Harvest
Most of the great and ancient festivals in the old Testament have their origin in celebrating the HARVEST. A good harvest was what communities had worked hard for, but of course it was in no way guaranteed. Something else was needed other than hard work to make a harvest ‘good’. And it was this ‘something else’, the power of creation itself that religious HARVEST services celebrate. It is a time for thanksgiving and not a time for taking things for granted. In modern Christian HARVEST festivals we have become mindful of the way we have been trying to manipulate the ‘powers of creation’ and that this has in fact become harmful to nature itself. As well as thanksgiving there is therefore also an element of regret and penitence in our Christian HARVEST services. Harvest has also been expanded by thinking in a more general way of developing an attitude of thanksgiving for blessings received. Here at St Stephen’s, I always thank God for all our generous benefactors who have made the life of St Stephen’s possible over the years.
Bernhard Schunemann – 5 October 2025
