You would almost think it was a holiday~ but this is just what happens when we don’t have to get up super early to get to church by 9:15am. 🙂
Jared made us all French toast in bed. It was DELICIOUS…
We went to a nursery near us to browse and pick up a flat of petunias… we got two flats and a bunch of herb starters…. because I can never help myself. But c’mon, they had orange mint and chocolate mint… and pineapple sage. Who could say no to that?
They did not have cinnamon mint, which was my favorite thing I grew last year. I have some seeds, but I want a starter. Keeping my eye out.
We had some weeding and fertilizing to do up front, then we planted the petunias.
While I was weeding the front bushes- a DUCK FLEW OUT OVER MY HEAD! She has a nest back there! If you zoom in you can see that she flew to the sidewalk.
The peonies are doing better this year, we had to clear this whole bed of ivy last year. We smothered the ground with cardboard and a deeeeeep mulch. It helped so much. Though we do still need to get some of that ivy down.
If you are wondering why we didn’t have to get up early, it was because the Detroit Grand Prix was in town and our church was in the raceway- turn #2. They were also hosting the caterers. So we had a rogation service at one of our congregation members urban farm in Detroit. He even cleared us an area to have a pumpkin patch this year.
What’s Rogation? The idea of rogation has its roots, as it were, in the Latin word rogare, which means “to ask”. At this gathering, we ask for blessings for all the growers and gardeners in the parish, for all small farms and those who tend them, and for the courage to be faithful, constant stewards of Creation.
One of the pieces in the service brought me to tears- it felt so beautiful and rich…
The Celebrant continues
It is right in all times and in all places to thank and praise you, Creator of all. We praise you in this beautiful garden so faithfully tended here at Knagg’s Creek Farm on the west side of the city of Detroit, near the thoroughfares of Warren and I-96, and the Rouge and Detroit Rivers. We praise you at a time when the body of earth is broken again and again.
We give thanks for our place in the story of salvation. Our ancestors journeyed with you in creation and migration. They depended on the land, were displaced from the land and displaced others from their lands. They knew you in tents and cities, on mountains and by wells, in families and in dreams, and through wilderness prophets who spoke of cedars and listened to ravens.
Together with angels and ancestors, the oaks and the robins, the pheasants and the falcons, the sturgeon and the otters, the bees and the flowers, the squash and the beans, we join our voices with all creation in this ancient honor song:
Celebrant and People
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Then this reading as the blessing-
Blessed be the Creator and all creative hands which plant and harvest, pack and haul and hand over sustenance— Blessed be carrot and cow potato and mushroom, tomato and bean,
parsley and peas,
onion and thyme,
garlic and bay leaf,
pepper and water,
marjoram and oil,
and blessed be fire—
and blessed be the enjoyment of nose and eye,and blessed be color—
and blessed be the Creator
for the miracle of red potato,
for the miracle of green bean,
for the miracle of fawn mushrooms,and blessed be God
“Blessing of the Stew Pot” Alla Renée Bozarth
for the miracle of earth: ancestors, grass, bird,
deer and all gone,
wild creatures
whose bodies become carrots, peas, and wild flowers, who
give sustenance
to human hands, whose
agile dance of music nourishes the ear
and soul of the dog
resting under the stove
and the woman working over the stove and the geese
out the open window strolling in the backyard.
and blessed be God
for all, all, all.
Our church is so special. In addition to the current Priests and congregation being the best in the land. The Church itself is steeped in history and tradition. I cry weekly and often sit in the pews to just FEEL the energy of support and love.
https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/christ-church
We came home and played some games- this poor monopoly board has gotten so much love, it ripped in half. But we keep on playing because it is our favorite. We are upgrading to a new board soon, we think Juniper is ready for the full Monopoly game. She got this for Christmas 2022, and has mastered it. I highly recommend it.
Leave a Reply