of locusts, leaving just bare earth where there was a green field.
Fear of drought - lasting for months not just a few weeks.
Fear of ‘picky’ buyers for the crop - refusal could mean disaster.
Fear of starvation:- no rain, no grass, no cattle, no crop, no sales. Nothing for tomorrow.

And for the the ‘consumer’?
Do you remember the fuel shortage in September 2000?
Have you ever seen a Supermarket with no food on its shelves?
Our food supply appears secure.
If the buyer does not like one farmer or country he can make a deal elsewhere.
And it is so easy for us with our own ‘dream’ of cheap food to tread on the dreams of others!
The prophet Isaiah expressed God’s indignation when he spoke of ‘Grinding the face of the poor’. (Isaiah 3 v. 15)

Love for our neighbour can be expressed in treading very softly and carefully in our choice of food.
A wise choice will mean fewer ‘food miles’, ‘Fair Traded’ imports
and a fair return for the primary producer where-ever they may be.

An unwise choice can cause irreversible damage to God’s world and farmers everywhere.

In buying food - ‘Tread softly for you tread on farmers’ dreams!’

The Rich Fool

Jesus said to them, "Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. A man's life is not measured by the many things he owns."

Then Jesus used this story. "There was a rich man who had some land, which grew a good crop of food. The rich man thought to himself, 'What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.' Then he said, 'I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones! I will put all my grain and other goods together in my new barns. Then I can say to myself, I have enough good things stored to last for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!'

But God said to that man, 'Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So who will get those things you have prepared for yourself?'"

"And that," said Jesus, "is how it is with people who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God's sight."

Luke 12:15-21

Harvest Praise

Lord we praise you for the harvest of the fields around ………

For fields of wheat and barley; for oil-seed rape and maize

For healthy herds, for sheep and pigs

We give thanks

We praise you for the harvest of local hedgerows

For the straggling bramble; for black showers of elderberry

For mushrooms nestling in the dewy grass

We give thanks

Lord we praise you for the harvest of talents in this church

For buildings well maintained; for flower arrangements and music

For responsible stewardship, for charities supported

We give thanks

We praise you for the harvest of fellowship here at ……..

For friends made and support given

For people with whom to laugh and with whom to weep

We give thanks

Lord we praise you for the harvest of prayer in this place

For commitment deepened; for discipleship taken up

For the cross carried and the burdens borne

We give thanks

Now Lord we dedicate this festival of harvest thanksgiving to you

Bless us, strengthen us, unite us in your love.

Amen