Thanksgiving ceremonies and celebrations for a successful harvest are both worldwide and very ancient. In India, we have given thanks for successful harvests from a long time now. We celebrate this day by singing, praying and decorating our churches with baskets of fruit and food in a festival known as ‘harvest festival’, usually during the month of October. Harvest festival reminds Christians of all the good things God gives them. This makes them want to share with others who are not so fortunate.
In western countries and some parts of India, people go to schools and churches and people bring food from home to a harvest festival service. After the service, the food that has been put on display is usually made into parcels and given to people in need. In most cases, in India, we bring our best fruit and food forward and keep it in the presence of our lord and then with all of God’s blessings, we distribute them among the church or the needy. Some churches hold an auction ceremony where food products, fruits and vegetables are bought through auctions involving the respective church members and the money paid is used for a charitable cause later according to the church’s need.
This harvest, let as all join hands together and shout out loud the good things and blessings God showered on us abundantly and hope to lend a hand or two to those in need and await for his timely gifts and further blessings.
Source: Shalom Christdoss