VERSION: 29 April 2002
HARVEST THANKSGIVING, YEAR C
Note: The Harvest Thanksgiving festival may be celebrated on any day of the church year, as is appropriate in the local context. It is customary in many places to commemorate the festival on one of the Sundays after Epiphany. It is normally advisable to hold the festival before the beginning of Lent; however, in year C the first reading for Harvest Thanksgiving is the same as the first reading for the First Sunday in Lent, so in year C you may consider making an exception and celebrating Harvest Thanksgiving on the First Sunday in Lent.
LITURGY
SENTENCES
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.
God gives the grass for the cattle,
and plants for people to use;
he brings forth food from the earth,
and gives wine to gladden the human heart,
oil to make the face shine,
and bread to strengthen us. (Ps 104:14,15 NRSV)
OR
The eyes of all look to you, Lord,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
(Psalm 145:15 NRSV)
PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
EITHER, traditional
Lord God, heavenly Father,
as you have graciously permitted us once more
to gather in the fruits of the earth:
Let your blessing continue to rest upon us,
so that we may at all times
gratefully receive whatever we need;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR, modernised traditional
Lord God, heavenly Father,
we thank you that you have again
shown your kindness
by giving us the fruits of the earth
in their seasons.
Help us to use them rightly,
to your glory,
for our own wellbeing,
and for the relief of those in need.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Additional collects may be found under 'Prayer of the church' below.
FIRST READING
Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Firstfruits presented to the Lord
PSALM
Psalm 100
Antiphon:
Give thanks to the Lord, and bless his name. (Psalm 100:4)
SECOND READING
Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always
ALLELUIA VERSE (John 6:35 NRSV)
Alleluia, alleluia.
(Jesus said:) 'I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
John 6:25-35 The food that lasts
PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Thank you, Lord Jesus,
for coming from the Father to give life to the world.
Help us to trust in you.
Amen.
OFFERING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for all the good things
you continue to provide for us.
Don't let us take your gifts for granted
or abuse them.
Instead, help us always to rely on you in faith.
Use us and what you have given us
for your good purposes.
Amen.
OFFERING
Consider enhancing the offering at Harvest Thanksgiving in one or all of the following ways.
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Instead of pre-arranging all the harvest produce at the front of the church, have the people bring items forward during the offering hymn. Gifts of packaged and tinned food for the needy may also be presented. Alternatively, children could carry large baskets around the congregation to collect such food while the gifts of money are being collected.
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Have a member of the congregation bake a loaf of bread for use in holy communion. This could be brought forward with the offering during the offertory. Also, local wine could be brought forward with the bread still in its familiar bottle to show that God takes and uses everyday things as his means of grace.
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Have members of the congregation bring forward symbols of their work and vocation, as offerings of their daily lives to God. In connection with this, consider using the order for 'Blessing of a place/object', included in Rites and Resources for Pastoral Care, produced by the Commission on Worship. The following prayer and blessing (which may be adapted) are taken from that order.
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The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray for God's blessing on ____.
We praise you, Lord our God, creator and king of the universe.
You have created the world and made everything that is good in it.
You make the sun shine on the earth and water it with showers of rain.
You have produced plants and animals from the earth
and have given it to us as our home.
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living creature.
You have provided us with everything for our enjoyment
and give us times for work and rest.
Bless this/these ___,
so that by it/them life may be nourished and sustained here on earth.
Give us health and strength for our work,
so that we may rejoice in your goodness
and use your good gifts for the benefit of all your creatures;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
I bless this/these ____
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
Our heavenly Father cares for us and knows our need. In our prayer, let us cast our cares on him in the name of Jesus,.
The regular response, OR:
Lord of the harvest,
care for your people.
