Harvest prayers

Harvest prayer 2023: Seeds of hope

Generous God, we thank you
for the gifts you have given
for all people to share.
We plant seeds of hope
and nurture them as we seek
a harvest of plenty for all.

Forgive us for the times these seeds
fail to take root in our hearts.
We grieve when homes and crops
are washed away by floods,
when lives are uprooted by disaster,
or trampled by fear and greed.

Living God, you lead us
to a new way of being.
Move us to help one another
in our times of need,
to care for the earth and
to love one another,
sharing your harvest with all.

Amen.

Catherine Gorman/CAFOD

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For a harvest shared by all

St Francis of Assisi,
your whole life sang in harmony
with God, nature and others.

With you, we praise God for Brother Sun,
full of beauty and splendour,
warming the earth,
summoning shoots
from darkness into daylight.

We praise God for Sister Water,
so useful and humble,
precious and pure,
greening arid ground,
growing life in desert places.

Pray for us Francis, that, like you,
we may care for all that exists,
until Brother Sun and Sister Water
produce a harvest shared by all,
in love and solidarity,
justice and peace.

Amen.

Kathleen O'Brien/CAFOD

The richness of your harvest

Thank you for the smile
of the child:
eyes bright, belly full, licking
the last caked crumbs from his spoon.

Thank you for the pride
of the woman:
arms spread, palms stretched, heavy
with her first year's harvest.

Thank you for the joy
of the man:
coming home to his family's future
with fair payment for his crops.

Thank you for the love
of the neighbour:
seeing another's need, sharing
from the little she owns.

Thank you for the hope 
that we share:
determination that all should enjoy
the richness of your harvest.

Amy Fox/CAFOD

Journey with us

The scorched earth,
and all those who hunger
cry out to the Lord:

Journey with us, O God,
and pour out your mercy upon us.

Hand in hand, we plant seeds,
water crops, protect shoots as they grow.
Together, we pray:

Journey with us, O God,
and pour out your mercy upon us.

The dry land rejoices, the people sing for joy
as life blooms and the harvest is gathered.
In hope of this vision, we pray:

Journey with us, O God,
and pour out your mercy upon us
like the morning dew,
so that together we may build a brighter future,
a future of plenty for all.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Catherine Gorman/CAFOD