Ploughshares and First Fruits

A Year of Festivals for the Rural Church

Chris Thorpe

• Publisher: Canterbury Press Norwich
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781786222909
• eBook ISBN: 9781786222923
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Rituals & Practice

The annual celebrations of Plough Sunday, Rogation and Harvest are hugely important for churches serving rural communities and are a key way for those churches to engage in mission, usually seeing congregations swell at such times. Ploughshares and First Fruits draws on the inspired work being done by one rural church to celebrate rural living throughout the year and thereby grow its congregation.As well as providing many fresh ideas for keeping the established festivals, it provides ready-to-use, participative liturgies that engage all the senses, appeal to all ages and give small churches a round-the-year resource.Included are creative liturgies for: • A pet service for the Feast of St Francis• Walking and pilgrimage• Lambing season• Riders' Sunday• Lammas• A Summer Festival (an instant jam-jar flower festival)

What’s in a Name?

Advent – Exploring holy wisdom, the unfolding name of God

Preparation and Invitation

This service can be held at any time in Advent. You will need readers for each of the Bible passages. Introductory parts and prayers may be shared among other service leaders. If you have a choir or singers, you may like to invite them to insert some anthems or other songs instead of carols.

Depending on the length of service you want to plan, you may like to leave out some of the sections.

Gathering Music – suggestion

Messiah – For unto us a child is born, George Frideric Handel

Welcome and Introduction

Advent and Christmas present us with a rich tapestry as we recall how God reveals himself to us. The name of God has always been held to be sacred, not to be used lightly – a means of God’s self-revelation to his people. The ten commandments warn against taking the name of the Lord in vain. The Lord’s Prayer begins ‘hallowed be thy name’. Today we will explore some of the names by which God has revealed himself to human beings as we seek to enter the mystery of God’s presence.

Opening Prayer

Name above all names,

Living Word of God,

Spirit of Truth,

be with us now,

open our hearts and our minds

as we come to worship you,

in the name of Jesus,

our Saviour and our King.

Amen.

Hymn/Song – suggestions

Of the Father’s love begotten, tr. Henry Williams Baker and John Mason Neale

Joy to the world, Isaac Watts

First Lesson

The prophet Isaiah offered words of hope to a people long exiled from their home, who longed for peace and to return home. Isaiah reminded them of the names and the character of their God.

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness –

on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors

and all the garments rolled in blood

shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,

a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

and he is named

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually,

and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom.

He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time onwards and for evermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9.2–7

Prayer

God of hope,

when we are far from home,

when we have lost our way,

speak to us your holy name,

draw us back to you,

to find in you our way, our truth and our life,

throug...

Table of contents

• Copyright information
• Contents
• Dedication
• Introduction
• JANUARY
• Holy White Birds
• Mosaic of Grace
• FEBRUARY
• Kindled Light
• Seven Whole Days
• MARCH
• On the Level
• Simnel Share
• APRIL
• Harrowing and Hoping
• Night Watch
• MAY
• All Shall Be Well
• Daring to Ask
• JUNE
• Day by Day
• Hedgerow Abundance
• JULY
• Water of Life
• No Fear!
• AUGUST
• First Fruits
• Gathering the Fragments
• SEPTEMBER
• Horses and Humans
• Light and Dark
• OCTOBER
• Bread of Community
• All Creatures of our God
• NOVEMBER
• The Light of Life
• Rockets and Sparklers
• DECEMBER
• Jesse Tree
• What’s in a Name?
• Resources