Last weekend, in the midst of the global pandemic and national protests, Hal and Jenny Runkel and Kendra and I blessed our daughters, Jordan and Hannah, as they moved into a new apartment near downtown Nashville, TN. We expressed our desire for their new home to be a space where they experienced and expressed the love and mission of God, a base from which they could take up their roles as kingdom-bearers on earth. We used these words from the United Methodist Book of Worship to bless them and their home:
Chris—CALL
Jesus said: “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in.”
Chris—WELCOME
We have gathered together to seek God’s blessing upon this home, which by the favor of God and human labor has been made ready. This home is not only a dwelling but a symbol to us of God’s loving care and of our life together as the family of Christ. Let us therefore bring praise and thanksgiving for goodness and mercy and for our communion, offering ourselves as God’s servants and as loving sisters and brothers to one another.
SCRIPTURE—Kendra
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”Matthew 7:24-27
PRAYER—Hal
Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, grant to this home the grace of your presence, that you may be known to inhabit this dwelling and defend this household; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CONSECRATION OF THE HOME—Chris
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (in the name of the holy and triune God), we consecrate this home, committing to God’s love and care all (the one) who dwell(s) therein. Amen.
PRAYER—Jenny
Let us pray. Eternal God, bless this home. Let your love rest upon it and your promised presence be manifested in it. May the members of this household grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Teach them to love, as you have loved us; and help us all to live in the peace of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
BLESSING 1—Kendra
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen. (NUMBERS 6:24–26)
BLESSING 2—Hal
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (ROMANS 15:13)
BLESSING 3–Jenny
Before us it is blessed, behind us it is blessed, below us it is blessed, above us it is blessed, around us it is blessed as we set out with Christ. Our speech is blessed as we set out for God. With beauty before us, with beauty behind us, with beauty below us, with beauty above us, with beauty around us, we set out for a holy place indeed. Amen. (TRADITIONAL NAVAHO PRAYER, ALT.)
BLESSING 4—Chris
God be in your head, and in your understanding. God be in your eyes, and in your looking. God be in your mouth, and in your speaking. God be in your heart, and in your thinking. God be at your end, and at your departing (SARUM LITURGY, ENGLAND, 13TH CENT., ALT.)
