Harvest Festival Sunday

On Sunday at our Church, we had Harvest Festival for the first time. I recall in the past we used to hold Harvest Festival every year and would sing those lovely harvest songs like “Bringing in the sheaves” etc. I don’t know when this festival was stopped and so we were delighted our Corps Officer, (Pastor) Major Ruth Pascoe reintroduced this old tradition of celebrating Harvest Festival.

In her Bulletin message she wrote, “Remember the law of harvest. If you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly. From 2 Corinthians 9: 8-11 we see how God transforms our small offerings into something beautiful. Jesus shares in Luke 6: 38, ‘Give, and it will be given you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with what measure you use, it will be measured to you.’

This is the LAW OF THE HARVEST.” She continues her message and writes about the Giving God who delights in giving! She concludes with applying the harvest principle to our responsibility in giving to God or tithing. Our giving is in response to His giving.

The meeting commenced with the singing of the great hymn sometimes referred to as ‘The canticle of the Sun’ traditionally attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, “All creatures of our God and King.” We sang other well loved harvest songs like ‘We plough the field and scatter the good seed on the ground’ and of course as mentioned earlier ‘Bringing in the sheaves.’ She gave the message “The Harvest principle.”

The Corps Council and Pastoral Care members were invited to the Mercy Seat to make commitment to Biblical tithing. It is important that the elders of the church must set the example in tithing. The members of the congregation were asked to take the pledge home, and prayerfully consider tithing before signing it. In her letter Major also mentioned “The harvest principle in relation to Biblical tithing is not just trying to meet the church budget, it is about living obediently before God, and as a result of living out of the abundance of God’s grace offered to us in Jesus Christ.”

Sunday school children met simultaneously at Praise chapel for their meeting. They then came marching in with baskets of fruit and vegetables and placing them on the altar. What a beautiful sight. These gifts were later given to the elderly and to the Family Service at Bukit Panjang.

Before the presentation of the Church budget, visitors were told if they wanted to leave they could do so. However, no one left and the whole congregation stayed till after the benediction.
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”

It was the great day and we look forward to another good weekend next week when we shall celebrate our Corps anniversary. To God be the glory.