Dedication of a Church


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Service of Thanksgiving & Dedication of a Church

by The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

This dedication liturgy, originally written for Messiah Lutheran Church in Brownsburg, IN, has the unique aspect of beginning in the old church for a time of thanksgiving, followed by a procession to the new church for its dedication. The service can be used however without the Thanksgiving portion at the beginning, in which case the service would begin at the doors of the new church.

The order below includes the full text for the Dedication of a Church Building from the Occasional Services 1982. The Proclamation by the Bishop to "Let the doors be opened" and the marking of a cross at the threshold with the crozier are from the Book of Common Prayer 1979, as are the Prayers for the Consecration of a Church. I have expanded the Rededication of Chancel Furnishings and the procession and dedication of other spaces in the church to include a hymn for movement and versicles from the BCP prior to each prayer from the Occasional Services.

GATHERING

B = Bishop P = Presiding Minister A = Assisting Minister C = Congregation

The people gather in the old worship space for Remembrance and Thanksgiving before the Dedication.

The color of the day is red.

Pre-service Music

Hymn "I Love Your Kingdom, Lord"

Print out hymn here

Dialog of Praise:

A. Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord!

C. Praise the Lord! Give thanks to him!

A. God has blessed us and brought us to this time.

C. God has blessed us and brought us to this place.

A. God has caused his name to dwell in our midst.

C. God has stirred our hearts and made us glad.

A. For _____ years, God has nurtured and fed us in this place.

C. For _____ years, God has shown us his grace in this place.

A. For _____ years, God has given himself in Word and Sacrament in this place.

C. For _____ years, God has empowered us with his Holy Spirit in this place.

A. Praise the Lord for _____ years! Give thanks to him!

C. Praise the Lord for evermore! Oh, praise the name of the Lord!

Doxology: sing

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Lesson: Psalm 24

The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. They will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.

The word of the Lord.

C. Thanks be to God.

History of this Congregation

After the history, the Pastor of the church leads the people in the following litany.

Litany of Thanksgiving:

P. Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord God has blessed us with this house of prayer for ______ years. At its dedication, God promised his holy presence for our worship, his attentive ear for our prayers, and his watchful eye for our lives. Here we have heard his holy word for our lives. Here we have communed with our Risen Lord. Here we have all been blessed.

Before we go to dedicate our new house of prayer, let us give thanks to Almighty God for all that this place has been for us. Pause for reflection

Almighty God, yours is the glory and the power. You are the great builder of the worlds and the great architect of our lives and our salvation. For calling us to be the Church of Jesus Christ in this place,

C. We give you thanks, O Lord.

P. For giving us this house of prayer and worship for these _____ years,

C. We give you thanks, O Lord.

P. For providing a holy place in which to bring our prayers, confess our sins, and find your presence,

C. We give you thanks, O Lord.

P. For providing a sacred place to worship your name, to baptize our infants, to marry our children, and to bury our loved ones,

C. We give you thanks, O Lord.

P. For providing an empowering place to hear your word, grow in faith, and be challenged in mission,

C. We give you thanks, O Lord.

P. As we go forth to dedicate our new house of prayer, we ask your presence with us now.

C. Be present with us, O God.

P. Make us thankful people always for the grace and favor you show us.

C. Be present with us, O God.

P. Form us into a holy people, a royal priesthood of believers, ever mindful of your presence and your steadfast love for us.

C. Be present with us, O God.

P. Holy God, mighty Lord, are hearts are full of gratitude to you for bringing us to this blessed day. For all that you have been to us here in this place, we thank you. For all that you have promised to be in our lives, we thank you. Bless us now as we go forth from this place to a future built upon the foundation of your Son. You have called us to this day. Guide us now with your Holy Spirit; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C. Amen

P. Let us go forth in peace.

C. In the name of our Lord. Amen

Processional Hymn "The Church's One Foundation" (Use more hymns as necessary)

Print out Hymn(s) here

The crucifer leads the ministers and people to the place outside the main doors of the new church. Small furnishings for the new chancel, the pulpit Bible, the altar cross, etc. may be carried by congregational representatives in the procession.

When all are assembled before the main doors of the new church, the Bishop says:

B. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C. And also with you.

B. Brothers and sisters: We have come together to dedicate this church for the worship of almighty God and for the building up of the body of Christ. From this day forward, let it be a place for the gathering of the people of God, a place for proclaiming the Gospel through Word and Sacrament, a place for bringing life and hope to us and to this community.

Let us pray. Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor and further us with your continual help, that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy name and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C. Amen

B. Let the doors be opened!

The Bishop receives the keys to the building from the builder. The bishop hands the keys to a representative of the congregation who unlocks and opens the door. Standing in the threshold of the opened doors, the Bishop with his pastoral staff marks the threshold floor with the sign of the cross, saying:

B. Peace be to this house, and to all who enter here, in the name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C. Amen

A hymn or anthem may be sung as the procession moves into the church . The ministers and a representative of the congregation move to the center of the chancel and face the people. If small furnishings have been carried from the old worship space, they are put into place at this time. The congregation remains standing.

