naming and blessing of motor launch Dayspring
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Thursday 12th February 2015
The Launch will be named by:
JOHN AND AKINA WILSON AND
THEIR DAUGHTER ELLIE
And Blessed by:
The Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwong
Archbishop of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui
and
The Most Reverend Joseph Ha OFM
Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong
Naming of Motor Launch Dayspring
Since 1891 The Sailor’s Home and Missions to Seamen has operated a launch for the use of visiting ships and their crews visiting the anchorages of Hong Kong. The name of the Mission’s first ever launch in Hong Kong was Dayspring, a name taken directly from St. Luke’s Gospel Chapter 1 verse 78: “through the tender mercy of our God, the Dayspring will dawn upon us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace”.
The sentiment of the Dayspring dawning upon us is as real to seafarers today as it was all those years ago when the first Mission launch rode the waves of Hong Kong harbor and so we would like to honour our history and traditions in reinstating that name for our new launch. The new launch has been designed to bring Chaplains and other ship visitors safely to the ships visiting the Hong Kong anchorages today. She will bring hope to those who feel lonely and sad at being far away from family and friends and will display the love and care of God to all seafarers by bringing news from home and the latest telecommunication/data aids available. And for those fortunate crews to be allowed shore leave she will operate as a taxi service to and from shore.
Today it is just as important as it ever was to bring hope and light to those who feel forgotten or marginalized and nevermore has this been the case than for today’s seafarers. With manning levels cut to the minimum on many vessels and turn around times kept short there is very little opportunity for shore leave.
The generosity of our many donors has made it possible to bring our new Dayspring into service and for that the Mission and, we are sure, the many thousands of seafarers who will benefit from her service, are most grateful.
1.Welcome by the Senior Chaplain
2.THE NAMING OF DAYSPRING
When all are assemble we gather around the launch
JOHN AND AKINA WILSON AND THEIR DAUGHTER ELLIE will say:
We name this Motor Launch DAYSPRING, may God bless her and all who sail in her…….
The bottle of champagne is broken across the vessel
3.THE BLESSING
Archbishop: May the gracious favour of the Lord our God be upon us: prosper the work of our hands, O prosper the work of our hands. (Psalm 90.17)
A Reading from Mark 4.35-41
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Archbishop: We have come together this day to thank Almighty God, and to ask his blessing on the labours of all those who have built this ship which now awaits her launch upon the waters. I call upon you to pray for God’s blessing on this ship, for those who built her, and those who will serve upon her.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Launch is blessed with holy water by Archbishop and Bishop
Bishop: Great God of earth and heaven and sea, we praise your Holy Name for the vision and imagination of those who initiated the building of this ship. We thank you for those who designed and planned her, and all, who by their skill of hand and of eye, have been responsible for her construction.
Bishop: O Lord God Almighty, let your blessing be upon this ship, and upon all those who will serve and sail in her. May good success and your protection and the guardianship of the holy angels always be with them. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bishop: O Lord, when thou givest to your servants to endeavour in any great matter, grant us also to know that it is not the beginning but the continuing of the same until it be thoroughly finished that yieldeth the true glory; through him who for the finishing of thy work laid down his life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Archbishop: Go forth into the world in peace: be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
We proceed on board where JOHN AND AKINA WILSON AND THEIR DAUGHTER ELLIE will cut the cake and unveil the plaques to commemorate the naming and commissioning of MOTOR LAUNCH DAYSPRING.