Suggested intercessions
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for nourishment with word and sacrament
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*
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for the church, that it may be a witness to God's generosity
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*
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for all involved in agriculture - that they may care for the resources they steward, and receive God's blessing through their work
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*
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for all paid workers, for all unpaid workers, and for all unemployed
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*
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for all who do not have enough to eat
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*
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for those who do not know how to give thanks to God
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*
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for those who doubt God's goodness
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*
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for protection from drought and famine
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Concluding prayer
Lord God, unless you care for us and give us what we need, all our work is in vain. Keep our hearts and minds set firmly on your word, so that we may always trust in you, and be generous with the gifts you have given us. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Additional collects
Lord God, our heavenly Father,
we praise you for your goodness,
and thank you
that you have protected
our crops/gardens/orchards/---,
and given us a harvest.
May we enjoy what our labour has produced
in health and peace,
never forgetting to honour you
by praising you for all your gifts to us
and by sharing them with those in need.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Merciful Father,
you have protected the fruits of the earth
and crowned the year with your blessing.
Bless and protect
the living seed of your word
which has been sown in our hearts,
so that we may produce
the fruit of your word
and always offer ourselves to you
as a living sacrifice of thanks.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
For use in times of a failed harvest
Heavenly Father,
when you brought drought upon the land
in the time of Elijah the prophet,
you provided for the widow and her son,
so that the little they had
was sufficient for them.
Comfort us and provide for us
in this time of drought (/failed harvest).
Give us patience,
so that we may not despair of your help.
Preserve the little which we have,
and by your blessing
let our present need
work for our good.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Heavenly Father,
you raised your Son
to be the firstfruits
of the resurrection from the dead.
As we have received
the body and blood of our risen Lord,
gather us into your kingdom
at the final harvest.
We ask this
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace, with thankful hearts to serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.
HYMNS AND SONGS
FOR THE READINGS
Please note: * = Modernised version available
G3, G4 . . . = Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .
GS = Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH
First reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-11
LHS
362
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What shall I give to God, my Saviour* G4
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367
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O bring to the Lord your tribute of praise* G6
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463
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O worship the King, all glorious above (alt tune 454)
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560
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O Lord, I sing with mouth and heart G6
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563
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We plough the fields and scatter G4
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AT
265
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Take us now, we are yours
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358
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We bring the gifts that you have brought us
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TIS
130
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We plough the fields, and scatter
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133
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O worship the King, all glorious above
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154
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Great is your faithfulness
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Second reading: Philippians 4:4-9
LHS
386
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In Thee is gladness* G7
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402
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Rejoice, my heart, be glad and sing* G6
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411
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If God be my defender* G3
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437
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Now thank we all our God* G6
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439
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I will sing my Maker's praises G5
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440
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Sing praise to God who reigns above G3
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443
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Through all the changing scenes of life G7
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859
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Seek, O seek the Lord
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870
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Lord of all hopefulness G6
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873
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Safe in the shadow of the Lord
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AT
8
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Praise and thanksgiving
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164
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O give thanks to the Lord
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405
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Lord of all hopefulness
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TIS
106
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Now thank we all our God
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110
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Sing praise to God who reigns above
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112
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Through all the changing scenes of life
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128
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Sometimes a light surprises
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198
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I greet you, my Redeemer sure
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201
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King of glory, King of peace
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464
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Seek, O seek the Lord
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609
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May the mind of Christ my Saviour
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610
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God, you touch the earth with beauty
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613
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Lord of all hopefulness
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644
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Safe in the shadow of the Lord
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743
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Praise and thanksgiving
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Gospel: John 6:25-35
LHS
161
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How sweet the name of Jesus sounds G5
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259
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Speak, O Lord, Thy servant heareth* G7
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265
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How blest are they who hear God's Word* G3
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281-295 Most hymns in this holy communion section
301
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Take Thou my hand and lead me* G3
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347
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Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah G5
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639
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We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food G6
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835
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Bread of heaven, on you we feed G5
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837
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Feed us now, Bread of life GS
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838
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I am the Bread of life GS
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839
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I come invited by your word G7
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849
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With holy joy my heart shall beat (alt tune 839, G7)
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AT
167
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I am the Bread of life
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TIS
223
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How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
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429
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Break now the bread of life
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430
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Your words to me are life and health
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500
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Here we adore you, hidden Saviour, Lord
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503
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Robe yourself, my soul, in gladness
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513
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Bread of heaven, on you we feed
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522
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Christ is the heavenly food
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535
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I am the Bread of life
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538
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Feed us now, Bread of life
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539
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You satisfy the hungry heart (esp vv 2,4,5)
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569
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Guide me, O thou great Redeemer
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593
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Lord, take my hand and lead me
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PSALM 100
For musical settings of Psalm 100, see Music Packages 3 and 7. See also TIS nos 59-62. LHS 879 and 882 are also based on Psalm 100.
