As autumn arrives in the Monadnock region, Pastor Bob invites us to pause and notice the blessings of the harvest season. In this reflection, he reminds us that gratitude and generosity are deeply connected — that when we share our gifts with others, we live out the abundance of God’s love in community.
Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:11-12
Pumpkins are believed to have originated in North America. Seeds from related plants have been found in Mexico dating back to 7000 to 5500 B.C. The name “pumpkin” comes from the Greek word for “large melon,” which is “pepon.”
Native Americans used pumpkin as a staple in their diets centuries before the Pilgrims landed. They also dried strips of pumpkin and wove them into mats. Natives would also roast long strips of pumpkin on the open fire and eat them. When white settlers arrived, they saw the pumpkins grown by the Natives, and pumpkin soon became a staple in their diets. As today, early settlers used them in a wide variety of recipes from desserts to stews and soups. Pumpkin pie is thought to have originated from a time when the colonists sliced off the pumpkin top, removed the seeds, and then filled it with milk, spices and honey. The pumpkin was then baked in the hot ashes of a dying fire.
Pumpkins captured our imaginations when Linus introduced us to the Great Pumpkin, who looks for the most sincere pumpkin patch. I have never seen the Great Pumpkin. Have you? We are celebrating the beautiful and delicious pumpkin this month as people begin to crave pumpkin spice everything. In addition to celebrating the colorful and tasty symbol of fall, we are also celebrating the harvest of love in our church. Our fellowship, our community has the opportunity to share our blessings with others.
We have arrived at the close of the growing season. Harvest season is a time to celebrate the produce of the earth and to remember that God has blessed us. Let’s take a moment to reflect on this growing season, dry though it was, with gratitude.
