Bless You *

Today we're talking about blessings, the many varieties of them and the why, when, where, and who of blessings.  I hope these resources will help you to put language to the many ways you can bless people and the world in your every day.  God bless you!

1. The Blessings Archive from author and podcaster Kate Bowler - here you'll find blessings for lots of relatable circumstances

2. A Blessing for the Unemployed, Unimpressive, and Underrepresented, a modern twist on the Sermon on the Mount, by Nadia Bolz Weber

3. A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal, edited by Sarah Bessey

4. My favorite Traditional Irish Blessing

5. To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings, by John O'Donohue

6. Song: The Blessing (Live) by Elevation Worship, Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes

7. Song: Forever Young by Audra Mae

8. Podcast: Eternal Current - here you'll find fresh thoughts on worship, blessing, liturgy and more

9. Journal Prompts:

Can I remember a time when I was blessed by the words or actions of another person?

If I could write a blessing that I'd want said over me, what would it say?

Who in my life might receive a blessing from me today?

When was the last time I remember receiving or witnessing a physical manifestation of blessing through hands, water, or oil?  How did the physicality affect that experience?

10. Fr. John Unni at St. Cecilia's in Boston - his excellent homily from the sixth Sunday of Easter on just who it is that we should bless as a Church. Especially timely for this week ahead, but something we can all be thinking about moving forward as we are church to one another.

11. Song: The Lord Bless And Keep You, arr. Lutkin