House Blessings Prayers, Poems, and Toasts Celebrating Home and Family

by Cotner, June

• ISBN13: 9780974848600
• ISBN10: 0974848603
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-07-21
• Publisher: Chronicle Books

Summary

The home has long been the center of our family lives. This is where we gather to create memories with family and friends and to find comfort and solace for ourselves. In House Blessings, best-selling anthologist June Cotner has assembled a moving collection of interfaith prayers, poems, and toasts that speak to the experiences we share in turning our houses into our homes. With 112 pieces collected from 38 writers, this little book offers a reading for every occasion. From housewarming to holiday celebration, from planting a garden to raising a family, gems of wisdom and inspirational selections celebrate all our most treasured moments at home.

Author Biography

June Cotner is the best-selling author of more than a dozen anthologies of poems and blessings, including Graces and Wedding Blessings . She lives in Poulsbo, Washington.

Table of Contents

LETTER TO READERS	xiii
THANKS	xv
1. Our Home
May Blessings Be Upon Your Home	2	(1)
A Home Is Built with Peace and Love	3	(1)
An Irish Blessing	4	(1)
Crossing the Threshold	5	(1)
No Matter What Happens	6	(1)
Housewarming Blessing	7	(1)
House Blessing	8	(2)
More Than Bricks and Wood	10	(1)
Blessing for a New House	11	(1)
Aromatic Memories	12	(1)
A Ritual for Moving	13	(1)
Farewell to Our Home	14	(2)
Housewarming	16	(1)
Moving-In-Day Prayer	17	(1)
Home Song	18	(1)
Hand and Hand-Heart to Heart	19	(1)
On Entering a New Home	20	(1)
Mountain Retreat	21	(1)
Cabin Prayer	22	(1)
Bless This Beloved Old Farmhouse	23	(2)
An RV Blessing	25	(1)
Blessing for a Retirement Home	26	(1)
Bless This House-A Texas Prayer	27	(1)
Our Hands Were Moved	28	(1)
Blessing for a Jewish Home	29	(2)
Live Well Within Your New Home	31	(1)
A Prayer for Our Home	32	(1)
Within the Four Walls	33	(1)
A Traditional Welsh Blessing	34	(1)
We Pray This House	35	(1)
Family Home	36	(4)
2. Family & Friends
Hearts at Home	40	(1)
The Joy of Belonging	41	(1)
Our Hearts	42	(1)
An Irish House Blessing	43	(1)
Home Rules	44	(1)
More Than a House	45	(1)
In Appreciation of the Family Pet	46	(1)
Forgiveness	47	(1)
May You Be Blessed	48	(4)
3. Our Children
Our Children Are Like Seeds	52	(1)
The Enlargement of Time	53	(1)
Paradise	54	(1)
A Child's Sandcastle	55	(1)
The Best Way	56	(1)
Now and Then	57	(2)
On Leaving My Special Place	59	(2)
To My Children	61	(1)
My Mother's Prayers	62	(1)
Little Souls	63	(1)
Family Conversation	64	(1)
Memories	65	(1)
Letting Go	66	(4)
4. Our Garden
Somewhere in Every Garden	70	(1)
Night Blooming Garden	71	(1)
Turning the Garden Under,	72	(1)
Bless This Garden	73	(1)
Old Hoer's Prayer	74	(1)
My Garden in a Box	75	(1)
In a Garden	76	(2)
I Walk With You	78	(1)
The Garden Year	79	(2)
Morning's Gift	81	(1)
All Week Long, the Irises Have Unfolded,	82	(1)
A Garden Blessing	83	(3)
5. Graces & Toasts
A Toast	86	(1)
A Grace for Our World	87	(1)
A Ceremony of the Ordinary	88	(1)
Gratitude	89	(1)
A Morning Grace for Family	90	(1)
Irish Grace	91	(1)
We Give Thanks	92	(1)
An Evening Grace	93	(1)
We Give Thanks through the Seasons	94	(1)
Prayer of Gratitude	95	(1)
Prayer in Community	96	(1)
May Life Protect Us	97	(1)
Chinese Blessing	98	(1)
Eskimo Toast	99	(1)
A Friendship Toast	100	(1)
Mennonite Blessing	101	(3)
6. Holidays & Celebrations
To Life	104	(1)
For Our Anniversary	105	(1)
In Celebration of a Newborn	106	(1)
Happy Birthday to You	107	(1)
Today Is Yours	108	(1)
Family Reunion Grace	109	(1)
Thanksgiving Grace	110	(1)
Each Chanukah Candle	111	(1)
Christmas Eve Grace	112	(1)
Christmas Past	113	(2)
A Blessing for the New Year	115	(3)
7. Reflections
You Can Be You	118	(1)
Character	119	(1)
Heart-Light	120	(1)
A Feeling of Home	121	(1)
Through Wisdom a House Is Built	122	(1)
My Kitchen	123	(1)
My Grandmother's Kitchen	124	(1)
The Infinity of Housework	125	(2)
Going Home	127	(1)
A Sweet Tradition	128	(1)
Like a Statue	129	(1)
Sweet Summer Night	130	(1)
Marks of a True Home	131	(1)
A Place Remembered	132	(2)
The First Thought	134	(1)
In the Spring, She	135	(2)
We Shape Our Buildings	137	(1)
A Safe Place	138	(1)
If There Is Righteousness	139	(1)
Home Is Oneness	140	(3)
Author Index	143	(2)
Permissions &Acknowledgments	145	(3)
About the Author	148