Rogation Days

The days between now and Ascensiontide are called Rogation days because they are set aside as days of prayer. Rogation comes from a Latin word meaning to ask or pray, and we certainly have much to pray about at this time. Naturally, agriculturally oriented societies spend much of their Rogation prayers asking God to bless their herds and crops so they will have the food they need. In more industrial societies people ask God to bless them with "honourable industry." Surely, as the Prayer Book reminds us, all can pray for sound learning, pure manners and to be saved from violence, discord, confusion, pride, arrogancy, and every evil way. Of course, it is important for those in industrial societies to remember that they, too, depend on the fruit of the earth for their sustenance. Therefore let them pray earnestly for good weather and a bountiful harvest. Floods and drought have already affected much of the world's food supply this year. Let us beseech God to deliver us from them, lest there be shortage and need...

"Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth; We beseech thee to pour forth thy blessing upon this land, and give us a fruitful season; that we, constantly receiving thy bounty, may give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."  ~Collect for The Rogation Days

Helpful words from Bishop Dennis Campbell

The Third Sunday after Easter: The Collect

ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer, 1928

Doves Going to Nigeria with Rafiki Foundation

For centuries, the faithful Church has prayed,

Almighty God, look mercifully upon the world which thou hast redeemed by the blood of thy dear Son, and incline the hearts of many to dedicate themselves to the sacred Ministry of thy Church; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Book of Common Prayer 1928).

Insofar as mission is an integral part of the Church’s ministry to our broken, ignorant, hurting, gospel-needing world, God has given a personal answer to that prayer through two friends of ours.

Our dear brother and sister in Christ, Gehrig and Ronda Dove, have answered the Lord’s call to serve him in Africa through the powerful and faithful ministry of the Rafiki Foundation.  Rafiki is a unique missional organization, which truly seeks to give flesh and bone to St. James’ description of “pure religion,” which is to “visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (1:27). 

The mission of the Rafiki Foundation is to help Africans know God by caring for and educating orphans, providing materials and training in education and Bible study, and giving economic opportunities to widows. 

The Doves are currently preparing to leave their home in Lexington, Virginia for Nigeria by April 20, if passports and other logistical needs come through.  I know there is still much demanding their attention on the home front.  So, I would challenge you to support these two in the good work on which they are embarking for Christ’s namesake.  Please pray for them.  You can better know how to pray by reading their current newsletters and adding your name to their newsletter updates through email.  I would also challenge you to consider offering the Doves financial support .  There are a number of uncertainties before the Doves, but one thing is not: they are palpably aware of their utter dependence upon God’s mercy, grace, and blessings for each day and those ahead. 

So, just know, “beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brethren, strangers as they are...You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.  For they have gone out for the sake of the name...Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth” (3 Jn. 5—8). 

O LORD, our heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be ministered unto, but to minister; We beseech thee to bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of their fellow men. Endue them with wisdom, patience, and courage to strengthen the weak and raise up those who fall; that, being inspired by thy love, they may worthily minister in thy Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the sake of him who laid down his life for us, the same thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen (BCP 1928). 

Eastertide Collect, Book of Common Prayer (1928)

Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Do Something: Fight for the Oppressed

Fanny on the global crisis of child sex trafficking...a call to action.  Please see some of the organizations she mentions in the sidebar, "E-difying Sites," on the blog.  

"To do nothing in the face of evil is to become part of that evil." -- author unknown

Fighting the Good Fight of the Faithful

Anugrah Kumar of The Christian Post reports, “The Obama administration on Friday filed a brief, urging the Supreme Court to strike down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which keeps the federal government from recognizing same-sex couples legally married in states, and calling the law unconstitutional.”

Let us therefore fight this further attack on normative values with the mightiest weapons we have!  “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Cor. 10:3—4). All of the Right’s lobbying and protest is impotent, without recognizing and fighting the spiritual darkness back of the personalities and powers.  So, let us, “in one accord,” pray for courts of justice in our land.

ALMIGHTY God, who sittest in the throne judging right; We humbly beseech thee to bless the courts of justice and magistrates in all this land; and give unto them a spirit of wisdom and understanding, that they may discern the truth, and impartially administer the law in the fear of thee alone; through him who shall come to be our Judge, they Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen! (BCP, 1928, pp. 35—36). 

How Long, until we will hear the voice of Wisdom, who beckons us, saying, “Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.  Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding” (Prov. 9:4—6)?