Liturgy for Church Re-Dedication

Here is the liturgy used for the re-dedication of the church after the smoke damage it had received had been restored. There is plenty here that can be adapted for other church dedications/re-dedications. The yellow highlighted areas are what is included in a bulletin insert. Hope this helps

Re-Dedication of Sanctuary, furnishings, and building. Dedication of Cada R. Grove room. Naomi Makemie Presbyterian Church June 18, 2017

Re-Dedication of Sanctuary, furnishings, and building

Proclamation: (Said from the rear of the sanctuary prior to entrance, at the chiming of the hour-preferably all of the congregants are outside the church building and they all process in together-if that's not possible the choir processes after they make they proclamation)
Choir: Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. 
This house has been built for the glory of God and the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the unity of the church, in accordance with the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia, we enter into worship and the re-dedication of this sanctuary and this building. Let us worship God!

Presentation

Jody Humphreys-Clerk:

We present this sanctuary and this building to be rededicated for the worship of God and the service of all people!

Pastor: By what name shall we know this house?

Jack Humphreys-Chair, Building & Grounds

Naomi Makemie Presbyterian Church

The dedication begins at the Font. The water is visibly poured. And the prayer is said over the water.

Thanksgiving over the Water

We give you thanks Eternal God, for you nourish and sustain all living things by the gift of water. In the beginning of time, you moved over the watery chaos, calling forth order and life. In the time of Noah, you destroyed evil by the waters of the flood, giving righteousness a new beginning. You led Israel out of slavery, through the waters of the sea, into the freedom of the land of promise. In the waters of the Jordan, Jesus was baptized by John and anointed with your Spirit.

Send your Spirit to move over this water that it may be a fountain of deliverance and rebirth. Pour out your Holy Spirit on these your people, that they may have the power to do your will. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon this place present here now and throughout the age to come. To you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, be all praise, honor, and glory, now and forever. Amen.

L: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts! My soul logs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord.

P: My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

L: Happy are those who live in your house ever singing your praise.

P: Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

L: They go from strength to strength;

P: the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

L: For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.

P: I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than live in the tents of wickedness.

All: O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you!

Prayer

Eternal God, high and holy, no building can contain your glory. May this space be used as a gathering place for people of goodwill. When we worship, let us worship gladly; when we study, let us learn your truth. May this sanctuary and this building stand as a sign of your Spirit at work in the world, and as a witness to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Prayers of Re-Dedication

The Baptismal Font

Leader: By your grace, O God, you have brought us into your covenant through the waters of baptism, and by the power of the Holy Spirit we are made members of the body of Christ, the church. At this font may lives be claimed by Jesus Christ for the work and witness of your people in this world

People: We did not choose you, O Lord, but you chose us.

L: Trusting in Jesus Christ, we dedicate this font in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit

All: Amen

The Sprinkling of water

The Pulpit

L: You have spoken your Word, O God, through prophets and apostles, and in your Son, Jesus Christ. From this place may your Word be faithfully proclaimed. Let all who hear your Word, be renewed and strengthened, comforted, and challenged as they are sent in service as bold disciples in the world.

P: Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

L: Trusting in Jesus Christ, we dedicate this pulpit in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit

All: Amen.

The Sprinkling of water

The Table

L: God of mercy, we rejoice that our Savior invites all to come to the Table to share the feast when it is spread. Whether through seeking, or as sinners, or as saints, we all come because Jesus wants us all at the Table with him. We trust you O, God, as you promise us, that all will be nourished in faith, hope, and love.

P: Always be present to us in the breaking of the bread.

L: Trusting in Jesus Christ, we dedicate this Table in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit

All: Amen.

The Sprinkling of water

The Organ

L: Eternal God, our praises join with the songs of choirs and the music of the universe. May this organ encourage our praise and lift our singing to your throne as faithful prayers in times of joy and in times of sorrow

P: We praise you, O God, with trumpet sound; we praise you with strings and pipes!

L: Trusting in Jesus Christ, we dedicate this Organ in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit

All: Amen.

The Sprinkling of water

The Sanctuary

L: Almighty God, we re-dedicate this place to your worship, that in prayer and praise, in Word and Sacrament, we may respond to you in our lives. Bless us and sanctify what we do here, that this place may be holy for us and a house of prayer for all people.

