On the 23rd August, some from St Marks set off to beat the bounds of our parish! Otherwise known as a rogation walk, a rogation walk is a traditional parish event where the church community comes together to walk around the local area, praying for God’s blessing on the land, crops, businesses, and all who live and work there. The word “rogation” comes from the Latin rogare, meaning “to ask,” and in these walks we ask God for fruitfulness, protection, and care over the community and its resources. It’s also a way of reminding ourselves that all we have comes from God’s creation and that we are called to be good stewards of it.
You can watch a video of our wanderings here – and further down the page, the prayers we said along the way: embracing the wide variety our parish has to offer!
This walk was to help raise money towards the work of our church. If you want to donate, you can do so via the link above.
As we set off
Loving God, as we begin this walk together, we thank you for the gift of fellowship and the chance to pray in the heart of our community. Guide our steps, open our eyes to your presence around us, and help us to carry your love into every place we pass.
The residents, well off and poor
God of compassion, we lift before you all who live here: those who have much and those who struggle with little. Bless every home with peace, provide for those in need, and stir us all to generosity and kindness toward our neighbours.
The allotments
Creator God, we thank you for the allotments, for soil, seeds, and growth. Bless those who work the ground and delight in the fruits of their labour. May their care for creation remind us of your provision and the joy of sharing food with others.
The beauty of creation
Gracious Lord, as we walk through your world, we marvel at the beauty of creation—the trees, skies, and creatures that surround us. Help us to treasure this gift, to protect it faithfully, and to see in it a reflection of your glory.
Pubs and shops
God of community, we pray for the pubs and shops that stand as meeting places and gathering points in our village. Bless those who work in them, and may these places be marked by welcome, friendship, and the strengthening of local life.
The food we eat
Generous God, we give you thanks for daily bread, for the meals we share, and for all whose labour brings food to our tables. Help us to be mindful of those who are hungry, and teach us to live with gratitude and fairness.
The sea
Lord of the oceans, we thank you for the sea that borders our parish and connects us to peoples across the world. May its vastness remind us of your boundless love, and may we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere.
For visitors and holidaymakers
Welcoming God, we pray for all who come to our parish on holiday. May they find rest, joy, and refreshment in the beauty of this place, and may they be met with kindness and warmth from those who call it home. Help us to show your hospitality, that they may leave with good memories and a sense of your love.
For Oakhaven Hospice and those in need of care
God of comfort and compassion, we lift before you Oakhaven Hospice, and all who find themselves nearing the end of life. Surround patients with your peace, strengthen those who care for them, and hold families in your tender love. We pray too for all in our parish who are ill or unwell, in body, mind, or spirit—may they know your grace, your healing presence, and your gentle care.
Local schools
God of wisdom, we pray for our schools, for teachers and staff, and for all who learn and grow within their walls. Bless the children and young people of this parish, that they may discover their gifts, build strong friendships, and flourish in your care.
Our church at the centre of Pennington
Lord of the Church, we give you thanks for St Mark’s and for all it represents at the heart of Pennington. May it continue to be a place of welcome, worship, and witness, drawing people closer to you and serving the needs of our parish. Thank you for guiding our footsteps truly this day, as we circle back to recognise your position in our lives. Lord you gather us here through the celebrations of baptism and marriage, the regular reminder of your glory in weekly services and when we feel lost and alone as we remember those who have died. May we continue to ever find you in our lives: here at St Marks and Indeed in all places our lives take us.
