Blessing is one of the most used but least understood of Christian terms. Yet blessing is a rich biblical concept history reaching back to the earliest Old Testament writings. It is everywhere in our liturgies and is frequently on the lips of young people today ('Bless!'). This engaging introduction unpacks this rich, many-layered word and aims to inform current debates around blessing within the Church of England, where attention is focused on what is being blessing, rather than the nature of blessing.

It explores: ? What it means to 'Bless the Lord' ? Blessing as a way of recognising the proper relation of people, things and situations to God ? The effect of blessing - does it work? ? The absence of blessing - when lives feel more cursed than blessed ? How blessing enters our lives - dedication of lives, homes, new ministries etc ? Christ as the promise of blessing for all.