Tree Blessing

We have two new community members here at Grace House ... of the arboreal variety. We decided to plant two Japanese Maples both to beautify our not very beautiful parking strip, and as a concrete way of living out our CSJP commitment to care for creation.

After our house meeting this afternoon--during which we calculated our carbon footprint and talked about ways to reduce our footprint--we went outside for a simple tree blessing.

May these Japanese Maple trees
be trees of life to all the earth.
May their leaves breathe forth
the life-breath of oxygen.
May they give to all who look upon them
the gift of life-renewing beauty.
May these trees be a reminder to us
of our commitment to be peacemakers
and support the integrity of creation.

God of all creation, we give you thanks for the gift of Earth, our home. Bless our efforts to cherish and protect your creation. We ask this in the name of Jesus our brother and the Spirit who gives us life. Amen.