大象传媒

Please note that this script is not exactly as broadcast but is indicative of the content of the service. There may be editing notes and some spelling or grammatical errors.

听Canon Peter听Welcome to this Collegiate Church of St Mary, the parish church of Warwickshire鈥檚 County town, for our celebration of the harvest.听 I鈥檓 Canon Peter Holliday .

听

Christians have worshipped on this site for 900 years.听 Today our thanksgiving stretches beyond the fruits of the fields to the multitude of harvests from all aspects of life.听 But 鈥� as we look at the world around us and at the shocking international news - we鈥檙e only too well aware of how easily we can spoil God鈥檚 glorious creation. In this act of worship we will acknowledge our complicity in our lack of care for all that God has given us.

听In common with our forebears 900 years ago, we also praise God for the harvest of his people, in the words of our first hymn, - Come, ye thankful people, come.听

HYMN听Come, ye thankful people, come,听

Tune: St George鈥檚 Windsor

听Canon Peter听听听Blessed are you, Lord God,

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 creator of heaven and earth.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听 Your Word calls all things into being,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听 and the light of dawn awakens us to life.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听 May your wisdom guide us this day

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 that we may cherish and care for your good creation,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听 and offer to you the sacrifice of our lips,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听 praising you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

听听 All听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 Blessed be God for ever.

听

CONFESSION

Canon Peter听听 As those who know the generosity of God,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听 let us confess our sins,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听 especially the ways in which we take creation

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听 and God鈥檚 gifts for granted.

听

A short silence is kept

听

Canon Peter听听听Lord, you give us this good earth,

听听听All听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听 yet we take your generous gifts for granted.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听 We squander its rich resources

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听 and fail to share your bounty with all of your children.

听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听 who died for us, forgive us all that is past

听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听 and grant that we may serve you in newness of life

听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听 to the glory of your name.

听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听 Amen.

听

The Choir sings the听KYRIE ELEISON听from Communion Service in F by Harold Darke (1888-1976)

Kyrie eleison.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christe eleison.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Christ, have mercy upon us.

Kyrie eleison.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Lord, have mercy upon us.

听

听Canon Peter听听 Almighty God,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听 who in Jesus Christ has given us a kingdom

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听 that cannot be destroyed,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听 forgive you your sins, open your eyes to God鈥檚 truth,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听 strengthen you to do God鈥檚 will

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听 and give you the joy of his kingdom,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听 through Jesus Christ our Lord.听

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听All听 听听听Amen.

听

THE COLLECT

Canon Peter 听听Creator God,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听 you made the goodness of the land,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听 the riches of the sea and the rhythm of the seasons;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听 as we thank you for the harvest,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听 may we cherish and respect this planet and its peoples,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听 through Jesus Christ our Lord.听

听 听听听听听听听听听听All听听听听 听听Amen.

听

The congregation sits for the听FIRST READING:听 Psalm 67, read by Doreen Mills

听

Doreen听 听 听 听 听 听听The Nations Called to Praise God

To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us

听听听听and make his face to shine upon us,Selah

2 that your way may be known upon earth,

听听听听your saving power among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;

听听听听let all the peoples praise you.

听

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

听听听听for you judge the peoples with equity

听听听听and guide the nations upon earth.Selah

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;

听听听听let all the peoples praise you.

听

6 The earth has yielded its increase;

听听听听God, our God, has blessed us.

7 May God continue to bless us;

听听听听let all the ends of the earth revere him.

听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 For the word of the Lord

听听听听听听听听听听听听All听听听听听听听 Thanks be to God.

听

Canon Peter听听 Our next hymn speaks of the beauty, wisdom, life and truth of God, evident in creation, which draw us to our God who is love:听 Lord of beauty, thine the听splendour shown in earth and sky and sea.

听HYMN听Lord of beauty, thine the splendour听听Tune:听 REGENT SQUARE

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听

Canon Peter听听 Our second reading is from the Gospel of John, chapter 15, beginning at the 1st verse. This is a part of Jesus鈥� teaching at the Last Supper in which he urges听us to live in the joy of his love.

听

鈥業 am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower.听2听He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes听to make it bear more fruit.听3听You have already been cleansed听by the word that I have spoken to you.听4听Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.听5听I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.听6听Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.听7听If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.听8听My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and becomemy disciples.听9听As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.听10听If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father鈥檚 commandments and abide in his love.听11听I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 For the word of the Lord

听听听听听听听听听听听听All听听听听听听听 Thanks be to God.

听

Canon Peter听听 The words of Psalm 23 have brought great comfort to God鈥檚 people for some 3,000 years, as they speak of God鈥檚 eternal goodness.听 We listen now to the setting by Herbert Howells from his Requiem, after which the Revd Dr Daniel Bennett, a curate in the Diocese of Coventry and a member of the Diocesan Environment Group, will give the address.