If a hymn is sung, print it out here.

Prayer for the Consecration of a Church:

B. All your works praise you, O Lord,

C. And your faithful servants bless you.

B. Let us pray. Ever living Father, watchful and caring, our source and our end: All that we are and all that we have is yours. Accept us now, as we dedicate this place to which we come to praise your Name, to ask your forgiveness, to know your healing power, to hear your Word, and to be nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son. Be present always to guide and to judge, to illumine and to bless your people.

A representative of the congregation continues:

A. Lord Jesus Christ, make this a temple of your presence and a house of prayer. Be always near us when we seek you in this place. Draw us to you, when we come alone and when we come with others, to find comfort and wisdom, to be supported and strengthened, to rejoice and give thanks. May it be here, Lord Christ, that we are made one with you and with one another, so that our lives are sustained and sanctified for your service.

The Pastor of the church continues:

P. Holy Spirit, open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts, that we may grow closer to you through joy and through suffering. Be with us in the fullness of your power as new members are added to your household, as we grow in grace through the years, when we are joined in marriage, when we turn to you in sickness or special need, and, at the last, when we are committed into the Father's hands.

The Bishop concludes:

B. All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ who is the foundation and chief cornerstone of our faith; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C. Amen

The Rededication of Chancel Furnishings:

The crucifer leads the ministers to the Baptismal Font, as the people sing:

Hymn: Tune: Dundee (#464)

Renewing Spirit, hear our praise

For your baptismal pow'r

That washes us through all our days.

Lord, cleanse again this hour.

P. There is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism,

C. One God and Father of all.

The Bishop lays a hand upon the font and prays:

B. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe. In the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters, and you created heaven and earth. You have made water for us a sign of rebirth, and by it we share in the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. In joyful obedience to his command, we make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Pour out your Holy Spirit, so that new life may be given to all those who are baptized in this font which we rededicate today. To you, O God, be given praise and honor and worship through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. (#513)

C. Amen

The crucifer leads the ministers to the pulpit as the people sing:

Hymn:

Father of mercies, in your Word

What endless glory shines!

Forever be your name adored

For these celestial lines.

P. Your word is a lantern to our feet,

C. And a light to our path.

The Bishop lays a hand on the pulpit and prays:

B. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe. You have revealed your love for your creation in your Word, our Lord Jesus Christ. Inspired by him, we seek to hold fast to the truth and to know your purposes. Purify the lips of those who speak here, and grant us grace to hear your love in all that is proclaimed from this pulpit which we rededicate today; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. (#514)

C. Amen

The crucifer leads the ministers to the altar as the people sing:

Hymn:

Lord, sup with us in love divine,

Your Body and your Blood,

That living bread, that heav'nly wine,

Be our immortal food.

P. I will go to the altar of God,

C. To the God of my joy and gladness.

The Bishop traces the five crosses customarily inscribed on the altar top (four corners and center, representing the five wounds of Christ), then lays a hand upon the altar and prays:

B. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe. You nourish your people with the heavenly bread in Jesus Christ. Bless and sanctify all who receive his body and blood at this altar which we rededicate today. Give them grace to live in faith and love throughout their lives, until at last we all behold you face to face at the heavenly altar where your saints and angels praise your forever; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God forever. (#515)

C. Amen

The crucifer leads the ministers to a table where symbols of Christian Education are assembled, as the people sing:

Hymn:

Divine instructor, gracious Lord,

May you be always near;

Teach me to love your sacred Word

And find my Savior here.

Dedication of the Education Unit:

P. Our hearts burned within us:

C. When Jesus opened to us the scriptures.

The Bishop lays a hand upon the symbols of Christian Education and prays:

B. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe. Your gifts are many, and in wisdom you have made all things to give you glory. Be with us now and bless us as we dedicate our new center for Christian Education to your praise and honor. May your holy Word echo from its walls, that young and old alike may know the mighty wonders you have done, the joy of Christian fellowship, and growth in faith and trust in the salvation which you give us through Jesus Christ our Lord. (#519, altered)

C. Amen

The crucifer leads the ministers to the center of the chancel as the people sing:

Hymn:

To God all glory, praise, and love

Be now and ever giv'n

By saints below and saints above,

The Church in earth and heav'n.

B. Now, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, sanctify this place.

C. For everything in heaven and on earth is yours.

B. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom,

C. And you are exalted as head over all. Amen! Alleluia!

The people are seated.

WORD

Greetings and Announcements

(Anthem or Special Music)

Lesson

Anthem or Special Music

Gospel

Sermon

Hymn of the Day "Built on a Rock"

Litany of Thanksgiving and Dedication to God's Mission:

A. With praise and thanksgiving, let us pray to God, through whom all things are accomplished:

Eternal God and Creator of all things, we give you high praise for the good work you do among us:

C. Praise and thanks and honor and glory be to you, O Lord.

A. For our baptism in faith, for your forgiveness of our sins, for the founding of our church and for its sustaining by your gracious hand: