Brigid's Blessings - February

On this stormy evening we were so thankful for the gift of a warm and welcoming home to meet in, it isn't often that Forest Church takes place completely indoors.
Today we learned about Brigid, of whom many tales are told, she has a significant place in Irish culture as a Patron Saint of many things, but remembered particularly for her hospitality and reckless generosity that drove her family to distraction!
One story goes that she was taken to a local king by her father who was frustrated with her giving away so many of the family's possessions, he begged the king to buy her! While her father was speaking to the king, Brigid gave a passing beggar her father's sword, when the king learned of this he exclaimed "She is too good for me - I could never win her obedience!"

Another story speaks of her being called to the death-bed of local Pagan chieftain. As he was too ill to speak, Brigid gathered up reeds from the floor and started weaving them into the shape of a cross. The chieftain asked what she was doing so Brigid was able to share the story of Christ and the cross - the chieftain believed and asked to be baptised before his death.

A Brigid's cross is often given as a housewarming gift, they are traditionally made on 1st February, Brigid's feast day. House blessing prayers are said (sometimes a group of friends or neighbours may go round from house to house) and the cross is fixed to a doorway or on the wall.

"May God give His blessing to the house that is here.
God bless this house from roof to floor,
from wall to wall,
from end to end,
from its foundation and in its covering.

In the strong name of the Triune God
all evil be banished,
all disturbance cease,
captive spirits freed,
God's Spirit alone
dwell within these walls.

We call upon the Sacred Three
to save, shield and surround
this house, this home,
this day, this night,
and every night."                                        From Celtic Daily Prayer, Book One

 We spent time making our own crosses, and some people wrote their own home blessing prayers.
This is a prayer from the Lindisfarne Scriptorium.

"This home is yours my God, may it be comfortable and filled with love.
     Let there be light.
This home is yours my God, may it be blessed and filled with laughter.
     Let there be joy.
This home is yours my God, may it be safe and filled with peace.
     Let there be hope."

We finished with some Brigid bread which was delicious with a little bit of butter and jam.https://saintsandrecipes.com/st-brigid-of-kildare-and-irish-oat-cakes-three-corners-bread/