(Thanksgiving.)
Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Thou art the almighty God of heaven
and earth, and in Thee we live, move, and have our being. Thou, however,
doest desire that man should live by bread, and therefore didst, in the
beginning of the world, make the earth fruitful through Thy almighty
Word, and after the days of the flood, didst declare that while the earth
remaineth seed-time and harvest shall not cease. Behold, Lord, this Thy
order, once established, continueth yet, and Thou still doest ever crown
the year with Thy goodness. Thou doest cause grass to grow for the cattle
and herb for the service of man. Thus Thou bringest bread out of the
earth and doest fill our hearts with joy and gladness. Most loving God,
how wisely indeed hast Thou ordered all things! How great is Thy goodness
toward us, who are not worthy of Thy bread. And how wonderfully infinite
Thy omnipotence, when Thou doest increase the little grain which moulders
in the earth, into a hundredfold! It is Thy unsearchable wisdom, this
Thine unutterable goodness, mercy and omnipotence, which hath again this
year visited our land. Men had sowed their seed in hope, but Thou hast
hitherto blessed the seed in the fields, and hast moreover permitted us
to live to the time, when men everywhere reap and gather into barns what
Thou hast given. O Lord, Thou God of riches, all that men harvest is
indeed Thine; for we of ourselves can bring forth nothing out of the
earth, and be it little or much, it is still more than we have merited.
Thanks be also unto Thy holy name for each and every gift, which Thou
hast bestowed on our fields during this year. Thou alone art the God, who
doest sustain us from the day of our birth, and shower Thy blessings upon
us. Wherefore unto Thee alone be all the praise, honor and thanksgiving
now and in eternity.
(Petition.)
We beseech Thee, O kind Father, that Thou wouldst not again take from us
in Thy wrath, what Thou in Thy grace hast given. Thou Thyself hast said
in Thy Word, that rain is not seemly in harvest. So do Thou not permit
that the blessings of the fields, which Thou hast hitherto spread out
before our eyes, may perish by unfavorable weather. Do Thou also
henceforth guard that which has been gathered into barns and garners,
against danger by fire and water, against thieves and unfaithful
stewards, against usurers and unscrupulous grain-speculators, and against
all else that might rob us, or destroy Thy gifts. Moreover let us not
forget that all we receive comes from Thee and is Thine. Do Thou likewise
help that because of this we may never be discontented with what Thou
givest, never uselessly squander aught of it through luxury and
wantonness, never lock up any of Thy gifts unmercifully against our needy
neighbor through avarice or envy; nor in mistrust against Thee brood over
it with cares, as though that which Thou hast given be not sufficient for
our wants. Inasmuch as we in future will have need of Thy providing care,
do Thou not in Thy wrath let our land remain uncultivated, lest it lie
waste and become unfruitful when forsaken. Prevent every thing which
might hinder the tilling of the fields after harvest. And, that no years
may come, in which man sows but does not reap, do Thou provide that
neither frost nor heat, neither floods nor drought, nor destructive
insects destroy the seed in the earth by which we in future are to live.
(Prayer.)
Be Thou with us, O gracious loving Father, and preserve unto us our daily
bread, which Thou during the present harvest doest everywhere distribute.
Above all grant favorable weather and constant sunshine, that the
ripening grain may all fully mature, so that which yet remains in the
fields may be stored away in good condition. Bless that which has been
gathered into barns, that it may be prepared for our daily use, increase
it while passing through our hands in preparing it, may it be blessed to
our nourishment; grant us life and health, peace and quietude, to enjoy
all that Thou hast given in such a manner, that it may not only give
strength to the body, but also be good and wholesome to the soul, so that
Thy temporal blessing may thus in manifold ways redound to our welfare.
When Thou hast heard these our petitions and prayers, then remind us also
of our obligations, and grant that we acknowledge all our substance to be
the gift of Thy goodness, that we heartily thank Thee for it, savingly
use it, serve our bodies with it, as is meet, willingly impart of it to
others, and finally devote and use all we have received of Thee alone
unto Thy honor. Do Thou continue in future to bless our land with Thy
gracious visitation, improve and enrich it with great fertility. Give
warmth to the dust of the earth. Refresh the fields with fruitful
showers, water their furrows, moisten the plowed ground, and do Thou
prosper the grain to be sown therein, that the land may continue to yield
forth its increase, the valleys be covered with corn, so that we may
shout for joy and sing Thy praise forevermore.
(Intercession.)
Yea, Thou art God, Who Daily Openest Thy liberal hand and satisfiest the
desire of every living thing. Therefore do Thou during this season of
harvest provide for all people, and let every one receive his proportion
of food. Remind each one of his duties, that the indolent may not sleep
in time of harvest and neglect the necessary interests of himself and his
household. But do Thou likewise grant strength to those, who in the sweat
of their face gather their daily bread; refresh them when they are weary,
and permit each one with his household to enjoy in good health what his
fields have produced, that we all may be truly glad because of Thy
benefits. But do Thou also help that the rich may not depend upon their
barn bursting with plenty, and thereby forget that their souls may be
taken from them unawares, and another obtain possession of that which
they have gathered. Remember the poor, who have nothing to harvest. Grant
that others may help gather also for them, and do Thou thyself recompense
those who permit them to glean ears in their fields, or who impart unto
them of their abundance. In short, where there is but little, do Thou
bless the small supply, that it may be sufficient for the wants to whom
it is given, and where Thou hast given a large supply, do Thou so control
it, that it may not be abused unto evil. Preserve tranquility and peace
in all lands, that strangers come not unto us and devour our harvests. Do
Thou everywhere guard against failures, hard times and famine. And do
Thou also ward off from us everything which might render it difficult for
us to obtain the necessary things for the support of temporal life. On
the other hand, do Thou permit every one to enjoy what Thou hast allotted
to him, that rich and poor alike may acknowledge and praise Thee for
evermore. Finally, O Thou Saviour of all men, we ourselves are the
spiritual stewards in Thy church, and Thou art the Lord of the harvest;
we therefore pray Thee to send laborers into Thy harvest, and let Thy
harvest among men likewise become great in all places. Grant that good
seed may everywhere be sown, and pure doctrine be preached among all
christians. Protect the world against the tares, which the devil is busy
in scattering forth. Convert those who sow in unrighteousness and reap in
sorrow, or sow unto the flesh and of the flesh reap destruction. Sanctify
us all together, that we may be of one mind in Christ, and may sow unto
the spirit, and of the spirit once reap eternal life. Yea, when once the
entire world shall be sufficiently ripe for the last harvest, then grant
that we all, as pure wheat, may be bound into sheaves and gathered into
Thy garners, and be preserved in heaven unto eternal joys. There shall we
as those whom Thou hast promised, reap without ceasing what we have sown
here, and rejoice as they that rejoice in harvest, with unspeakable joy.
Hear us, O God, and grant us all what we ask, for the sake of Thy dear
Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
APPENDIX II.
HYMNS.
Morning Hymn.