This year Bob Daudlin arranged for us to travel up river to St. Peter's church for the annual blessing of the fleet. The weather was a little on the chilly side however the priest arrived at the dock and the fleet received the blessing below:


Blessed are You, Lord our God,
     for You have created a wide and wonderful
     world in which we can travel.

Radiant Lord,
     we rejoice with hearts filled with gratitude
     that You are not a hidden God
     for You reveal Yourself daily
     through the mystery of travel and journeys.

Blessed are You Illuminator of all Creation,
     for the gifts of sunrise, high noon and sunset.

May your majesty and glory
     shine out from within all of creation
     as well as from the sea, the sun,
     the moon and the stars

May You, Holy guide of Boaters,
     be their ever-near companion,
     spreading the way before them
     with beauty and adventure.

Free that way from harm and evil,
     and send as their escort
     Your holy spirits and Your angelic messengers,
     who accompanied the voyagers of days past.

On this journey, may they take with them,
     as part of their traveling equipment,
     a heart wrapped in wonder
     with which to rejoice in all they shall meet.

 Along with that clothing of wonder,
     may they have room for a mystic map.

With the aid of this map,
     may they read the invisible meanings
     of the events of their journeys -
     of possible disappointments and delays,
     of possible breakdowns and rainy day troubles.

Always awake to Your sacred presence
     and to Your Divine compassionate love,
     they shall see in all that happens,
     in the beautiful and in the bad,
     the mystery of Your holy plan.

Father,
     you have given Your people skills to build boats
     in order to explore the wonders of Your creation.

May all who sail the waters
     be inspired by your Spirit
     to rejoice in a greater unity with Your creation.

May the blessing of the Father,
     and of the Son,
     and of the Holy Spirit
     be upon these sailors and these boats.
     May it shield them from all harm
     and bring them home again in safety and in peace.

Amen.