A carefully planned Harvest Thanksgiving weekend, linking it to the season of  ‘Creationtide’ that is starting to take shape in many parishes, will help reconnect all of us to creation and the Creator

If you ask children where milk comes from, or vegetables, or meat, a good number will probably reply with the name of their local supermarket. For many children, the direct link between people and creation has been broken. The chance to restore the link comes every year in the autumn, when Christians traditionally gave thanks for the harvest. This action made perfect sense in rural communities, where the link with the land and its fruits was always tangible — and indeed provided many with a livelihood.

It is becoming a valuable enterprise now in urban settings as well, as it reminds urban and suburban parishioners that humanity is dependent on the Earth and all it produces, and that the Creator of all deserves thanks (and presents challenges to the human world, another part of creation).

Pope Francis has now added his weight to this liturgical focus on the environment, with his suggestion of 1 September as a “Creation Day”. In doing this, he has helped to bookend the season of “creationtide” endorsed by many Christians, running from the start of September until 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi (patron saint of ecologists). Many parishes may well celebrate their autumn thanksgiving within that season, though in rural parts where the harvest proves hard to save due to inclement weather, a celebration later in October may be appropriate.