HYMNS ON HARVEST THANKSGIVING AND CREATION
See the following.
LHS
560–568
808–812
814
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For the fruits of his creation G6
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887
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We praise you, O God, our redeemer, creator
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AT
123
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Morning has broken (Especially appropriate as an opening hymn)
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182
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Christ is changing everything
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TIS
Hymns under Harvest, Creation, Gifts of creation in the index of subjects in the harmony edition
BAPTISM
If there is a baptism on the day of Harvest Thanksgiving, the following songs from the 'All Together' books are appropriate:
316
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From the air and from the light
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CONFESSION OF SINS
Song 110 from All Together Again, 'Kyrie, good God', gives a sobering note on what otherwise can be a festival celebrating only our own personal good fortune. The 'Sorrowing Song', 286 in All Together Everybody (TIS 689), is also appropriate as a confession song for Harvest Thanksgiving.
GRADUAL SONG
The song 'My word is like the snow and rain' (ATN 39) may be sung before the gospel to welcome the gospel of Christ.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
LH 566, 'Christ by heavenly hosts adored', may suitably be used for the general prayer at a Thanksgiving day.
OFFERTORY
The following song, written by David Sch¸tz, is sung to tune Nun danket alle Gott (LH 437, TIS 106). It may be used either for the offertory or for the song during the offering.
Blest are you, Lord our God,
the King of all creation.
Your goodness gives to us
the gifts we now can offer,
which daily work and toil
have earned to use for you.
Take these, for they are yours,
and use them for your good.
Blest are you, Lord our God,
the King of all creation.
Your goodness gives to us
this bread and wine we offer,
which earth, and sun, and rain,
and human hands have formed.
Take it and by your word,
prepare the feast of life.
The following hymns and songs could also be used for the offering.
LHS
362
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What shall I give to God, my Saviour*
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367
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O bring to the Lord your tribute of praise*
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372
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We give thee but thine own
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AT
378
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Given and shed for you (this is also appropriate as a pre-communion song)
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265
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Take us now, we are yours
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If there is to be a vocational focus during the offertory, the following hymns are appropriate for the offering song.
LHS
377
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Take my life and let it be*
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379
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Lord of creation, to thee be all praise
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814
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For the fruits of his creation
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AT
169
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All to the glory of God
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TIS
168
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For the fruits of his creation
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599
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Take my life and let it be
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626 Lord of creation, to you be all praise
NEW HYMN: PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING
The following hymn is by Ed Koch, and sung to the tune Bunessan, LHS 811, ATA 123 or TIS 156 (Morning has broken).
Praise and thanksgiving,
Lord of creation,
for life and living
in this brown land;
Austral's wide island
rimmed by blue ocean,
clothed with gummed mountains
and malleed plains.
With forebears believing,
Lord God, you blessed us,
bearing oppression
for their belief;
forsaking homeland
uprooted fam'ly,
braved the wild oceans
rather than yield.
Here among sandhills, OR: Here in gummed mountains,
dry rolling bushland, wide-wattled valleys,
drought-wrested showers, axes rang loudly
this was their home; claiming the land;
pioneers sweated, sweat, toil and hardship,
rolling and clearing, eyes lift to heaven,
sowing and reaping trusting the Father,
just to survive. made this their home.
Children of scrublands [ /bushlands]
honour your forebears’
vision and courage
to serve their Lord.
Shepherd of faithful,
through them you blessed us,
gave us the freedom
to praise your name.
Praise the Creator,
our faithful Father;
praise the Redeemer,
obedient Son;
praise to the Spirit,
new life inspiring;
shout with the angels:
Alleluia!
