Thoughts for the Day

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion.....

You visit the earth and water it,
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide the people with grain,
for so you have prepared it.

You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.

You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

This week the Church celebrates the season of Rogation with special prayers for the work of all who work in agriculture. Last year I celebrated Rogation in a local market garden. It absolutely poured with rain but all the adults and children ventured out from the barn to bless the growing crops of potatoes, strawberries, cherries, and asparagus, their water supply, their farmhouse and family; and their plans for the coming year. We acted out stories and sang well-known hymns and songs, but there was a serious meaning to the service. We were asking God's blessing on all those farmers and growers and on their work to feed us over the coming year, remembering that it is God who sends the sun and the rain that makes crops grow.

In the Old Testament the Israelites had a number of harvests, for example, the spring harvest of barley and wheat, the summer harvest of fruits, and an autumn festival that encompassed everything else. Psalm 65, above, is often used today at our harvest service in the autumn.

At this time of the year, though, we ask God's blessings on newly sown crops and on the animals on our farms. We ask that God will give us everything needed to continue towards harvest. This year our prayers are needed even more urgently.

Monday 18th May, follow up thoughts

Heavenly Father,
we remember today that we are dependent
on you for a bountiful harvest,
and we ask your blessing on the work of our farmers and growers.
Forgive our often-held belief that we do this alone without your help,
and give all those who work in agriculture the encouragement
to continue for another year,
and to know how important their work is to our country.
Amen