Harvest Matters
As Harvest approaches, it is an opportunity to become more aware of the needs of people in other areas of the world as well as recognizing the many ways in which we benefit from the food and trades that they offer to us. However, we may have become 'forgetful' or unaware of how our food is made or of the lives of those who produce some of it. Is Harvest at risk of becoming a 'supermarket celebration' as we bring our offerings of tinned products? Is it possible that we sometimes take the foods in our cupboards and fridges for granted? How often do we take time to look around and consider where the food has come from?
Many of us have become more aware of the Fair trade campaigns. These work hard to ensure that those who produce and sell food are paid a just and appropriate amount for their goods. It may take a little more time to shop but this can be time worth investing to help contribute to providing a fairer situation. Many supermarkets and shops stock fair trade products, like coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit, flowers and household goods.
With this article we have included some ideas that you could use at home, with your children's group or as part of an all-age Harvest service. These ideas aim to remind us all, young and old, that thanksgiving and responsibility should go hand in hand.
1. The first idea includes a map of the world and also some information about where in the world certain items of food can be found. It encourages you cut out the information and stick it on the right area of the world where it belongs. Then take a look around your house and consider giving some money as suggested for each of the items of food that you have in your home from those countries.
- Maybe you could send the money to an organization such as Tearfund (Tearfund, Freepost SEA919, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 8BR) or another organization that your church supports, which also help people in other countries.
- As an individual or family, why not see how many words of three letters or more you can make from the word 'God's Harvest' or 'Global Harvest'.
- You could take a look at some websites to get
some further information about Harvest.
- For an idea for an all-age talk, why not try
the Barnabas idea Harvest - presentation on where
food comes from.
- Tearfund has information and activities for adults and children in its Harvest section called 'Step up to the plate'.
- Christian Aid has information, downloads and an all-age Harvest talk .
2. If the population of the world is represented by ten people, only three always have enough to eat, five are hungry some or all of the time and two are severely undernourished; yet, there is no shortage of food in the world. If the food were all equally divided, everyone would have enough to eat.
- How about presenting these challenging facts visually, using ten children and/or adults, and link this to a reading that celebrates God's goodness using verses from Psalm 67, as well as a reading describing our proper response to that goodness using Matthew 25:31-40?
3. Bread is one of the key staple foods of this planet. It comes to us in an amazing variety of forms. Ask your group to bring in some different sorts of breads from around the world but try to include some of the following:
- Corn bread for America
- Chappatis from Asia
- Scottish Baps
- Tortillas from Mexico
- A cottage loaf from England
- Bara Brith from Wales
- Nan bread from India
- An Irish soda bread
- Baguettes from France
- Italian bread sticks
- Pitta bread for the Middle-East
- Greek Festival breads
- Pretzels and Bagels
Have a 'taste and tell' session, sharing stories, prayers, words of praise from different parts of God's world; celebrate God's gift of food using verses from Psalm 104, especially 14 - 15 and 27-34. Then link all this with what Jesus says about bread; namely we need more than just bread to be alive (Matthew 4:4) and Jesus himself provides that 'more than bread' we all need (John 6:35).
- Why not persuade your minister to use one of
the worldwide breads for a Harvest service communion?
- How about making scones together. They will
need only ten to 15 minutes baking at the end of your session.
- Whatever you choose to do to mark Harvest this year, enjoy it and take time to give thanks for the many gifts God has given to us.
