Rogation Day Liturgy

Environmental Stewardship Commission
(MEESC)

Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota
ROGATION DAY LITURGIES

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.

A Rogation Day Liturgy
This "Rogation Day Liturgy" has been used at the East Range Episcopal Churches in Northeast Minnesota since 2004

Notes to this Liturgy:
Rogation Day Processions trace their roots to the church of Fifth-Century France when special prayers were offered just before the Feast of the Ascension because of earthquake and poor harvests. The early Roman church celebrated Rogation Days with a Christian procession around the fields on the Feast of St. Mark (April 25) to suppress the ancient pagan roman celebrations honoring the god "Mildew" and the goddess "Rust".
The "Beating of the Bounds" began in medieval England. Written maps were rare and each year a procession marked the parish boundaries, which were beaten with willow rods. On occasion boys of the parish were also beaten or bumped on the ground at the boundary, which is certainly not part of the modern celebration.
The Rogation Procession moves from a recognition of the sacred earth and Christian roots, to hope for fruits of the earth and fruits of the Spirits.

+ the Rev Patricia Gillespie

(The People gather in the church)

Leader: God be with you
People: And also with you
Leader: Let us pray.
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.

First Procession
(May be accompanied by drums. Litany and Canticle are said or chanted in the following processions.)

Leader:
Let us turn to the WEST
the place of thunderstorms and darkness,
that we may face our fears in the darkness and suffering
and return to God, to the land that God has promised us.

Silence

We ask your blessing on the darkness and suffering in our lives
that there we may find strength and growth
and the Light of the World.
In the Name of God, Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. Amen.

The beating of the corner boundary

Second Procession
Litany for Rogation Days

For favorable weather, temperate rains and fruitful seasons,
and that there may be food and drink for all your creatures,
let us pray to our God.
God hear our prayer.

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,
let us pray to our God.
God hear our prayer.

For all who care for the earth, the water and the air,
that the riches of your creation may abound from age to age,
let us pray to our God.
God hear our prayer.

Let us turn to the NORTH,
the place of the cold winds and waiting,
that we may learn to wait with hope and eager longing
for the redemption and freedom of all creation.

Silence

We ask your blessing on this town of [Name]
where the love of Christ has taken root in many places
and particularly on this our congregation, [Name].
In the Name of God, Creator, Redeemer, & Sustainer. Amen.

Third Procession
Canticle 12: A Song of Creation,
Invocation & Part 1: The Cosmic Order
[Page 88, Book of Common Prayer (BCP)]

Glorify the Lord, all you works of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, you angels and all powers of the Lord, *
O heavens and all waters above the heavens.
Sun and moon and stars of the sky, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain and fall of dew, *
all winds and fire and heat.
Winter and Summer, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O chill and cold, *
drops of dew and flakes of snow
Frost and cold, ice and sleet, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O nights and days, *
O shining light and enfolding dark.
Storm clouds and thunderbolts, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Let us turn to the EAST,
the place of the rising sun and beginning again,
in the resurrection certainty that God sends God's Spirit
to renew our lives and the face of the earth.

Silence

We ask your blessing on all that we are this day
the brokenness of our lives and the blessings,
and on this your good earth and all creation
that we may live together in harmony.
In the Name of God, Life Giver, Pain Bearer, & Love Maker. Amen.

The beating of the corner boundary

Fourth Procession
Song of Creation, Part II: The Earth and its Creatures

Let the earth glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O mountains and hills,
and all that grows upon the earth, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams, *
O whales and all that move in the waters.
All birds of the air, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O beasts of the wild, *
and all you flocks and herds.
O men and women everywhere, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Let us turn to the SOUTH,
the place of the warm wind that is the growing place,
asking that our lives and all creation
may grow in love and be fruitful.

Silence

We ask your blessing as we walk into the future
that we may be united in your love with all creation
and that we ourselves be fertile soil,
producing abundant growth rich in the fruits of the Spirit.
In the Name of God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Amen.

The beating of the corner boundary

Fifth Procession
Song of Creation, Part III: The People of God and Doxology

Let the people of God glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O priests and servants of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Let us glorify the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

(If this liturgy is not part of a regular worship service, The Lord's Prayer and a Dismissal follow here.)

Copyright Statement

This Rogation Liturgy was assembled by the Rev Patricia Gillespie, Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Virginia, MN), St. John's Episcopal Church (Eveleth, MN) and St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Tower, MN and Ely, MN). For additional information on the service, contact the Rev Pat Gillespie. You may use this service at your church, however, if you are not a congregation of the Diocese of Minnesota, you may need to permission from within your diocese, synod, or region before using. If you have additional possible hymns to use, please send them (with the hymnal title and page or song number) to our Webverger.

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This page last updated 05-07-08.