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Two months out Bike blessing


Each peti- tion ends with “God of life,” and is fol-


Matthew Nickoloff and Nadia Bolz-Weber, vicar and pastor of House for all Sinners and Saints, Denver, at a blessing of bicycles open to all “regard- less of religious affiliation, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, fat or thin tires, and brand of bike. We even welcome unicyclists and Unitarians.”


Spirit-driven spokes H


ouse for all Sinners and Saints, Denver, is one of a growing num- ber of churches to offer a blessing of bicycles every spring or sum- mer. Parishioners are well aware that urban biking is not without peril, said Nadia Bolz-Weber, pastor. So she blesses bikes with holy water and incense.


The street corner blessing begins with a reading from Ezekiel 1:17-


21: When they “rose from the earth, the wheels rose ... along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.” Prayers follow (see “Bike blessing”).


The “Blessing of the Bicycles” used at House for all Sinners and Saints is included in the 2011 Year A edition of Sundays and Seasons (Augsburg Fortress, Publishers), as is the “Blessing of Bicycles and Other Wheeled Things” from Jennifer Moland-Kovash, a pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church, Palatine, Ill. Every Memorial Day weekend, All Saints blesses bikes, scooters and helmets or “any representation of what they ride,” Moland-Kovash said. “We also ask for God’s protection on those of us who drive, that we will see those on bikes.”


Jodi Houge also blesses bikes at Humble Walk Lutheran Chapel, St. Paul, Minn., a worshiping community that meets at an art gallery in the winter and at outside locations in the summer. The pastor said that on the first Saturday afternoon in May they invite the community to have their bikes blessed in a park. Last year volunteer mechanics offered tune-ups. Her husband welded a thurible (in which to burn incense) out of bike parts for the occasion, and made a second one as a gift for the Denver congregation. Even the local bike-powered ice cream “truck” was blessed, Houge said. Subscribers to sundaysandseasons.com can find the blessings under the library tab of “Seasons Resources” and “Seasonal Rites for Summer under Sundays.” 


lowed by the people’s response “Hear our prayer.” • Let us pray. Present in a world groaning under the excesses of consumption we acknowledge the inherent goodness of non- motorized human powered transportation and give thanks for the simple beauty of the bicycle. • Present in a community filled with chil- dren we pray for those learning to ride. Keep them smart, safe and visible on their neighborhood roads. • Present in a community filled with strife we pray for the victims of road rage and bike theft. And we ask for the strength to forgive mean people. • Present in a world of work we pray for those who build, repair and clean our bikes and those who rely on bicycles to earn their living. Bless those who choose to not drive to work and those for whom driving isn’t even an option. • Present in a community of beautiful diver- sity we ask your protection and blessing on all who ride: Pedi cabbies, weekend war- riors, athletes, homeless folks, students, children, eco-warriors, bike co-op anar- chists, messengers and all the others who take to the Denver streets, bike paths, parks and mountains. Keep us safe as we ride. • We now observe a moment of silence for all who have died while riding .… Amen. • Now receive this blessing and bless one another by repeating each phrase after me as we bless you with water and incense: May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be ever at your back. May all your journeying be joyous. And until we meet again may God hold you and your bicycles in the palm of God’s hand. Go in peace and safety. Amen.


Nadia Bolz-Weber Does your congregation do a specific ministry in May, June, July or August? Send details to julie.sevig@thelutheran.org. March 2012 39


AMY CLIFFORD


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