Today is...

Today is Lammas - the "loaf Mass" in the Saxon tongue - or Lughnsadh in the Celtic world. It is the least remembered quarter point seasonal holiday of the Northern realm. Joyfully, however, it is a feast involving bread, fires and the bounty of the earth.  Gaelic legend speaks of this day as the remembrance of the Queen of the Fir Bolg - Tailtiu - who died of exhaustion after clearing the planes of Ireland in order that her people might plant wheat. 

In time, it became a way to celebrate the corn harvest and well as rejoice in the fullness of God's green earth in preparation for the slow shift towards autumn.  In a way, this makes lammas a festival to mark our regrets:  what was not accomplished this summer? what opportunities have been lost or squandered?  Indeed, what is over and passing away forever, too? What's more, it is a time to preserve what remains - a commitment to taking stock of the harvest - and loving it so that it's bounty might be nourishing when everything else passes away.

The Christian tradition has incorporated the wisdom of the old way by marking this season as a time to offer "the first fruits of the field" to the Lord.  It is also a time for craft fairs, a tradition that goes back to festivities of the medieval guilds. And while Christians in North America have shifted our feasting to the end of the season - Thanksgiving Day in both Canada and the US - the beauty of lughnsadh lives on in our hymns.

The modern British tradition of celebrating Harvest Festival in churches began in 1843, when the Reverend Robert Hawker invited parishioners to a special thanksgiving service at his church at Morwenstow in Cornwall. Victorian hymns such as "We plough the fields and scatter", "Come ye thankful people, come" and "All things bright and beautiful" but also Dutch and German harvest hymns in translation helped popularise his idea of harvest festival and spread the annual custom of decorating churches with home-grown produce for the Harvest Festival service. (see reference by John Birch at the conclusion.)

Living in North Country - and loving the even more vigorous North Country on Canada - I am more aware of the seasons and their wisdom than ever before.  As this day - and this month - ripen I want to make each day count while also noting what has slipped through my hands. We will also eat a little corn bread tonight and return thanks for the beauty of our lives as we give thanks to God.

Here is a prayer from the work of John Birch:

For the promise of harvest
contained within a seed
we thank you.
For the oak tree
within an acorn
The bread
within a grain
The apple
within a pip
The mystery of nature
gift wrapped
for us to sow
we thank you...

We see signs of summer's passing in golden leaves,
shortening days, misty mornings, autumn glow.
We sense its passing in rain that dampens,
winds that chill, Harvest's bounty placed on show.
Creator God, who brings forth
both green shoot and hoar frost,
sunrise and sunset,
we bring our thanks
for seeds that have grown,
harvests gathered,
storehouses filled,
mouths fed.
And, as your good earth rests
through winter's cold embrace,
we look forward to its re-awakening
when kissed by Spring's first touch.

For creativity in its many forms
we give you thanks
For the skill of weaver
potter, artist, sculptor
needle worker
all who take that which you have given
and make with it something of beauty
For fruitfulness in its many forms
we give you thanks
For selfless love
grace, wisdom, knowledge
sacrifice
all who take that which you have given
and make with it something of beauty


For summer's passing
and harvest home:  WE THANK YOU
For seed that has fallen
the promise of spring: WE THANK YOU

Together we say
We bless you,
God of Seed and Harvest
And we bless each other
That the beauty of this world
And the love that created it
Might be expressed though our lives
And be a blessing to others
Now and always
AMEN

Read more at: http://www.faithandworship.com/Lughnasadh_praying_though_the_Celtic_year.htm#ixzz1TnjnakJ7
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