Bikers flock for annual blessing

While the weather was cold, the leather and the fellowship kept everyone warm Sunday during the second annual Blessing of the Bikers.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100419/NEWS02/4190340/1003/NEWS02       # # # # Bikers flock for annual blessing  •  The Rev. Trevor Hanbridge offers prayers to a young rider Sunday afternoon during the second annual Blessing of the Bikers at Calvary Baptist Church in Springfield.  •  Photo provided  •  Rutland Herald   •  By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: April 19, 2010  •  SPRINGFIELD — While the weather was cold, the leather and the fellowship kept everyone warm Sunday during the second annual Blessing of the Bikers.  •  More than 100 people drove, rode and peddled to Calvary Baptist Church, where the Rev. Trevor Hanbridge offered prayers to his fellow riders.  •  "There are lots of bikers in church, including myself," said Hanbridge, who rides street bikes and dirt bikes. "Bikers in particular, they really appreciate being prayed for because they really put themselves out there."  •  It's certainly no secret among bikers that they are more exposed on the road and more prone to injury during a crash than the driver of an automobile, regardless of who is at fault.  •  "I've got two friends who got wiped out last year," said Doug Chase of North Springfield as he stood beside his red Harley-Davidson Road King Custom in the church's lower parking lot, waiting as Hanbridge made his way down the long line of bikes. "Both accidents were caused by people who cut in front of them."  •  Chase was a visitor to the church, one of many attracted by the event, said Hanbridge, who estimated about 75 percent of the crowd were visitors.  •  "It's a good opportunity to get people into church who don't always come," Hanbridge said. About 30 percent of the congregation at the worship service prior to the event were visitors, Hanbridge guessed.  •  While there were plenty of people who would fit the stereotype of the grizzled, leather-clad bike enthusiast, the crowd drew bikers from all walks of life and bikes from all manufacturers, foreign and domestic. At one end of the parking lot, children with bicycles and scooters awaited their blessings, too.  •  The crowd mingled in between blessings, eating barbecue and socializing while a biker passed around a helmet to collect an offering to raise money for children's summer camp scholarships.  •  Events such as these strengthen the community, said Tom Bishop of North Springfield, one of the organizers.  •  "The biggest thing is to get people together, and not just for the bikes, but to pray in the Lord's name," Bishop said.  • http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=RH&Date=20100419&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=4190340