ST.

ANDREW’S
CATHEDRAL

THE BLESSING OF A HOME

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THE BLESSING OF A HOME
Notes:
1. This liturgy is used in a home where God’s presence is welcomed and
acknowledged. It is a home in which family members love and honour him, and
one another, and are faithful to his Word in their relationships and lifestyle.

2. Prayers are said to seek God’s blessing on every part of the house. In doing
so, each part of the house is dedicated to God’s service. Members of the
household are stewards of God’s property; and will one day give an account of
their stewardship.
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GATHERING
Members of the family and their friends gather inside the house at the front door
to receive the Minister who is standing outside.
Minister: The Lord be with you.
Response: And also with you.

Minister: Peace to this house from God our heavenly Father.

Peace to this house from his Son who is our peace.
Peace to this house from the Holy Spirit the giver of life.
And the peace of the Lord be always with you.
Response: Peace be with you.

Minister: Jesus said, “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking;

if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to
you and eat with you, and you with me”. (Revelation 3:20)

Response: Lord Jesus, we open the door of our home and our
hearts to you. Fill our lives with your Spirit that we
may live in you and you in us, now and always.

(The family, and friends, welcome the Minister into the house.)

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INTRODUCTION
The Minister says:
Minister: Our help is in the name of the Lord
who made the heavens and the earth.
Response: Lord, hear our prayer and glorify your name.

Minister: We gather to give thanks to God for his goodness to this family.
People: Amen.

Minister: We pray for God’s peace to fill this family and their home.
People: Amen.

Minister: We pray for God’s forgiveness of our sins as we seek his face.
People: Amen.

Minister: We pray for God’s blessings, love and light to cast out
all curses, evil and darkness.
People: Amen.

Minister: Let us worship the Lord.

People: All praise to his name.
(Suitable hymns or songs may be sung.)
MINISTRY OF THE WORD
One of these or other appropriate passages of Scripture, is read:
Genesis 39:2-5
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The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of
his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that
the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his
eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and
he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in
charge of his household and of all that he owned; the Lord blessed the

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household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on
everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name
of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see
who Jesus was, but because he was short, he could not see over the crowd. 4 So
he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was
coming that way.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus,
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come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down
at once and welcomed him gladly.
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All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest
of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here
and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody
out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this
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man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save
the lost.”

Acts 16:29-34
29
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and
Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
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They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and
your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the
others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed
their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The
jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with
joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

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Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Response: Thanks be to God.
The Minister, or an appointed person, may give a short exhortation. The
Minister leads in the Blessings:

BLESSING OF THE LIVING ROOM

Minister: How very good and pleasant it is;
Response: when God’s people live together in unity.
(Psalm 133:1)
The Minister prays:
Lord, may your Spirit unite the members of this family in bonds of love and
peace. May this room be a place where they spend quality time with each
other and with friends; a place of relaxation and laughter, of caring and
sharing.
In the faith of Jesus who enjoyed fellowship with Martha and Mary in their
home, we bless this living room in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. Amen.

BLESSING OF THE KITCHEN

Minister: All of us depend on you to give us food when we need it.
Response: You provide food for us, and we are satisfied.
(Psalm 104:27, 28)
The Minister prays:
Lord our provider; we thank you for the gift of food that you lovingly provide
for our daily nourishment: Thank you for this kitchen and all who work in it.
May the meals they prepare be seasoned with your blessing, grace and above
all, your love.
In the faith of Jesus who, with only five loaves of bread and two fish,
miraculously fed the multitudes, we bless this kitchen in the name of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

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BLESSING OF THE DINING ROOM
Minister: The eyes of all look to you, O Lord;
Response: and you give them their food in due season.
Minister: You open your hand,
Response: and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
(Psalm 145:15, 16)
The Minister prays:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the fellowship of family and guests that is
enjoyed in this room, and for the meals and conversations shared around its
table: Strengthen the bonds of affection that unite them and grant them delight
in their conversations, joy in eating together and hope in that day when you
gather all your people at the marriage feast of the Lamb.
In the faith of Jesus Christ who made himself known in the breaking of bread,
we bless this dining room in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

BLESSING OF THE STUDY

Minister: With God are wisdom and strength;
Response: he has counsel and understanding. (Job 12:13)
The Minister prays:
Heavenly Father, you are The Holy One, the source of all wisdom and insight.
Enlighten by your Spirit all who use this study in their daily work and in their
pursuit for knowledge and understanding.
In the faith of Jesus Christ who, as a child, was found in discussion with the
elders in the temple where he amazed them with his learning, we bless this
study in the name of’God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

