November 20, 2011

Celebrating the Harvest

 

“Celebrate the Festival of Harvest, when you bring me the first crops of your harvest. “Finally, celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season, when you have harvested all the crops from your fields” (Exodus 23:16 NLT).

 In Exodus 23:16, the celebration of “the Festival of Harvest” is to recognize the Lord as the provider of all crops and as the One who deserves the first fruits of all produce. It is to dedicate and celebrate the entire harvest as a blessing from God given to God’s people. Today, we celebrate the harvest resulting from the labor of our various Ministries. We give God honor and praise for the commitment of these ministries, and we acknowledge the fruit of their labor.

God of the Bountiful – A Harvest Prayer

God we thank you for your harvest which feeds us so many times each day.

We are nourished with your forgiveness and hope

We are sustained with your strength and patience

We are filled with your grace and compassion

God we thank you for feeding us with a harvest of plenty

We are restored through your generosity and healing

We are replenished with your abundance and joy

We are reminded of your selfless abandon

God we thank you for feeding us with the bread of heaven

Your gift of Christ sustains our lives

His presence restores the promise of your love

His life fills our hearts with your everlasting light

God we thank you too for filling us with the water of life

May we drink deeply that our thirst may be quenched

May your river continue to flow

Over us, in us, through us

And out into the world you love.

(http://godspace.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/god-of-the-bountiful-a-harvest-prayer/)