Creation Care in Action: Rogation at Hickory Nut Gap

Last week, members of Trinity’s Creation Care ministry visited Hickory Nut Gap Farm to mark Rogation Days by praying for God’s blessing on land, animals, and the people who depend on them. Rogation, from a Latin word meaning “asking,” is an old Christian practice of walking the land before Ascension and asking God’s mercy and protection in times of both abundance and uncertainty.

At Hickory Nut Gap, those prayers were set in the context of a farm that has built its operation around regenerative agriculture—using holistic, planned grazing to move herds between pastures so grasses can rest and regrow, building healthier soil, and allowing the land to hold more water and support more life. Their commitment to soil health, biodiversity, and humane, pasture-based livestock makes them a regional leader in this kind of restorative farming.

During the service, participants named the ways human choices

contribute to environmental harm and prayed for communities already living with the effects of climate change. The Great Litany and Rogation petitions gave language both to confess “waste and pollution” and to ask God for favorable weather, fruitful seasons, and strength for those who care for the land. Offering those prayers in a place that is actively working to restore soil, protect waterways, and model more sustainable agriculture gave the day a particular resonance.

Members of Trinity who feel drawn to this kind of prayerful, practical care for creation are warmly invited to get involved with the Creation Care Committee. To learn more or to join in the work, email mparsons123@gmail.com