A
Ceremony of Blessing for a New Home
You
will need a candle & matches to light it, a Bible (or another
book of Scripture, according to the faith tradition of the new home
owner), oil, incense (such as a joss stick)
Please
note that the Rites of Passage liturgies are offered as templates,
and
should be adapted as appropriate for your particular gathering.
There
may be one leader, or you can take it in turns around the circle of
speak the biddings. Everyone is invited to join in saying the words
in bold type.
The
liturgies, celebrations, ceremonies, prayers, and reflections offered
on this blog are the result of my thoughts, reflections, and
experiences, woven together using my own words and sometimes adapting
the words others have used: I am indebted to their wisdom. Please use
these liturgies freely, adapting them as suits your own context. I am
always pleased to hear from people who have used them.
Opening
Words:
Welcome
to (address)!
Moving
into a
new home can be a wonderful event,
settling
into a new place that will hold cherished memories,
a
place that will be a sanctuary for many people,
a
place for love, nurturing, friendship and growth.
N
has chosen this place to be her home.
She
has cleaned it, decorated it, and brought her possessions into it,
items
which are part of both her past and her future here;
she
has brought her dreams and her hopes,
her
gifts, her energy, and her needs.
This
ceremony will act as a bridge
between
N’s previous life and her new one,
as
we ask God to bless N’s new home and her life here.
First
we welcome all of you, whom N
has brought together.
You
are signs of the generous hospitality that N and this new home offer.
Secondly
we light this
candle, (a
candle is lit)
as
a sign that God is present and welcome in this new home.
And
thirdly, we open this Bible and hear N affirm her faith in God
through
her reading of
scripture:
Reading:
Psalm 121 (or another reading chosen by N)
Prayer:
We
give thanks to you, O God,
for
you are the giver of life and the healer of wounds.
We
give thanks to you, O God,
for
in you is our hope and trust.
We
give thanks to you, O God,
for
your light abides with us, wherever we are.
We
give thanks to you, O God,
for
watching over this home
and
all who dwell in it. Amen.
The
Preparation of Oil and Incense:
May
God bless the oil and the incense we use
to
anoint and bless this new home:
May
love, prosperity, peace, health and harmony
fill
the spaces between wherever they touch.
The
Procession of Blessing
during
which the doors and windows of each room are anointed
and
the area is censed:
Outside
the main door:
May whoever knocks at the door to this home
be
met with compassion, peace and graciousness…
Inside
the main door:
May all those enter through this door be welcome
as
they come in and blessed as they depart,and may no harm cross this portal…
In
the living room:
May all who gather in this room
enjoy both conversation and quietness,
both giving and receiving, both work and recreation…
In
each bedroom:
May all who rest in this room
be
blessed with peaceful sleep
and a joyful awakening each day…
In
each bathroom/lavatory:
May all who
use/wash in this room
be
refreshed and cleansed in
their bodies and minds…
In
the kitchen:
May all who cook/eat in in this kitchen
delight
in providing good food and drink for
the body and the soul…
In
the dining room:
May all who eat in this room
delight
in sharing good food and drink and company...
Returning
to main door, N places a cross or another symbol over the lintel
saying:
I
place this ... above this door as a sign of God’s protection,
and
of the security and peace of my new home.
Prayer
of Blessing:
May
God bless this home,
all
who live here, and all who visit here:
May
its windows catch the sun, and its doors open wide
to
beloved family, friends and strangers.
May
each room resound with laughter,
the walls shut out troubles, and hold in warmth and cheer:
the walls shut out troubles, and hold in warmth and cheer:
May
this home be filled with joy in the morning
and
sweet dreams in the night.
May
this be a home where love has come to live:
May
this home be filled with God’s love
and
the love you share with one another.
May
peace, harmony, and laughter
be
yours in abundance as long as you live.
May
you be granted fulfilment and joy.
May
God watch over
you, your friends and your family.
May
this home and those who live here
provide
care in times of sickness, rest in times of weariness,
comfort
in times of grief, protection in times of anxiety,
and
delight in times of joy.
May
love and happiness fill this place
and
may God be close to those who live in this home.
God,
be their shelter when they are at home;
be
their companion when they are away;
be
their welcome guest when they return.
May
God’s presence bless you and your home
until
you reach your final home in heaven.
Amen.
A
song may now be sung, and a meal may be shared
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