上棟式 Jyoutou-shiki

Blessing Ceremony for a new Kindergarten

I was blessed to be asked to lead the prayers and scripture readings during a ceremony dedicating the new building of a local Christian Yochien (preschool) we are friends with.

This was the second ceremony for the building under construction. There was an initial ground-breaking ceremony, which I had not been able to attend, followed later by the jyoutou-shiki for when the pillars and beams have been raised.

My son was in the group of kids that came from the preschool for the ceremony. They are in a unique situation as they attended the original building, and now the borrowed building of a local church, and yet in November will come into the new building as well. Three different buildings during their time in preschool.

The construction workers stopped to listen to the children sing simple hymns and hear the scripture reading and prayers.