In my final year at primary school we had a general knowledge test every week and were given ten questions to answer.

One of them was, “What is a cornucopia?” The answer was a horn of plenty filled to the brim with lots of different kinds of fruit.

When you think of our world it is one filled with so many good things to eat and there is enough for all the people in the world to enjoy. God has provided enough for us all and at Harvest time we give thanks for all that food and all the provision He has supplied.

Nowadays, it often comes in tins or packages, fresh or frozen and in a way that makes its growth far removed from us. Farmers prepare the soil, plant the seed, water it and wait for it to grow and then they harvest their produce. As the hymn says “We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land, but it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand...”

When we receive a gift we are encouraged to say thank-you. In this social networking world, we may even use one of the sites to say our thanks and give our congratulations, but thanking God is a different matter. How can we say thank you?

Well, in having a relationship with Him we can talk through prayer, but we can also talk through our actions. Celebrating Harvest in church we bring gifts to give to those in need. Sadly, nowadays it is not only people who live abroad who need help but also people on our doorstep, struggling to put food onto their table. Maybe this year you can thank God by being His hands and feet in your community, sharing God’s plenty with others!

Christian Viewpoint by Carol Yoxall, St Mark’s Church