Rev. Joan Javier-Duval

May 15, 2016

On this third Sunday of our 5th Annual Walk/Bike to Church Month, we recommit ourselves to protecting the earth our home through our use of sustainable modes of transportation.

We begin our blessing of the bicycles ceremony with first wishing blessings upon all those who travel with our full diversity of modes of transportation.

I invite you to share with me these “BEATITUDES OF TRANSIT.”

Blessed are the bicyclists,
who travel as commuters or for pleasure, who harness human energy and ingenuity to power their travel along roads and trails.
Blessed are the pedestrians,
who feel the contours of the land under their feet with every step.
Blessed are the bus passengers,
who ride shoulder to shoulder with strangers who become brothers and sisters on their daily journeys.
Blessed are the motorists who drive with care and caution,

showing mercy to their fellow travelers on the road.

Blessed are the truck drivers, the train conductors, the bus drivers,
whose daily labor connects us with new resources, new places, and new communities. Blessed are you when you breathe fresh air, drink clean water, observe blossoming flowers, and yearn to create a world where every person can share in such delights.
 Amen.

Now, before we bless our bicycles, let’s go around and introduce ourselves and share a word or two about your bicycle.

BLESSING OF THE BICYCLES
Please join me in a time of prayer and blessing:

we acknowledge the inherent goodness of non-motorized human powered transportation and give thanks for the simple beauty of the bicycle.

Present in a world of work we honor those who build, repair and clean our bikes and those who rely on bicycles to earn their living. 

Present in a community of beautiful diversity we offer blessings on all who ride:
the weekend warriors, the athletes, homeless folks, children, children-toting parents, the eco-conscious,
and all others who take to the streets, bike paths, parks and mountains of our communities.

Now, let us bless the bicycles brought to this place,
these faithful companions to their human engines.
May their gears and chains shift and churn with ease.
May their tires stay well-inflated and stay free from sharp impediments.
And, may their brakes always apply just the right amount of pressure at just the right moment.

May you, their riders be kept safe;
May cyclists of all ages and abilities be smart, safe and visible on our roads. May you be strengthened in body and spirit;
may your lives further reflect your commitment
to the stewardship of the Earth;
and may the wind that blows in your hair and faces
ever remind you of your interconnection.
May all cyclists across Montpelier,
throughout Central Vermont, and all around the world be safe and blessed.

So may it be.

Amen