As harvest time approaches, the Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) is calling on Christians to take a fresh approach to harvest celebrations.

The charity has released Abundant Harvest, a free multi-media resource pack, aimed at enabling churches around the UK to celebrate harvest more meaningfully.

Anna Rogers, MRDF’s Marketing and Communications Officer said: "Nine out of ten people in Britain now live in urban areas, so it’s no wonder harvest festivals can sometimes seem somewhat irrelevant.

"Yet they offer the opportunity to learn from and pray for communities around the world who still rely on the land for their livelihoods.

"We can all celebrate God’s generosity and act to share God’s blessings with those around us. These Biblical ideals remain universally relevant, wherever we happen to live."

MRDF’s Abundant Harvest resources are based on the parable of the mustard seed and feature examples from the charity’s work in Cambodia.

Materials include multimedia presentations, prayers, a full service outline including a sermon, and children’s and youth activities.

They can be ordered for free by calling 020 7467 5132 or visiting www.mrdf.org.uk/harvest