Rogation Day Procession

A Rogation Day Procession for

Trinity Church Ashland

In the Labyrinth

Priest

Welcome to this Rogation Sunday celebration.  Rogation days are the three days each year before Ascension Day, which, forty days after Easter Sunday, always falls on a Thursday.  Traditionally a time to pray for the safety of the new crops that have been planted and a bountiful harvest, Rogation days have come to be times when we pray for the earth and our stewardship over it as well. 

The Lord be with you.

The People:

And also with you.

Priest:

Let us pray. 

(Rogation Day Collect for Stewardship of the Earth)

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.

Deacon:

This lovely Trinity Garden is symbolic of our faith and hope, and our love of the earth. 

Trinity Fountain symbolizes life and sustenance from God.  Note the three large rocks, symbolic of the three-fold social nature of the One God we trust in: Creating Parent, Redeeming Child, and Sustaining Spirit.  

(Deacon dips out water from the fountain into the holy water bucket)

We take water from the fountain as symbol of our thanks for God’s bounty and the beauty of creation, and our hope for continued blessing from God. 

Priest:

The Labyrinth is a symbol of our journey in life, the wandering paths we take by which God leads us to God’s gracious ends.

(Takes the bucket and aspergilium, and sprinkles the people.) 

May you, God’s people, always find courage and strength in God, through all your paths and ways. 

Deacon: 

The four cardinal points are indicated in the Labyrinth’s design: North, South, East and West, by whose directions we orient and place ourselves.    They also stand for the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, whose stories of Jesus give us direction and grounding in our lives. 

(The Priest sprinkles the Four Cardinal Points). 

Priest:

Those twelve Italian Cypresses represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel, symbol of our diversity and broad scope, and also the Twelve Apostles, symbol of God reaching into all the world. 

(Priest sprinkles the Italian cypresses). 

Deacon:

The six gingko trees surrounding the Labyrinth represent the six days of creation.  The entire Labyrinth Circle represents the Seventh Day of Rest God takes after creation.  May this place be a safe and sacred space of rest and renewal. 

(Priest sprinkles the gingkoes.)

Priest:

The Trinity Columbarium and behind it the Trinity Sacred Ground hold the remains of those whom we love, but whom we no longer see.  Their earthly remains are, like seeds, in the earth.  At the last, they will come forth again with us fully alive in Christ, a bountiful and rich harvest of grain and fruit of this life. 

(Priest Sprinkles the Columbarium and behind it the Sacred Ground.)

Deacon:

In procession, let us circle the Labyrinth and then proceed to the Narthex Garden and Trinity Courtyard.  As we process, let us sing the Hymn “Let All Creation Bless the Lord” in your handouts. 

The flowering Cross, Deacon, and Priest leading the way, the group processes to in front of the Parish Offices, and returns to end near the Narthex Garden.  As they process they sing:

[[Lyrics: Carl P. Daw, Jr., metrical version of the “Canticle of Creation,: from the Book of Daniel’s  Song of the Three Children vv. 35-51); Sung to Mit Freuden Zart]]

Let all creation bless the Lord,
till heaven with praise is ringing.
Sun, moon, and stars, peal out a chord,
stir up the angels' singing.
Sing, wind and rain! Sing, snow and sleet!
Make music, day, night, cold, and heat:
exalt the God who made you.

All living things upon the earth,
green fertile hills and mountains,
sing to the God who gave you birth;
be joyful, springs and fountains.
Lithe water-life, bright airborne birds,
wild roving beasts, tame flocks and herds:
exalt the God who made you.

O men and women everywhere,
lift up a hymn of glory;
Let all who know God's steadfast care,
tell out salvation's story.
No tongue be silent; sing your part,
you humble souls and meek of heart:
exalt the God who made you.

In the Narthex Garden

Deacon:

Our gardens here represent the beauty of the earth, and the abundance of God’s blessing.  May they here stand also for our agriculture and our own and community gardens for beauty, food, and sustenance.

 

(Priest Sprinkles the flowers and trees)

Priest:

Let us pray. 

(Rogation Day Collect for Fruitful Season)

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.

Deacon:

Alleluia, Alleluia.  Let us go forth, rejoicing in the beauty of the world and God’s bounty.

People:

Thanks be to God.  Alleluia, Alleluia.