The Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland, of “Rebuilt” fame, is moving into its new church building. “This weekend was the last in our current 70’s era church,” they recently posted. Check out the parish here.
Here is the decommissioning prayer they used.
Prayer for the Closing of a Church
In the mystery of your incarnate love,
you chose to dwell among us.
Rejected by the builders, you became our cornerstone,
and joined together the ends of the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Form us into one Church, built of living stones,
a spiritual house of God, and temple of the Holy Spirit.
For you, O Lord, are our builder and maker,
and lay the foundation of every life and home.
We lift up all those faithful men and women
of our parish, who through the years
sacrificed time, talent, and treasure,
to build and attend to the care of this church.
Let us remember with gratitude the many priests
who celebrated Mass at this altar,
and whose priestly care was experienced
in the preaching of the word in this church.
The lay ministers and parish staff who from this place,
attended to the care of the sick, the formation of youth,
the fellowship of believers,
and outreach to those who did not know your name.
Let us pray for those who received the sacraments
in this space over the last 45 years:
those who were reborn in the living waters of Baptism,
couples who founded a holy family in the celebration of marriage,
those who experienced reconciliation in the Sacrament of Penance,
or healing and strength in the Sacrament of Anointing,
and all those to whom we bid good-bye and God’s speed
through the Funeral Rites here observed.
We pray for all those who faithfully and reverently
have undertaken devotions here, on behalf of the whole parish:
the daily rosary, weekly and monthly adoration,
the Stations of the Cross;
the multitudes who have attended Mass,
keeping holy the Sabbath and honoring your name.
Finally, we remember the silent prayer of all your children,
uttered here in this church, day after day in sincerity of heart…
knowing that each of these prayers has precious in your sight.
As we take leave of our church…
turn our hearts toward our final destination,
the eternal Temple,
where we will be citizens of an everlasting city,
gathered around the throne of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
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