听

The Choir sings听PSALM 23听from Requiem by Herbert Howells (1892-1983)

THE SERMON

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听The Revd Dr Daniel Bennett, Curate of Stoke St Michael鈥檚, Coventry

听

I wonder what you鈥檝e harvested this year?听听

What crops have you brought in from the field?听听

What fruit and vegetables have you picked?听

Now I鈥檓 sure there are plenty of farmers and keen gardeners listening today who鈥檝e been very busy, harvesting all sorts of produce in recent weeks.听听

But for many of us, our harvesting activities will probably have been a little more limited.听

Personally, I鈥檝e picked a few plums from the tree in my small garden.听

I鈥檝e harvested some tomatoes from a few plants grown accidentally from the base of our compost bin.听

I鈥檝e visited a nearby farm where my family and I picked our own strawberries and raspberries.听

And probably my favourite harvesting activity each year is a trip to find a patch of blackberries.听听

There鈥檚 something about the challenge of picking blackberries that makes harvesting them especially satisfying.听

Can you get to that blackberry 鈥� the one just out of reach, without falling head first into the blackberry bush itself?听

But these small adventures are about the extent of my concern or involvement in this year鈥檚 harvest.听

Most of the harvesting is done by a relatively small number of people in rural areas, and much of their work remains unseen by our largely urban population.听

There鈥檚 often a divide between the experience of the harvest in the city and in the fields.听听听听听

It鈥檚 a far cry from the context of our reading from Psalm 67.

In ancient Israel, there was a less marked division between the city and the field.听

Farmers often lived within the city walls, walking only a short distance to the fields nearby.听

And as most people were farmers, gathering the harvest was something that involved the vast majority of the people.听

A people who came together as a community at harvest time to celebrate God鈥檚 abundant blessing and to celebrate a deep unity.听

听

The deep unity that the harvest celebrated was a harmony between the activity of God, the blessings of God鈥檚 creation, and the work of God鈥檚 people on earth.听听听

And this harmony is reflected in the agricultural images that we find throughout the Jewish and Christian scriptures鈥μ�

Where God is depicted as farmer, as shepherd, and as gardener.听听

And where in our reading from John鈥檚 gospel, the very deep unity of God鈥檚 love for us, through his Son Jesus Christ, is depicted in the image of the vineyard.听听

Here God the vineyard-grower, and the true vine, his Son, invite us to abide in God鈥檚 love so that we might bear good fruit.听听

And so we might witness to God鈥檚 love in the abundant harvest of goodness that we see in our own lives and in the lives of others.听

There is in this image a deep unity of God, creation and humanity witnessing to God鈥檚 love.听听听听听听听听

听听听听听

But this harmony between God, humanity, and creation鈥�has been tragically disrupted and dislocated since the industrial age.听听听

鈥淐ity鈥� and 鈥渇ield鈥� have become more divided.听听听

And too often our human work and activity has come into direct conflict with our natural environments.听听

Too often we鈥檝e damaged our wildlife and the habitats that they need to flourish.听

Too often we鈥檝e forgotten God鈥檚 heart for justice as we see our fellow human beings suffering as a result of our changing climate.听

And for too long we鈥檝e ignored the environmental disaster that has been on the horizon.听听听

听

In describing the impending disasters of their own day, Israel鈥檚 ancient prophets used the language of an environmental catastrophe.听听

The prophet Isaiah describes how the earth wails and weakens, and how the earth is polluted by its inhabitants.听听

The cries of the earth itself revealed the judgement of God.听

And the prophets called for repentance as they longed for a restoration of a deep unity that had been lost.听

听

The environmental warnings of the prophets seem especially striking in the context of the climate crisis we鈥檙e facing today.听听

But in tackling this great challenge together, we cannot nostalgically long for an agricultural world that no longer exists.听听

Nor can we simply halt advances in industry and technology, especially those that lift people out of poverty and which improve our lives.听

听

But if we are to enjoy the blessings of God鈥檚 creation on earth.听

If we do want to celebrate and rejoice in the abundant harvests of the future,听

then we do need to rediscover the importance of a deep unity between God, creation and humanity for our shared future together.听听

And, as we鈥檙e only all too well aware at the moment, the things affecting our environment are about justice and mercy in every area of our lives, including the development of trust and non-violence, and respect for the other.听

听

And for those of us professing Christian faith,听听

our most important task in restoring this deep unity is to abide in the true vine Jesus Christ and in God, the vineyard-grower.听

When we do so, we bear good fruit and we sow good seeds of hope for future generations.听听

And when we abide in the heart of the creator God, we鈥檒l come to share the heart that God has for all creation.听

And it鈥檚 from this place,听听

from a place where we know the depths of God鈥檚 love for us and for all the world,听听

鈥�.that we鈥檒l find the courage to change our lives, and the compassion to better care for God鈥檚 world. 听

