Sunday 27th September, 2020

St Mary’s Church, WendoverHarvest Thanksgiving

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by

them.

Welcome

Opening PrayerCreator God,the whole earth proclaims your glory.Field and forest, farm and garden all sing yourpraise!As we gaze at the world around us we see your handiwork;your fingerprint is everywhere.This is your world; help us to enjoy it gently.In Jesus’ name. Amen (Acknowledgement: Liturgy from the Arthur Rank Centre)

Reading - Psalm 65:5-13 5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Saviour,the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength,7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

9 You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly.The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.

10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.11 You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.13 The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.

Offering of Gifts

We bring before you the offering of topsoil from the earth, the precious element that sustains life, and a symbol of God’s whole creation and goodness.The land has yielded its harvest; God has blessed us.

We bring the offering of wheat and all cereals, the potatoes and all the crops from our fields.The land has yielded its harvest; God has blessed us.

We bring the offering of the shepherd’s crook, a symbol of the flocks and herds of animals and birds that give us meat.The land has yielded its harvest; God has blessed us.

We bring the offering of flowers, fruits, berries and vegetables from orchards and gardens.The land has yielded its harvest; God has blessed us.

We bring the offering of seeds for next year’s crops, symbol of the trust we put in you, O God.The land has yielded its harvest; God has blessed us.

We bring this Harvest Loaf as both a symbol of the fruits of human labour and of the means by which we have the strength to labour.The land has yielded its harvest; God has blessed us.

We bring the offering of an empty bowl as a symbol of harvests that fail and of those around the world who suffer from hunger and starvation. Keep us mindful of their needs and may your goodness towards us bear fruits of compassion and generosity. Amen

SONG - We plough the fields and scatter

ConfessionWe confess to youour lack of care for the world you have given us.Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

We confess to youour selfishness in not sharing the earth’s bounty fairly. Christ have mercyChrist have mercy.

We confess to you our failure to protect resources for others. Lord have mercy.Lord have mercy.

AbsolutionAlmighty and merciful Lord grant us forgiveness for our carelessness, selfishness and thoughtlessness. Open our eyes to God’s truth and strengthen us to do God’s will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Reading - Luke 12: 13-21 The Parable of the rich fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheri-tance with me.”

14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

A Few Words

Ignite Harvest Rap

Prayers

Song - For the Beauty of the earth

Notices

Blessing

May God’s joy be in our hearts (place hand on heart)May God’s peace be in our world (sweep hand out in front)May God’s love be known between us (hands together, praying hands)And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with us, this day and always. Amen