Groundblessing Ceremony Program

Ground Blessing Ceremony Thrivent Builds with Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity and the Walters Family   Thursday, April 12, 2012 1807 1st St SW Cedar Rapids, IA  52404 Greeting Joe Strathman, Board President, CVHFH Opening Prayer Pastor Edward Breed, St. Andrew Lutheran Church Acknowledgments and Introductions Jeff Capps, Executive Director, CVHFH Scripture Reading Stacey Walters: Matthew 7:24-29 Prayer of Blessing Pastor Trish Decker, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Blessed are you, O Lord our God. You fill the entire world with your presence; your name is to be hallowed through all the earth. Bless all those who will work to prepare this site, which today we set apart for the building of a new Habitat home. May this home be a place where your presence dwells and where your way is followed. May your gracious blessings descend like the dew from heaven upon this place and upon this family, Stacey & Tyler, who will live here. You have given us joy in a work begun in your name; may you bless the construction phases, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. People: Amen. Responsive reading based on Psalm 118:19-29 Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone; The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord, save us; The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Ground Blessing Pastor Edward Breed Dear God, we are standing on holy ground. We feel your presence; therefore, we know this is a holy place. Soon our hands will be busy at work in your service. As we prepare to bless the ground for this new home, we ask your blessings on each person who will gather here and upon those who have made their contributions in other ways. May our efforts serve to glorify you. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer Special Presentation to the Walters family Gaylon Heetland, Thrivent Financial Consultant Closing prayer Pastor Edward Breed O Lord our God, in you every good work has its beginning. Grant that what we have undertaken this day in the glory of your name may be successfully completed for the good of all your people, through Jesus Christ our Lord. People: Amen. Sending Jeff Capps: Go in peace. Serve the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! Congratulations and God’s blessings to our newest Habitat partner family: Stacey and Tyler Special Thanks Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Northwest Linn County Thrivent Chapter Southeast Linn County Thrivent Chapter Jon Fisher & NW Chapter Thrivent Board Dave Koch & SE Chapter Thrivent Board Dale Thompson Dan Zilman Gaylon Heetland Gary Irmiter Stuart Barnes Jamieson Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors Area Lutheran Congregations Eastern Iowa Thrivent Financial Representatives City of Cedar Rapids Housing Fund for Linn County Iowa Finance Authority Pastor Trish Decker, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Pastor Edward Breed, St. Andrew Lutheran Church The Walters Family Stacey Walters is the proud mother of her two-year-old son Tyler. She has lived in Cedar Rapids all her life and is looking forward to moving into a permanent, safe and stable home. The Walters family is excited to create some long-lasting memories and traditions with their extended family. Stacey has worked at the Willy Woodburn’s Café for the past nine years and loves her regular customers.