A FORM OF THANKSGIVING
FOR THE
BLESSINGS OF HARVEST
At Morning and Evening Prayer, the usual order shall be observed except for the following variations.
The Minister shall say one or more of the following Sentences.
O GIVE thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious; because his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 118. 1.
Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous; for it becometh well the just to be thankful.
Psalm 33. 1.
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Proverbs 3. 9, 10.
The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof.
Psalm 24. 1.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Psalm 103. 2.
One or more of the following Proper Psalms shall be used. At Morning Prayer: Psalms 65 and 67, or 136. At Evening Prayer: Psalm 145, or 147, or 148.
The following Proper Lessons shall be read. At Morning Prayer: First Lesson, Deuteronomy 8, or Genesis 1. Second Lesson, St Luke 12.15-34, or Revelation 14.14-19. At Evening Prayer: First Lesson, Deuteronomy 16. 9-17, or Deuteronomy 28. 1-14. Second Lesson, 2 Corinthians 9, or St Matthew 13. 18-30.
After the Collect of the day, two or more of the following Prayers shall be used.
O ALMIGHTY God and heavenly Father, we glorify thee that we are once more permitted to enjoy the fulfilment of thy gracious promise, that, while the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest shall not fail. Blessed be thou, who hast given us the fruits of the earth in their season. Teach us to remember that it is not by bread alone that man doth live; but grant that we may feed on him who is the true bread which cometh down from heaven even Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour; to whom with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
O MERCIFUL God, at whose bidding the earth withholdeth her increase, or rendereth her fruits in their season: Give us grace that we may learn, both from thy mercies and thy judgements, our entire dependence upon thee for the supply of our daily bread; and grant that we, remembering that thy blessings are for our trial as well as for our comfort, may with thankful hearts give unto thee of thine own, ministering gladly to the maintenance of thy Church, and the relief of the poor and the afflicted, the widow and the orphan, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O LORD, we pray thee, sow the seed of thy word in our hearts, and send down upon us the showers of thy grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, and at the great day of harvest may be gathered by the holy angels into the heavenly garner; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O ALMIGHTY God, whose dearly beloved Son, after his resurrection, sent his Apostles into all the world, and, on the day of Pentecost, endued them with special gifts of the Holy Spirit, that they might gather in the spiritual harvest: We beseech thee to look down from heaven upon the fields, now white unto the harvest, and to send forth more labourers to gather fruit unto eternal life. And grant us grace so to help them with our prayers and offerings, that when the harvest of the earth is ripe, and the time for reaping is come, we, together with them, may rejoice before thee, according to the joy in harvest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Before the General Thanksgiving shall be said one or more of the following.
ALMIGHTY Father, who hast watered our fields with the dew of heaven, and poured out upon us the former and the latter rain, according to our need, and hast reserved unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest: We bless and praise thee that, in love to thy children, thou hast at this season bestowed upon us such an abundant supply for all our necessities. Grant that we may never be destitute of those better gifts which nourish and enrich the soul. Pour down, we beseech thee, upon us thy heavenly grace, and endue us with the gifts of thy Holy Spirit, that we may bring forth abundant fruits to thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
O MOST merciful Father, who of thy gracious goodness hast heard the devout prayers of thy Church, and hast granted us to gather in their season the kindly fruits of the earth, and the harvest of the seas: We give thee humble thanks for this thy bounty; beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness towards us, that our land may yield her increase; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This prayer may be used when the harvest has been defective.
ALMIGHTY God and heavenly Father, who hast in wisdom seen fit to withhold from us at this time thine accustomed bounty: We most humbly praise thee for still bestowing upon us far more than we deserve. Make us truly thankful for our many blessings; increase in us more and more a lively faith and love, and a humble submission to thy blessed will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
At the Communion Service, the following Collect, Lesson, and Gospel may be used.
THE COLLECT.
O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who crownest the year with thy goodness, and hast given unto us the fruits of the earth in their season: Give us grateful hearts, that we may unfeignedly thank thee for all thy loving-kindness, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE LESSON. Isaiah 55. 1.
HO, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your car, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
THE GOSPEL. St John 6. 27.
JESUS said, Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.