Celebrating Rogation Sunday in the Benefice of Brafferton with Pilmoor, Myton on Swale and Thormanby.
The sixth Sunday of Easter is traditionally kept as ‘Rogation Sunday’ – from the Latin Rogare, to ask – when churches pray for a blessing on their particular place, its people and their work.
In the Benefice of Brafferton in Easingwold Deanery this year, Rogation Sunday was marked by a processional journey around fields of this farming area accompanied by Bishop of Selby the Rt Revd Dr John Thomson, to give thanks for God’s bounty, and ending with a celebratory service of Holy Communion.
Vicar the Revd Charlotte Cranfield writes:
“A cycle ride was planned and seven cyclists came from Brafferton joining us for the first stop of the procession meeting at Thormanby. We stood by the fields for prayers and a blessing for the community, before walking to the door of St Mary Magdalene Church where Bishop John gave a blessing for the church family.
“For the second leg of our procession, we travelled on to St Peter’s Church, Brafferton. Again, starting within the village for prayers and a blessing for the community and then going to the church door for a blessing for the church family.
“We then made our way to Myton where we congregated by the Old Water Pump, the cyclists caught up with us at this point, for prayers and a blessing before gathering in St Mary’s Church for a service of Holy Communion.
“The morning culminated with everyone enjoying refreshments together. This was a morning where the whole benefice came together as a whole family.”
