A La Jolla church took a special Sunday worship service to the sand for the first time, gathering the congregation at La Jolla Shores to bless surfers and their boards. “By having your surfboard blessed, it’s an acknowledgement that the church can extend beyond our walls. The church is the w hole world, and this is a beautiful sanctuary we have here in California,” said Senior Pastor Rev. Tim Seery of the Congregational Church of La Jolla. Seery told NBC 7 he got the idea after visiting a New York City church that held a blessing of the bikes. Transportation by bicycle is a significant way of life in the Tri-state metropolitan area. Much like surfing is in Southern California. During the morning service, Seery offered blessings over the boards before surfers entered the water. “May this board be a vessel of joy and connection with nature with respect for the ocean’s power,” the reverend said during one blessing moment. Rev. Tim Seery (far right) began Sunday’s beach service with a traditional prayer before blessing surfers and their boards, La Jolla, Calif., June 28, 2026. Church member Jana McDonough, who has attended Congregational Church of La Jolla for three years, said she wanted her longtime body board to receive the blessing. She purchases it in 1970. “It’s just me, the board, the waves, and it (the ocean) is my spiritual church,” McDonough said. She said the blessing carried special meaning. “To have a blessing gives me a sense of grace. I can use that not only when I’m out in the waves, but hopefully I can carry with me,” McDonough said. Seery said the service reflected both gratitude for surfing and the church’s desire to meet people where they are. He said, “this really is a miracle. Surfing is a profound thing, and we should be grateful for it. The church needs to recognize that coming out of our walls to bless these boards.” Church members hold their surfboards during a Sunday morning service at La Jolla Shores, June 28, 2026. Jordan Cartwright, who recently started surfing, said the sport has become part of his spiritual journey. “It’s almost like being kissed by God and being completely encompassed by him,” Cartwright said. He also described surfing as leading to a personal transformation. “Being 34 years old now, it’s a little hard to get out there every single day. I don’t recover as fast as I used to. It’s healed me in ways I never thought I could achieve,” said Cartwright. The service concluded with a prayer asking for generosity toward fellow surfers and “the joy of the ride.” This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less