Welcome to Weobley & Staunton Joint Benefice

Rogation Sunday falls on the fifth Sunday after Easter in the Church of England calendar. It takes place in the spring, during the planting season. Rogation comes from the Latin verb rogare – to ask. Rogationtide is a time of asking, asking God’s blessings on emerging crops: a time when churches pray for life and growth during the growing season.

In times gone by when everything depended on the local harvest, this was vital. A failed local harvest meant starvation, so asking God’s blessing was seen as important. Rogation Sunday and the three following Rogation Days commemorate Jesus' final days on earth before his Ascension. They focus on the earth, agriculture, and human dependence on God.

Rogation services often include a prayer walk and blessing of the earth. In some parishes, the tradition of "beating the bounds" is still followed, which involves walking the boundaries of the parish, praying psalms, and asking for God's blessing upon the fields and homes of the parish. Rogationtide also leads to the tradition of seeking reconciliation in personal relationships.

We are holding a Rogationtide walk through local orchards this coming Sunday, 18th May, starting at Byford Church at 3pm and ending at Monnington Church, where we hold a brief service. This will be followed by refreshments, which this year have been generously sponsored by the British Pilgrimage Trust. All are welcome to join us as we pray for the fruitfulness of the harvest and enjoy each other’s company in the beauty of His creation.

Rev’d Philip

In our gospel reading for the third Sunday of Easter, the risen Christ appears to the disciples once again by the lakeside in Galilee. They have spent a night fishing, with no catch. At daybreak, he directs them to cast their nets to the other side of the boat, and they haul in a catch of 153 fish. This miracle is another sign of Jesus’ divinity and a startling reminder to us of his power to provide.

This is particularly important for us living in a time when governments, companies and the media tell us continually that we are living in age of austerity; that the fiscal tank has run dry. When these messages reach saturation point, it’s very easy to become convinced that we are living in a time of scarcity. And yet, if we consider our standard of living in comparison to so many people on our planet (and throughout history) we have far more than we actually need.

The problem is one of perception. When people start to believe in the doomsayers of scarcity, they stop being generous with their resources. This may well be one of the reasons our churches are under-funded and the Diocese of Hereford is now facing a one-million-pound operating deficit. Bishop Richard has issued a call to prayer on Monday 12th May, focusing on the meeting of this need. It could be that the answer to this prayer lies with us, and our decision to exercise faith and be generous.

Rev’d Philip