听

So the next time that I go out and harvest something.听听听

As I pick a tomato, or a plum, or challenge myself to get that blackberry 鈥� the one just out of reach鈥μ�听

I hope l鈥檒l remind myself of the deep unity between God, creation and humanity.听听

I hope I鈥檒l challenge myself to dwell more in the heart of God, the vineyard grower, and to have my own heart changed.听听

Because even in times when there is little reason for optimism and the international news seems to bring only despair, Christian hope begins with the prayers of each individual heart. 听

As my own heart, and the hearts of others are transformed, I dare to hope we鈥檒l be able to work together towards a new deep unity.听

A new harmony between God, creation and humanity that we鈥檒l celebrate in the harvests to come.听

Amen听听

听

The Choir sings听FEAR NOT, O LAND,听words Joel 2, 21-24, 26, music Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

听

Canon Peter听听听The Prophet Joel, reflecting on a great plague of locusts which had stripped all the crops, puts this disaster down to the people straying from God.听 But if the people return to the Lord, says Joel, he will have pity on them and the land will once again yield its fruit.听 We listen as the choir sings a setting of verses from the 2nd chapter of Joel by Edward Elgar, Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice.

听

听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听听

The prayers

Led and composed by Diane Luxton

听

Canon Peter听听听Diane now leads us in prayer as we give thanks for the harvest, pray for our stewardship of God鈥檚 good creation, and bring before him a world in such great peril and need..

听

Diane听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love听and care which, through sunshine and rain, give us the fruits of the earth. Thank you for providing so richly for our needs and help us to share the good things we have with those who have little or nothing.

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 Lord, hear us.

听听听All听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听Lord, graciously hear us.

听

As we celebrate the blessings of harvest, be with听relief organisations who seek to work in areas of greatest need where life is difficult due to adverse weather conditions or听war.听 Help us to play our part by being generous in our giving.

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 Lord, hear us.听

听听听All听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听Lord, graciously hear us.

听

God of creation, open the eyes of us your people that your love might be reflected in our care for the planet.听 We repent of our lack of awareness over the generations which has caused the global environmental crisis we are now enduring. Help us to听look to the future by resolving to prioritise new ways of recycling, reusing and conservation of the world around us.

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 As children and young people are learning at school how to protect your wonderful world, help us to follow their example.

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 Lord, hear us.听

听听听All 听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听Lord, graciously hear us.

听听

Lord, bring help and comfort to those suffering the consequences of war in our world.听 We ask for protection for innocent people trying to cope with life in a war zone.听 Bring comfort and strength to those who are personally affected by living amidst bombing and destruction and being separated from loved ones. We pray that cycles of violence would cease, and that solutions might be found to bring justice and peace.

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 Lord, hear us.

听听听All听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听Lord, graciously hear us.听

听

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 Comfort and heal those who suffer in body, mind and spirit.听 We bring to you all those who are suffering at this time when the NHS is stretched.听 Bless doctors, nurses and carers who are looking after those who are ill at home, in hospital or in care homes.听 Give them strength as they seek to help those who are struggling with illness.

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 Lord, hear us.

听听听All听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听Lord, graciously hear us.听

听

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 We give you thanks for those who we love but see no longer鈥�according to your promises, grant us, with them, a share in your eternal kingdom.

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 Lord, hear us.

听听听All听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听Lord, graciously hear us.听

听

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 Heavenly Father, we ask you to stir our hearts into action.听 As global 听temperatures increase, inspire us with ways in which we can make a 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 difference in our homes, church congregations, communities and the world around us.听 We pray for your prompting where we can do more to love our neighbour. Sow a seed of peace in our lives that we may bear the fruits of forgiveness, compassion and righteousness.

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 Merciful father,

听听听All听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

听

THE LORD鈥橲 PRAYER

听

Canon Peter听听听As our Saviour taught his disciples, so we pray:

All听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听Our Father, who art in heaven,
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 hallowed be thy name;
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 thy kingdom come;
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 thy will be done;
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 on earth as it is in heaven.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Give us this day our daily bread.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And forgive us our trespasses,
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 as we forgive those who trespass against us.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And lead us not into temptation;
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 but deliver us from evil.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 for ever and ever.听听 Amen.

听

Canon Peter听听 As we come to the conclusion of our worship, we praise God for all his听goodness in creation as we sing Let us with a gladsome mind.

听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听听听听听听听听听Tune:听听MONKLAND

听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

听

Canon Peter听听听God the Father, who created the world,

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 give you grace to be wise stewards of his creation.

听听 All听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Amen.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 God the Son, who redeemed the world,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 inspire you to go out as labourers into his harvest.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Amen.

听

听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 God the Holy Spirit, whose breath fills the whole of听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 creation,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 help you to bear his fruits of love, joy and peace.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Amen.

听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you, now and always.听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Amen.

听

ORGAN听 VOLUNTARY:Koraal (Suite Modale)听听听Flor Peeters (1903-1986)听

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