Harvest
It has been interesting to observe the ether around the subject of harvest and discussion of songs and how we might make Harvest relevant. I had the privilege of helping contribute to our Harvest service and all that planning with a group entails.
For me the picture of First Fruits and giving of your best as an offering to God is helpful and puts the priorities in place. Offering the best, quality over quantity and being counter-cultural in even daring to pause and think that we should be thankful, might be a vehicle of worship for us all. It is Thanksgiving without our North American brothers and sisters take!
I had the privilege last weekend to attend the CMEAC25 celebrations which you can find more about here. I was invited to facilitate a session with young people who are not normally seen up front in our church structures. It was great that Peter Ball, our National Youth Officer, was present with Jake from the Church of England Youth Council (CEYC). What was striking was seeing the Synod chamber at Church House filled with all hues and nationalities, and offered a glimpse of what can be achieved if intentional.
The start of what some call 'Black History Month' or celebrate 'One World Week', offered glimpses of the Kingdom of God. Like the autumn leaves, the different hues of the leaves might remind us of what our youth ministry might look like, locally, nationally and internationally. This is something that youth ministry might need to look at more closely in my observations.
***STOP PRESS****
At the end of this week, the world is coming to terms with the death of Steve Jobs, a man who sowed and reaped. His commencement speech at Standford 2005 is one that all doing youthwork and young people (in fact everybody) may wish to reflect on - it can be found here.
Steve Jobs reaped a harvest but it didn't just happen and there were powerful moments of learning, sowing and reaping (harvesting). A modern day Harvest.
I close with one of my favourite songs about Harvest to me, by the Isley Brothers (covered by the group the Christians in 1980) found here and one line shared appropriate in the light of the death of Steve Jobs and the far reaching effects of his life on modern communications.
'Gather every man, Gather every woman.
Celebrate your lives - Give thanks for your children'
Peace
Dean
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Short links
http://www.albandys.org.uk/go/harvest
http://www.albandys.org.uk/go/923