The Gift of Blessing

Bulletin Cover for January 27, 2013

Dear Friends,

This morning we consider offering blessings for others as a spiritual practice. We may assume that blessings should be left to the "experts", those charged with the spiritual care of others. However, blessing one's family, neighbors and colleagues awakens all involved to experience how God uses the ordinary events of life to touch us with divine love.

Edward Hays, the author of Prayers for the Domestic Church, wrote, "The blessing of persons or objects is not done for the purpose of making them holy, since all that God has created is good and is holy. Rather, blessings call forth grace from God."

Here is a suggested blessing for all occasions in life taken from the United Methodist Book of Worship:

      Lord God, from the abundance of your mercy

      Enrich your servants and safeguard them.

      May they always be thankful to you and bless you with unending joy.

      We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Whatever the words of your blessings, be encouraged to offer the gift of blessing to the world.

God's blessings,

Pastor Sherry