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BLESSING OF THE BEDROOMS
Minister: I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
Response: for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.
(Psalm 4:8)
The Minister prays:
Heavenly Father, grant to those who sleep in this room / these rooms a holy,
good and peaceful night. May your presence be with them; take from them
any burdens, anxieties or fears that may disturb them; and, in your mercy, give
them such sleep and rest that they may wake with renewed energy to meet the
tasks of a new day.
In the faith of Jesus who gives rest and peace to those who come to
him, we bless this room in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

BLESSING OF THE BATHROOM

Minister: Let us approach God with hearts sprinkled clean
Response: and our bodies washed with pure water.
(Hebrews 10:20-23, adapted)
The Minister prays:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of water to
sustain, refresh and cleanse all life. We thank you that in the waters of baptism
you cleanse us and renew us by your Spirit. We now thank you for this
bathroom and the gift of water to cleanse and refresh our physical bodies.
In the faith of Jesus Christ who washed his disciples’ feet, we bless this
bathroom in the name of God, father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
After the Blessings, all return to the living room when one or more of the
following prayers are said:

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PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY
1. Father of all, who made known your love to mankind by the birth of the
Holy Child in Bethlehem; help us to welcome him into our homes and to
make room for him in our lives, so that in our homes we may love and
care for one another and live at peace with all your family on earth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Mothers’ Union Service Book)
2. Lord Jesus Christ, who by your coming to us in great humility sanctified
the life of the home: we commend to you this home and members of this
family. Unite them in your love, and guard them by your power from all
danger and evil. Make us thankful for the blessings of family life; and
keep us mindful of those who have no place to call home. Amen.
3. God our Father, your Son Jesus Christ welcomed little children and took
them up in his arms and blessed them. We ask your continued blessing on
our children who are your precious gifts to us. Watch over them and
protect them from any who would harm them; help them to know and to
do your will; help them to discover your purpose for their lives; and to
employ the gifts you have given them to pursue the work to which you
will call them; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Other prayers may be added here.
Minister: As the family of God, we join in praying the prayer that Jesus taught
his disciples:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

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 Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen.

The Minister concludes with this or another Benediction:

May God sustain you in all your works and in all your ways; make you
humble, just and true;
strengthen you in holiness and righteousness;
and fill your home with love and peace.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
rest upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

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 No guilt in life, no fear in death—
IN CHRIST ALONE
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
In Christ alone my hope is found; From life's first cry to final
He is my light, my strength, my breath, Jesus commands my
song; destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of
This cornerstone, this solid
man,
ground,
Can ever pluck me from His
Firm through the fiercest
hand; Till He returns or calls me
drought and storm.
home— Here in the pow'r of
What heights of love, what
Christ I'll stand.
depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when IT’S YOUR BLOOD
strivings cease!
It's Your Blood that cleanses me
My comforter, my all in all—
It's Your Blood that gives me life
Here in the love of Christ | stand.
It's Your Blood that took my
In Christ alone, Who took on place In redeeming sacrifice,
flesh, Fullness of God in helpless
Washes me,
babe! This gift of love and
Whiter than the snow, than the
righteousness, Scorned by the
snow
ones He came to save.
My Jesus, God's precious
Till on that cross as Jesus died, sacrifice.
The wrath of God was satisfied; It's Your Love that sets me free
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid— it's Your Love that makes me
Here in the death of Christ I live. whole
It's Your Love that took my place
There in the ground His body
In redeeming sacrifice,
lay, Light of the world by
Washes me,
darkness slain;
Whiter than the snow, than the
Then bursting forth in glorious
snow
day,
My Jesus, God's living sacrifice,
Up from the grave He rose again!
My Jesus, God's precious
And as He stands in victory,
sacrifice.
Sin's curse has lost its grip on
me; For I am His and He is
mine— Bought with the
precious blood of Christ.
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AND CAN IT BE THAT | SHOULD
GAIN
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His
pain—
For me, who Him to death
pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die
for me? (X2)
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless
race:
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
(X2)
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness
divine,
Bold | approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through
Christ my own. (X2)
I SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR
I serve a risen Savior
He’s in the world today.
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I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.
Refrain
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus
lives today!
He walks with me and talks with
me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to
impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me
I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows
weary, I never will despair;
I know that He is leading,
Through all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing
Will come at last.
Refrain
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs
To Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him,
The Help of all who find,
None other is so loving,
So good and kind.