Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Epiphany House Blessing- "Chalking the Doors" (Episcopal)

Celebrant   Peace be to this house, and to all who dwell in it.

Antiphon
The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
     for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
     the Almighty has done great things for me,
     and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
     in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
     he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
     and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
     and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
     for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
     to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
     as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Antiphon
The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Celebrant     The Lord be with you.
People          And also with you.
Celebrant     Let us pray.

Collect
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Blessing of the Chalk
V: Our help is in the name of the Lord
R: The maker of heaven and earth.
V: The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in:
R: From this time forth for evermore.
V. The Lord be with you.
R: And also with you.
V: Let us pray.

Celebrant
Loving God, bless this chalk which you have created,  that it may be helpful to your people; and grant that through the invocation of your most Holy Name all who use it in faith to write upon the doors of their homes the names of your saints, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, may receive health of body and protection of soul for all who dwell in or visit their home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The lintel of the door is then chalked as follows:
20 + C + M + B + 19

Celebrant
The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God's Son who became human two thousand and eighteen years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.

The Celebrant then says this prayer
Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live here with the gift of your love; and grant that they may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives they touch. May they grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen them; and preserve them in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and for ever. Amen.

The Celebrant then says this blessing
May God the Father, who by Baptism adopts us as his children, grant you grace. Amen.
May God the Son, who sanctified a home at Nazareth, fill you with love. Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit, who has made the Church one family, keep you in peace. Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.

The Peace may then be exchanged.

-- from the Book of Occasional Services, 2003, pp. 47-50, with additional material from https://www.azdiocese.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/3163149



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