Next week (May 10- May 12) are the annual “Rogation Days” of the Episcopal Church calendar. Rogation Days were a time for congregations to focus on agriculture and the bounty of the developing crops in the fields; in modern times, prayers have also been offered for industry and labor.
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. (Book of Common Prayer, page 259)
In keeping with the focus on agriculture during Rogation Days, I offer the reflection from Bill Robinson of Church of the Transfiguration (Mesa) and Manager of the Crazy Chile Farm, that documents his journey learning about Native American seeds. It is part of a collection of reflections on Rogationtide provided by the Episcopal Networks Collaborative, which consists of The Episcopal Network for Economic Justice (ENEJ), The Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE), and people interested in advancing environmental justice across the United States. The document is entitled Reimagining and Honoring the Ancient Practice of Rogation: Modern Reflections for Rogation Days. Bill’s article begins on page 13.