Community Corner

Pastor Goes to Sea to Bless to the Fleet

The Harborfest Blessing of the Fleet got underway with a little improvisation and travel on Saturday.

 

The pastor brought a blessing right to the fleet at Harborfest on July 22.

Pastor Ian Holland of First Church Swampscott, Congregational, boarded the Wendy Lee late Saturday morning with a holy water bucket and an aspergal for sprinkling.

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He then boated from vessel to vessel and shook the aspergal in the name of God's grace and protection and safety.

At the outer edge of the moorings and facing open water he tossed a bouquet of bright flowers into the harbor and said a prayer.

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The flowers and prayer were for all those from Swampscott who had lost their lives at sea and for their families.

The annual Blessing of the Fleet usually takes place on the main float at the end of the pier where captains wheel their craft to starboard and port for Rev. Mark Templeman of Swampscott's Church of the Holy Name to bless.

But the reverend was unable to make this year's blessing due to an unexpected passing at his church.

And the launch boat that takes boaters to their craft was not operating, so many of them were unable to parade by the pier.

Instead, Rev. Holland did the water parading, traveling with the help of the Swampscott Yacht Club to the fleet of moored vessels and to some that were underway, to deliver the blessing.


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