GOD'S GRACE IS MEANT TO BE SHARED
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ABOUT
Church of the Incarnation, where I serve as an Episcopal priest, sits on Madison Avenue at 35th Street in Manhattan. There are loads of passers by all day long. The vast majority of them don't come inside of course, but the constant foot traffic presents an opportunity for one of my favorite kinds of ministry - prayer on the street. Every Tuesday morning from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m., I stand outside the church doors in my vestments (a fancy name for robes) with a sign that reads, "Ask me for a blessing. God's grace is meant to be shared."
During the half hour I'm out there, most people walk by me without making eye contact. Several smile and nod or say, "Good morning." Ten or so actually stop and request a blessing. In that moment, I introduce myself, get the person's name, and ask if there's anything s/he needs prayer for. Responses vary but I've noticed some themes - a sick loved one, a struggling child, an upcoming job interview, the need for more peace and less stress, the state of our nation. Half of those who stop are in crisis. Someone always cries. And a few are simply curious or just looking for a good way to start the day. Each time, I offer a prayer based on the need expressed. Then I close by making the sign of the cross on the person's forehead and pronouncing a blessing in the name of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
It's a surprisingly intimate experience. Coming before God with a complete stranger, united by a shared and often fervent desire for the Holy Spirit to move in that person's life. There is no pretense on either side. No need to impress. Prayer cuts through all our superficiality, right down to the heart of getting real about our need for God. This is where grace abounds. Grace from God that is meant to be shared by those who gather in God's name.
May you find grace in these stories of prayer and blessing.
(Certain identifying details have been changed to preserve confidentiality and anonymity.)
Rev. Adrian Dannhauser
ASK ME FOR A BLESSING
February 22, 2018
To my knowledge, last week was the first time an atheist accepted a blessing from me. It wasn’t my usual blessing in the name of the Trinity, and it wasn’t particularly prayerful given our lack of shared belief. I simply said, “May God use you as a vessel of love and g...
February 15, 2018
Today I gave out ashes instead of blessings. It's both Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day, an overlap that hasn't happened in over 70 years. There is tension in trying to observe both days in the spirits in which they are intended. Penitence and fasting on one hand, dec...
February 9, 2018
Sleek haircut. Sharp suit. Expensive watch. Late 30s / early 40s. Very rarely does a man fitting this description stop for prayer. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because seeking prayer, especially in public, is an admission of need. For some, prayer belies the image of...
February 1, 2018
She said it so nonchalantly. “Oh, you know, misery.” That’s what she wanted me to pray about. Misery. Her misery. There was a touch of humor in her words, and she gave me a wry smile. But I could tell she was dead serious.
She didn't want to t...
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209 Madison Ave
New York, New York County 10016
USA