This is harvest season – we are all creatively trying to arrange Harvest celebrations that embrace social distancing etc – but is still a celebration.

Our benefice of churches has planned for outdoor events – although the weather forecast suggests a tinge of madness in these ideas.

But celebrate we will, and this year we give thanks particularly for our farmers, for whom this year has been a challenge, not just because of a pandemic but because the weather has been pretty bad for growing crops, too.

It always seems that we celebrate harvest rather late in the year – we have seen the combine harvesters, hay lorries, the tractors with trailers spilling potatoes, so we are giving thanks for the harvest already gathered in and, at the same time, the farming community are out ‘ploughing the fields and scattering the good seed on the land’ – the winter wheat is in the ground and is beginning to grow, the plants need to form strong roots to then develop strength ready for spring.

There is always work to do – ploughing, planting, nurturing, feeding, watching, harvesting, preparing the land – and back to planting, nurturing etc.

Our Christian faith experience is the same – it can feel very seasonal – but there are always opportunities to work, prepare, nurture, plant ideas, be still and watch, gathering people together and then keeping that circle of development going.

In this time of harvest we give thanks for our farmers who continue the seasonal cycle of commitment and care of the land, for the seasons and God’s commitment to this world and each and every creature upon it.

Whether in sunshine or rain our church choirs will sing ‘come ye thankful people come’ and we are very, very thankful this year.

Helene Stainer