To Mark the First Hearthfire of the Season

Bless this hearth, O Lord, and bless the gatherings that will happen around it in the coming season.

May this hearth be to us a port in the storm, a cheering beacon, and a place of fellowship marked by the consolation of your Spirit.

May it be a place of celebration,

Of conversation, and of caring,

Of the sharing and bearing of burdens,

Of the multiplication of joys, 

Of light in the darkness and warmth in the cold.

May it be a place of prayers and hopes,

Of plans and quiet considerations.

A place of shared stories and of good dreams.

Grant us grace to savor this season as we live it together, that in later days the memory of this place and these times will linger sweetly, shaping our lives, our words, our deeds.

May the comfort and fellowship of this hearth be so kindled in our own hearts, O Lord, that as we journey outward from this place, even in seasons of cold and darkness, we will do so always carrying the warmth of your love, and the light of your mercies.

Amen.

Quoted from Every Moment Holy by Douglas McKelvey

I discovered this book Every Moment Holy about a year ago.  It is filled with liturgies for every day moments.  The idea behind it is that every moment we are given is sacred.  Every person we interact with is created in the Emago Dei, image of God, and every moment of our day whether we are at work or play, celebrating or suffering, alone or together, it is all a part of a good story being written by God and we choose to either acknowledge that or not.  These prayers are intended to help us think differently and to intentionally acknowledge God in these ordinary moments.  

Anyway they're beautiful prayers that have helped me to think a little differently and often pray about things I didn't quite have words for.  This was the first time we tried reading one aloud with the kids and they thought we were a little crazy I'm pretty sure, but I hope that over the years its makes some of these traditions just a little more meaningful and ultimately points our prone to wander hearts back again and again to Jesus, the source of each and every moment we are given.