The idea of having a Harvest Thanksgiving service in early autumn is now world-wide.

I remember being asked to take a service in Capetown, (South Africa) on a big Lent Sunday 3 weeks before Easter. I could not think why there was fruit and vegetables all round the church. Then I realised that it was early autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and therefore, harvest festival there! It was appropriate that that mid-Lent day was called "Refreshment Sunday".

Of course thanksgiving for Harvest goes back thousands of years: in ancient Greek and Egyptian records we read of Harvest thanksgiving for the various cereal crops growing there. Similarly Bible references go back to thousands of years ago. For the origin of bringing harvest gifts to God in thanksgiving, see the fifth book in the Bible and read Deuteronomy ch 26, vs 2-5. Another Bible reference is Psalm 65 vs 6-13. Also, see a "don't worry" passage in Luke ch 12 vs 16-30.

You may wonder who started up having a special Harvest service in our September? The answer is that it was originally the bright idea of a vicar called Robert Walker in 1843, who lived in Cornwall. So Harvest Festivals are now 166 years old.

As time went on and people in cities often did not have gardens, they started to bring both fresh and tinned goods to church. We still do this at our Harvest Festivals these days, and both children and adults bring something.

Some churches give a little package of these goods to old or ill people.
One church I know sells everything by auction and gives the money to a charity. Today we might consider giving the goods to C.A.P. (Christians against Poverty) who, no doubt, would use them wisely.

Fruit, veg, cereals etc are appropriate for people who grow them, but what of the harvest of town or city dwellers? Here the harvest is of produce such as soap, cutlery, crockery, steel, electric goods, sanitary ware, radios or anything else. We can give thanks for anything made locally.

Harvest is an appropriate time to remember those who are really POOR. Here in the UK, in Western Europe and in the northern half of the continent of the Americas, we are all comparatively rich, in contrast to the very poor areas of parts of Africa, (for example) where people are dying from starvation.

Consider these facts:

- Our wealthy areas absorb 89% of the world's resources.
- The poor countries make up 4/5 of the land surface, but only use 12% of the resources available.
- One fifth is too cold for growing food. One fifth is too dry. One fifth is too mountainous.
- But note this: 30% of the world's surface could produce food but only 10% is cultivated.

What should Christians do about this?

When Jesus spoke about judgement day, he said to those who were approved by God , "when I was hungry you fed me" ...and doing this was the same as doing it for Him.

It is rather ridiculous to think only of poor people in Britain when thousands die every year from having neither food or water. So it should be part of our lives and almsgiving to support charities like Christian Aid, Oxfam, etc.

Goodness me! what a lot of things arise from harvest.

All of us who believe in God should include all the topics we have covered in our prayers, whether in church or at home. Here is a prayer which I think you will find is appropriate:

Lord, we thank you for the Harvest of land, sea and city. May we always walk gently upon this earth, in right relationship, nurtured by your love, taking only what we need, giving back to the earth in gratitude, sharing what we have, honouring all with reverence. We ask this in the name of Him who often attended festive meals, Jesus Christ. Amen.