Pizza And A Gorgeous Smile

Michelle and I went out for dinner tonight at a place just outside of town.

We connect very well.

Earlier this week we ran into a major roadblock.  Miscommunication and misunderstanding.  Mutual stubbornness.

But this evening we put that stuff aside and enjoyed each other's company.

Feminine company in my life is a fresh and welcomed change.

And she has a gorgeous smile.

The Blessing of a Home: A Rite

Here's yesterday's blessing in full:

Invocation

Leader (Francis): As God's holy people we recall the promise that wherever two or three of us are gathered in God's name that our God is present among us.  Remembering this Presence let us begin our prayer...

All: In the Name of the Fahter and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Leader: Peace be with this house and with all who live here.

All: May the peace of Christ dwell with us forever.

Leader: When Christ took flesh through the Blessed Virgin Mary, he made his home with us.  Let us now pray that he will enter this home and bless it with his presence.  May he always be here among us; may he nurture our love for each other, share in our joys, and comfort us in our sorrows.  Inspired by his teachings and example, let us seek to make this home before all else a dwelling place of love, reflecting far and wide the goodness of Christ.

All: Amen.

Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

Nicole: A reading from Paul's letter to the Colossians.

You are God's chosen race, his saints; He loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience.

Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins.  The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same.

Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love.

And may the peace of Chirst reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body.

Always be thankful.

Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you.  Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom.  With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Procession through the house and sprinkling of Holy Water 

Leader: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: you have shared your life and grace with us.  May this house be a place of prayer and peace.  May all who live here remain in your love, and be generous in their love and service for others.  May the love of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and all your saints inspire us to follow the example of your Son, Jesus, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

At the Entrance

Edgar: O God, protect our going out and our coming in; let us share the hospitality of this home with all who visit us, that those who enter here may know your love and peace.  Grant this through Chirst our Lord.

All: Amen.

In the Living Room

Heather: O God, as we gather in this room to share friendship, be present to us and bind us together in love and peace.  Grant this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

In the Kitchen

Carla: O God, fill the hungry with good things.  Send your blessing on us, as we work in this kitchen, and make us ever thankful for our daily bread.  Grant this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

In the Dining Room

Rae: Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth, for you give us food and drink to sustain our lives and make our hearts glad.  Help us to be grateful for all your mercies, and mindful of the needs of others.  Grant this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

 
In the Bedroom(s)

Deb: Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, we may rest in his peace.  Grant this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

In the Bathroom(s)

Laura: Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth.  you formed us in wisdom and love.  Refresh us in body and in spirit, and keep us in good health that we might serve you.  Grant this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Blessing of a Crucifix

Leader: O Lord, hear our prayer.  Answer us when we call.  Lord, bless this crucifix which is hung in this home.  May our lives bear witness to the faith we provess, and may our love bring others to the peace and joy of the Gospel.  We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

All: Amen.

Leader: Let us pray the prayer that Jesus taught us.  Our Father...

Final Blessing

Leader: Be our shelter, Lord, when we are at home, our copanion when we are away, and our welcome guest when we return, and at last receive us into the dwelling place you have prepared for us in your Father's house, where you live for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Leader: May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, and may the word of Christ in all its richness dwell in us, so that whatever we do in word and in work, we will do in the name of the Lord.

- In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit - 

All: Amen. 

House Blessing

This evening I had some friends over at my place for a house blessing.  It was a special event for a few reasons: one, it was the first time I hosted people at my place since moving here from BC (that's one and a half years ago!); and two, having my home blessed was very meaningful from a theological perspective.

I asked my mentor Francis to do the honour of blessing my home.  He began by blessing the crucifix which I then proceeded to hang at the front entrance.  Then we blessed my living spaces: the entrance, the living room, the kitchen, the bedroom(s), and bathroom(s).  He'd selected various people from our group to read a small service he'd put together.  After each reading we all said Amen!, it was lovely.

 

After the blessing was complete, people mingled, while (Carla's) Chris and I got the bbq going in preparation for dinner.  People brought appetizers, salads, and other dishes along, so that when the steaks and sausages were all grilled and ready to go we had a complete meal.  Add the various juices, wines, and beers to the food, and it truly was a feast.

From left to right: Eric, Laura, Lisa, Christine, Francis, and Becky.

For the rest of the evening we mingled, chatted, and laughed.  I'm so blessed, because the people I've met here have wonderful senses of humour.  Deb and Eric were quite funny making up stories about my past.  And Heather - innocent Heather - led everyone in pulling a couple pranks, such as hiding my shoes in the basement, saran-wrapping my toilet(!), and turning my mattress upside down!

 From left to right: Edgar, Carla, Chris, Heather, Nicole, Deb, and Connor.

I'm feeling very blessed.  I have a wonderful job and amazing coworkers.  I bought a great house in a well established part of the city.  I am finding my way spiritually too, attending St. Mary's on the westside, and enrolling in RCIA at Holy Spirit Parish.  And finally, I seem to have found a wonderful new friend in Michelle - I hope to see a lot more of her when she returns from California.

Thank you Lord for these and all other blessings you bestow upon me in your kindness.  I pray for a grateful heart.  I pray for continued blessings upon me and all those I care for.  Amen.

Missing Her

Michelle went to California early this morning.  I brought her to the airport at 4am.

This, after a late night last night, going for dinner at Calories and then watching a movie afterwards (the movie was very forgettable).

I really enjoy my time with her, and so the next few days are going to be hard.  We're starting to spend a lot of time together.

She's away until Monday night.

A downer: she's at an Evangelical women's conference in California.  I don't know why, but women conferences, especially of the Evangelical stripe, irk me.

Fall Is On

I really noticed the change in season today when I went hiking.

Gone are dark, moist browns and lush greens, replaced by dry, dusty yellows and oranges.  As Fall continues to arrive, reds will come too.

Hiking Buffalo Pound today reminded me of the days not so long ago when I lived not too far from the lake, in Moose Jaw.  As we approached the area on highway 2, crossing the Qu'Appele valley, a sense of yearning came through me to go back to the Jaw, but when I thought about the pain I associate with that place, I at the same time had a sense of relief go through me, that I don't live there anymore, and that I didn't have to go back there.

At some point in the not too distant future though, I'd like to return there, to reconnect with friends, particularly Lamont, and possibly some ex-coworkers.