CHURCH DEDICATION
PURPOSE: The practice of house dedication varies according to culture and the wishes of each individual family. The world church does not have any regular tradition for such service. Some family may request the dedication when purchase or building their first home, some when they pay off the mortgage and the home is truly there. Still others ask for a house dedication whenever they move to a different home. Typically, the house dedication is held after the house is completed, the furniture installed, and probably the family moved in. Such a service provides an excellent opportunity to invite the neighbors to the special occasion to get acquainted with them, and to establish one’s family as a Christian witness in the neighborhood. This is the purposes of dedicating a house: to set it aside to be spiritual service to the family and their neighborhood.
WHO OFFICIATES: No license or ordination is required for house blessing services an elder may perform the service, but should do so with the knowledge and cooperation of the pastor.
ORDER OF SERVICE: Attendees often include non Christian neighbors. People typically gather in the living room of the home and may the room be crowded. Some will likely be standing. Thus, the service should usually be no more than 30 minutes in length. The following order is suggested:
Congregation – This should be considered optional, depending on the situation. Appropriate songs include “Happy the Home” and “Love at Home.”
Prayer – Since there are three prayers in this short service, the first and last should be brief and not repeat the prayer of blessing. This first prayer is for the purpose of invoking God’s presence in the service. History of house and family – This could be given by a family member, perhaps the head of the household.
Message. – The message might include: Scripture such as Genesis 24:67, Psalm 127; 2 Samuel 23:15; Isaiah 65: 21-24; Luke 10:38-42; Micah 4:4. A story or poetry. Litany such as asking questions of the family either informally or in a written litany and receiving their answers as a family commitment. Suggested questions: Do you pledge to make this house a place of you’re, where the family alter and daily devotion are revered? Do you pledge to make this house a place of family love and unity? Do you pledge to make this house a light and a blessing to the community?
Candle ceremony – Your message could close with the lighting of a candle to symbolize the light of Jesus present in this home and the use of this house to let that light shine throughout the neighborhood. The candle can remain burning throughout the remainder of the service.
Prayer of blessing – The family might kneel with joined hands in a circle surrounding the kneeling pastor or elder. Others stand surrounding the family. Include in your prayer a blessing on the house, the family, and the neighborhood.
Special song:- Bless this house” is an ideal song for this setting.
Benediction - Perhaps a formal benediction such as Numbers 6:24-26.
House tour - At this juncture the family may wish to invite guest to tour the house. Refreshments are optional.
GROUND BREAKING :
A groundbreaking service encourages congregational involvement and unity in supporting a building project. It engenders enthusiasm especially if the church has been planning, praying, and giving for the building over a long period of time. At last tangible is happening.
(a)PLANNING THE SERVICE:
Pastor and elders should work together in planning a groundbreaking.
(b) SETTING THE TIME: Groundbreaking is not entirely a religious service and thus does not belong on church service day. Sunday is often an ideal time.
(d) INVITING THE GUESTS: Conference/mission representatives should be invited. Local political and other community leaders might attend. Pastors from other churches will sometimes come. The news media ought to be notified and encouraged to give liberal coverage.
- PREPARING THE SITE: The site should be cleared. Perhaps a platform needs to be erected and a sound system installed. If the service is going to be long. Chairs may be needed. Drawings of the proposed building should be prominently displayed. A mockup of the structure will help people visualize it. If the ground is to be broken with shovels, several should be provided. Sometimes the shovel blades are painted gold or silver. Alternatively, an earthmoving machine may be used to turn over the first dirt.
- An excellent plan: for including congregational participation is to break the ground with a plow. A long rope is attached to it, and the congregation pulls the plow through the ground creating a beautiful symbol of a congregation pulling together in the building project. If the building has been marked out ahead of time, a furrow can be plowed around its perimeter and the building easily visualized when the groundbreaking is finished.
- ORDER OF SERVICE: The order of service suggested below may be used when the audience is comfortably seated and when you have planned for regular service. However, the service could be abbreviated, depending upon local circumstances.
Opening - Many congregations do not sing well outdoors. For that reason, congregational singing may be omitted, especially if the group is small.
Prayer – Involve a non-the holy seed church pastor or a leader in the local congregation to offer the prayer.
Special song, sermonette – This ought to be very brief. It should consist mostly of a scripture reading and a litany in which everyone can participate. Ezra 3:10, 11; 6:14 Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11; 1Corinthians 3:9-11; 1 Peter 2:4-8.
Special song, Speeches – Special guests may be invited to speak briefly, but in view of the full program they should be few in number. Have someone narrate the history of the church or of the present building project, and talk about the immediate plans for beginning the building.
Groundbreaking - Special participants in breaking the first ground usually include the pastor; head elder, building committee chairperson, and representatives from the conference /mission and community. A child should be included as a representative of the church of the future. If the building is a school, include the school board chairperson, principal, and a teacher.
Special song or hymn of dedication
Benediction
- STONELAYING: A stone laying service may take place of groundbreaking. It is held after the building has begun and features the laying of a stone to become part of the foundation. The service can follow the same general order as for groundbreaking.
The good news is that, about 2,015 years ago
God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins.
Jesus is the Son of God. He lived a sinless life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. "God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us," (John1:1-13). Jesus rose from the dead and now He lives in heaven with God His Father. He offers us the gift of eternal life -- of living forever with Him in heaven if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." God
THE COMING OF THE KINDOM (Luke Chapter 17).
(a) 20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
22 And he said unto the disciples, The days wilcome, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see [it].
23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after [them], nor follow [them].
24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one [part] under heaven, shineth unto the other [part] under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all.
30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
(c) Matthew 24:35-38 Context: Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things are fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark
(D) Proverbs 30:5-6 Contexts:
5. Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
NOTE: This verse affirms tree propositions:
(1) The heavens and earth will pass away.
(2) Christ's words will not pass away and the word of God shall stand forever." (3) Everyone who believes the word of will receive internal life.
"Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always ever and ever Amen."