Blessing For New Manufacturing Building

We are giving thanks for our new manufacturing facility for Thistle Farms. The 12,000 square foot building will undergo renovations now and we will be open for business this summer. Recently residents and staff gathered to begin the renovation process with music and prayers of hope.

Prayer from Ali Seville, Student at the Vanderbilt University Divinity School / Thistle Farmer:

Gracious and loving God,

We give you thanks for this day and for the generous and beautiful gift of this building.

As we begin to make this space our home, help us to remember that this building is more than a structure made of wood and stone;
help us to remember that this building represents a community built on a foundation of faith, hope and love.

may the foundation be one that grounds us in faith.
may these walls provide us with steady and enduring hope.
may all those who enter here proclaim their truth in love and
may our doors be always open to those searching for home.

Amen.

From Carole Hagan, full time volunteer / Thistle Farms Events Coordinator:

Loving God, we beseech you to watch over our coming in and our going out so that all who enter here will be of one heart to

serve and be served
heal and be healed
trust and be trusted
forgive and be forgiven
bless and be blessed
not judge and not be judged
offer mercy and be offered mercy
protect and be protected
love and be loved

Make us ever mindful of your presence.
Help us to embrace the knowledge that we are worthy of your love.
Charge us to create a sanctuary for all who seek shelter and bind us in humility with your grace.

While Ali and Carole prayed, Becca mixed our healing oils with water in a bowl with a sprig of boxwood. She then took the sprig and walked around the building and blessed it.

The Vanderbilt Choir provided the gift of song and students from Belmont University also visited recently to break ground on the new Thistle Farms garden.

We are extremely grateful for this gift and are excited to build another portion of our community within its walls.

photos by Carole Hagan