NEW HYMN: O GRACIOUS LORD GOD
The following hymn is by American Lutheran pastor, Keith M Mueller. Permission has been given for its use in the following revised form. The tune is either Foundation (LHS harmony edition A4, TIS 578), or St Denio (LHS 392, TIS 143).
O gracious Lord God, in thanksgiving we pray
for all your creation, for night and for day,
for seedtime and harvest, for work and for food,
for friends and for family, and everything good.
But how can we praise your great goodness enough?
Our lives overflow with the proofs of your love:
your providence feeds us, your strength is our shield;
our prayers you have answered, our sicknesses healed.
For far greater blessings, we give thanks and sing,
for Jesus, our Lord, who has borne all our sin,
for mercy and grace in the baptismal flood,
and for sins forgiv'n in his body and blood.
For faith, hope and love, and your word shining bright
in church and in home filling darkness with light,
for freedom to praise you in this favoured land,
and promise of glory where one day we'll stand.
OTHER THANKSGIVING HYMNS AND SONGS
The following hymns and songs have a general thanksgiving theme.
LHS
564
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Come, ye thankful people, come
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820
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We thank, Lord, for eyes to see
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887
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We praise you, O God, our redeemer, creator
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890
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Praise God the Saviour
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AT
8
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Praise and thanksgiving
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164
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O give thanks to the Lord
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TIS
See under the heading 'Thanksgiving' in the index of subjects (page 1082, harmony edition).
SONG FROM A POEM OF BLAKE
Here is another song, adapted from a poem by William Blake called 'On another's sorrow', which may be sung at harvest thanksgiving. The following tunes are suggested: Buckland (LH 607), Song 13 [Canterbury] (LH 131), or Vienna (LH 420, TIS 440). It also fits very well to Robin Mann's tune for 'From the air and from the light' (ATO 316) if every two verses are sung as one verse, but in order to fit properly, a final four lines are required at the end. We have suggested a possibility if you wish to use this tune.
Can I see another's woe,
and not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another's grief,
and not seek for kind relief?
And can he who smiles on all
hear the wren with sorrow small,
hear the small bird's grief and care,
hear the woes that infants bear,
and not sit beside the nest,
pouring pity in their breast;
and not sit the cradle near,
weeping tear on infant's tear;
and not sit both night and day,
wiping all our tears away?
O no, never can it be,
never, never can it be!
He does give his joy to all;
he becomes an infant small;
he becomes a man of woe;
he does feel the sorrow too.
Do not think you sigh a sigh
and your maker is not by;
do not think you weep a tear
and your maker is not near.
O he gives to us his joy
that our grief he may destroy;
till our grief is fled and gone
he does sit by us and moan.
If using the ATO 316 tune, add these final four lines.
[He can't see another's woe,
and not be in sorrow too;
he can't see another's grief,
and not seek for kind relief.]
VISUAL
COLOUR
The colour for Harvest Thanksgiving is green or the colour of the season, so plenty of greenery can be included in the harvest display.
SYMBOLS
The following symbols are suitable for Harvest Thanksgiving.
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cornucopia (horn of plenty, with fruit etc spilling out of it).
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DECORATIONS
It is customary to decorate the church on this day with harvest produce. Especially in urban settings, it may be appropriate to include grocery items in the decorations as well.
A European style floral arrangement could be set up, using greenery, flowers and fruit and/or vegetables.
Displays could feature large stands with flowers, fruit and vegetables; or baskets with fruit and vegetables; or unusual containers to display flowers, fruit and vegetables.
DRAMA
'MEGA DRAMA'
See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.
CHILDREN
DECORATIONS
Be sure to involve the children in setting up the decorations for this day.
OFFERINGS
Involve the children in the collection and presentation of offerings. Especially, they may bring the baskets of food and/or the bread and wine for holy communion to the altar.
'COME AND SEE JESUS'
The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.
The story for Harvest Thanksgiving is 'Harvest firstfruits' (Deut 26:1-11) (to be found in the original edition Series B, semester 1, and in the RCL edition Series C, semester 1 for Lent 1).
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