I love the Harvest Festival, don’t you? It’s a service I’ve enjoyed ever since I went to school. ‘We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land.’

Every time we sow a tiny seed, it’s an act of faith. Will it grow? How big will it be?

I’ve got a plum tree in my garden. It was laden with plums this year! But just as they started to ripen, the squirrels came and took them away. I noticed this just in time to pick a few for ourselves. I’ve also got a hazel tree, but I’ve never eaten a nut from it because the squirrels pinch them too.

I did grow tomatoes, courgettes and cucumbers in our greenhouse this year, and runner beans in the garden. We had plenty for ourselves and to share with our neighbours, so the crop brought smiles to their faces as well as to ours.

I’m thankful that I don’t have to rely on growing all my food though. I would starve! Happily, we have farmers & fishermen, pickers & packers, drivers, crews of ships and planes, and shopkeepers who bring us the variety of ingredients we put together to enjoy lovely meals.

At Harvest time, we give thanks to God for the growth of the seed to fruition and for the people who work to share it with the world.

There are parallels between what happens physically and what happens spiritually. Someone sows a seed of love in our hearts which God nourishes and grows to fruition, so that we share it with the world. The fruit of the spirit, says Paul in his letter to the Galatians, is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

God waters and feeds the seed of love in our hearts, which sends out shoots and flourishes. God’s power then provides the propellant, the means to scatter the seed so that it’s broadcast far and wide, like the nuts taken by the squirrels. Who knows how far they will go, in distance and in time? All we need to do is to make up our minds to co-operate with God, to stay close, to be ready in service, focussed on following Christ. That’s all.

It’s not easy to do, as there are so many distractions. We worry about all kinds of things that might never happen. We fuss about what we look like, what we’re going to wear, what to eat and drink. The minutiae of life is necessary, but we need to keep our primary focus on God. ‘Strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well,’ said Jesus (Luke 12:31).

Paul said, ‘He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.’(2 Cor. 9:10-12)

And so today we give thanks to God, with joy in our hearts. We give thanks to God for the harvest of the land and sea. We thank God too for the harvest of the spirit, the love given freely and unconditionally to us, and the opportunities we’re given to share it with everyone, and to see how far it travels in the world.

Amen.

Julie Rubidge, Lay Minister