Following the 10:30 am service on Sunday, May 14, 2017, Fr. Jed Fox will lead a procession for Rogation Sunday at Church of the Redeemer. You are invited to join in these prayers for agriculture, stewardship of creation, commerce, and industry.
Of Rogation Days
Traditionally, the Rogation Days are the three days before Ascension Day (May 18 in 2023). Rogation Sunday is the Sunday preceding the three Rogation Days.
The term “Rogation” is from the Latin rogatio, which means “asking.”
Rogation days originated in Vienne, France, in the fifth century. Bishop Mamertus introduced days of fasting and prayer to ward off a threatened disaster.
In England, Rogation Days became associated with the blessing of the fields at planting. The vicar (head priest) of a parish “beat the bounds,” processing around the fields while reciting psalms and the litany.
In the United States, Rogation Days and processions have been associated with rural life, along with agriculture and fishing. The 1928 Book of Common Prayer referred to the Sunday before Ascension as “The Fifth Sunday after Easter, commonly called Rogation Sunday.” The 1892 and 1928 Books of Common Prayer had a rubric (direction) stating that the prayer “For Fruitful Seasons” was “to be used on Rogation Sunday and the Rogation days.” The prayers in the current Book of Common Prayer widened the traditional scope of the prayers to include commerce, industry, and the stewardship of creation.
Prayers for the Rogation Days
These are the appointed prayers for each of the Rogation Days (the three days before the Ascension) in the Book of Common Prayer
I. For fruitful seasons
Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that your gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who are constantly receiving good things from your hand, may always give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
II. For Commerce and Industry
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ in his earthly life shared our toil and hallowed our labor: Be present with your people where they work; make those who carry on the industries and commerce of this land responsive to your will; and give to us all a pride in what we do, and a just return for our labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
III. For stewardship of creation
O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6210 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Episcopal Church welcomes you.
(Much of the text for Rogation Days and the Rogation Procession was borrowed from the glossary on the Episcopal Church website.)
