Rogation-tide

Rogation-tide begins on the Sunday five weeks after Easter and continues for four more days, through Ascension Day on Thursday. 

Rogation is an early Christian tradition of singing psalms and chanting prayers of petition for God's protection on crops, beasts and people. Since medieval days, England parishioners would walk around the parish boundaries, bearing a cross and banners, and asking for God to bless the crops, livestock, and fishing holes. The procession was called 'beating the bounds'; before maps were commonplace, it helped everyone to remember the parish boundaries.

These boundary walks were also known as ‘gang days’ from the Anglo Saxon word ‘gangen’- to go. The parish would bond together as a community, offer charity to poor people they met along the way, and the priest would stop to preach at each prominent tree or landmark.

Now Rogation-tide is celebrated more as a time to honor the gift of creation of the land and waters, to offer thanksgiving for the labors on land and water that feed us, and to pray for stewardship of the earth. 

Hawthorn tree in our front yard.

Agenda today:

1. Beat the bounds:

A parish is church territory, but I use it to mean the land that I feel responsible for, my home-neighborhood. This is my annual chance to look at my neighborhood and my community with open eyes, and consider how I can help to support those who work to feed me, and how I can be a better steward of the land.

It's especially important to me now, as I work on climate justice, to regain a sense of responsibility for my parish.

Sadie (looking anxious) in front of our neighborhood store, with a large black walnut tree.

The bounds of my parish extend roughly eight blocks square, from our neighborhood store to the north, our park to the east, the drainage creek to the south, and the school I teach at to the west.

Beautiful tulip poplar at our park.

I had a special guest this year, as I walked the bounds- my mother joined me and Sadie! 


I stop at "trees of importance" to say these prayers:

Huge Oregon white oak behind the fairgrounds.

For rains and fruitful seasons, and your blessing upon the lands and waters, 

I pray to you, Oh God. 

Small dogwood tree at my school.

For all who work upon the earth and seas to bring forth food for all your creatures, I pray to you, Oh God. 

Incense cedars close to my home.

For all who care for the earth, the water, and the air, that the riches of your creation may abound from age to age, 

I pray to you, Oh God. 

Amen.

2. Bless my garden: 

When I got home from my boundary walk, I went to my garden to ask blessings on my seeds, animals, trees, and beds-

Great Spirit, Creator of all things and Giver of all life, let your blessing be upon this garden, the animals and people who live here, and grant that we may serve. Amen.

3. Research: 

Read up on farm-worker and small farmer issues, as well as local environmental issues. 

What service am I called to do?

4. Make Rammalation Biscuits:

While technically these are days of fasting, in England the tradition was to gather after the Rogation Procession to drink "ganging beer" and eat "rammalation biscuits." 

Unfortunately, no one knows what rammalation biscuits are- possibly a cookie to eat while you "perambulate”? I decided to make a classic English Digestive Biscuit, and they are very yummy.

Ingredients: 

• 3/4-c. whole-wheat flour 
• 1/3 c. butter, chilled 
• 1-c. rolled oats 
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda 
• 1/4 c. raw sugar 
• 2-3 Tbsp. cold milk 

Yield: 10 cookies-

1- Combine the flour and oats in a mixing bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or two knives. Add the soda, sugar, and salt. 

2- Stir in 2-Tbsp. milk, or a bit more, and knead in the bowl to make dough that holds together well. 

3- Flatten into a disc, wrap in plastic or wax paper, and chill for 30 minutes. (This resting time will make the biscuits more tender and crisp.) 







4- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Roll out the dough until it is a bit more than 1/8-inch thick, and cut into any desired shape. Traditional digestives are about 2-1/2-inches round. 

5- Place on ungreased cookie sheets, prick evenly with a fork and bake until pale gold, about 12 to 15 minutes.

6- Serve with beer!