You may be a bit surprised that in introducing some thoughts on the many happy services of "Thanksgiving for the Blessings of Harvest" I begin by quoting well-known words heard by mourners at the graveside of one of their nearest and dearest. Rather than being gloomy and despairing, they actually can be a strong source of consolation to believers. They stress the urgent need of accepting reality, of adjusting to it and going on achieving with Christ in the days ahead:
"In the midst of life we are in death; of whom may we seek for succour but of thee, O Lord? . . Thou knowest the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer. . ." The words bid us look up to the loving God. They are realistic, and honestly accept our need of faith if we are not to be overwhelmed by daily news of miseries and tragedies.
It is not long before, like the prodigal son when he faced facts, we chase back speedily to the one great certainty, the heavenly Father. We are confident of His welcome and generous love: "Thou knowest the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer. . ." Realising, finding, and being found and welcomed by our loving God is central to our Thanksgiving services. The lovely decorated church, the special music and signs of God's providence, and the prayers - all point to the Person, God. Thanksgiving is a key that turns that rusty and difficult lock, and opens up the purposeful way ahead.
It is remarkable how often we meet people who, having become sick and disillusioned with ingratitude and self-centredness in their little lives, just had to find someone big enough to thank and serve. They found God to be the only adequate answer. The whole atmosphere of a harvest thanksgiving service can awaken our enjoying the worshipping of God. Fed up with the aim of only pleasing ourselves, we get absorbed in thanking God daily "for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life", and specially in The Thanksgiving Service of Holy Communion.
In attending "Harvest" services, the desire for its traditional atmosphere in familiar hymns, prayers, and readings may "bump" aside thoughts of God making us more "thankful people". In a traditional "Harvest" reading, "Consider the lilies...", we may be lulled by listening to the beauty of the lovely words, and fail to get the message of loving kindness.
At services of thanksgiving for the blessings of harvest, in looking at the fruits of our co-operation with God, we give thanks for them and to Him.
"For thyself, best gift divine, to our race so freely given; Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise." W.W.