After yet another wet summer the harvest has once again not been easy to gather in, although generally conditions have been a little more favourable than last year. The agricultural industry still faces some major problems as the article in the attached resource pack,‘Harvest Thoughts from a Northern Mart’ which are complied by Bob Baker make clear.

It would be good if all the parishes within the diocese whether they are in a rural or urban setting would consider holding a Harvest Festival this year. The harvest service gives us all an opportunity to give thanks for our food and those who produce it. Perhaps too we might want to reflect on where our food is sourced and the sacrifices that are made by people to bring it to our tables.

I hope that the harvest worship resources provided in the attached document will prove helpful to all those who are planning or leading harvest thanksgiving services this year.

Further material is available from the Arthur Rank Centre (www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk).

Once again I commend to you the three farming charities, FCN (Farm Crisis Network), RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) and the ARC Addington Fund, contact details can be found below.

Please contact me if I can be of further help.

The Revd. Richard Rowling, Archbishop’s Adviser for Rural Affairs
Tel. 01845 523183
richardrowling@dunelm.org.uk

Related Link Arthur Rank Centre

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