For at least one cloudy Sunday in May, Doug Mink didn't have to decide between going to church or taking a bike ride.

Some bike riders accomplished both as they congregated at the steps of Hope Central Church in Jamaica Plain to have their bicycles blessed.

"A thing about bicycling is that we often have Sunday rides," said Mink, a two-wheeled enthusiast from Rosindale. "So people don't go to church, they go bike riding instead. And so here, we get to combine things a little bit. I think that is a good idea."

The "Blessing of the Bicycles" event was co-sponsored by the Boston Cyclists Union, Hope Church and First Baptist Church in JP. It featured free bike repairs, a bike ride from First Baptist to Hope Church, where the blessings transpired, and a "Bike Bar" night at the Brendan Behan.

"I love bikes. I love Jesus. It's really nice to have them come together," said Abbi Holt, a Hope leader and one of several organizers of the event. "It seems to be something that is sort of in people's heads right now."

Veronica Willette, a JP resident who is a novice, borrowed a bike to attend the event and hopes to become a regular who rides to work in the Financial District during the summer. 

"It's totally changed my life," she said about bicycling. "[Today] was a perfect day to get a free tuneup and some tips. Why wouldn't you want to get your bike blessed, right?"