Harvest Festival Service 2021

Harvest refers to the time during autumn when farmers traditionally brought in the crops that supplied their community through the year. Although today our food is supplied by supermarkets, Christians celebrate the harvesting of crops in an annual Harvest Thanksgiving service.

At Queen Anne's, we recognised the day with a special service which all students attended. The girls brought goods from home such as, canned items, dry foods, non-perishables and toiletries, to be donated to ReadiFood, a local food bank helping those in need.

Reverend Rachel Ross-Smith led the service in which she spoke of the teachings in the Bible and how in the UK we unlikely to experience famine like many countries around the world still face today, due to failed crops caused by climate change and other circumstances that affect the food supply. However, this doesn't mean there are not people in the UK struggling to put food on the table, for other reasons.

She spoke about the importance of helping in whatever way we can, referencing a mustard seed. The mustard seed is praised due to its tiny size which will then grow into a large mustard tree or bush, inspiring the thought that great things come from small beginnings. Reverend Ross-Smith use this analogy to explain the importance of the Harvest festival and our donations; that even if we do something as small as donating a few items, it will make a big difference to someone else.

The goods donated by students are a small but mighty gesture, that will positively impact a local family who are unable to provide food for their loved ones. The students reflected on the importance of their kind gesture in assembly, as the Consort Choir performed.

Today is a day for thinking about how we depend on creation and how we must share responsibility and the privilege of caring for God's creation. In our lives we have been blessed with good things and we should respond by helping others at their time of need.

A huge thank you to all students who donated items.