The church beautifully decorated with a range of colourful floral arrangements, windows filled with tinned goods and packets of food for the local Food Bank and artificially created vegetables made by Tracy and co, real ones not being permissible this year, our socially distanced Harvest service began.

As is currently the custom no singing of hymns was allowed but David played beautifully and during two hymns Moira read the words to us adding emphasis to their meaning.  The first hymn inspired us stating ‘a world more hopeful, a world more humane’ and our service continued to explore these sentiments as Reverend Andrew led us through prayers of ‘concern for the whole world.’ Andrew led us to understand that whilst today we celebrate the physical production of agricultural labours that the gospels contain stories linking the idea of ‘a harvest of all creation’ where ‘God gathers everything to Himself.’ Whilst June read from John 6: 24 – 35 we heard that Jesus encourages us to ‘work for food that lasts for eternal life.’

With another unsung hymn David played Charles Wesley’s Sing to the Great Jehovah’s Praise and whilst it was unsung the potential void of no voices singing praises was filled instead by prayerful reverence for the lyrical majesty that embodies so many works by Wesley.

 Harvest was again likened to God demonstrating ‘the wonders of His love.’ Andrew reminded the congregation that whilst some of us may work hard to produce and maintain crops the ‘gift of life’ is from God and the harvest celebration, begun by Robert Hawker, focused on this; not the skill, energy or achievement but on ‘the very fact of the gift of life’; thankfulness rather than celebration.

For our service next week, we have all been asked to bring along an item which is precious to us and be willing to say why we consider it precious.