A ‘Morning Worship’ Service for Harvest

HYMN: Come ye thankful people come

WELCOME

THE PREPARATION

You make the clouds your chariots,
you ride on the wings of the wind:
You make the winds your messengers !

Come, in the name of God,
present in the thunder of the storm.
Come, in the name of Christ,
present in the stillness after the storm.
Come, in the name of the Holy Spirit
present in the winds of the storm.
Holy ! Holy ! Holy !
Earth is filled with God’s presence.

Opening Prayers

Loving God we have come to worship you.
May we pray to you in faith
speak your praise with gratitude
and listen to your word with eagerness;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Silence

Eternal God, source of all blessing help us to worship you with all our heart and mind and strength; for you alone are God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

Praise be to you O God, maker of the universe
by whose wisdom we are created
and sustained.

Praise be to you O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
by whose love we are redeemed
and forgiven.

Praise to you O God, the source of all holiness
by whose Spirit we are made whole
and brought to perfection.

Praise be to you O God, source of all being, eternal Word and Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

Story / Bible Reading / Address / Activity

Affirmation of Faith

Let us proclaim the faith we share across the miles and the centuries

We invite the elements of the storm to worship with us:
L – The wild winds and the dark clouds
R – the lightning flash and the thunder roll.
We invite the hurricane to join us in wonder:
L – The fierce gales and blinding rains
R – the crashing waves and swaying trees.

Where is God in all this ?
Where is God in the storm ?
L – God created all things
R – God created the storms.
L – Storms can renew life with wind and  water.
R – Storms can destroy life with gale and water.

Where is our God in the tornado ?
Where is our God in the hurricane ?
Where is our God in the tsunami ?
L – As crucified Christ, God suffers with us and shares our grief.
R – As risen Christ, God brings life out of death, new life amidst loss, providing comfort and hope.

THE RESPONSE

A Prayer of thanksgiving
Imagine if a Psalmist lived today…..

Who made the corn grow ? echo
God made the corn grow.  echo
Why did he do so ?
To feed all his children on earth.

Who made the beans grow ? echo
God made the beans grow.  echo
Why did he do so ?
To feed all his children on earth.

Who made the fruit grow ? echo
God made the fruit grow.  echo
Why did he do so ?
To feed all his children on earth.

Who made the yams grow ? echo
God made the yams grow.  echo
Why did he do so ?
To feed all his children on earth.

Who made the carrots grow ? echo
God made the carrots grow.  echo
Why did he do so ?
To feed all his children on earth.

INTERCESSIONS:

Think of a world without any flowers
think of a world without any trees
think of a sky without any sunshine
think of the air without any breeze.
We thank you Lord for flowers and trees and sunshine we thank you Lord and praise your holy name.

Silence

I will trust in You alone…
For your endless mercy follows me
Your goodness will lead me home
.

Think of a world without any animals
think of a field without any herd
think of a stream without any fishes
think of a dawn without any bird.
We thank you Lord for all your living creatures we thank you Lord and praise your holy name.

Silence

I will trust in You alone…
For your endless mercy follows me
Your goodness will lead me home
.

Think of a world without any people
think of a street with no one living there
think of a town without any houses
no one to love and nobody to care.
We thank you Lord for families and friendships we thank you Lord and praise your holy name.

Silence

I will trust in You alone…

God our heavenly Father, Creator of all life, we thank you for all your generous gifts. May our lives always be pleasing to you and produce a rich harvest in your kingdom of love.

Silence

As our Saviour taught his followers, we pray:

Our Father who art in heaven….

HYMN: We plough the fields and scatter
face the offerings brought for the ‘Tafel’

Offering Prayers

Lord out of the emptiness you brought forth all that we need for life. Accept these and all our offerings as a token of our gratitude for your loving generosity and daily care. Amen

Lord you have provided for us an abundance. May we never forget to care for those who have little or nothing in this world. Amen.

all return outside to sing……

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
praise him all creatures here below
praise him above you heavenly host
praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

THE BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

Olivia: You have received the light of Christ;  walk in this light all the days of your life.
Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.

Go now with your trust in him who has created you and who meets your every need, and let us share, not just in our hearts, but in compassionate service,
and the blessing of God Almighty……

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
In the name of Christ. Amen.