29/09/2025
Many joined us at St. Nicholas Church for the Harvest service yesterday and for the tasty offerings at the bring and share lunch afterwards.
St. Nicholas Church has now been certified as a Fairtrade church.
We learnt more about Fairtrade and how many of the farmers in developing countries receive very little for their goods compared to what the European manufacturers and supermarkets get.
We were encouraged to look for Fairtrade products such as chocolate, coffee and tea, so that farmers can receive better prices, decent working conditions and stronger rights for the goods they produce.
We also sang new words to a popular tune that made us think about all this:
1. We plough the fields, and scatter
the good seed on our lands,
but nations who are deep in debt
are left with empty hands.
The world is full of people
who struggle to survive,
while we have food in plenty –
O God, our care revive!
Refrain
All good gifts around us
are sent for all to share;
we ask you, Lord, to help us strive for justice everywhere.
2. The fields of many countries
are tilled to pay their debt,
and so disease and poverty
remain a constant threat.
Their goods, unfairly traded,
make losses for our gain,
as most of all the profits
in wealthy hands remain.
Refrain.
3. God’s beautiful creation
is fast becoming spoiled,
and deserts overrun the ground
where once the farmers toiled.
Forgive us this pollution
of much that you have made,
and show us the solution
for fair and equal trade.