Murrysville church's 26th Blessing of the Bikes draws hundreds of riders

Driving through Murrysville on Route 22 was a bit louder than usual Sunday morning.

The normal sounds of traffic were accompanied by the roar of hundreds of motorcycles headed for the 26th annual Blessing of the Bikes at Murrysville Alliance Church. Smiling as they passed cars, the bikers’ excitement for the beginning of riding season was infectious.

The church’s front and back parking lots quickly filled with bikes and trikes owned by riders from all over the area. A section of Old William Penn Highway was closed to accommodate the amount of parking needed for the vehicles.

Riders were invited to an 11 a.m. service and a public blessing afterward. Ministry volunteers set up tables around the building and offered drinks, doughnuts and rider pins to guests. Riders could be spotted among the rows of bikes, admiring each other’s wheels.

“(The blessing) helps bring the riding community together,” said Pastor Dan Lawrence, senior pastor of Murrys­ville Alliance Church and a motorcycle rider. “You have different groups that kind of just ride together, but when they’re at a function like this one, they’re with each other. We find out that we have a lot in common.”

At 12:30 p.m., Lawrence stood on a wooden platform in front of the church to address the crowded parking lot. He began the blessing by wishing for everyone’s safety. He also celebrated the sunny weather despite the forecast of all-day rain.

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“We pray for safety because riding motorcycles is high risk,” Lawrence said. “Even more so today, when there’s bigger vehicles on the road and drivers are on their phones. We know that it’s important for us to stay on top of it, too.”

Murrysville Mayor Regis J. Synan also wished the guests a safe journey while riding this season.

“May the roads ahead be sunny with the wind at your back,” Synan said. “Please be careful when you’re leaving here today.”

Matthew Peterson played the bagpipes as members of the Murrysville Volunteer Fire Company Station 20 raised a flag with a ladder truck. Dave Smith sang the national anthem as veteran guests saluted the flag.

For Lawrence, who has been riding since 1996, the event means a lot to him when he sees his friends and other members of the riding community come together at the beginning of their season.

“It’s amazing because we don’t sell anything,” Lawrence said. “Everything we give away is free. This isn’t a rally. It’s just a time to come together and pray. There’s several groups that start their riding season here. For those of us who ride, it’s a great experience.”

As the event came to a close, riders let their bikes roar to life and the afternoon filled again with the rumbling sounds of motorcycles.