Harvest Service: 26 September
Leader: Meg Thomson
This is best viewed in Landscape orientation
You will appreciate the sound better if you use earphones or an external loudspeaker, whatever type of device you view on.
Sorry for last week's incorrect date for John Elliston's service!
Before 
we start today there are a couple of things you need to do. First, go and get a tin or a packet out of the cupboard and have it close by. Second, find yourself a comfy seat near to a house plant or with a good view into the garden. All set?
Ponder the words of Psalm 139:14:
14 I praise you because
I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Now let us join together and sing of the beauty of the earth,
praising our creator God.
Hymn 41: For the beauty of the earth
tune Lucerna Laudoniae, with intro.
1. For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Gracious God, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.
2. For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon and stars of light,
Gracious God, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.
3. For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and mind's delight,
for the mystic harmony,
linking sense to sound and sight,
Gracious God, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.
4. For each perfect gift of thine,
to our race so freely given,
graces human and divine,
flowers of earth and buds of heaven:
Gracious God, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise. 
5. For thy people evermore
lifting holy hands above,
offering up on every shore
their pure sacrifice of love,
Gracious God, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.
F.S Pierpoint (1835-1917)
Prayers
Heavenly Father, thank you for the beauty of your creation. Thank you for the privilege of being able to breathe fresh air, smell the different flowers, hear bird song, feel the changing seasons, see your glory displayed in nature. As we celebrate Harvest we thank you for your provision, both physically through food and drink but also spiritually through your son Jesus Christ.
Gracious God, to thee we raise this our sacrifice of praise.
Let us join together in saying the words Jesus taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen
Reading: Matthew 13:1-9 (Good News Translation)
The Parable of the Sower
13 That same day Jesus left the house and went to the lakeside, where he sat down to teach. 2 The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it, while the crowd stood on the shore. 3 He used parables to tell them many things.
"Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. 4 As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted because the soil wasn't deep. 6 But when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up. 7 Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 But some seeds fell in good soil, and the plants bore grain: some had one hundred grains, others sixty, and others thirty." 9 And Jesus concluded, "Listen, then, if you have ears!"
Reflection: HEARING and RESPONDING
At this point in the service in church, I would be encouraging you to bring forward your harvest gifts. We would have a fine display of harvest produce at the front and the church would be decorated appropriately. This year is different. Different gives us an opportunity to strip away the things that our eyes feast upon and take time to "hear and respond" to God's word.
Matthew's gospel reveals God's presence in the world through His son, Jesus Christ and looks forward to a time when God's kingdom will come, here on earth. The Parable of the Sower is the first of Jesus' kingdom parables, it is a very familiar parable - and we're very familiar with its meaning (if not read Matthew 13:18-23). However, today I would like us to reflect on the words - not merely to read them with our eyes but to "hear and respond" with our hearts.
To hear God's word requires concentration, an ability to focus, a desire to understand, a willingness to be still in the moment and reach beyond hearing and listen. To respond to God's word requires action, seeking to do His will, a desire to share the good news, to scatter seeds regardless of whether they fall on 'good soil' or not, being God's kingdom here on earth until Christ shall come again and take us home. How will you respond? How can you make a difference?
The word of God is given to you as a gift today. Pray that you may enable it to take root and yield an abundant harvest. Lord give me ears to hear and help me understand what you are scattering upon my heart and mind.
Read Matthew 13:1-9 again and be still before God. "Hear and respond" to His word. May God bless you in the quietness.
Amen.
Hymn 40: Come, ye thankful people, come
tune: St George's Windsor, with full verse intro.
1. Come, ye thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest-home:
all is safely gathered in,
ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, will provide
for our needs to be supplied:
come to God's own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest-home.
2. All this world is God's own field,
fruit unto his praise to yield;
wheat and tares together sown,
unto to joy or sorrow grown;
first the blade and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear:
Lord of harvest, grant that we
wholesome grain and pure may
3. Even so, Lord, quickly, come,
to thy final harvest home;
from thy field upon that day
all offences purge away
gather thou thy people in,
free from sorrow, free from sin,
there forever purified,
in thy glory to abide
Henry Alford (1810-71)
Reflection: HARVEST
Remember the tin and the plant? Have you still got them close at hand?
So, the wonders of modern science, well not so modern - the canning process was invented in 1809 by Frenchman Nicholas Appert in response to a call from his government for a means of preserving food for the army and navy. The principle of canning is simply to kill microorganisms present in food and to keep the microorganisms at bay. Food is sealed in the can and then heated to a temperature that destroys the harmful bugs and any spores that could grow in the food. And the plant! God's creation, intricate in detail, amazing in diversity, calming and full of mindfulness. Not invented but created out of love.
