1 Give thanks, my soul, for harvest, for store of fruit and grain;
but know the owner gives so that we may share again.
Where people suffer hunger, or little children cry,
with gifts from God's rich bounty may thankfulness reply.
2 Give thanks, my soul, for riches of woodland, mine, and hill;
but know that gold and timber are the Creator's still.
God lends to us, as stewards, abundance we might share,
and thus provide earth's children the blessing of God's care.
Voices United 522
I have lamented along the way that when I began ministry Thanksgiving Sunday was an occasion for folk to attend worship in large numbers and express their gratitude for the Creator's blessings, including the harvest. Now it is yet another "long weekend" for even those who claim a Christian heritage and an opportunity to close up the cottage.
The notion of harvest certainly varies according to culture and location. We were taken aback by some of the communion table decorations on our first Thanksgiving in Newfoundland in 1980. In one congregation there were bottles of moose and rabbit as well as canned goods and boxes of Kraft Dinner.
While we lived in Sudbury another staff member suggested the hymn above, although sung to a more familiar tune. It was appropriate for a region where mining brought prosperity for many. One year I enlisted the help of mining giant INCO through a parishioner to bring in several large nickel ore boulders, each with a polished front. Nickel ore is very heavy so they used their own equipment and we prayed that the steps to the dais didn't collapse under the weight.
Today I'm mindful that there has been an unprecedented drought in this part of Southern Ontario and across much of the country. Prince Edward County to the south of us was once known as the Garden County and provided about a third of Canada's canned goods. This year crops have been meagre. Our response goes beyond praying for rain to consider how human activity affects climate.
We're aware that there is a growing anti-migrant worker sentiment among some Canadians who don't understand that people from other countries come here to do the agricultural labour residents are no longer willing to do. We can express gratitude for those who do this work so we can "buy Canadian" in our grocery stores.
As we cautiously celebrate a ceasefire in Gaza we can recognize the plight of Palestinians in the West Bank. This is harvest time in olive orchards and Israeli settlers from illegal communities in the West Bank have been harrassing the farmers, including throwing stones and burning trees. Destroying fruits trees is forbidden in the Hebrew scriptures.
We also know that as Jews around the world recently celebrated the harvest festival of Sukkot there is growing anti-semitism that is unwarranted.
We're off to worship in Trenton soon so I'll stop here. We'll have a lucky 13 family members around our table tomorrow and we'll keep our elbows down.
Enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving weekend with gratitude, generosity, and grace -- even say grace. God of the harvest be with you.
3 Give thanks, my soul, for labours, that strength and days employ;
but know the Maker's purpose brings toil as well as joy.
Show forth, O God, your purpose; direct our will and hand
to share your love and bounty with all in every land.
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