CAMBRIDGE – Congregants of Immanuel United Church of Christ (UCC) will hold its Second Annual Blessing of the Seeds on April 8. In what has become a new spring tradition at the church, soil and farming equipment will also be blessed.

“For me, it’s recognition of the role God plays in our lives,” the Rev. Dale Krotee said after this Sunday’s worship service. “God is a God of hope, of new beginnings. The seeds are a new beginning, a sign of hope.”

The idea for the special worship service came from the annual Blessing of the Combines in Snow Hill. With many farmers in the congregation at Immanuel UCC, something of this nature seemed like a good fit.

Danny Luthy is a member of the Cambridge church and a local farmer, who is involved in the planning of this year’s event.

“Other churches do the Blessing of the Combines in the fall, so we decided to do something for planting season,” he said. “We have farmers bring planters. We’re also going to plant some sweet corn.”

Last year, much of the corn grown by the church was donated to food banks and pantries. Plans this spring call for an even greater proportion of the crop to go to the Maryland Food Bank to help feed the hungry.

In the Prayer for Seeds at last year’s service, the Rev. Krotee said, “Creating God, you have given seed for the sower and bread to the people. Nourish, protect, and bless the seeds – seeds brought by families for their backyards, and seeds brought by farmers that will be planted in hopes of feeding countless people in our community and beyond. These seeds will be sown with hope. By your loving and bountiful giving, may they bring forth their fruit in due season, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

The church is located at 5401 Whitehall Road, on U.S. 50 east of Cambridge, phone 410-228-4640. All are welcome.

Hope at the church is for another successful service and a crop as bountiful as last year’s. “It just blossomed,” the Rev. Krotee said.