Blessings and Rituals for the Journey of Life

by Langhauser, Susan

• ISBN13: 9780687074372
• ISBN10: 0687074371
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-02-01
• Publisher: Lightning Source Inc

Summary

Congregations celebrate various rites and rituals as a way of commemorating the significant life events and experiences of their members. By blessing something or someone, God's presence is invoked and the sacred is invited into the mundane, the holy into the ordinary. This book offers pastors and other church leaders a collection of ready-made, easily adaptable blessings and rituals for a variety of occasions. The book is divided into four major chapters: Children, Adults, Everyday Life, and Pastoral Care. It includes blessings and rituals for such occasions as: welcome into a home or neighborhood, receiving a first Bible, graduation from high school, receiving a driver's license, blessing the backpacks and lunch-boxes for a new school year, and pet funerals. Pastoral care rituals include such occasions as grief, lost love, anger, and declining health.Key Benefits: '¢ Provides readers with a source of blessings and rituals for key moments in congregational members' lives and meaningful ways to celebrate and support their life experiences and transitions '¢ Shows readers how the intentional use of blessings and rituals within the congregation helps reveal to the community God's presence in every phase of life

Author Biography

Susan Langhauser is pastor of Advent Lutheran Church in Olathe, Kansas.

Table of Contents

Preface	11	(4)
Acknowledgments	15	(2)
Introduction	17	(4)
Stepping Into...: Blessing Rituals for Children	21	(21)
Blessing of a Baby in the Womb	22	(4)
Blessing of a Baby at Birth	26	(1)
Welcoming a Baby into the Home/Neighborhood	27	(2)
Annual Blessing for Children Baptized--Faith Stepping Stone #1	29	(3)
Blessing for Children Entering Sunday School--Faith Stepping Stone #2	32	(2)
Blessing for Receiving First Bibles--Faith Stepping Stone #3	34	(3)
Blessing for First Communicants--Faith Stepping Stone #4	37	(2)
Blessing for Entering Confirmation--Faith Stepping Stone #5	39	(3)
Making the Journey: Blessing Rituals for Adults	42	(21)
Blessing for the Rite of Confirmation--Faith Stepping Stone #6	43	(3)
Blessing for Those Receiving Their Driver's Licenses	46	(2)
Blessing for Those Graduating from High School--Faith Stepping Stone #7	48	(3)
Premarital or Wedding Rehearsal Blessing	51	(2)
Blessing for a New House	53	(2)
Blessing for Persons Who Have Been Divorced	55	(3)
Blessing for Remarriage	58	(1)
Blessing for a First Job	59	(1)
Blessing upon Retirement	60	(3)
Daily Living Blessing Rituals for Everyday Life	63	(29)
Affirming/Recommitting to Faith	64	(3)
Blessing of the Backpacks/Lunchboxes	67	(1)
Blessing of the Animals-St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day (October 4)	68	(2)
Blessings ``To Go'' (Marissa's Blessing)	70	(1)
Morning Good-Byeing (At Home or Daycare)	71	(1)
Pet Funeral	72	(2)
Vocational Blessings	74	(2)
Blessing for Church Musicians	76	(2)
Blessing for Youth on Retreat	78	(2)
Blessing Rituals for Beginning and End of Retreat	80	(2)
Vigil of Pentecost	82	(3)
All Seasons Liturgy	85	(7)
Letting Go: Blessing Rituals for Pastoral Care	92	(32)
Blessing Ritual for a Broken Trust	93	(3)
Blessing Ritual to Let Go of Old Grief	96	(3)
Blessing Ritual to Release Long-Held Anger	99	(2)
Blessing Ritual for Releasing Resentment	101	(2)
Blessing Ritual to Relinquish Inappropriate Love	103	(3)
Blessing Ritual for Letting Go of the Single Life	106	(2)
Blessing Ritual for Letting Go of Lost Love	108	(2)
Blessing Ritual for Letting Go of Prized Possessions	110	(2)
Blessing Ritual Around Therapy for a Disease	112	(2)
Blessing Ritual for Letting Go of Health	114	(3)
Blessing Ritual for Letting Go of a Parent's Role	117	(2)
Blessing Ritual for Being Unloved by Someone Who Should Have Loved You	119	(2)
Blessing Ritual and Naming of a Child Unborn/Stillborn/That Never Was	121	(3)
Creating Blessing Rituals	124	(3)
Notes	127	(1)
Bibliography	128