Celebrating Harvest Sunday at Earls Colne Baptist Church.
This Sunday, we gather for a cherished tradition at Earls Colne Baptist Church: our annual Harvest Festival service. For hundreds of years, our church community has come together in this season to give thanks for the abundance we enjoy, recognising the blessing of food on our tables. Although our celebration may be simpler than in past generations, the spirit of gratitude and reflection remains as vital as ever.
Harvest is a time to honour all those who work with the land and sea to provide our food. We give thanks to God for farmers, growers, and workers whose dedication sustains us and our world, and we pray for their well-being, for fruitful seasons, and for the health of our planet.
It is also a moment to pause and remember those for whom the harvest is a struggle. In a world where plenty exists alongside famine, and abundance contrasts with scarcity, Harvest Sunday calls us to think beyond ourselves. As we share food and fellowship, we also seek to lift up and support those in need, both near and far, through prayer and generosity.
Join us this Sunday as we gather to celebrate the gifts we have, to pray for those who make our harvest possible, and to consider how we can share our blessings with others. Together, we remember that all we have is a gift from God, entrusted to us to care for and to share.
The photo is provided courtesy of Pat Clarry and was taken in the 1960s showing the harvest donations, organ and rear rose window with the inscription ‘Serve the Lord with gladness’ as a reminder of the call to worship and serve God and each other with a joyful heart.