‘Harvest’ – 3rd October 2021

The order of service

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21 10 03 Harvest Order of Service

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21 10 03 Harvest Order of Service

Livestreaming

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The Readings

Jeremiah 32:1-3, 5b-15
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah, where King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him. Zedekiah had said, ‘Why do you prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord: I am going to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it; though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed?’

Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’ Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.

And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. In their presence I charged Baruch, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.

 

Matthew 6.25-33

Jesus said, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’

 

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

The Sermon
By Canon Dr Michael Bailey

Will be made available when possible.

The Prayers
Prepared by Shirley.

Creator God, on this day when we celebrate Harvest we pray for your Church in this country. We are truly grateful for what you have given us, please help us not to forget all those who are hungry, here and throughout the world, those whose homes have been wrecked by famine, flood, invasion and other disasters. Be with all those in need of any kind and help all charities as they seek to serve them.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer. 
Creator God, we pray for all clergy and lay workers throughout the Sheffield Diocese. Please be with our Bishops, Pete and Sophie, and all those at St. John’s, St. Mark’s and here at St. Mary’s. Please give them all wisdom and great faith.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer. 
Creator God, we pray for all those in Sheffield who are homeless, and those needing help from foodbanks. Please be with The Archer Project and with those organizing or receiving help from local foodbanks.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer. 
Creator God, please be with all those known to us who are sick, in mind, body or spirit. Cover them with your unfailing love.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer. 
Creator God, be with all those who are nearing the end of their earthly lives. Give the freedom from pain and anxiety and grant them a peaceful end. We remember those known to us who have died recently or in the past.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer. 

Finally, a prayer adapted from a speech by Chief Seattle in 1854.

Creator God, every part of the earth is sacred. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth.
The air is precious; for we all share the same breath.
This we know, the earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth.
This we know, all things are connected; like the blood which unites one family.
Our God is the same God, whose compassion is equal for all.
For we did not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand of it.
Whatever we do to the web we do to ourselves.

Merciful Father
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is used here, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000