As the season of Creation comes to an end, one last offering on theme of Justice and Peace flowing through God’s Loving Presence in the World – combining the international theme with the wish to celebrate the beauty of the earth – the positive alongside the hardship and emergency of climate change.

This week’s sub theme is Farmland – God’s Gift of Food.

We know spring is coming when fields awaken,
when land full of stubble become brown once again.
The careful preparing as the soil is turned
and plans put in place to meet what we need –
God’s care right there when the ground is prepared!

And then, it seems, the work seems to stall,
but there in the quiet, green shoots come to life.
The ground disappears, the world flooded with colour
and the richness of creation seen in fields near and far –
God’s care right there when seeds sprout and grow!

Once more, the busy-ness of farmers again,
our food for the year is gathered and stored.
The colour is fading to the leftover stubble,
but we celebrate together the gifts of the land –
God’s care right there when the harvest is gathered!

The year’s work is done, and all becomes still,
as activity halts and machines disappear.
Land’s now at rest, left to sleep undisturbed,
under winter’s blanket of frost, snow and ice –
God’s care right there when soil rests and restores!

(Written 4 October, 2023)