Blessings over Rice and Green Tea

If The Book of Occasional Services 2003, authorised by General Convention, has blessings over crops and certain foods that are traditional to Europeans and Middle Easterners (pages 95-98) such as bread, wine, lamb, and eggs; why can’t Asians have blessings over rice and green tea, foods with are sacred to our various cultures?

A Blessing over Rice (brown rice is yummy)

Blessed are you, O Lord our God. Sovereign of the Universe;
who labours with your people as they plant the rice fields:
By your grace, travail with all who work,
that by harvesting the fruits of honest labour
and giving thanks for your benefits,
they may testify to your providence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

A Blessing over Green Tea (preferably over ceremonial matcha)

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, Sovereign of the Universe;
who tends the green sprout to burst into a tea bush:
Nurture the seed you have planted in the hearts of your people,
that by growing in faith
and steeping in your presence,
their lives may be a fragrant offering to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Joshua Ligan 2007.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. You are free to share, copy, distribute, display, and perform the work; or to make derivative works, provided that you attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor. You may not use this work for commercial purposes.