This harvest-time is an opportunity to reflect on the beauty of life's cycle and the inventiveness of man to preserve what God has given that it may last longer and be available to more people all year round. There are still the haves and have nots in society. Are you in a position to share? Do you grow your own produce and share your crop with others? Could that tin you're looking at go to a Food Bank?
The words of our next hymn encourage us to thank God for the harvest, to follow His will in the sharing of the harvest and to marvel at the wonders that surround us.
Hymn 42: For the Fruits of All Creation
tune: Ar hyd y nos (All though the night), with intro.
1. For the fruits of all creation,
thanks be to God;
for the gifts to every nation,
thanks be to God;
for the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safe-keeping,
Thanks be to God.
2. In the just reward of labour,
God's will is done;
in the help we give our neighbour,
God's will is done;
in our world-wide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing,
God's will is done.
3. For the harvests of the Spirit,
thanks be to God;
for the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God;
for the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all that love has found us,
thanks be to God.
F Pratt Green (1903-2000)
Prayers
Lord, help us turn towards you, in quietness and trust. Thank you for always being there for us, even when we forget, or find it easier to grumble, or are weighed down by the world. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Help us to hold fast to your promises, especially when everything seems so uncertain. That you love, us and will care and provide for us. Help us to be generous with what we have; help us share with those you place in our paths. Help us to share our patience, and kindness with our friends, loved ones and colleagues - and to be gentle, not knowing exactly what our neighbour is struggling with. Help us to be a source of joy and support to those around us. We pray that we could live each day to the fullest, as you intend us to, free us from the worries and stress that cloud and distort our lives. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
We pray for the church throughout the world, for places where being a Christian is difficult or dangerous and we're grateful we can worship freely, able to choose, in safety. We thank you for all the new opportunities for outreach and evangelism. We pray that we can reach out to those who need us, to plant seeds that you will grow. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
We pray for the world, for balance and prosperity for everyone. We pray for our government and the challenges they face. We pray for university students starting over. We pray you would keep them safe and happy as they adjust to life away from home.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Thank you for bringing us to another harvest, to the turning of another year. And in the midst of all that is going on, you paint us a new canvas to look at the world. As summer gives way to autumn, you gift us with bright new colours, with crisp, clean air, and frosty mornings. Help us to be grateful for your indescribable gifts. Accept these prayers, for the sake of your son, our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Our final hymn reminds us of God's faithfulness morning by morning, providing for all our needs, pardoning our sins and giving us the strength we need to face each day. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father.
Hymn 96: Great is thy faithfulness
Tune: Faithfulness, with Intro.
1. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be
Chorus:
Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness
Lord unto me.
2. Summer and winter, springtime and harvest
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love
Chorus
3. Pardon for sin and peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside.
Chorus
T. O. Chisholm (1866-1960)
Blessing
May the God of the harvest provide for all your needs spiritually, mentally and physically. May you feel His presence surround you. May God, give you ears to hear and a willingness to respond to His calling.
Go forth in peace and serve the Lord.
Amen
Salvation Army Food Bank
Our harvest gifts brought into church would normally be taken up to the Salvation Army.
If you have any tins, packets or produce that you would like to donate to the Salvation Army Food Bank and you would like me to collect them from you and take up to the Salvation Army please let me know by email or phone.
(Meg Thomson)
(for security reasons my phone number is not shown. If you know it, please use my mobile for preference, or contact your Elder.)
Next week, the service will be led by Dorothy Thomson
Don't forget the live streamed hymns on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. from Zöe (via the 'Northgate URC Darlington' Facebook page)
These are available to view later as well. (via YouTube, for those without Facebook, and also Facebook)
The streamings are a great success - well done, Zöe!
The recorded streamings are now, thanks to Harry Marshall, available to all on YouTube - search for 'Northgate URC Darlington'.
Ask Harry to invite you to the Northgate Facebook Group 
and you will get a notification of the live stream.
- Or you can just search for 'Northgate URC Darlington' in Facebook.
The URC denominational church audio Services (podcasts) at https://devotions.urc.org.uk/ are excellent, with well-delivered prayers and readings using a selection of voices and well-presented hymns.
Do give these a try - they are excellent.
(Just start the sound playing and scroll down to the written words)
Why not put the time aside for Zoe at 10:45, our preacher's service after that and follow up with the podcast - you will feel as if you had been IN church, as well as WITH church.