Good friends who have moved into a new house have asked me to come and do a Home Blessing with them. They have lived in a very large and beautiful home that they used to host groups and entertain friends with warm hospitality and cheer. They have downsized into another lovely home with about half the space. They consider it to be also a venue for a ministry of hospitality. I have enjoyed looking forward to being in their home now for several years. A smiley face shines in my imagination when I see their names in my datebook. The United Methodist Church Book of Worship has a liturgy for The Blessing of a Home. It begins with a greeting: : “Jesus said: ‘Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in.’” My friends are opening the door with this request for a prayer of blessing. Scripture references suggested for the occasion include a passage from Joshua 24: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” My prayer will ask God to bless this home and give thanks that God’s love already is present there, was there waiting for them when the moving van pulled up to the door. It will ask God’s help for the residents in growing in grace and loving others and you have loved them. It will ask for guidance for how God can use this home to serve God’s purposes in the world. We will add some other personal things and share the Lord’s Prayer. I feel honored to be asked and have already begun to see smiley faces in my mind when I think about going to the new house.
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