Speaking A Blessing by Praying the Word – Ephesians 1:17-20. “For as rain and snow fall from the heavens and return not again without watering the earth, bringing forth life and giving growth, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, it is the same with my Word. I send …
St. Paul’s Trinitarian Blessing “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, The love of God, And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit Be with all of you. Amen.” (2 Corinthians 13:14). One inescapable truth from this Blessing is that it can be sung in three-part harmony: The Person of Jesus Christ the Anointed One is …
Nurturing a Christ-Centered Home: Three Competing Views of the Homeplace. “Jesus Christ alone is our unity. Through Him alone do we have access to one another, joy in one another, fellowship with one another.” (Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together). There are three perspectives that will inevitably compete for dominance in every home: the Me-First view, …
Nurturing a Christian Home by Celebrating a ‘House Blessing’ The Liturgy of the House Blessing: To begin the House Blessing, everyone present gathers in the living room. An official leader, eg., a priest or a pastor, can be invited if desired. It is often recommended that you alternate leadership and reading from room to room. …
Nurturing the Christian Home by Keeping the Feasts Heartfelt and Holy “I Hate Your Feasts!” “I hate, I despise your religious feasts! I cannot stand your assemblies! Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs!” (Amos 5:21-23). On the one hand, Yahweh loved the …
Nurturing a Christian Home by Celebrating the Sabbath Meal Together. “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.” (Exodus 20:8-10) 1. The Liturgy for the Family Table. (the night before the chosen Sabbath day, which officially starts …
Nurturing a Christian Home by Celebrating Jesus as the Passover Lamb. THE PASSOVER HAGGADAH: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you…” (Luke 22:15) Candle Lighting and Blessing. The mother of the house lights the candles and recites this Hebrew blessing: Blessed art thou, O Lord God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us by …
Nurturing a Christian Home with the Tashlich Experience, A “Casting Off” Experience for Families during New Year’s Night. “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgressions of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever, but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; …
Nurturing a Christian Home: Bild Yourselves a Sukkah! “So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves booths, sukkah, on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God… The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them. And their joy was …
Nurturing Our Children to become ‘Little Christs.’ “Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity). What does it mean to become a “little Christ,” a human version of the divine Messiah? How do we go about becoming little Christs? And how is …
Home Unsweetened: How a Man Can Make a Hell of a Home. C. S. Lewis’ book “The Screwtape Letters” is a series of conversations between two fallen angels in Hades, and strategies they can use to make a person truly fit for hell. It’s a classic, and I recommend it. I would like to take …
Nurturing a Christian Home by Actively Waiting. “In my mind I keep returning to something, something that gives me hope – the mercies of the Lord are not exhausted, His tender compassions have not ended. On the contrary, they are new every morning! How great is your faithfulness! The Lord is all I have, I …