A number of you have asked me about the blessing we concluded the service with on Sunday, and so I thought I would paste it below for you. As a priest I have been surprised to discover immense joy in speaking 'blessings' into people's lives, not simply at the end of the service but in lots of different occasions. And I am in agreement with David Adams, whose thoughts you will see below, that 'blessing' is not just the task of a priest. Do read on... 

Celtic Daily Prayer Blessing: *

When you no longer know how to be,
may the Father take you on your deeper journey.
When you no longer know what to do,
may the Spirit reveal to you your fitting task.
When all feels lost or foreign,
may you know your home in Christ.

On the path that is before you,
may you have companions for the journey,
may you find Christ in the stranger,
and may you know the love and blessing of God.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

*From the Celtic Communion, by the Northumbria Community From: Celtic Daily Prayer Book 2: Farther Up and Farther In ISBN 978-0-00-810019-3

A Few Thought from David Adams ** on Blessings:

Blessings are what God bestows on us, continually. Hos whole action towards us is blessing, from the blessing of life itself to the gifts He showers upon us. The great blessings are the gift of Himself and the gift of eternal life. No blessing is ours by right, but in his love He offers them to us freely. Grace is the free action of God to us. What we are asked to do is to respond, to allow the blessing to work, and to see God work in our lives.

Blessings must not be confined to a service, these are only expressions of reality. Blessings are be discovered, voiced and lived in our day-to-day life...

Blessings are what a mother bestows on upon her family, what a worker bestows on his firm, what a good citizen bestows upon her community. And these blessings are gifts from God to us and working through us. 

A Few More Blessings **

#1
The Creator who brought order out of chaos 
give peace to you.
The Saviour who stilled the raging storm, 
give peace to you.
The Spirit who broods on the deeps, 
give peace to you.

#2
The Lord who conquered darkness with light,
give peace to you.
The Lord who conquered death with life
give peace to you
The Lord who conquered loneliness with love
give peace to you.

#3
The Father of many resting places grant you rest;
The Christ who stilled the storm grant you calm;
The Spirit who fills all things grant you peace.
God's light be your light,
God's love be your love,
God's way be your way,
And the blessing of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit 
Remain with you always.

** From 'The Open Gate: Celtic Prayers for Growing Spirituality' by David Adams 1996, 2004