Sharing the Harvest…is an act of Worship
In the United States we celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4th Sunday of November, but celebrating the harvests that come from God is almost as ancient as our faith itself. In fact, giving God praise and sharing God's gifts at harvest time can be observed in Exodus, the oldest Judeo-Christian scriptural text.
Passover (the Feast of Unleavened Bread), Shavuot (The Feast of Weeks) and Sukkit (the Feast of the Tabernacles/ Feast of Booths) where times of pilgrimage, where God’s people would return to the temple bringing gifts and offerings to share with God.
In 1621 members of the Wamponoag tribe invited dozens of English “pilgrims” to share in a three day harvest feast. This first Thanksgiving has much in common with the harvest celebrations of the Old Testament and also informs how we Americans celebrate today. We travel, we prepare our finest dishes and we share time in fellowship.
But even in Scripture, God recognized that not everyone would have the same amount to share. And the first Thanksgiving only happened because of the generosity of those who had (the Wampanoag) with those who did not (the English colonists in Massachusetts).
At St. John’s Ivyland, we recognize that “Sharing the Harvest” is not just a part of the history of our beloved American holiday, it is an ancient act of Worship. Obeying God’s command to preserve the best of what the Lord blessed you with and bringing it as an offering to God was an act of honoring the God who made it all possible.
Today, there is a great need around the world, in our region and in our neighborhoods. Millions of Americans and billions of people around the world live with Food Insecurity. In fact more than 2.3 billion people - or about 3 out of every ten globally, do not know where their next couple of meals are coming from. In America, over 16 million children face hunger.
What better way to worship God than to share our harvest with each other in God’s name! We are grateful to be able to give thanks by sharing food, time and fellowship with our sisters and brothers from all walks of life and in every circumstance.
St John’s Ivyland is assisting those who are experiencing Food Insecurity by proving non-perishables to be distributed through our ministry partners in several ways this November
There is a Drive Thru & Drop Off Food Drive at the church Saturday, November 22nd from 10 am until 2pm
Our Children, Youth, Young Adults and their families are filling Harvest Bags of holiday and everyday food and pantry items all month
Every Sunday you can place donated shelf-stable foods on our Sharing Table in the church narthex, outside the Sanctuary (These items are donated every Monday)
Please join us in “Sharing the Harvest” with all who are in need this season.
St John’s Ivyland United Methodist Church
820 Almshouse Rd
Ivyland, PA 18974
(215) 357-6998