Saint Leonard’s Harvest Service Welcome to our OpenCast church service - on-line. There are prayers, readings, hymns and music; just as you would have in church. As you read through this service you may care to say aloud the bold text. To hear the music and the readings, click on each title (red, underlined text) (and remember to adjust the volume on your speakers).

Welcome

Lord of the harvest, I give you my thanks for the fruitful harvest I have received from you. Bless those who work the land so that I can eat; those who fish, those that sell me food. May God strengthen me in my pilgrimage through this life and provide me with eternal life. Almighty God, we should offer you thanks for your gifts and ask for grace to use them wisely. Grant that we may use the fruits of the earth for the relief of those in need and for your glory.

Hymn

” Ghile Huphughi lo “ (Gather the harvest home)

Intercessions

Let us pray to God the almighty, the King of creation. God said, ‘Let there be light.’ Eternal God, we thank you for your light and your truth. We praise you for your fatherly care in creating a universe which proclaims your glory. Inspire us to worship you, the creator of all, and let your light shine upon our world. God of life: hear my prayer. God said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the heavens.’ We thank you for the vastness of the universe and the mysteries of space. We pray for all scientists and astronomers who extend the boundaries of our knowledge. As we contemplate the wonder of the heavens, confirm us in the truth that every human being is known and loved by you. God of life: hear my prayer. God said, ‘Let the waters be gathered together, and let dry land appear.’ We thank you for the beauty of the earth, for the diversity of land and sea, for the resources of the earth. Give us the will to cherish this planet and to use its riches for the good and welfare of all. God of life: hear my prayer. God said, ‘Let there be lights in the sky to separate the day and the night.’ We thank you for the warmth of the sun, the light of the moon, the glory of the stars. We praise you for the formations of clouds, the radiance of dawn and sunset. Save us from wasting or abusing the energy on which all life depends. Open our eyes to behold your beauty, and our lips to praise your name. God of life: hear my prayer. God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth living creatures, and let birds fly across the sky.’ We thank you for the teeming life of the seas, and the flight of the birds. Help us to protect the environment so that all life may flourish. God of life: hear my prayer. God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind.’ We rejoice in the variety of animal life. Grant us grace to treat all animals with respect and care; to protect endangered species, to preserve the variety of habitats, and to honour the delicate balance of nature. God of life: hear my prayer. God said, ‘Let us create human beings in our own image.’ We pray for the human family. We exult in its diversity and giftedness, we repent of its sins, divisions and violence. By the power of your Spirit, restore your image within us, through Christ who came to remake us by his death and resurrection. God of life: hear my prayer. AMEN

Reflection

As

we

approach

this

Harvest

time,

we

reflect

of

the

significance

of

harvest

in

our lives and faith.

Harvest

time

is

a

season

of

gratitude

and

abundance,

reminding

us

of

the

gifts that God gives us.

Harvest

also

reminds

us

of

the

importance

of

seasons,

both

for

the

weather

and

in

our

own

lives.

There

is

a

season

for

everything,

as

we

are

reminded

in Ecclesiastes 3:1

“

There

is

a

time

for

everything,

and

a

season

for

every

activity under the heavens

”

Harvest

allows

us

time

to

reflect

on

the

virtues

of

patience

and

hard

work.

We

are

reminded

of

the

farmers

and

farms

we

rely

on

for

our

food

and

nourishment.

Framers

plant

seeds

with

hope

and

trust,

and

we

are

called

to

plant

seeds

of

faith,

hope

and

love

in

our

communities,

trusting

that

God

with bring forth fruit.

As

we

celebrate

the

harvest,

let

us

also

remember

those

in

need.

Sharing

our abundance is a way to honour God’s generosity.

Today,

let

us

lift

our

hearts

in

gratitude,

embracing

the

harvest

as

a

time

to

deepen

our

faith,

serve

others,

and

recognise

the

endless

blessings

God

pours into our lives.

Traditional Hymn

“ Come, ye thankful people, come praise the Lord of Harvest-home ”

Prayer of St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

Christ has no body now but ours. No hands, no feet on earth but ours. Ours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Ours are the feet with which he walks about to do good. Ours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Ours are the hands, ours are the feet, ours are the eyes, We are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but ours.

Blessing

May God the Father of us all, who clothes the lilies of the field and feeds the birds of the air, provide me with all I need to live my life to its fullest. Amen.