Thoughts for the Day

Praise is due to you,
O God, in Zion;
and to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come....

You visit the earth and water it,
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide the people with grain,
for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

This week for three days before Ascension Day the Church celebrates the season of Rogation. Originally about blessing the land and crops, over the centuries it has been widened to include petitions for the world of work, for accountable stewardship of our world, and prayer for local communities. The word 'rogare' in Latin comes from "to ask". The poet and priest George Herbert in the 17th century, interpreted the use of processions around the parish ('the beating of the bounds') as a means of asking for God’s blessing on the land, of preserving boundaries, of encouraging fellowship between neighbours with the reconciliation of differences, and of charitable giving to the poor.

Years ago in my first two weeks as the new Vicar of the parishes of Hanley Castle, Hanley Swan, and Welland in Worcestershire, I was leading their traditional Rogation Service in a farm and blessing the animals, crops, water, soil and farmers etc. From then on Rogation began to mean much more to me, and to include prayers about climate change and our damage to the earth. I find it sad though that many urban and suburban churches largely seem to ignore this season of the year, especially as the potential for all-age worship is such fun! Try acting out the story of 'The enormous turnip'! Also, if churches are happy to hold a Harvest service in autumn, why are we not including one in spring for the beginning of the season? (Alright, I know crops are grown all year!)

So, today, let us look at Psalm 65 with fresh eyes, remembering that each of us benefits from the work of those who farm. May we pray for God's blessings - for healthy crops and adequate sun and rain, as well as the welfare of all animals; for the people who fish or farm; and for those who work to deal with climate change. Lastly can we resolve to play our part in protecting our world?

Heavenly Father,
we remember today that we are dependent
on you for a bountiful harvest,
and we ask your blessing on the work of our farmers and growers.
Forgive our often-held belief that we do this alone without your help,
and give all those who work in agriculture the encouragement
to continue for another year.
May they know how important their work is to each country,
and may we play our part in caring for the world.
Amen.