Harvest News from Dunnington Methodist Church
It seems so long now since the Spring, and the last time we were able to meet together at the Chapel, and here we are at Harvest time already.
Please see our webpage which lists a number of worship resources and services being arranged locally https://www.yorkmethodist.org.uk/coronavirus-information.html
A traditional harvest service using the 'All We Can' service material is available from our Circuit YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZll3vyksFEonZ-EQbbhuQ
Diary of a harvest mouse
a poem by Sir John Betjeman
Here among long discarded cassocks
Damp stools, and half-split open hassocks
Here where the Vicar never looks
I nibble through old service books
Lean and alone I spend my days
Behind this Church of England baize
I share my dark forgotten room
With two oil lamps and half a broom
The cleaner never bothers me,
So, here I eat my frugal tea
My bread is sawdust mixed with straw
My jam is polish for the floor
Christmas and Easter may be feasts
For congregations and for priests
And so may Whitsun. All the same
They do not fill my meagre frame
For me the only feast at all
Is Autumn’s Harvest Festival
Where I can satisfy my want
With ears of corn around the font
I climb the eagle’s brazen head
To burrow through a loaf of bread
I scramble up the pulpit stair
And gnaw the marrow’s hanging there
It is enjoyable to taste
These items ere they go to waste
But how annoying when he finds
That other mice with pagan minds
Come into church my food to share
Who have no proper business there
Two field mice who have no desire
To be baptised, invade the choir
A large and most unfriendly rat
Comes in to see what we are at
He says he thinks there is no God
And yet he comes-it’s rather odd
This year he stole a sheaf of wheat
(It screened our special preacher’s seat)
And prosperous mice from fields away
Come in to hear the organ play,
And under cover of its notes
Ate through the altar’s sheaf of oats
A Low Church mouse, who thinks that I
Am too papisitical, and high
Yet somehow doesn’t think it wrong
To munch through Harvest Evensong,
While I, who starve the whole year through
Must share my foods with rodents who
Except at this time of the year
Not once inside a church appear
Within the human world I know
Such goings on could not be so
For human beings only do
What their religion tells them to
They read the Bible every day
And always, night and morning, pray,
And just like me, their good church mouse
Worship each week in God’s own house
But all the same it’s strange to me
How very full the church can be
With people I don’t see at all,
Except at Harvest Festival
I am not sure what the Church mice will do this year for food without the traditional Harvest Festivals in our Churches. This leads me to think what will those who rely on our Harvest donations do. Please consider carefully how much you can give to charities like Carecent, Tear Fund and Christian Aid so they can continue to do the work that is appreciated by so many. More information on donations to Carecent is on the next page.
Harvest prayers
Creator God, the whole earth proclaims your glory.
Field and forest, farm and garden all sing your praise!
As we gaze at the world around us we see your handiwork; your fingerprint is everywhere.
This is your world; help us to enjoy it gently. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Loving God, we give thanks for those who produce our food: for farmers and fishermen, factory and shop workers.
We pray for those for whom this has been a difficult year: farmers who have battled the weather to grow food, delivery drivers and shop workers who kept working despite the pandemic.
Help us to value and support each other. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
A Harvest prayer adapted from this year’s 'All We Can' harvest resource
Creator God,
your creation displays the works of your hands;
it speaks of your goodness and love; it tells of your beauty and glory; and shouts of your faithfulness.
Your works are wonderful and your deeds are great.
We praise your holy name.
God of love,
Forgive us for the times when we have been more concerned about being in the spotlight, than we are about being a light to our world.
God of wonder,
Forgive us for the times when our worship has been more about us, than about offering our lives to you.
God of justice,
Forgive us for the times when we have been more concerned with our own gain, than we have about people suffering from poverty and injustice.
God of forgiveness,
Cleanse our hearts and minds, and fill us afresh with your Spirit, that we may be a light to our world, bringing glory to you.
Amen.
A Harvest Grace
Creator God, thank you for this food.
Bless those who have produced and prepared it.
Help us to enjoy it and learn to share it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.