The Sacrament of Evangelist Blessing

The God of Blessing

Life is sacred. From the smallest grain of sand to the immensity of the star-filled universe, God is forever creating, sustaining, and seeking to bless life. You are because God is. You are because love is not something that god does; love is something that god is. The heartbeat of blessing is unconditional love—a love that seeks yet doesn’t demand—a love that invites, even pursues, yet never invades. You partake of God’s blessing through family, friends, nature, music, art, poetry, profession—the list is endless. Every expression of being—the very breath you breathe—is God’s blessing of life. No one—Christian or non-Christian, faithful or faithless—falls outside the circle of God’s love and blessing. Throughout scripture, God is known as a God of blessing.

So God created humankind in his image…male and female he created them. God blessed them.—Genesis 1:27–28 NRSV

I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.…in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.—Genesis 12:2–3 NRSV

The God who blessed Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, the families of the earth, and the disciples of Jesus, also wants to bless you.

God loves you, knows you by name, and invites you to partake of the infinite blessings of life and creation. Possibly the deepest longing of the human heart is to be known and loved unconditionally. There are circumstances when every person needs God’s specific blessing of guidance, inspiration, and encouragement. In Community of Christ, the sacrament of evangelist blessing provides such ministry.

This sacrament—given through an ordained minister of blessing—combines human touch, the spoken word, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is an experience in which you may “receive divine peace in the midst of the difficult questions and struggles of life” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:2a). It is an encounter in which “God yearns to draw you close so that wounds may be healed, emptiness filled, and hope strengthened” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:10a).

Why a Blessing?

The blessing’s purpose is to strengthen your life journey. It is a moment of divine/human encounter where God’s love and assurance is revealed. It is a process that awakens you to the presence of the One who has given you life, knowing who you are and who you may become. Positive response to this spiritual experience—and the unique guidance it provides—will nurture you and assure your identity and ultimate worth amid the changes and challenges of life. It helps prepare you to be a blessing to others.

The sacrament of evangelist blessing is an invitation to deepen your individual relationship with God. The blessing offers words of affirmation, assurance, peace, and recognition of giftedness. It may provide counsel about spiritual and relationship choices. It can increase faith, knowledge, courage, patience, integrity of heart, and spiritual strength. It offers neither predictions nor simplistic solutions to your concerns, but gives God’s ever-present care amid all of life’s circumstances.

Who May Receive a Blessing?

The sacrament of evangelist blessing is available to people of all beliefs and faith traditions who understand its purpose and desire to receive it. Traditionally it is not given to children under the age of eight.

A blessing need not be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and may be received at various points of need or times of transition such as graduation, marriage, job transfer, serious illness, career change, divorce, or retirement.

Who Gives a Blessing?

While the words of the blessing are given through an evangelist, it is God who blesses you.

What Is an Evangelist?

An evangelist’s primary role is to be a minister of blessing and a sanctuary to those in need. He or she is an ordained minister in Community of Christ serving as a special witness of Christ, spiritual companion, pastoral presence, teaching learner, and living sanctuary. Evangelists help build a bridge between the secular and the spiritual in your life by creating opportunity for personal reflection and discernment—and conferring special prayers of blessing.

Preparation for a Blessing

The blessing experience is a process. It begins with contact and discussion between you and the evangelist.

The evangelist offers guidance for reflection on God’s presence in your life, perhaps through scripture references, devotional reading, music, or other activities. Though not a requirement, writing a brief spiritual autobiography may be suggested: for ex-ample, reflecting on first memories of God, favorite scriptures, important literature, personal journaling, hymns, songs, questions, and concerns. It may also reference times when God’s presence seemed most evident, as well as times when God seemed most distant.

While there is no prescribed number of meetings or conversations in the preparation process, both you and the evangelist are expected to make personal prayerful preparation for the sacrament. You work together until both feel comfortable that the time is right for the sacrament.

The Experience of the Sacrament of Blessing

You and the evangelist agree upon a time and place for the blessing. The setting should be private, peaceful, and worshipful. This may include the use of music, scripture, or other symbolic items of choice. Typically the only persons present will be you and the evangelist. If requested, however, a family member or close friend may join you.

At the moment of blessing, you are usually seated. The evangelist stands behind you, places his or her hands gently on your head, and offers the prayer of blessing. A few moments of silent reflection are fitting at the end of the prayer.

Each evangelist may approach this sacrament differently, while being sensitive to your needs and wishes. Some evangelists offer the prayer of blessing free of written notes, drawing upon insights shared in the preparation process and the immediate impress of the Holy Spirit. Some evangelists use notes. Some have the blessing completely composed, reading it while remaining sensitive to insights from the Spirit during the sacrament. All are appropriate methods and are done according to the evangelist’s personal preference and how she or he feels led at the time.

An audio recording of the blessing is made whenever possible, and a printed copy is given to you for your personal use. A confidential copy of the blessing is stored in the office of the Presiding Evangelist at International Headquarters in Independence, Missouri, USA. It is available for copying if the original is lost.

You are encouraged to prayerfully reread the blessing from time to time, drawing upon its spiritual counsel. Particular passages may be relevant to your journey at any given time. It is often helpful to meditate and pray with particular passages and review the insights, understandings, and questions they evoke. If there are questions or points of clarification, you may contact the evangelist for further discussion and insight.

Kinds of Blessing

The blessing most often given is for individuals. However, the sacrament of blessing is also available for families and congregations. For information on these blessings contact the Office of the Presiding Evangelist.

If you would like to learn more about receiving an evangelist blessing, you can obtain additional information by contacting an evangelist or pastor in a local Community of Christ congregation or Community of Christ, Office of the Presiding Evangelist.

Telephone: (816) 833-1000, ext. 3036
E-mail: PresidingEvangelist@CofChrist.org
Internet: www.CofChrist.org/evangelist
Mailing address: 1001 W. Walnut Independence, MO 64050