It took a bike blessing ceremony for me to go to church today. In this day and age (I've talked about it before) churches need to reinvent themselves to draw new followers, and as people begin to shift their values from one place to another, churches should not only recognize the shifts, but embrace them. That is what happened when cyclist Cynthia Van Ness approached Reverend Drew (Ludwig), asking whether he would entertain a 'Blessing of the Bikes'. Drew (photo right), an avid cyclist himself, declared that he would conduct the blessing as a remembrance of those cyclists who have lost their lives on the road as well as a blessing for those who take their lives in their hands each day when they leave their house on two wheels.
On the way out of the church, there was a collection plate in which to drop a couple of bucks for the church as well as a collection helmet where cyclists could support the efforts of Green Options Buffalo. As churchgoers filed out the door, Drew asked that they ring their bells and toot their horns to mark the occasion. As for me, I know that I'll be going to church at least once a year and that's a pretty big deal. Actually, make that twice a year thanks to the annual pet blessing ceremony that Drew also offers. Now, if Drew offered an orchid blessing I might go three times a year - for the life of me I can't figure out how people keep those plants from biting the dust!
I all seriousness, Blessing of the Bikes is about spiritual awareness and/or general bike safety. Call it psycho-semantics or divine intervention, but the next time I narrowly swerve out of the way of being 'doored', I'll think back to the blessing and say a Hail Mary for Drew. In a sports town like Buffalo, maybe even the Hail Mary might even start to be used outside of the context of football. As for BYOB? Bring your own bikes, of course.
Lafayette Presbyterian Church kicks off National Bike to Work Week. Get your ride out on the road starting tomorrow!
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On the way out of the church, there was a collection plate in which to drop a couple of bucks for the church as well as a collection helmet where cyclists could support the efforts of Green Options Buffalo. As churchgoers filed out the door, Drew asked that they ring their bells and toot their horns to mark the occasion. As for me, I know that I'll be going to church at least once a year and that's a pretty big deal. Actually, make that twice a year thanks to the annual pet blessing ceremony that Drew also offers. Now, if Drew offered an orchid blessing I might go three times a year - for the life of me I can't figure out how people keep those plants from biting the dust!
I all seriousness, Blessing of the Bikes is about spiritual awareness and/or general bike safety. Call it psycho-semantics or divine intervention, but the next time I narrowly swerve out of the way of being 'doored', I'll think back to the blessing and say a Hail Mary for Drew. In a sports town like Buffalo, maybe even the Hail Mary might even start to be used outside of the context of football. As for BYOB? Bring your own bikes, of course.
Lafayette Presbyterian Church kicks off National Bike to Work Week. Get your ride out on the road starting tomorrow!
I don't know what to think of this. Blessing dogs is one thing, but inanimate objects? I think I would feel better if the priest was blessing the bike riders...not the actual bikes (was he?).
actually, all of the prayers were prayed for people, and the water was sprinkled onto bikes and people.