Morning Prayer Wednesday, 29 September 2021

Good morning, Cornerstone Friends.

One of the things I most appreciate in nature is the changing of the seasons. As we look around us now we can see signs of the beginning of autumn: beautiful, lush red berries, orange and russet leaves on some of the trees, crunchy leaves underfoot, brambles growing by the redways and rosy apples ready to be harvested. At harvest time, we celebrate and give thanks to God for all that he provides to sustain us by way of food and drink. We are so fortunate in this country, that despite delivery  issues at the moment , we can always be sure that there will be adequate supplies in our supermarkets. We shall not starve. But of course in other parts of the world, lack of food is a real issue as is highlighted by Christian Aid. In their Harvest resources, they include this hymn. In it we praise God for his wonderful gifts to us.

We see the fruitful harvest
our gracious God provides,
and how, in his abundance ,
our needs are satisfied.

He sends the yearly seasons,
and feeds with joy and care,
pure light and living water
poured out for all to share.

Lord of all the harvest,
Creation brings you praise
so we will join the joyful song
of everything you’ve made

This world of revelation
unfolds before our eyes,
the birds sing out God’s glories
his wisdom fills the skies.

The seeds are sown to teach us
of death that leads to life,
the fruitful  trees remind us
to live each day in Christ.

Lord of all the harvest,
Creation brings you praise,
so we will join the joyful song
of everything  you’ve made.

And now a Harvest passage from Psalm 65.

Loving God,
You care for the earth and make it fruitful; you enrich it greatly, filling its great channels with rain.
In this way you prepare the earth
and provide grain for its people.
You water its furrows, level its ridges, soften it with showers, and bless its growth.
You crown the year with your good gifts; places where you have passed drip with plenty; the open pastures are lush and the hills wreathed in happiness; the meadows are clothed with sheep and the valleys decked with grain, so that with shouts of joy they break into song.

Let us pray

Loving Father, we give you thanks for the changing seasons, for seed time and harvest, for the beauty of your world and for having plenty to eat and drink in this country despite some empty supermarket shelves. We give thanks and pray for all who work outdoors in all weathers to grow our food, those who prepare the food for our use, for the lorry drivers who bring the food to our shops and for those who put it onto the shelves every day.

Loving God, hear our prayer.

Loving Father, we know that not everyone has enough to eat. We pray for those who are feeling hungry this morning. We ask that you will help us not to be wasteful with food and to do what we can to support those in this country and throughout the world who are struggling at the moment. We pray for the work of Christian Aid and all aid agencies, we pray for the Food Banks and all those groups supporting people with food parcels. Help us all to share what we can and to work for a fairer world.

Loving God, hear our prayer.

Thinking now of our Cornerstone family, we pray specially today for Cathy, Ben and Tim as they come to the church with their family and friends to give thanks for Austin’s life. In their great sadness may they also remember the good times and the fun and happiness they shared. We pray that they will feel your love surrounding them, your strength upholding them and your promises giving them hope for the future.
And we pray for ourselves that we may be helped to do all that we can to help and support them in the weeks and months ahead.

Loving Father, hear our prayer.

God be with us, Cornerstone Friends.

Rosemary Goldie