House and Marriage Blessings
Yesterday, our Grandson Skylar, Matt and I had an interesting experience that we have never had before. Skylar’s Aunt and her husband, invited us to their “House Blessing” yesterday. Have you ever heard of this before? I never had, but the three of us thought it was very meaningful and were delighted that we were included for this.
Together this couple moved to Duluth, from Minneapolis to start a new life and to start fresh. They bought a house on the hillside on one of the city’s very steep avenue, with a lovely view of the lake from their yard. It is one of Duluth’s older homes, but as we all know, it’s the older homes that have the character and this house does…they have made the house into a home. They have also between the two of them, merged a family together. Skylar’s Aunt has two lovely daughters, and her husband has two sons. They wanted to have their house blessed, as part of a commitment ceremony to acknowledge that each of them accept their partner’s children, they wanted each of them to know that they always had a home to come to. (Her husband’s sons are both grown and live out of state). It was important to them that their children knew that they were not only committed to each other, but also to them. It was a touching ceremony. They wanted to acknowlege that The Lord would be present in their home.
Since I’ve never known anyone that had a house blessing and didn’t know much about one, I googled “House Blessing” and this is what I found:
Scriptures and Reflections about Homes and God's Care (Offered by friends and by the Pastor)
1. The Bible teaches us that a home is far more than a physical building. Proverbs 24:3-4 (RSV)
By wisdom a house is built,and by understanding it is established;by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
2. We need God's presence, power and direction for our lives and homes to be fruitful.
Psalms 127:1 (RSV)
3. The Bible indicates that it is important to dedicate our homes to God.Before going into battle, the men in the Bible were warned to dedicate their homes! Deuteronomy 20:5 (RSV)
Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying,'What man is there that has built a new house and has not dedicated it?Let him go back to his house,lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it.
4. God told his people to write his word on the doorposts of their homes. As the flames point upward, so our thoughts rise in gratitudeto God for this home, and in prayer for God's blessings upon it.
Yesterday the Blessing was done by their Minister. Friends, their children and Skylar, Matt and I gathered together and followed a written ceremony that the minister led. We went into each room and “blessed” each room, even the bedrooms upstairs. It was very touching.
After the Blessing, the couple stated their commitment to accept each others children, in another touching ceremony, after which they gave each of the children a ring, chosen specifically for that child, to signify the merging of their families together. What a neat experience it was!
This morning they had their civil ceremony blessed by the Church. This took place during the worship service at their church. Again, the children were all there, and stood up with the parents to show their acceptance of their parent’s union. And, Skylar and I were there to witness the blessing and to show our support.
(look at my post below for more).
Together this couple moved to Duluth, from Minneapolis to start a new life and to start fresh. They bought a house on the hillside on one of the city’s very steep avenue, with a lovely view of the lake from their yard. It is one of Duluth’s older homes, but as we all know, it’s the older homes that have the character and this house does…they have made the house into a home. They have also between the two of them, merged a family together. Skylar’s Aunt has two lovely daughters, and her husband has two sons. They wanted to have their house blessed, as part of a commitment ceremony to acknowledge that each of them accept their partner’s children, they wanted each of them to know that they always had a home to come to. (Her husband’s sons are both grown and live out of state). It was important to them that their children knew that they were not only committed to each other, but also to them. It was a touching ceremony. They wanted to acknowlege that The Lord would be present in their home.
Since I’ve never known anyone that had a house blessing and didn’t know much about one, I googled “House Blessing” and this is what I found:
Scriptures and Reflections about Homes and God's Care (Offered by friends and by the Pastor)
1. The Bible teaches us that a home is far more than a physical building. Proverbs 24:3-4 (RSV)
By wisdom a house is built,and by understanding it is established;by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
2. We need God's presence, power and direction for our lives and homes to be fruitful.
Psalms 127:1 (RSV)
3. The Bible indicates that it is important to dedicate our homes to God.Before going into battle, the men in the Bible were warned to dedicate their homes! Deuteronomy 20:5 (RSV)
Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying,'What man is there that has built a new house and has not dedicated it?Let him go back to his house,lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it.
4. God told his people to write his word on the doorposts of their homes. As the flames point upward, so our thoughts rise in gratitudeto God for this home, and in prayer for God's blessings upon it.
Yesterday the Blessing was done by their Minister. Friends, their children and Skylar, Matt and I gathered together and followed a written ceremony that the minister led. We went into each room and “blessed” each room, even the bedrooms upstairs. It was very touching.
After the Blessing, the couple stated their commitment to accept each others children, in another touching ceremony, after which they gave each of the children a ring, chosen specifically for that child, to signify the merging of their families together. What a neat experience it was!
This morning they had their civil ceremony blessed by the Church. This took place during the worship service at their church. Again, the children were all there, and stood up with the parents to show their acceptance of their parent’s union. And, Skylar and I were there to witness the blessing and to show our support.
(look at my post below for more).
posted by Linda at 10:30 PM
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