A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original article appears below. Calvin Brown is minister of First Church, Nelson, B.C., and worship editor of Channels.
Jesus said, “As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it” (Matthew 10:12-13). The idea of a house blessing is not one that I particularly grew up with in the Kirk of small town Ontario. In fact, when I first entered the ministry the idea was not one that I gave much thought to at all. However, I was not long in my first charge when I received a few phone calls from the town folk that their homes were afflicted with spirits, requesting that I come and drive them away. I admit that the only preparation that I had received from Knox College about this sort of thing was that they required you to read the Gospels. There I read of how Jesus had cast out demons. Wanting to be helpful, I went to these homes to investigate and hear their stories and to pray for these distraught people. The short version of the story is that as I began to pray for God’s presence and protection upon the home and its occupants a feeling of fear began to lift and peace flowed into the room. They asked if the strange noises and “evil presence” would return and I told them I did not know but I did know that God was more powerful than any evil and that if they called on the name of Jesus that he would protect them. They never heard the strange noises that had been frightening them at nights for weeks, again.
When other similar calls came to me throughout the years I was tempted to say that as a Presbyterian minister that this was really not my line of expertise and that they should ask the local Roman Catholic priest (if they wanted an exorcism) or perhaps the Pentecostals who were into this sort of thing. We Presbyterians tend not to deal with these “unknown principalities and powers of the air” and stick to milder matters. Whether it was in those days denominational pride that urged me to think that if “our brethren” could do it then certainly we could too or, whether it was the feeling that my “brethren” from the other branches of Christ’s church might not appreciate being told in the middle of the night that “the Presbyterian minister told us to call you,” I do not know. In any event, I found myself led along by Providence to pray for people and to pray for protection for them in their homes.
It was sometime later that, in a less stressful situation, someone who began attending our church from a different tradition asked if I could do a “house blessing.” I reflected on the request and realized that at the church we dedicated all kinds of furniture like communion tables and chairs, baptismal fonts and pulpits. So I concluded that we could probably do at home what we do at church since I had been trying for some time to emphasize that very fact in my sermons. I read in the Scriptures that the priests in the Old Testament purified houses and there was a ceremony if a man wanted to dedicate his house as something holy (Lev. 27) and that God’s people were instructed to even write his law on their doorposts. Further, he commanded them not to bring anything detestable into their house (Deut. 6:9). I wanted to avoid anything superstitious but at the same time take seriously the felt need of some act of worship that reinforced the idea that God was at home as well as at church and that his love and protection was with his people wherever they were.
In response to the many requests that came the following service was developed.
Order for House blessing
The service begins at the outside entrance to the house.
Call to worship: Unless the Lord builds the house they labour in vain that build it; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.
Minister: Do you desire to recommit your life and all that you have to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?
All: We do.
Minister: May the Lord honour you and his blessing be upon your house.
All: Amen!
Prayer at the door. The minister may sprinkle water on the portals and in each of the rooms that follow at the time of blessing.
Minister: Lord God of promises, you have made known your holy covenant to your people in every age and place so that we may with confidence know that we are not unprotected in the world but under the fatherly protection of your grace. As we recall your great power exercised in Egypt at the time of the terrible plagues and recall your salvation in the passover so we sprinkle our door not in any superstitious way but as an act of faith that you will hear our prayers to keep harm and evil from our door and when adversity comes may your grace come with even greater force to drive back the darkness, in Jesus name we pray.
All: Amen!
Prayer in the living room.
Minister: God Almighty, you have been a shelter to us and we pray that this room may always prove a welcoming place to friend and stranger in your name. Make laughter infectious and bring a joy that knows no regret, in Jesus’ name we pray.
All: Amen!
Prayer in the kitchen or dining room.
Minister: Lord God our provider, you give us each day our daily bread and more besides. May we with thanksgiving share our bread remembering each day the meal that you shared with your disciples and that you are with us still providing for us each day.
All: Amen!
Prayer in the bedroom.
Minister: God who made light out of darkness we need fear neither day nor night when you are with us. We ask that those who sleep here may know the power and comfort of your presence and that they will give up to you all anxiety and fears of the day and sleep in the peace of knowing that you are both capable and willing to bear the burden of each day. May they never lie down until in prayer they have given over to you all of their cares and may the sun never go down on their anger. Grant them serenity in their sleep, in Jesus’ name we ask this.
All: Amen!
Time may be given for additional prayers of blessing by the host or anyone gathered either at the end or in each room. Songs may also be sung to add to the celebration or additional Scriptures may be read.