Thinking Ahead
CONTRIBUTIONS MADE AT THE MEETING IN CULLOMPTON
HARVEST
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST FOR HARVEST
Preparing for Harvest
Have a series looking at a topic (eg WaterAid) over preceding Sundays
Displays of fruit and vegetables
from different parts of the world
which worshippers have grown
Thinking of others
give tinned food to the food bank or homeless charity
there are organisations like Send a Cow which could be supported
give the profits of the Harvest Lunch to a suitable charity
put the emphasis on giving what is needed (eg by the homeless) rather than what pleases us to give
Related to the locality
invite local farmer to talk about the Harvest: relate that to a Farm Open Day
those by the sea involve fishermen; focus on the harvest of the sea
if there is a local canning factory learn about keeping food edible and transporting it
have a Harvest Barn Dance
IDEAS FROM THE PLENARY SESSION
The importance of being connected to the land and the harvest – and the world
Harvest can be a ‘punctuation point’ to stop taking the harvest for granted
There are good resources from Fairtrade and from One World Week (which is close to Harvest); and Christian Aid also produces worship material.
Have essentials like coal, salt and water as part of the harvest display
Remember the importance of food
Open up the harvest lunch; make it street party
Remembering others
Discuss whether the local supermarkets have a policy of giving products nearing their sell-by date to local charities (eg homeless); if so, get involved.
Decorate only one side of the church as a reminder of those whose harvests have failed
Related to the locality
Open up the Harvest Supper/lunch to the community
Make the harvest display into a Harvest Festival Flower Festival
Have a harvest display on the pavement
Make contact with the local schools
Invite (a) local schools for a festival day following Harvest
Have a super-market trolley at the service
Have a display in a prominent place if the church building has one (or use an empty shop)
Encourage a Scarecrow Festival in the local community
Fairtrade is increasingly well known and respected; it can be used as a link into the community and related to Harvest
Green
Focus on food waste (1/3rd of all food)
Encourage and use locally sourced food (which also helps the local economy)
Local Organic Animal-friendly Fair-traded bread
Remember issues like renewable energy
Link in with any local transition group
Visuals and parables
The meal when dinners draw lots to be rich/powerful/well fed or poor/powerless/hungry
Borrow a tractor the Harvest Service
REMEMBRANCE
WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
Activity in the service
Bring forward a wreath or poppies
Decorate the church with poppies
Have a radio link or a TV projection of the Cenotaph Ceremony (at least for the Silence)
Hold a Parade Service
Invite a speaker who has served in the Forces; Forces Chaplains will speak from experience
Use poetry – there are post-World War I poets, many from recent conflicts
Themes can include Peace, Forgiveness and Reconciliation
It is an opportunity to explore conflict resolution.
Read out the names of those members of the local church who died in war
Read out the names of recent British causalities
Create a collage relating to recent Briton who died in conflict (or could be local people if near a Forces’ base
Attend the local war memorial for a service (or send a representative); possibly lay wreath
Don’t forget the civilian causalities;
this includes the many whose lives are/were affected by war
Ask people for stories about the Home Front (perhaps at a special Tea Meeting
IN THE PLENARY SESSION
Material
Mention of or clips from TV programmes might help focus the congregation at Remembrance. Series and films dealing with war issues include Downton Abbey; Blackadder; Hurt Locker; Saving Private Ryan; O What A Lovely War.
Music could include Benjamin Britten’s Requiem and Peace Maker.
Opening out to the Community
Focus the Prayer Corner on Remembrance
Use the church notice boards effectively; display a prayer for public use
WIDER DISCUSSION
Problems
The blurring of the civic Act of Remembrance and worship, which is especially difficult if the main service of the day is held at the War Memorial or is a Civic Service. This can obscure the Christian input, which is about Hope and Reconciliation.
The role of Christian pacifism in commemorating those who have died in the service of their country: should white poppies be more prominent?
A Remembering Season
There could be a season of Thanksgiving and Remembrance running from Harvest to Remembrance Sunday which includes One World Week and All Souls.
It could be an opportunity to explore issues in a series: one person would do a series of services on disasters
Remembrance Sunday is close to All Souls when there is an opportunity to remember those who had died. Some localities hold Remembering Services around this time for those recently bereaved.
It could be valuable for a congregation to have a Book of Remembrance; and perhaps to have a tea-and-sharing with memories of the Wars and of others who have died.
At the heart of Christian worship there is the Remembrance of the Lord’s Supper.
In 2012 there is an opportunity to remember the 40th birthday of the URC and the 350th anniversary of the Great Ejection
These are linked together with threads of Freedom and Sacrifice; Forgiveness and Renewal. These can be related to ecological and One World Issues as we think of the need to renew the earth we have plundered.