Dear friends, November/December 2018!
“Come ye thankful people come, raise the song of harvest home; all is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.”
So begins the well-known Thanksgiving hymn written by Anglican priest, Rev. Henry Alford, in 1844. The hymn’s message reflects the common element and importance of harvest in the lives of Alford’s contemporaries. Winter would soon be upon them and a quick trip to the grocery store was not an option for 19th century rural living. Dependent upon their own hard work, they prayed for a good harvest, an abundance of nutritious fruits, vegetables, and meats to be preserved, “put up” and stored for winter meals in their cellars. The festival of Harvest Home began as a pagan tradition, but was assimilated into Christian tradition, as a service of thanksgiving to God for the harvest, with hymns, prayers, and decorating of the church. Congregants brought a measure of the bounty from their harvest to the celebration, for display and then distribution to those in need.
HUPC continues the Harvest Home traditions through our November Harvest Table food collection for our local food pantry, the Salem ecumenical Thanksgiving Service*, and our own Thanksgiving celebrations at home. But we do this with a very different mindset. Though we surely pray abundance for our local farmers, few of us depend upon our own gardens or worry that cupboards will become bare as the winter months press on. Rarely are we so affected by winter storms that we are unable to make the drive to Hannaford to restock the pantry.
So why does the old hymn “Come Ye Thankful People Come” still speak to our hearts? Maybe because, in spite of sorrow, disappointment, frustration, division, and the ever darkening days of winter, we trust that through it all we are forever “safely gathered in” by our loving God. Maybe because even as storms blow all around, hope and gratitude prevail, for very soon… we will be “safely gathered in” around a manger bed where Mary laid her newborn son, Jesus… the one who is all we need, our Prince of Peace, Comforter, Light of the World, Hope of the Nations!
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
As 2018 comes to a close, I pray we will gather together in thanksgiving with gifts to share! I pray our hearts will believe the loving embrace of God in the manger is for us! I pray our hearts and voices will be able to join choruses of hope, thanksgiving, and glory to God!
With gratitude and love,
Pastor Laura <><
“Come ye thankful people come, raise the song of harvest home; all is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.”
So begins the well-known Thanksgiving hymn written by Anglican priest, Rev. Henry Alford, in 1844. The hymn’s message reflects the common element and importance of harvest in the lives of Alford’s contemporaries. Winter would soon be upon them and a quick trip to the grocery store was not an option for 19th century rural living. Dependent upon their own hard work, they prayed for a good harvest, an abundance of nutritious fruits, vegetables, and meats to be preserved, “put up” and stored for winter meals in their cellars. The festival of Harvest Home began as a pagan tradition, but was assimilated into Christian tradition, as a service of thanksgiving to God for the harvest, with hymns, prayers, and decorating of the church. Congregants brought a measure of the bounty from their harvest to the celebration, for display and then distribution to those in need.
HUPC continues the Harvest Home traditions through our November Harvest Table food collection for our local food pantry, the Salem ecumenical Thanksgiving Service*, and our own Thanksgiving celebrations at home. But we do this with a very different mindset. Though we surely pray abundance for our local farmers, few of us depend upon our own gardens or worry that cupboards will become bare as the winter months press on. Rarely are we so affected by winter storms that we are unable to make the drive to Hannaford to restock the pantry.
So why does the old hymn “Come Ye Thankful People Come” still speak to our hearts? Maybe because, in spite of sorrow, disappointment, frustration, division, and the ever darkening days of winter, we trust that through it all we are forever “safely gathered in” by our loving God. Maybe because even as storms blow all around, hope and gratitude prevail, for very soon… we will be “safely gathered in” around a manger bed where Mary laid her newborn son, Jesus… the one who is all we need, our Prince of Peace, Comforter, Light of the World, Hope of the Nations!
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
As 2018 comes to a close, I pray we will gather together in thanksgiving with gifts to share! I pray our hearts will believe the loving embrace of God in the manger is for us! I pray our hearts and voices will be able to join choruses of hope, thanksgiving, and glory to God!
With gratitude and love,
Pastor Laura <><
