Chalking the Door – 2024
Thanks to the BuildingFaith Editors for sharing this Great Idea – which is not particularly new, but which can be shared in multiple ways, so here goes:
Chalking the Door is a new-old tradition: its origins lie in God’s instructions to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. In more recent years – and in Christian households – the practice has moved from the Passover feast to the New Year as a way to ‘[mark] our homes with sacred symbols and [ask] God’s blessing upon those who live, work, or visit throughout the year’.
The BuildingFaith post offers background on the symbols used to mark a door – or step – and How-To instructions, which include:
- Mark your calendar – January 6, every year
- Find some chalk
- Gather everyone
- Pray
- Write the inscription – let this be an intergenerational engagement!
Prayers, full liturgies, and links to additional resources are included in the post – including printable handouts for 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Chalking the Door can be a family, small group, or congregational event. Engage every generation – readers can teach about the symbols and share prayers; all ages can chalk the door.
Encourage families to share the liturgy at home and/or create an Epiphany Eve or Epiphany event at your building.
Some folx turn an Epiphany Chalking of the Door into a Proclamation of Easter. Rev. Michael K. Marsh offers a 2022 template on his website, Interrupting Silence.
Read the full post here.
Find additional ideas in our Chalking the Door 2023 Great Idea here.
