Jay Kieve
CBF Abuse Prevention and Response Advocate & Director of Ministerial Transitions
House Blessing
Invocation
Let us pray: Gracious God, who supplies us with every blessing in abundance, lift our hearts in gratitude and thanksgiving. Open us to remember the gifts we seldom notice, the bounty we take for granted, the rich possibilities you provide. For bread without scarcity, for water that is pure, for this house to live in and friends to enjoy, we give you humble thanks. For beauty and bounty, for healing and hope, for the gospel of Christ, we lift our voices in joyful praise. Dwell with us now. Amen
Scripture
The scriptures Jesus knew contained the command: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Jesus quoted this, as the first and greatest commandment.”—Deuteronomy 5:4-9
Fixing the Signs of Blessing
So in that great tradition, we affix to this door frame reminders of God’s calling and declarations of our prayer and hope. [Written in chalk on the door frame.]
“Hear” – Shema ( עמש ) – the first word of the commandments from Moses’
instruction to Israel – “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.”
“Peace” – (είρήνή) written as the prayer for all who enter or depart from this house symbols for Christ
Chi and Rho (ΧΡ) – the hope of this house and the hope for all our salvation
Prayer of Blessing
from St. Stephen’s Church, London
O God, make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship, narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife.
Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling-block to children, nor to straying pets, but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempter’s power. God make the door of this house the gateway to thine eternal kingdom.
Loving God, bless this home. May it be a place of safety and hospitality. Grant that faith, charity and good health triumph over evil. May your word be cherished and obeyed in this home. We give praise and thanksgiving to you, and to your Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen
Pray. Give. Go.