SUGGESTIONS FOR HARVEST WORSHIP IN A TIME OF CRISIS

The balance between thanksgiving and tears of sorrow is difficult. Great spiritual maturity is required to recognise that laughter and tears can be held together. Threading through the emotions of hope and despair, joy and sadness is the recognition that in the human condition these co-exist and may be experienced simultaneously in each of us, in local churches and communities, and in the world as a whole.

Worship embraces and expresses them all, since at the heart of the Christian faith is the cross of Christ pointing to eternal hope of new life.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has shown up the inter-relatedness of people in the rural economy, both across the country because of the trade in animals, but also because of the impact on non-agricultural businesses. Remember that some are more seriously affected by last year's floods than by FMD. All of UK agriculture was already in crisis before FMD. We cannot just be self-reliant. St Paul's body metaphor is appropriate here.

It is important that the Church is not seen as only interested in agriculture, just because the ARC - Addington Fund was so framed. At a national level Church representatives have been working with Government to try to get support for the whole rural economy in place. In the intercessions all those who have been adversely affected should be prayed for (by name if willing). Perhaps this year all local businesses could be invited to offer an item symbolic from their business that could form a display or an offertory procession.

For those who have lost stock because of FMD it may constitute the loss of generations of work. A minute's silence can be kept. Some churches may consider sounding a tolling bell while names are read out of any who have gone out of business (any kind of business) this year.

In the UK, disaster on the scale experienced in the last twelve months is unusual. It is more normal in many parts of the third world, and it is important to set our farm crisis against that wider background with some sensitivity. In many countries, drought or floods often preclude sowing at the right season. Seeds fail to germinate. some seeds take more than one year to germinate; yields may be poor for any number of reasons.

(Harvest materials are available from agencies such as Christian Aid and Methodist Relief and Development Fund).

Some scripture readings:

1 Kings l7, vv.l-16 Drought and famine and the generosity of a poor widow bring Elijah to recognise God's sovereignty.
Isaiah 9, vv. 3-7 The familiar Christmas prophecy takes us from despair to hope.
Jeremiah 8, v.18-9 v. I A longing for God's grace.
Joel 2 vv. 21-28 A promise of plenty and of God's spirit on all.
Habbakuk 3, vv. l7-19 Rejoicing in God even when harvest fails.
Romans 8, vv. 18-25 The groaning of an as yet incomplete creation.

The Psalms express so much and the following are recommended: