INTRODUCTION
Well it is that time of year again and we come to colder days and nights and to the farmers, time to get in all their crops. A time to be thankful for our food and our blessings given by God. We will be celebrating the Harvest in all our churches over the next couple of weeks.
Here in Bradshaw we will be celebrating our good fortune today and all gifts and donations will be going to Urban Outreach, to those in the locality who are not so fortunate as ourselves. Also on Monday the 3rd of October we will be starting our admission to Holy Communion classes at 6pm, this is open to children in Year 3 and above who would like to be admitted. Confirmation classes will start later in the month and those are open to children year 7 and above and of course adults ( at a separate time). The confirmation service will take place on the 20th November. Also don’t forget you can attend our service on Tuesday mornings at 10.30 if you enjoy a quiet reflective service with a chat afterwards.
Today’s Intercessions are by myself and the reflection by Rev Peter.
Jan B.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Loving God, we have come to worship you.
Help us to pray to you in faith, to praise you with gratitude , and to read your word with eagerness, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF PENITENCE
Brothers and sisters as we prepare to celebrate, let us call to mind our sins.
Lord God, we have sinned against you; we have done evil in your sight. We are sorry and repent. Have mercy on us according to your love. Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin. Renew a right spirit within us and restore us to the joy of your salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
THE COLLECT
Lord of creation, whose glory is around and within us: open our eyes to your wonders,
that we may serve you with reverence and know your peace at our lives’ end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING
PSALM 67
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.
THE GOSPEL
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. Glory to you O Lord.
MARK 4. 26-32.
Then Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who plants seed in the ground. The seed comes up and grows night and day. It doesn’t matter whether the man is asleep or awake; the seed still grows. The man does not know how it grows. Without any help, the earth produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head. When the grain is ready, the man cuts it. This is the harvest time.” Then Jesus said, “How can I show you what the kingdom of God is like? What story can I use to explain it? The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. But when you plant this seed, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants. It produces large branches. Even the wild birds can make nests in it and be protected from the sun.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ.
REFLECTION
As we celebrate Harvest today, there are two big themes – first thanks for God’s goodness, for the bounty of this earth, and for all we enjoy; second a commitment to preserve, repair, steward this planet for future generations and for all – remembering too many do not have a harvest to celebrate, and do not have food in their cupboard.
We live on a good and bountiful planet, but we have also messed it up; we are called to live now here, but to work for the Kingdom of God, and the promises of God, but as our two parables today remind us, the ways of God are not the ways we would naturally choose! The first short parable reminds us that there is life in this planet, some seems so fragile and some so strong – we think about the weeds that force through the cracks in the stone, the buddleias which flourish in the most inhospitable of building sites as examples of strength, but that there is a mystery to this. Scientists are seeking to understand and explain eco-systems, the complexity of life patterns, and how the disturbing of one element can have knock-on effects. Jesus suggests that the Kingdom of God is like this. It has a remarkable power to grow, WE do not have to make it grow as if it is all our work, but equally we can hinder growth, prevent better growth, even kill off growth. When the Church has felt it needs to take up power to achieve growth it has always done more damage than good; when Christians have obediently and riskily gone out to share the good news, then, sometimes, there is revival and growth, but it is still a mystery. Church growth cannot be bottled!
Our second parable is a challenge to the other kingdoms out there. God’s Kingdom starts small and insignificant, but it WILL grow to become the dominant, not just because it must be bigger, but so it can welcome the birds of the air, the wanderers, the others, and they can find a home there. This little insignificant endeavour will become in God’s time, a place of welcome for others, a great plant that offers protection and shade. A bountiful God has given us a wonderful world but we have the freedom and power to damage it. We may look for glorious examples of mission and revival, but the norm is quiet growing, we know not quite how, but we seek to align ourselves with God’s call. Two ways to do this are our Harvest themes: to be clearly thankful for what we have, and to be more committed to making change for those who do not have. Let’s take up both challenges and see the Kingdom grow!
Rev Peter
THE CREED
I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
During the intercessions, we pray for the church, our country, our government, people in difficulty and those who have died. You can use your own prayers or if you prefer here are some on today’s theme.
We give thanks to you our God for the beauty of the earth and the wonders of each creature. Lord help us to have a reverence and awe for all that you have made, for our homes and families and our food. We thank you for farmers and all in the food industry both growing, processing and delivering.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
We praise you for our planet and all that it provides for us both and the balance of nature and goodness of the earth. We ask your blessing on areas and creatures that are endangered. We pray for the rain forests and primitive tribes who are being robbed of their land. Lord guide all who make decisions about the earth and its resources so that they can influence the future of the earth.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
We give thanks for all who have shown us love and care, we remember our families, friends and loved ones. We pray for those who are lonely or neglected, those who don’t have enough to eat and those who are finding it difficult to make ends meet. We thank you for carers and charities and ask for your blessing on their work.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
As we rejoice in life, we pray for all who work within the health service and research. We remember those who are not well both physically and mentally and ask you to comfort all who are finding life difficult. Especially today we think of; Doreen Wood, Maureen Hulme, Katherine Browning, Ann Hall and Kevin Maguire.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer
We give thanks for the mystery of our own life and that you are with us always; We ask your blessing on all who have departed from us and pray that they may rejoice in the glory of your kingdom. From our book of remembrance we think of John Edward Davies, Phyllis Hamer, John Greenhalgh, Frank Hampson, Jason King, Joyce Caruthers, Ernest Jones, Joyce Stables, James Charles Thomas and Jim Walsh.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer
Rejoicing in the fellowship of all your saints, we commend ourselves and the whole of your creation to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
THE BLESSING
May God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the source of all goodness and growth, pour his blessing upon all things created, and upon us his children, that we may use his gifts to his glory and
the welfare of all peoples; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with us now and for ever more. Amen.
