Environmental Stewardship Commission (MEESC)

NOTE: The Environmental Stewardship Commission is suggesting that congregations plan a Rogation Day celebration.  This event asks God’s blessing on the fields, gardens, orchards, seeds, etc. to be used in food production that season. 
General directions: The leader will find suggestions in the rubrics page 101 of the Book of  Occasional Services (BOS). The service may follow the Sunday Eucharist on the Sunday before the Rogation days (in 2000: May 29, 30, and 31) or it may be a separate celebration which traditionally culminates in a celebration of Eucharist.  In a rural setting the procession could be to the farms or fields.  In urban areas it can be to gardens or fruit trees.  It could be all in the churchyard.

Song:   All Creatures of our God and King [Hymn 400 (Hymnal 1982)]

Canticle 12.   A Song of Creation.  Page 88, Book of Common Prayer (BCP)

Reading:  Mark 4:26-32

Homily   (optional)

Prayers:

Leader:
For favorable weather, temperate rains and fruitful seasons, and that there may be food and drink for all your creatures, we pray to you, O Lord.  Amen

For your blessing upon the lands and waters, and all who work upon them to bring forth food and all things needful for your people, we pray to you O Lord.  Amen

For all who care for the earth, the water and the air that the riches of your creation may abound from age to age, we pray to you, O Lord.  Amen.

The Procession:  Proceed to the places of blessing, using for each a prayer:

Leader:

Almighty and everlasting God, Creator of all things and giver of all life, let your blessing be upon this (seed, livestock, plow, forest, orchard, field, garden, _____________) and grant that it may serve to your glory and the welfare of your people;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer #1:

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us.  We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.

We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.

We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.

We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.

Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.  Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.
(from page 836 BCP)

Song:   For the Fruit of all Creation, [Hymn 424 (Hymnal 1982)] or other suitable hymn.

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