P: Save us from failure of vision, which would confine our worship within these walls, but send us out into the world as your servants sharing your blessings of Christ.

L: Trusting in Jesus Christ, we dedicate this sanctuary in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

The Sprinkling of water

The Educational Facility and Other Rooms

L: God of wisdom and truth, we re-dedicate the rest of the rooms in this building. The Makemie Room, the upstairs rooms-the Belote Room, the Ann and Elizabeth Makemie Rooms, the Nursery, the halls-all we offer to you as places for nurturing families, equipping saints for the work of ministry and building up the body of Christ.

P: Teach us to love you, O God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength.

L: Trusting in Jesus Christ, we dedicate the rest of this building in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen

The Sprinkling of water

All: As we re-dedicate this place, O God, we re-dedicate our lives to the service of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Anthem Open Hearts, Open Doors

Dedication of Cada Grove room.

Jody Humphreys-Clerk: We present this room for the service of God and for the service of all people.

Pastor: By What name shall this room be known?

Jack Humphreys-Chair, Building & Grounds: The Cada Grove Room

Pastor: This room has suffered the challenge of not having a name affixed to it. It is a room used for meetings, for gathering and casual conversation. It is a room used as an overflow when the sanctuary is full. It is a room used as a space for sharing and for refuge. This room is also a sacred space for reflection and contemplation and prayer. This room will be well served with the name of Cada Grove.

Cada loved God. Cada loved being a servant of God. Cada loved Susan. He really loved Susan. Cada loved excellence and seeking to bring a high bar of life to all people. He was passionate, sometimes to a fault, but always for the best intentions of seeking to offer a good life to those less fortunate.

My own words fail to express the life of Cada as much as these words of others have done so:

"He for many years taught children's Sunday School and Vacation Bible School where he was revered by several generations."

"Cassie and I (We) were a part of Mr. Grove's first Sunday school class at Naomi Makemie.  I don't know if Mr. Grove knew what he was signing up for when he agreed to be our teacher.  But he would spend the next several years teaching a very small group of very energetic kids.  We met every lesson with countless questions and abstract theories, and we usually found ourselves wildly off topic.  Mr. Grove stuck with us.

He led us through Jesus's life, taught us His miracles, and helped us to share Jesus's love with our community.  He responded to every question with a well thought out answer, he encouraged our creativity, and he only let out a big sigh on occasion."

“I was working in my yard and around my boat in the spring, I had a couple of concerns, I know I’ll call Cada, he’ll know what to do. I’m sure several of us had him on our speed dial. It wasn’t just about tools, he was super organized, he was so willing to share, he showed up to help, to participate, to go to lunch. I know that often we stop as we work around the church or around our houses, we stop and think, “What would Cada do?”

"I met Cada 17-18 years ago and he said 'we can do this.'

We need to replace the steeple after it was struck by lightning and he said 'we can do this.'

We need to modify the church sanctuary and he said 'we can do this.'

We want to build a cross and Cada said 'we can do this.'

We miss you, Cada and will carry on the efforts you initiated because you taught us that ... we can do this."

With the recent damage to our building from the smoke-Cada would have met each of us with the same response-‘we can do this’ And our building and grounds folks have done exactly that!

They have done this-they have worked hard and furiously and brought us to this day of re-dedication.

Today is the appropriate time to dedicate this room. You see because to name a room through which we all pass, and reflect, or just use as a hallway, is perfect because, as Cada sought to adapt to so many things to make them a positive setting; so, this room will be a setting where we can always remember the phrase, “We can do this.”

Psalm 121:5-8 It is the Lord who watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand, so that the sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; the Lord shall keep you safe. The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth forevermore.”

L: The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul

P: the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;

L: the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

P: the commandments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

L: More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold.

P: sweeter also than honey, and the drippings of the honeycomb.

All: By them is your servant awakened, and in keeping them there is great reward.

Let us pray: Gracious God, keep watch over all who enter here. Fill this room with your love, that all who share it may be strengthened to serve you and one another, the Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Sprinkling of water

*The Gloria Patri

Resources: Book of Occasional Services (PCUSA); CK-Consecration of Church Building (UMC)