Housewarming Party

When we moved into our new unit last May 2012, I experienced my very first House Warming care of our housemates.

A housewarming party is a party held within approximately 90 days of moving into a new residence.  It is an occasion for the hosts to present their new home to their friends, and for friends to give gifts to furnish the new home.  Housewarming parties are generally informal, usually there are no planned activities besides a possible tour.

The term "housewarming" is descended literally from the act of warming a new house, in the days before central heating. Each guest would bring firewood, and build fires in all the available fireplaces, offering firewood as a gift.  Aside from warming the house, this was also believed to repel evil spirits by creating a protective atmosphere of warmth.  Uninhabited houses were considered targets for vagrant spirits, and therefore required a certain level of cleansing before a house was safe to be occupied by young children. (from wikipedia)

I am not sure if I will initiate such activity, it's just not me.
Anyways, I did learn something new from this activity.

My friend invited their pastor from their church and they shared with us the "Family Participation in the act of Dedication".

~ We dedicate this home to love and understanding.  May it joys and sorrows be shared and the individuality of each person who lives and visits here appreciated.  We dedicate our home to family LOVE.

~ We dedicate this home to work, and rest and play.  May our home have joy and high fellowship, with kindness in its voices and laughter running within its walls.  We dedicate our home to HAPPINESS.

~ We dedicate this home to friendly life.  May its doors open in hospitality and its windows look out with kindness toward other homes and those who pass by its doors.  We dedicate our home to FRIENDSHIP.

~ We dedicate this home to cooperation.  May its duties be performed in love, its furnishings bear witness that the work of others ministers to our comfort, and its tables remind us that God works with us for the supply of daily needs.  We dedicate our home to COOPERATION.

~ We dedicate this home to the appreciation of all things good and true.  May the books bring wisdom, pictures symbolize things beautiful, and the music brings joy and inspiration.  We dedicate our home to APPRECIATION.

~ We dedicate the time and talent of those who lived here to hep build a world in which every family may have a home of comfort and fellowship.  We dedicate our home to SERVICE.

~ We dedicate this home as a unit in the church universal, an instrument of the kingdom of God, a place of worship and christian training and a threshold to the life eternal.  We dedicate our home to SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT.

~ With our hearts turned towards You, so our thoughts rise in gratitude to God for this home, and in prayer for God's blessing upon it.