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We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land,

But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand;

He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,

The breezes and the sunshine and soft, refreshing rain.

All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above

Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, for all his love.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Fans of musical theater will recognize the words above as one of the songs from the musical Godspell, which is currently in revival on Broadway. Episcopalians will also recognize them as words from our rich tradition of hymnody. (Hymn 291, The Hymnal 1982)

As I drove in to work one day I heard a recording of this song from the recent revival of the play and then not liking the next song that came on the radio turned to NPR and heard a report on how more stores were planning to open on Thanksgiving Day this year. As I heard this, in the back of my mind was a conversation I had the day earlier with some clergy about Thanksgiving services both in parishes and as ecumenical occasions. Part of the discussion was on how few people attended these services and how many Community Thanksgiving services had also decreased in attendance over the years. I began to think that perhaps this was because, for many of us, the challenges of agriculture, and gratitude for a fruitful harvest on which our life depends, is something that is not a part of our experience. While many of us enjoy home grown vegetables, our life does not depend on the harvest of our own agricultural labors.

Recently, I read a book entitled, “Cultivating Reality; How the soil might save us” by Ragan Sutterfield. It was one of the best theological works I have read in quite some time. What struck me most about the book was . . . read more