Rogation Day Prayers

It is late in the evening of the last "Rogation Day", that time just before Ascension Day – and almost always in May – when we pray for God's blessing on agriculture, on the year's crops and on fishermen. As we noted here a year ago, the modern church in the industrial age broadened these petitions to include "Commerce and Industry" and also our own Stewardship of Creation.

This evening, then, let us offer from the Book of Common Prayer,

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.

And from A New Zealand Prayer Book,

God of all the earth,
you have given us the heritage
of this good and fertile land;
grant that we may so respect and use it
that others may thank us
for what we leave to them.

We make this prayer through Jesus Christ. Amen.